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Episodes
Two chatty authors asking all the ’write’ questions. Hosted by Ari Meghlen and Rachel Poli, The Merry Writer Podcast is a fun, friendly show about all things writing and bookish.
Episodes
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
The writing doesn’t end after the first draft! Before you send your manuscript to beta readers and editors, take some time to self-edit your work. This week, we discuss tips to self-editing to be productive and also make it fun.
In this episode, we cover:
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Keeping a checklist and questions to answer
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Reading through your manuscript out loud
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Change the font style, size, or color
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Recognize your “pain words”
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and more!
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our current patron, Kristen Poli
Wednesday May 22, 2024
Wednesday May 22, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
This week we are all about beta reading! Are you considering being a beta? Want to make the experience good for you and the author? Then check out this episode!
In this episode, we cover:
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Questions to ask before agreeing
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Be aware of timeframe
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Formats
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What the Author may want
As always, thanks for listening to The Merry Writer Podcast, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our current patron, Kristen Poli
Wednesday May 15, 2024
Wednesday May 15, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Regardless of whether you're a planner or pantser, do you keep track of your characters? Do you create character profiles? They're fun to make, but time consuming and it can be difficult to decide what info to include in them. This week, we discuss what to add to character profiles for you (and your readers) to know.
In this episode, we cover:
- Which characters may or may not need a profiles
- Benefits of creating character profiles
- Features of a profile (basics, personality, history/background, hobbies, etc.)
- A reminder about including genre-specific info
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
Related Episode: Should Religion Be Included In Your Character Profiles?
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patron, Kristen Poli
Wednesday May 08, 2024
Wednesday May 08, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Have you ever written short-form stories? If you haven't then this episode might just be for you!
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
Want to be a guest on The Merry Writer Podcast? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
At the top of the FAQs Page will be the status regarding whether the applications are currently open.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patron, Kristen Poli
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Have you tried your hand at writing middle grade but struggled making the characters come to life? Don't worry; Serena Labrecque joins us this week to discuss writing middle grade characters well.
In this episode, we cover:
- The popularity of middle grade
- Structuring a middle grade novel
- Researching for a younger audience
- Representation in characters
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
ABOUT SERENA LABRECQUE
Serena Labrecque is a fantasy author and geologist. She published her first two stories in high school with her cousin Shawn’s help. She then received her Bachelors of Science in Geology from the University of Rochester and her Masters from the University at Buffalo. After college, she returned to her dream of becoming an author.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
So, just how long does it take to write a book? You know the answer, we know the answer - but give this episode a listen anyway, to find out why we picked it. :)
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
EDIT: At the time of this episode, we are not currently accepting any more guests right now. Check back regularly to the FAQ page where we will update the status.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of incompetech – Music and also Graph Paper | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patron, Kristen Poli
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Last week, we talked about stretching your word count, but what if you go over your word count? It’s not always easy to cut words and certain scenes. This week, we discuss various ways you can make your manuscript shorter.
In this episode, we cover:
-
Knowing what readers need to know
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Avoiding repetition
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Using stronger vocabulary
-
Watching for filler words
As always, thanks for listening to The Merry Writer Podcast, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Are you an underwriter? Do you often struggle to get your word count up? Then you might enjoy this episode where we discuss what you can do to boost those word counts!
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
Want to be a guest on The Merry Writer Podcast? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
At the top of the FAQs Page will be the status as to whether the applications are currently open.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Writing for children is an art form all on its own. While it has the same pieces as any novel, children’s books are unique and serves a different purpose for its age group. This week, Darlene Foster joins us to discuss why writing for children is so important.
In this episode, we cover:
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Typical themes in children’s books
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How to make these stories age appropriate
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How to make characters relatable for kids
-
How to make impactful children’s books
As always, thanks for listening to The Merry Writer Podcast, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
ABOUT DARLENE FOSTER
Darlene Foster grew up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, where her love of reading inspired her to see the world and write stories. She is the author of the exciting Amanda Travels series featuring spunky Amanda Ross, a twelve-year-old girl who loves to travel. All ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in unique destinations. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her books, Darlene spends time with her family in Canada and in Spain with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. If you still feel like you’re a good fit for the show after reading the FAQs, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page.
Our guest slots for 2024 are FILLED. Our Google Form is closed for the time being. Thank you all for your interest!
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share our episodes on social media, follow the podcast, and engage in the comments.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Do you suffer from perfection? Is it hard to let your manuscript see the light of day because it's not yet "perfect?" Are you striving to be the best beyond all measure? Well, stop it!
In today's episode, we are talking about that insidious condition known as Perfectionism and ways we have been dealing with it and things you can try.
What we cover:
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Done is better than perfect
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It's a form of procrastination
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Its not for YOU alone to make it "perfect"
As always, thanks for listening, and let us know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW?
Want to be a guest on The Merry Writer Podcast? If you would like to be considered, please take the time to read our FAQs Page. Once you've read everything, please fill in the Google Form linked on that page if you feel you could be a good fit.
At the top of the FAQs Page will be the status as to whether the applications are currently open.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Patreon
If you want to support our show and show our little podcast extra love, you can do so by becoming a patron. Consider popping over to our Patreon Page and snapping up some goodies for just $2 a month!
Share
If you enjoy our podcast, please share episodes on social media to spread the word about our show.
CREDITS
Hosts
Music
Intro & Outro – “Inspired” composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of http://www.incompetech.com | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
Special Thanks
Our patrons, Kristen Poli & Plottr