Reality Writes

Ellie Alexander
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Reality Writes Podcast stars bestselling mystery author Ellie Alexander and her Tech Guy husband as they reveal the ins and outs of writing. Ellie, who has written for big names like Macmillan and Simon & Schuster, and indie publishers like Storm, shares her journey from story ideas to publishing. Together, they dive into the highs, lows, and funny moments of creating captivating stories. With a blend of humor and honesty, Reality Writes offers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing world. So grab your coffee (or wine) and join Ellie and the Tech Guy for some story-spinning secrets.

  1. When the Story Takes Over—What Really Happens When Your Book Changes Mid-Draft

    APR 30

    When the Story Takes Over—What Really Happens When Your Book Changes Mid-Draft

    Send us a message! Have you ever wondered what really happens between the book an author planned to write and the one that ends up in your hands? In this episode of Reality Writes, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most surprising — and honestly, sometimes terrifying — parts of the writing process. The truth is, even the most thorough outline is really just a starting point. Once you're deep in a draft, characters start feeling more real, threads reveal themselves, and sometimes the story you thought you were writing turns into something completely different. And that's not a failure. That's actually a sign it's working. In this episode, we dig into: Why mid-draft plot changes are a feature, not a bug — and why I tell my writing students to expect themHow to track structural changes so nothing falls through the cracksThe real meaning of "kill your darlings" (Tech Guy finally learned what it means)Why sample chapters at the back of a book are never quite finalWhat happens when the killer changes — and you have to rebuild every threadThe biggest manuscript overhaul I've ever faced (hint: it involved a 2027 book, and I basically gutted the whole thing)Whether you're a writer navigating your first draft or a reader curious about what goes on before a book reaches you, this one's for you. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    27 min
  2. Independent Bookstore Day—Why Your Local Shops Matter

    APR 23

    Independent Bookstore Day—Why Your Local Shops Matter

    Send us a message! Independent Bookstore Day is April 25th—and we're kicking off the celebration early! 📚 In this episode of Reality Writes, we're sharing everything you need to know about why indie bookstores are so much more than just a place to buy books. From the ongoing comeback story of independent booksellers across the U.S. to the very personal ways these shops help create community, connection, and discovery—this one's a love letter to your local bookstore. We cover why the in-store experience is so desirable, the awesome economic impact of shopping local, how indie booksellers have become a third space for readers, why pre-ordering from your local shop is a triple win, and how to support indie bookstores online through services like bookshop.org and Libro.fm even if you don't have one nearby. Plus, The Tech Guy completes his Dungeon Crawler Carl collection courtesy of Beach Books in Seaside, OR, and I share my upcoming appearances at Copper Bell Books in Ridgefield, WA, on Thursday, April 23rd, and Vintage Books in Vancouver, WA on Saturday, April 25th, Indie Bookstore Day! Love indie bookstores as much as we do? Drop your favorite shop in the comments. We want to know where you love to browse and start building a list of shops to visit! And, if you haven't subscribed yet, hit that button so you never miss an episode of Reality Writes. Happy reading, darlings! Links: Bookshop.org Libro.fm Copper Bell Books Vintage Books 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    28 min
  3. A Death In The Dark—A New Mystery Plotted on a Road Trip

    APR 16

    A Death In The Dark—A New Mystery Plotted on a Road Trip

    Send us a message! A man staggers into a detective agency covered in blood with no memory of the night before and... The Tech Guy and I go spoiler free on a brand-new cozy mystery, A Death In The Dark, the latest entry in my Novel Detectives series (a spin off connected to the Secret Bookcase Mysteries), then pull back the curtain on how the story came together in a very specific place: a six-hour road trip with a my runner son as my brainstorming partner. We also get practical about the publishing side, including why the ebook release lands before the paperback this time and what a big US print run means for local bookstores. If you’re a reader who loves series order, new releases, and behind-the-scenes context, we keep it clear and friendly without giving away the twists. For writers, we talk about how to plot a mystery novel from a single “glimmer” of an idea, how asking what-if and why questions generates suspects and motives fast, and why research matters even when most of it never makes it onto the page. We even touch on dialogue and grammar, because sometimes writing “wrong” is exactly how you make characters sound real. Subscribe for more writer-ish and bookish chats, share the show with a friend, and leave us a rating or review so more book lovers and writers can find Reality Writes. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    28 min

  4. APR 2

    First Draft Pitfalls—5 Things for Writers to Watch for

    Send us a message! You've done it — you've written a first draft! But before you send it out into the world, there are five common pitfalls that trip up nearly every new writer, and I've seen them time and time again while coaching my writing students.  In this episode, The Tech Guy and I walk through each one: scenes that take place in a vacuum, too many characters, info dumping, a missing emotional arc, and stilted dialogue.  These aren't things to be embarrassed about — they show up in every first draft, including mine. The goal is to know what to look for so your second pass can really make your story sing. Whether you're working on your first novel or you're a reader who's ever thought "wait, where are we right now?" — this one's for you. Tune in and let us know what you think! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    30 min
  5. Why Reading Matters—And What We Can Do About It

    MAR 26

    Why Reading Matters—And What We Can Do About It

    Send us a message! Reading is in trouble — and not just for kids. In this episode, I'm sitting down with the Tech Guy to talk about some genuinely alarming statistics about literacy in the United States, discuss why reading matters more than ever, and share some easy, actionable ways you can help turn things around.  From the surprising health benefits of cracking open a book (six minutes of reading cuts stress by 68%!) to how you can get more young readers excited about books in your community, this episode is a shoutout to all the readers out there to take action.  Grab something warm, settle in, and let's talk about why you — yes, you — are making a difference just by being a reader. Let us know what you think! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    29 min
  6. The 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Festival—Author Lineup Revealed

    MAR 19

    The 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Festival—Author Lineup Revealed

    Send us a message! The announcement you've been waiting for is here, darlings! I'm so excited to reveal the author lineup for the 4th Annual Ashland Mystery Festival — October 8th through 11th, 2026 in Ashland, Oregon. In this episode, The Tech Guy and I share who's joining us this year, including a brand-new cozy adjacent element that I think is going to absolutely blow your minds. We also talk about what makes this festival unlike anything else in the mystery world, what to expect from the weekend, and a little teaser about the Saturday night dinner theme. If you've ever wanted to spend four days fully immersed in cozy mystery goodness surrounded by authors and fellow readers, this one's for you. We'll see you in Ashland! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    28 min
  7. Why Setting Matters—Building the World of Your Story

    MAR 12

    Why Setting Matters—Building the World of Your Story

    Send us a message! Ellie Alexander and the Tech Guy explore the role of setting in storytelling and why the places where stories unfold are just as important as the characters themselves. Ellie shares how she approaches choosing locations for her books, including the decision between using real places and creating fictional towns. They also discuss the advantages of small-town versus big-city settings in mystery novels, the research writers do to bring locations to life, and how sensory details like smells, sounds, and atmosphere can make readers feel like they’re inside the story. The episode provides practical advice for writers, including how to track important details about your fictional world so your setting stays consistent throughout an entire series. 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    32 min
  8. Writer and Reader Scams—How to Avoid Them

    MAR 5

    Writer and Reader Scams—How to Avoid Them

    Send us a message! Online scams are getting smarter—and both writers and readers are being targeted.In this episode of Reality Writes, the Tech Guy and I break down the most common scams we’re seeing right now in the publishing and book world.From AI-generated emails inviting authors to fake book clubs, to scammers pretending to be literary agents, to bots impersonating authors on social media—we share real examples of what these scams look like and how to avoid them.We also talk about why we stopped running giveaways on social media after one of my accounts was spoofed, how scammers trick readers into sharing personal information, and why you should never pay for an advance reader copy of a book.Have you experienced any of the scams we discuss in this episode? Any others that we should know about? Help spread the word by letting us know in the comments! 🎉 Join me on Patreon for bonus content. Website Instagram YouTube TikTok Etsy Bookbub Facebook

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Reality Writes Podcast stars bestselling mystery author Ellie Alexander and her Tech Guy husband as they reveal the ins and outs of writing. Ellie, who has written for big names like Macmillan and Simon & Schuster, and indie publishers like Storm, shares her journey from story ideas to publishing. Together, they dive into the highs, lows, and funny moments of creating captivating stories. With a blend of humor and honesty, Reality Writes offers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing world. So grab your coffee (or wine) and join Ellie and the Tech Guy for some story-spinning secrets.

Information

  • Creator
    Ellie Alexander
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ellie Alexander
  • Show Website
    Reality Writes

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