Books. Biceps. No B.S.: Sophia Chang Show

Sophia Chang, Author
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Reese's Book Club LitUp author Sophia busts publishing myths, gives best writing and author voice tips, shares health and fitness for writers, and explores digital minimalism, adult friendship and chronic illness. She says out loud the things you only think. Subscribe if you want to be brave. Featuring debut authors and fitness experts, this is a podcast for fiction writers and creatives. Sophia shares life struggles as a disabled dancer, traditional publishing and agent query advice, and strength training with autoimmune disease after her first deadlift solved 8 years of chronic pain.

  1. Sep 8

    Social Media Made You a Bad Friend: Why a 30-Day Detox Won't Fix It | Ep 82

    "Is social media rotting my brain?" Why are you even asking? You already know the answer is yes. The real question is, "How crappy a friend is social media making me?" I've been off social media since 2018 and when I got dragged back onto Substack last year, kicking and screaming, what I found there isn't just people with wrecked attention spans — it's people who cannot hold onto the one most important thing you ask for: please respect my disability.  Brain rot doesn't just cost you your focus, it costs you your friends. And why does that matter for writers? Being a better friend makes you a better person, which makes you a better creative. This one turned into a rant! If you miss Sophia Chang Show Season 1, hit play. FREE GUIDE — 5 Daily Wellness Habits That Ended 8 Years of Chronic Pain: https://www.sophiachang.com/desk ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Social Media Is Rotting Your Brain — Yes, Really 01:13 Can I Fix My Focus From Social Media Brain Rot? 02:06 Bad Friends Are on Substack Too 03:34 People are Lazy 04:43 I Made a Tutorial. It Didn't Help. 05:14 No One Cares About Your Disability 05:51 "People Don't Read" 06:55 30-Day Detoxes Won't Fix It 07:15 What's the Solution? Party Like It's 1999 💡 IN THIS EPISODE: What happened when I told my entire friend list "if you have my number, we're real friends"The "olds for olds" audio message tutorial I made so nobody would have an excuseWhat my family member said at breakfast that explained the whole thing in three wordsWhy your prefrontal cortex is not coming back in 30 days ⭐ BEST QUOTES: "I will give my phone number like it's candy. I will sprinkle it like it's jelly beans. It is not precious to me." "You would think, my God, why? You don't even know these people. Believe me, nobody actually wants to keep in touch. People are very, very lazy. They have their own lives. They're used to their schedules. They don't care." "The one thing that I have noticed the most of is the inability for people to respect my disability." 🔗 LINKS I PROMISED YOU:How to Send Audio Messages on iPhone (Not Voicemail!) — the Olds for Olds Tutorial Takes 1 minute to learn, and it's an easy way to support your disabled friends. You have no more excuses. Ep 62: Losing Friends from Chronic Illness — Extrovert on Loneliness, Adult Friendship & Social Media Ep 53: 3 Reasons Making Friends is Hard—Because You Make it That Way on Apple On Spotify FREE GUIDE — 5 Daily Wellness Habits That Ended 8 Years of Chronic Pain: https://www.sophiachang.com/desk Includes how I protect my hands, wrists, and eyes at a screen all day with a visual and mobile disability, plus 50% off the Neck Relief Course on DailyFascia and $15 off a 1-on-1 with Erin Tietz. I edit and produce everything on this channel myself, no team. Help me keep creating: ☕ BUY ME A BOBA https://ko-fi.com/sophiachang Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where she shares No B.S. publishing stories and advice she wishes she'd known. Subscribe if you don't want to cry alone. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com Podcast content is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical, health, or fitness advice. TOPICS:digital minimalism, social media detox, social media brain rot, dopamine detox, attention span, deep work, quitting social media, 30 day social media detox, making friends as an adult, adult friendship, voice messages, audio messaging, accessibility, visual impairment, disabled writer, chronic illness, Substack, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, author platform, digital wellbeing, screen time

    Social Media Made You a Bad Friend: Why a 30-Day Detox Won't Fix It | Ep 82

  2. Jun 25

    Character Sheets Are Ruining Your Characters — Here's When to Actually Use Them | Ep 81

    FREE Character Toolkit: https://www.sophiachang.com/character I hate character sheets. Okay, I hate this writing advice. Character sheets as step one is dead wrong and I’m going to tell you what Hollywood actors actually do to find the heart of a character fast. *No character sheets were harmed in the making of this episode. If your characters feel flat, sound the same, or read like a Tindr dating profile—it's time to build from the inside out. Best Quotes: "No one’s going to be moved to tears in the audition room because I wrote down the astrological sign of a character on a character sheet." "You can list the character's wounds all you want. You can list the character's needs. But until you fully dig into that and understand what it really means, it’s just going to be a Tinder profile. And we know how much we like those." "I hate this advice not because character sheets are bad. I think that they're very useful, but only if you do it at the right time. You should not be filling out a character sheet as your step one." IN THIS EPISODE: Why plotters AND pantsers both get character sheets wrongWhat Hollywood actors do to find a character fast that don’t involve knowing her favorite ice cream flavor The character-building approach most writing coaches get backwardsFREE cheat sheet with two actor-based exercises to try right now⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 Worst Writing Advice on Character 00:25 Why I Hate Character Sheets 01:42 Why Hollywood Actors Do Character So Well 02:58 Lights, Camera, Character! 03:48 When SHOULD You Use Character Sheets? 🎬 Want to try these techniques yourself?Grab the FREE Character Cheat Sheet — both actor-based exercises, complete walkthrough, just 4 pages DOWNLOAD FOR FREE: https://www.sophiachang.com/character 📬 No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Subscribe: thesophiachang.substack.com Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where she shares No B.S. publishing stories and advice she wishes she'd known. Subscribe if you don't want to cry alone. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com I edit and produce everything myself, no team. Help me keep creating: ☕ BUY ME A BOBA https://ko-fi.com/sophiachang TOPICS: character development, character sheets, writing advice, writing craft, Hollywood acting techniques, character motivation, Book Finisher Summit, inside-out character building, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community

    Character Sheets Are Ruining Your Characters — Here's When to Actually Use Them | Ep 81

  3. Jun 12

    80. Writers, Don't Follow Your Bliss — Follow Your Anger Instead

    Are your parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? Find out with this FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie You know what's more motivating than following your bliss? Spite and envy. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Kevin Chung on Substack LIVE and it went places. I talk about my 100% query request rate and how dropping out of grad school—TWICE—kickstarted a new career. And for the No B.S. portion, I skewer the entire "redefine success" mantra, and how this advice will keep writers poor. If you've ever experienced the exquisite fury of being told to "follow your bliss" while staring at a medical bill, this one's for you. It's worth watching on video for the Suck Timer alone... Missed Part 1? Start here: https://www.sophiachang.com/podcast/going-blind-fanfiction-reeses-book-club Best Quotes: “This whole "redefine success"—I'm happy for you if that works, but we still live in an actual world where we need to feed ourselves. I'm a child of immigrants and war refugees—I'm just trying to eat here.” “The people making six figures off Substack paid subscribers are going, "Follow your bliss, redefine success, stay in your own lane." And I just want to be like, You are so privileged.” “I'm working on my seventh novel. I have celebrity book club backing. My last query was 100% request rate. There is no doubt I am at the top of my game and only getting better. But I still ask myself, how do I suck and how can I fix that suck?” “It used to be good writing was enough to get you in. It isn't anymore.” IN THIS EPISODE: The trap of overfocusing on the query pitch instead of what happens AFTER you get in the roomDoes writing to market actually work? TikTok trends, here we come!The Maslow's hierarchy and economic reality check nobody in the writing space talks aboutBalancing author platform building with actually finishing your novelHow radical acceptance of anger, envy, and spite makes you a better writer1-minute bravery challengeTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Embracing the Suck Counter 00:33 How I Got a 100% Query Letter Request Rate from Literary Agents 01:17 Dropping out of Grad School Twice Launched a New Career 03:43 Trap of Overfocusing on the Query 05:35 Does Writing to Market Actually Work in Traditional Publishing? 08:45 Follow Your Bliss is Privileged B.S. 12:41 If it Won't Sustain You, It Will Make You Resentful 14:14 Balancing Platform with Finding Time to Write 21:34 Best Advice for Authors Starting Over from Scratch 23:25 How Anger, Envy, and "Bad" Emotions Make You a Better Writer 25:58 1-Minute Writing Challenge: Write the Most Honest Thing You've Ever Written ⏰ HAPPENING NOW — FREE SUMMIT WORKSHOP I'm speaking at the Book Finishers Summit on June 25 — Day 1 (available at 8am ET)! My talk: Lights, Camera, Character! The Actor's Guide to Writing Unforgettable Characters. An on-demand workshop with FREE cheatsheet. SIGN UP for FREE: https://link.sophiachang.com/bookfinishers 📬 STAY CONNECTED I edit and produce everything myself, no team. Help me keep creating! BUY ME A BOBA: https://ko-fi.com/sophiachang No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Plus, you get my FREE workbook: 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at www.sophiachang.com/hollywood On Substack? Subscribe, don’t follow: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where she shares No B.S. publishing stories and advice she wishes she'd known. Subscribe if you don't want to cry alone. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TOPICS: traditional publishing, query letter tips, literary agent rejection, writing to market, author platform, career reinvention, chronic illness and writing, writing craft, toxic positivity, honest writing, digital minimalism, AAPI Heritage Month, Asian American author

    80. Writers, Don't Follow Your Bliss — Follow Your Anger Instead

  4. May 27

    Going Blind: From Fanfiction to Reese’s Book Club (VIDEO) | How to Reinvent Yourself as a Writer | Ep 79

    For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask:Are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Madonna. Babs Bunny. Sophia Chang. The trifecta of reinvention. (In my childhood dreams, at least.) Kevin Chung from Standout Creatives interviewed me on Substack LIVE and this is Part 1: my origin story about reinvention as a survival mechanism. Find out how losing my eyesight led to extremely smutty Harry Potter fan fiction—and the launch of my writing career including a Reese's Book Club fellowship. We talk about social media destroying your ability to think for yourself and the Ronny Chieng lesson I try to embody every time I pick up the mic. IN THIS EPISODE: Why reinvention is survival, not a self-help meme or a marketing ployHow a silhouette can be racial (?!)Going blind and wheelchair-bound—and writing my way out of itGetting the Reese's Book Club fellowshipThe Be The Most You writer manifesto: you are what makes your writing Timestamps: 00:00 When I Grow Up, I Want to be Famous... 01:01 Madonna and Babs Bunny: My Reinvention Idols 02:19 How Can A Silhouette Be Racist? 03:02 Reinvention as Survival, Not a Self-Help Meme 05:50 Going Blind and Wheelchair-bound: A Forced Reinvention 08:16 Harry Potter Fanfiction Smut 12:09 Is Social Media Destroying Your Voice? 15:18 Creative Advice on Bravery from Ronny Chieng 18:06 Summits, Unsubscribes, and Your Author Voice Subscribe to this podcast for Part 2: pitching your book, selling yourself, and my 100% request rate querying agents; why "follow your bliss" is a privileged lie; and how radical acceptance of your darkest feelings makes you a better writer. For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: are you actually ready for traditional publishing or are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant? Find out with my FREE flowchart — plus get access to Ask Sophia Q&A where you can submit a question for me to answer on the podcast. https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where her honest traditional publishing stories will make you scream in your sleep. Subscribe to find out why deadlifts will save your writing life. TOPICS: reinvention, author voice, disability and writing, digital minimalism, Harry Potter fan fiction, social media detox, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, MOG antibody disease, extroverted writers

    Going Blind: From Fanfiction to Reese’s Book Club (VIDEO) | How to Reinvent Yourself as a Writer | Ep 79

  5. May 13

    Ep 78: Hasan Hates Ronny | 3 Must-Watch Shows for AAPI Heritage Month

    For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: Are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Happy Asian American Month! We’re 12 days in because THIS Asian was taken out by an immunosuppressed spoonie’s worst nightmare: the common cold. Stop coughing with your mouth open, people. But I’m here! Wearing lucky red, and I have three pieces of Asian media that hit me so hard I had to drag myself to the mic. One preaches hatred as the answer (trust me, you’ll laugh). One is 49 episodes of your Japan bucket list. And one made me want to write plays again after months of creative burnout. Also: boba of the week. Obviously. And! A surprise BIG RED guest. Best Quotes: "Autoimmune diseases hate Asians and the Asian it hates the most is me. Happy Asian American month, everybody." "Comedians are the hardest audience. Once you do some standup, nothing else will phase you." "I wrote plays because there weren't any parts for Asians. You had to create your own. Things aren’t different now." IN THIS EPISODE: • Hasan Hates Ronny, Ronny Hates Hasan: who’s most Asian?! The rivalry show that proves Asians will save America • Why female comedians can only say certain things privately (both sides would come for me) • 49 episodes of Terrace House and why I need to visit a hockey player's dad's soba shop in Japan • Love is Blind France is high-key a Vietnamese show and beating America in diversity • Kim's Convenience the PLAY (before Simu Liu, there was a stage) • The 24-hour play-a-thon that became a peak life moment and made me mic-drop out of LA • Boba of the week: the older I get, the more Asian my stomach gets Timestamps: 00:00 12 Days Late for AAPI Month Because Autoimmune Disease Hates Asians 00:50 Comedy Show #1 Hasan Hates Ronny, Ronny Hates Hasan: Hatred is the Answer 03:33 TV Show #2 49 Episodes of Terrace House 07:10 Stage #3 Before Simu, Kim's Convenience Was a Play 09:19 Surprise Guest Appearance (Red Pandas Anyone?) 09:43 Boba of the Week: My Perfume Drink Obsession 10:28 Subscribe So We Can Be AZN Friends! For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: are you actually ready for traditional publishing or are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant? Find out with my FREE flowchart — plus get access to Ask Sophia Q&A where you can submit a question for me to answer on the podcast. https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where her honest traditional publishing stories will make you scream in your sleep. Subscribe to find out why deadlifts will save your writing life. http://sophiachang.com/ TOPICS: AAPI Heritage Month, Asian American media, Asian American author, Hasan Minhaj, Ronny Chieng, Terrace House, Kim's Convenience, Turning Red, Asian representation, comedy, Asian American culture, traditional publishing, writing community, boba tea, podcast for writers

    Ep 78: Hasan Hates Ronny | 3 Must-Watch Shows for AAPI Heritage Month

  6. Apr 21

    Ep 77: Do I Sound Like AI? Author Voice, Boring Writing & Pseudonyms

    FREE Find Your Author Voice Quiz: https://www.sophiachang.com/voicequizPart 2 where I answer your questions from my 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice presentation including: "Is my voice boring?" — the two questions to ask yourself before you panicWhat if you sound like AI? (Plot twist: your "proper" voice might be your superpower)How to turn your worst writing tics into your most memorable character voiceWhich to use for query letters: author voice, narrator voice, or character voice?Writing under a pseudonym: does your voice change or just put on a different outfit?Can you say no to your editor? (Even when the editor is you!)The time I over-edited my seventh novel and had to resurrect a previous draftWhy people unsubscribing feels like guests leaving your party mid-canapeMy surprising take on short story collections as a marketing power moveDoes anyone want to hear about my ridiculous life? (The survey results are in and I'm wounded)TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Question 1: Is My Writing Voice Boring? 00:47 What If I Sound Like AI? 02:08 Question 2: What If I Naturally Use Minimizing Words? 03:35 Question 3: Which Voice to Use in a Query Letter? 06:45 Question 4: Same Voice, Different Pseudonym? 07:53 Question 5: Can I Say No to My Editor? 09:57 Unsubscribes and Rejection: You Can't Control People Leaving Your Party 12:28 Question 6: Short Story Collections—Art or Marketing? 14:24 Question 7-ish: Do You Really Want Behind the Scenes? Sign up for my newsletter Books. Biceps. No BS. to get the FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing Flowchart and access to Ask Sophia Q&A, plus more writing craft tips and publishing advice! https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TOPICS: author voice, writing voice, query letter tips, writing Q&A, author branding, pseudonym writing, self-editing tips, writing craft, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, finding your voice, digital minimalism

    Ep 77: Do I Sound Like AI? Author Voice, Boring Writing & Pseudonyms

  7. Apr 7

    Ep 76: Narrator vs Char vs Author Voice?! 3 Writing Voices Every Fiction Writer Needs (LIVE)

    FREE Find Your Author Voice Quiz: https://www.sophiachang.com/voicequiz Author voice, character voice, narrator voice…what even is the difference?! And do I really need to know all three? This was the question blowing up the chat during my presentation 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at last month’s Perfect Your Process Summit. There were so many good questions and not enough time, that I am now answering them in a Substack LIVE. This is your no-stress guide to the three different types of voice in novel writing, why you're accidentally leaking into your characters, and my deranged pantser method of using voice to draft my fiction books before I even have a character (or any story structure at all!) Quotes: “You want to be very careful about imparting your voice into your characters because that's how all your characters tend to sound the same." "I could have the hookiest of hooks. But if I don't have a voice in my head, I can't get started. I don't even know how to get started." In this episode: Differentiating author, narrator, and character voice and where they work in your writing processWhy your first draft isn’t the time to perfect voice—catch it in revision!Can your characters be you when you're writing in first person a character who shares your demographics? (fanfiction self-inserts exempt...)"Do I even have an author voice?" Yes. You do.And this is just Part 1!I answer the summit's biggest voice fears—boring voice, AI voice, query letter voice, and saying no to your editor—in Part 2. Subscribe to this show to catch the rest! FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchart Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Author Voice 00:49 Question #1: How do you impart your voice into your characters while still making them distinct? 01:34 When should I worry about these 3 voices? 02:32 Question #2: Should you make yourself the character? 04:22 Question #3: Do I have an author voice if my writing is character-driven? 05:22 Definitions: What is character, narrator and author voice? 06:55 Get it in revision! 07:28 Beginning a story on voice alone?! 08:57 In Part 2: Voice examples, application + short story question Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: ⁠www.sophiachang.com⁠ TOPICS: author voice, character voice, narrator voice, writing voice tips, how to find your writing voice, pantser writing process, writing craft, first person writing, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, books and fitness podcast

    Ep 76: Narrator vs Char vs Author Voice?! 3 Writing Voices Every Fiction Writer Needs (LIVE)

  8. Mar 21

    Ep 75: I'm presenting at Perfect Your Process summit! (LIVE)

    What is author voice—and why is it the #1 thing agents and editors look for? FREE Find Your Author Voice Quiz: https://www.sophiachang.com/voicequiz In my first Substack live video, I share why I'm presenting at the Perfect Your Process Summit 2026, how my Hollywood acting career taught me what makes a writer's voice unforgettable, and how you can join me for free. 3 or 4 years ago I fell down the online writing summit rabbit hole. As a disabled writer, it was my only way to connect with other authors. I discovered some British guy named Daniel David Wallace and followed everything he did. Now in 2026, I'm certified in his Character-First teaching method, I work with him, I've hired him to coach my own novels—and I'm finally presenting at one of these summits I used to watch from the sidelines. My 2018 phone couldn’t handle the 97 degree heat so some of the sync is off in the recording. IN THIS VIDEO: • How I booked my second audition ever—and what casting directors taught me about snap judgments • What got me full manuscript requests on every novel I queried • Why Hollywood was easier than traditional publishing (!!) • What happened when I built an AI bot to replicate my voice • Why author voice is the one thing that AI-proofs your writing • What you get with the free summit pass vs. the All Access Pass 🎟️ The summit is FREE to watch live (March 21–24, 2026). Talks lock after 24 hours. The All Access Pass ($87) gives you lifetime replays, transcripts, a private podcast feed, and speaker bonuses. Price goes up after March 21! 👉 Grab the All Access Pass through my link: https://summit.yourwritingprocess.com/?sc=aXR7SFnR&ac=Ad77WPKY It costs you nothing extra and supports my work. And I will love you forever. 👉 My talk goes live: Tuesday, March 24 at 2 PM Pacific 📓 FREE Find Your Author Voice Quiz: https://www.sophiachang.com/voicequiz 0:00 Why I'm doing this live in 97-degree heat 0:30 How I fell down the online summit rabbit hole 1:07 Discovering Daniel David Wallace 1:46 The All Access Pass — what you get and why it's worth it 3:09 My talk: 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice 3:16 Why I'm really good at pitching (and what that has to do with acting) 4:02 Booking my second audition ever — and what casting taught me 5:05 Why Hollywood was actually easier than traditional publishing 6:06 Why AI can never replicate your voice 7:56 Summit link Topics: author voice, writing craft, writing tips, find your voice, writing summit, Perfect Your Process, Daniel David Wallace, novel writing, writing process, query tips, how to write a novel, Reese's Book Club, writing advice, AI-proof your writing, author voice exercises

    Ep 75: I'm presenting at Perfect Your Process summit! (LIVE)
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Reese's Book Club LitUp author Sophia busts publishing myths, gives best writing and author voice tips, shares health and fitness for writers, and explores digital minimalism, adult friendship and chronic illness. She says out loud the things you only think. Subscribe if you want to be brave. Featuring debut authors and fitness experts, this is a podcast for fiction writers and creatives. Sophia shares life struggles as a disabled dancer, traditional publishing and agent query advice, and strength training with autoimmune disease after her first deadlift solved 8 years of chronic pain.

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