Writer Craft Podcast

Valerie Ihsan
  • 5.0（2則評分）
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Welcome to the Writer Craft Podcast, a show about creativity and craft. Remember when you told your sister stories in the night, snuggled under the covers of your waterbed? Or read books from the public library that delighted you? And now you've written your own novel. But will it change someone's life? Is it a good enough book? Does it even work on the story level? On the Writer Craft Podcast, we help authors stay motivated and inspired, finish their books, and show them how to analyze and diagnose areas of challenge in their manuscripts once it's written.

  1. 2 天前

    Flawed Female Leads with guest Heather Snodgrass

    Flawed Female Leads with guest Heather Snodgrass PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (2 presentations to prep for) feeling some feelings lately about the finality of the move and the recognition of Last Times I Will See/Do ...    (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition   What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:  None of This is True (Lisa Jewell) Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  • Summer of Night (Dan Simmons) My Favorite Thing is Monsters (gn) Batman: The Long Halloween (gn) Flash Fiction America: 73 Very Short Stories Heather: authorheathersnodgrass.com  Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: Hi! My name is Heather Snodgrass. I have always had a love for novels, movies, and the creative arts. I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2007 as an actor and have pursued different avenues to bring stories to life.  I currently live with my husband, JD, and dogs, in Colorado, but I have lived in many places and I enjoy traveling. I also enjoy playing video games and gardening. Like Ariana, I have a playlist for everything I do and I love to have people make me a playlist about themselves when they meet. I am more than happy to share mine with anyone interested. Unapologetic female leads: In a time when we're drawn to flawed characters; the Real is coming through. Personal growth journey Tips for writing strong women without bashing men: Draw from personal experience, and talk to men and women Is a women punished more than a man for doing things? Ask a societal question and asking the character What makes a human strong? A Love Letter to Reading And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

    57 分鐘

  2. 10月22日

    How Point of View Affects Your Story (Ep203)

    How POV Affects Your Story PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (2 presentations to prep for) feeling some feelings lately about the finality of the move and the recognition of Last Times I Will See/Do ...  Also having some "Get over it" feelings about not showing up online. I used to show up more in pictures and words on social media and blogged (wrote a lot of personal essays), and since I've become a published author (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition Ghost Story Weekend (Newport) What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:   The Witch of Willow Sound Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  • Summer of Night (Dan Simmons) My Favorite Thing is Monsters (gn)   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: POV = promise: what intimacy, information, and bias will the reader get? • 1st = interiority + voice; close 3rd = balance of interior/exterior; omniscient = scope + theme. The camera test: what can the narrator see/know/believe in this scene? • Ban anything they couldn't realistically perceive; use misbeliefs to create tension. Distance is a dial, not a switch: • Zoom in (sensory, thought-beat, micro-movements) for emotion; zoom out (summary, context) for pace/theme. POV shifts = scene breaks + reason: • Change only to add net new conflict, clue, or consequence. Track continuity of diction and metaphor. Try this: rewrite a 200-word scene in 1st, close 3rd, and omniscient. • Ask: which version delivers the most tension, clarity, and theme resonance?   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

    51 分鐘

  3. 10月15日

    Finding Voice and Author Identity with Anne Abel

    Main Topic:  Finding Voice and Author Identity Through Social Media, with guest Anne Abel. PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up  (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition Anne: book launch  What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:    Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  Down the River Unto the Sea (Walter Moseley) Summer of Night (Dan Simmons)   Anne's Read: YellowFace, Entitlement (Aman) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: Anne's IG page: instagram.com/annesimaabel   Memoir and social media are the same to me in terms of what I'm posting; openly share about mental health (that how I began); by sharing stories and share hope Shorter the better (video on IG and TikTok). 3 minutes max.  Innovation and Hope TED Talk, social media opened up my world (origin story, transformation, be proud of); ideas: say YES; do your best  Reels, hook, social media isn't writing -- talk about what excites you instead of focusing on writer's block.  Just do your best.   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

    51 分鐘

  4. 10月9日

    Writing the Hybrid Memoir

    (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price, and for 24 hours only starting now, the paid in full price -- with an extra whole month of coaching for free and ANOTHER LIVE discount on top-- is $1333 for FIVE months of coaching. The price will never be this low again. There is also a monthly payment option. Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details. The replay to last night's masterclass The Alchemy of Memory is up for another 24 hours, and then it goes away, along with the LIVE Launch price. Aligned Author officially starts on Wednesday, October 22nd, so the special Launch price will be in affect only until then. Secret podcast is in the works (it's actually a secret memoir). Working on two at the same time (in true Generator, Aries, Futurist fashion): Pura Vida Bound project chronicling our move to Costa Rica (never written a live memoir before), and this secret one that I'm not ready to talk about. getting rid of furniture and starting to paint inside this week; Ali's been working on touching up the paint outside and painting the fascia boards for under the new gutters. Hired the shipping company, our shipping pickup date is December 15 (a Monday), and then we'll leave after that. Getting ready for our going away party, doubling as Rental Ready date. Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (still need to rental a place for that!) (Erick):  What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:    Sounds Like Love (Ashley Poston) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore) Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes:   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

    26 分鐘

  5. 10月1日

    Onboarding Ghostwriting Clients: How to Identify Needs, Set Scope, and Build Trust

    Free masterclass: The Alchemy of Memory — Writing the Hybrid Memoir (Wed, Oct 8, 2025). Learn to braid personal narrative with research, family history, and big ideas—plus structures, privacy choices, and momentum tools. Includes a short meditation + oracle card pull. Save your seat → valerieihsan.com/hybrid   ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): planning my free masterclass on hybrid memoir writing for October 8th. (Erick): booked all the conferences for the rest of the year; new ghostwriting ads; working on new series of stories;  What are you reading? Valerie:  (need recommendations for audio books) Just finished:   The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland (Rachael Herron) Sounds Like Love (Ashley Poston) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore) Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion gaming books (DnD campaign) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes:   Mindset as a customer vs the provider: Customer: 1. Know what you need 2. Know where you are in process 3. Know how you are talking to 4. Have willingness to learn what I don't know; Provider: 1. Identify what client needs 2. Can I provide that 3. Build rapport 4. Where does the job fit in the calendar? 5. Signing the contract   Hiring and Firing (+ screening process): start with identifying what the client needs. (Receiving 5 or 6 emails a week.) Screen out those that don't have an idea of what they want, unrealistic expectations (always unhappy with results); build relationships/collaborations; sub-contractor contracts because too many anchor projects; referral service/hub -- writer running a writing business; Know what you are willing to do   Red Flags: need too much education around industry (pie in the sky expectations); respect and value for the work/time/energy; wants something that you don't know how to do or don't want to offer (do you need the $, try it and see if you like it);    Forecasting Jobs: anchor jobs and satellite jobs   Ideal Client: temperament, communication, adaptability, rapport (educated about writing a plus), open to suggestions, know what they want   And don't forget: Free masterclass: The Alchemy of Memory — Writing the Hybrid Memoir (Wed, Oct 8, 2025). Learn to braid personal narrative with research, family history, and big ideas—plus structures, privacy choices, and momentum tools. Includes a short meditation + oracle card pull. Save your seat → valerieihsan.com/hybrid   Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link

    49 分鐘

  6. 9月25日

    Intentionality in Writing: Hendrika de Vries on Resistance, Feminism, and Telling the Truth

    Main Topic:  "Intentionality in Writing: Hendrika de Vries on Resistance, Feminism, and Telling the Truth" PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***  Free masterclass: The Alchemy of Memory — Writing the Hybrid Memoir (Wed, Oct 8, 2025). Learn to braid personal narrative with research, family history, and big ideas—plus structures, privacy choices, and momentum tools. Includes a short meditation + oracle card pull. Save your seat → valerieihsan.com/hybrid   ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): prepping for yard sale; planning my free masterclass on hybrid memoir writing for October 8th. (Erick): Southwest Writers Conference speaking gig last weekend, working on new conference pitches; (What can I create new for them?); new Google ads running right now for ghostwriting and editing (Henrika): Santa Barbara writing community; Chicago Lit Festival (met with other She Writes Press writers)  What are you reading? Valerie:  Unstuck (Rachael Herron) (need recommendations for audio books) Just finished:    Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore) Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion (Hendrika): Swimming Pretty (history of aquatic swimming by Vicki Valosik); Why We Swim (Bonnie Tsui) (how we lose our differences); Black Cake (Charmaine Wilkerson)(protagonist is a swimmer) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes:   Hendrika is a retired family therapist, a teacher, and a writer, chronicling her life experiences with oppression and resistance in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, migration, competitive swimming, and misogyny in 1950s Australia. A fierce feminist and activist, de Vries infuses her writing with historical depth and personal perspective on challenges facing women and anyone deemed other. She is the author of When a Toy Dog Became a Wolf and the Moon Broke Curfew, award-winning memoir of her WWII childhood. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times and the LA Times. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA. Find out more about her at www.agirlfromamsterdam.com. 2019 Mary Sarton Women's Book Award winner 2019 Nautilus Award for Memoir and Personal Journey winner Non-fiction Author Association Gold 2020 Eric Hoffer First Horizon and Culture award winner 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist - Memoirs  2021 NYC Big Book Awards winner - Memoir and Young Adult Non-fiction    Intentionality in Writing: Hendrika de Vries on Resistance, Feminism, and Telling the Truth   Valerie's notes: They aren't just our stories. How have other people done this? How our story relates to the human story. Allowed the little girl to have a voice. How to structure to allow the reader relate to inner experience. intuitive writer, start with notes, jot down memories, voice arrives (I was walking; I was unhappy, how does this relate); authentic voice is how it starts, gradually themes show up. Layers.  Differences between essay and memoir (angry vs what is the story here) learn life-saving: look at the risks, sometimes when you try to save someone, they'll try to drown you. face life as an athlete, commitment and dedication, couldn't translate to writing process (haha), grab time, 11-2 magic time to write, set aside time a few times a week to write (let the story come); think about it while swimming and walking;  risk life to follow values but measuring the risk;  "truth-telling is activist resistance" (Bruce Lipton); The Year of Living Kindly (Donna Cameron) my childhood experiences were psychological examples of resistance: how do we move through difficult times; is memoir self-indulgent? 2017 saw Neo-nazis walking in Virginia then knew others needed to hear about my story because I didn't think this could ever happen again; themes/resistance/loss/what sustains us? How do we create these turning points? How do these define us? Focus on the human resistance (victimhood wasn't allowed); find the good moments; pacing in the story (and our lives) mixing the trauma with tenderness and humor. Find the light in the moments. Don't do it alone. Writers conferences and being with other writers. Share stories and being in community, stimulates our writing, not being afraid to share. Find your community.  Robert Jay Lifton:  "Surviving Our Catastrophes"    Henrik's first memoir: When a Toy Dog Became a Wolf and the Moon Broke Curfew (also available in audio now) "Open Turns: From Dutch Girl to New Australian" Hendrika de Vries | September 2, 2025 | She Writes Press | Memoir  Paperback | 978-1647429508 | $17.99  Ebook | 978-1647429515 | $12.99      And don't forget: Free masterclass: The Alchemy of Memory — Writing the Hybrid Memoir (Wed, Oct 8, 2025). Learn to braid personal narrative with research, family history, and big ideas—plus structures, privacy choices, and momentum tools. Includes a short meditation + oracle card pull. Save your seat → valerieihsan.com/hybrid   Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

    1 小時 4 分鐘

  7. 9月3日

    The Art of Starting Over: Getting Back Into Your Writing Flow

    ✨ Writer Craft Podcast | Episode 198 🎙️ The Art of Starting Over: Getting Back Into Your Writing Flow 📅 Recorded on September 3, 2025 🎧 Hosted by Valerie Ihsan & Erick Mertz 💬 Episode Summary Welcome back, Writers and Crafters! In this soul-nourishing episode, Valerie and Erick explore what it really takes to return to your writing routine after a break. Whether you've been away for weeks or months, we offer compassionate strategies, creative rituals, and mindset shifts to help you gently restart your writing life—without falling into guilt, shame, or perfectionism. ✨ Main Topic: "The Art of Starting Over: Getting Back Into Your Writing Flow" 🔥 Key themes: creative rhythm, return rituals, reframing productivity, embodied discipline, and more. 💡 In This Episode: Segment 1: Author Updates & Announcements Valerie shares updates from the road: memory-making, travel, and rental-ready logistics Plans for a free masterclass on hybrid memoirs coming in October 🎉 Erick's gearing up for speaking at a writing conference and Ghost Story Weekend in Newport with Wordcrafters Running ads, finishing client work, and preparing for a busy season 📚 What We're Reading: Valerie: Creative Act (Rick Rubin) High Hopes by Anne Abel (coming to the podcast in October!) In progress: Four Thousand Weeks (Oliver Burkeman), The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz), The Teller of Small Fortunes (Julie Leong) Erick: About Grace  (Anthony Doerr) Segment 2: Resources, Tips & Tidbits 🔍 Tidbit of the week: Umarell — an Italian word for retired men who watch construction sites 👀 Bonus tips for mindset shifts and productivity hacks Segment 3: Main Topic - The Art of Starting Over Restate your writing goal: has it changed or evolved? Rebuild with rhythm, not rigidity Try a "return ritual": a gentle Artist's Way-style reentry (oracle cards, candles, morning pages, or altar time) Give it time: 3 days to wrap your mind around restarting 3 weeks to settle into a new rhythm Replace guilt with grace. You're not behind—you're beginning again. 🧰 Resources & Recommendations 💚 Get 48% off your first subscription of Magic Mind (mental performance + sleep shot) Claim it here → magicmind.com/VALERIE20 Use code VALERIE20 at checkout #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance 🧠 Writing Tools We Love: 👉 ProWriting Aid (affiliate link) Perfect for editing and polishing your writing with AI-backed insights. 🌱 Join Our Communities 🎉 Support the podcast and get writing resources, books, and exclusive coaching content: 🖋️ Valerie's Patreon → patreon.com/valerieihsan 📖 Erick's Patreon → patreon.com/strangeairmysteries 💬 Want to work with Valerie 1:1? Schedule a free consultation: valerieihsan.com 🔗 Stay Connected 📲 Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan 📲 Erick's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor

    39 分鐘

  8. 8月28日

    How to Write a Book That Grows Your Business and Honors Your Spirit

    Main Topic:  How to Write a Book That Grows Your Business and Honors Your Spirit (Help soul-led entrepreneurs see how writing a book can amplify their work without losing authenticity or feeling salesy.) PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): I've been getting a lot of hits from the universe in the form of repeated messaging that I need to triple down on the the learning in public. I just can't wait until my life and mission statement is perfect before I show up online with a lesson neatly tied with a bow. First, that just prevents me from posting anything. Second, I'm hearing a lot lately that people aren't looking for gurus anymore. They don't want perfection. They can't relate to that. They want to watch the messy middle, and when I heard that (again), the realization hit. I write memoirs about how I got through something and what I learned along the way. I read memoirs so that I can see how they got through something. I want to be inspired by watching (reading) them pull themselves out of the mire and accomplish something difficult, because I want to do that too. "We just want to see real women figuring it out." (Tatyana Gosh) So, I'm going to start really showing up online with the messiness of humanity, and without the lessons already learned. My goal is everyday on IG. A reel, post, or story. Preferably multiples. • I met with colleague yesterday, another coach, and she said something that I immediately wrote down: If I show up imperfect, that doesn't mean bad. I've been so focused on trying to rewrite my limiting belief around perfection = professional, that I didn't take it a step further. Why do I think that if I'm imperfect, I'm bad? Side note: "Who doesn't like a badass woman?" (Tatyana Gosh) (Erick):  What are you reading? Valerie: Just finished:   The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About (Mel Robbins) Creative Act (Rick Rubin) and Anne Abel's new book High Hopes (out in September .. She'll be on the podcast again in October). (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ;  The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong  Erick:  Devil in a Blue Dress (Walter Mosely); Hap and Leonard (stories) (Joe Lansdale)   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: The problem with traditional "business book" advice Focused on funnels, not fulfillment Often strips the soul from the message Too rigid for creative, intuitive entrepreneurs "If the book reads like a sales page, it's probably not honoring the deeper mission." What it really means to write a soul-aligned book that supports your business The book becomes a bridge between your inner truth and outer impact Writing from your why positions you as an authority with depth—not just expertise "People buy from those they connect with. Your book is a bridge, not a billboard." Ways your book can grow your business authentically Builds credibility + trust with aligned clients Deepens your brand story and your core message Expands your reach without burnout (your book travels when you can't) "You're not marketing. You're storytelling. And that's magnetic."   Let your business offer inform your book—not dictate it Use client patterns and questions to uncover themes Let your unique framework or transformation process shape the content (not just regurgitate) Bonus: You may create your next offer through writing the book Writing How-To Books (Three Story Method series) Avoiding the trap of performance Write with your audience in mind, not for their approval Let go of "shoulds" and write from soul-led service • Examples of what alignment looks like in practice Including rituals, reflections, or creative practices in your book Speaking directly to your dream client as if you're in sacred conversation Closing encouragement: You don't have to choose between success and soul. Your book can hold both. The more you write from your essence, the more magnetic your business becomes "When you write to be liked, you dilute your magic." Project Runway fails are usually because they didn't stay "true to themselves as a designer" and it show.   🌀 Listener Reflection Prompt: "What message lives at the heart of your work—and how could your book become an offering of that message?"   🎯 Closing Thought: "Your book can be a calling card and a calling. When you write from truth, your audience finds you."   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries

    28 分鐘
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簡介

Welcome to the Writer Craft Podcast, a show about creativity and craft. Remember when you told your sister stories in the night, snuggled under the covers of your waterbed? Or read books from the public library that delighted you? And now you've written your own novel. But will it change someone's life? Is it a good enough book? Does it even work on the story level? On the Writer Craft Podcast, we help authors stay motivated and inspired, finish their books, and show them how to analyze and diagnose areas of challenge in their manuscripts once it's written.

資訊

  • 創作者
    Valerie Ihsan
  • 活躍年代
    2019年 - 2025年
  • 集數
    206
  • 年齡分級
    兒少不宜
  • 節目網站
    Writer Craft Podcast

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