Write Out Loud Matt Cassem & Christina Trevaskis

Buy us a coffee to support the show!

That's a wrap for season two! 

This episode finds Matt and Christina reflecting on the highlights of season two, including favorite episodes and guest interviews. They discuss plans for season three, inviting audience input for future topics and guests. They express enthusiasm for possibly exploring diverse writing-related topics such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Last of Us, Schitt's Creek, and inviting screenwriters to share their insights. The episode concludes with a thank you for listening and an invitation for continued feedback and engagement.

Episodes Mentioned
Mental Health and Creativity with Big RobbAuthor Spotlight: A Conversation with Scarlett ColeBehind the Pages: Berkley Publishing’s Erin Galloway on the Art & Science of PublicitySuperheroes, Self-Publishing, and Storytelling with W.T. MeadowsThe Writing Dance: Plotting, Pantsing, and Everything in Between with Special Guest Sean DareGuest Information
Erin Galloway - Instagram - X (formerly Twitter) - Facebook Scarlett Cole - Website - Instagram - X (formerly Twitter) - Facebook  - Amazon Author ListingBig Robb - Website/Podcast for "Chewing the Fat" - Instagram - X (formerly Twitter) - Facebook  - YouTube - LinkedinWT Meadows - Website - Instagram - X (formerly Twitter) - Facebook  - YouTube - Amazon Author Link Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.

If you're enjoying our show, won't you help us out?  Buy us a coffee or drink to show your appreciation.  It really does help us bring you better guests, better content, and maybe some surprises.  You can do that here.

In this episode of Write Out Loud, hosts Matt and Christina delve into the challenges of transitioning a great story idea into skilled execution, using the recently released Netflix movie 'Damsel' as a case study. Despite their anticipation and the cast's standout names like Millie Bobby Brown, Robin Wright, and Angela Bassett, they find 'Damsel' falls short, attributing its failings to weak writing and missed storytelling opportunities. They discuss the importance of smart characterization, effective pacing, and the balance between showing and telling in writing. 

Additionally, they explore strategies for writers to improve their craft, including the critique of poor works to better their understanding of storytelling techniques. The conversation emphasizes growth and learning from failure, both personally and through others, in the pursuit of better writing.


 Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.

In this episode titled "Author Spotlight: A Conversation with Scarlett Cole",  Matt  and  Christina invite Scarlett Cole, an acclaimed romance writer, on to talk about her history as an author. Scarlett talks about her journey from being a reader to an author, and her dual careers as a romance writer and senior vice president of strategy for a leading company. She discusses her transition from writing full-time to part-time and exploring different genres like contemporary romance and darker romances in her writing career.

Scarlett speaks about her strategy in writing, emphasizing how her background in corporate strategy helped her in understanding trends in romance and applying them to her writing. She shares her experiment of writing a motorcycle club romance which she states led to higher sales than ever. Scarlett also speaks about her decision to pivot back to work, expressing how it fulfilled a part of her and ultimately helped her produce more work. Additionally, she details her focus on branding and putting out releases every 10 weeks as a part of her marketing strategy.

00:02:47    The Pivot
00:04:24    Scarlett's Background
00:09:46    Pivot to Motorcycle Club Romance and 1st Person POV
00:13:07    Scarlett References Larry Brooks's Story Engineering
00:13:47    Going Indie
00:18:21    The Success Motorcycle Club Series
00:23:35    Writing Full-time vs Part-time
00:28:08    Trusting Your Intuition
00:30:45    "The Loves We Lost" by Scarlett Cole
00:33:00    Where to Find More Scarlett Cole
Scarlett's WebsiteScarlett on XScarlett on InstagramScarlett on FacebookScarlett's Facebook Fan Group - Scarlett Cole's Passionistas!Scarlett on TikTokScarlett's Amazon Page Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.

***See the time stamps towards the bottom for links to the upcoming books Erin mentioned in today's episode!!***

In this episode of Write Out Loud,  Matt and Christina chat with Erin Galloway, Director of Publicity for Berkeley, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Galloway shares her journey into the publishing industry, from her initial interest in journalism to realizing her talent and passion for publicity in book publishing. She provides an in-depth look at the roles and responsibilities of a publicist, including the distinction between publicity and marketing within the industry. 

Galloway emphasizes the importance of building media relationships, strategizing campaigns for authors, and utilizing events for book promotion. She also touches on the changing landscape of media coverage, from blogging to the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. 

The conversation includes advice for authors on working with publicists and the significance of setting realistic goals and expectations. Galloway concludes with exciting upcoming releases from Berkeley, highlighting debut and veteran authors alike, showcasing a diverse range of stories and genres.
Introduction (00:00:01)

Erin's Background and Career Path (00:02:05)

Erin's Role as a Publicist (00:06:50)

Berkley's Publishing Genres (00:09:14)

The Role of Commercial Fiction (00:10:16)

Difference Between Publicity and Marketing (00:12:07)

Publicity Responsibilities (00:17:40)

Planning and Coordination (00:23:42)

The publicist's work (00:24:14)

Adapting to media trends (00:25:12)

Innovation in the industry (00:26:37)

Measuring success in publicity (00:34:13)

Collaborating with publicists (00:36:33)

Selecting the right publicist (00:41:46)

Reading in the publishing industry (00:44:49)

Exciting Upcoming Books to Look Out For (00:47:01)
"When I Think of You" by Myah Ariel"The Love of My Afterlife" by Kristy Greenwood"The Night Ends with Fire" by K.X. SongWhen I Think of You (00:47:19)

The Love of My Afterlife (00:49:35)

The Night Ends with Fire (00:52:27)

Closing remarks (00:57:15)


 Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.

In this podcast episode,  Matt  and Christina discuss the importance of authenticity and confidence in writing. They express the importance of writers finding their personal writing style and trusting their abilities, rather than trying to emulate others. In fact, by doing so, they argue that writers can boost their creativity and potentially become more commercially successful. They also advocate listening to advice from professionals, discarding what doesn't fit, and practicing writing regularly. 

The hosts share various anecdotes, including the stories of writers like Scarlett Cole and Kristen Ashley, who found success by staying true to their unique voices and writing styles.
00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter
00:35 Why Aren't You Writing to Your Potential?
00:52 The Influence of Others and Confidence in Writing
01:53 The Importance of Personal Creativity
02:14 Being the First Version of Yourself
03:16 The Need for Individuality in Writing
03:38 Going Beyond Just Being Yourself
04:01 Gaining Confidence in Your Abilities
05:00 Understanding Your Writing Process
06:06 The Role of Experts and Authors in Your Writing Journey
07:08 The Importance of Trusting Your Writing Abilities
13:10 The Dilemma of Learning Mode and Procrastination
14:07 The Impact of Criticism and the Importance of Trying
16:59 The Power of Starting and Revising
18:01 The Story of Scarlet Cole: A Fan's Perspective
18:56 The Grand Pivot: Scarlet Cole's Career Shift
19:55 The Art of Writing: First Person vs Third Person
20:47 Kristen Ashley: A Self-Publishing Success Story
23:53 The Power of Authenticity in Writing
26:58 The Importance of Revising and Editing
29:48 Understanding Your Unique Writing Style
34:47 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Failure in Writing
35:43 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information
 Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.

In this episode of the 'Write Out Loud' podcast, hosts Tina and Matt discuss various topics related to the process of writing and storytelling. They delve into the personal workflow of different writers, tips and techniques for productive writing, the weight of research vs. improvisation, and various writing tools.

They also discuss finding one's identity as a writer, understanding the audience, managing time based on personal circumstances, the importance of consistency, creativity, and breaking the rules creatively. They highlight the significance of capturing the reader's attention, maintaining the believability of the story, and the balance between research and creativity. They also suggest strategies to captivate readers, emphasizing the allure of mystery. The show concludes with a challenge for listeners to create a layer of mystery in their characters.

They also discussed a Ted Talk from J.J. Abrams about The Mystery Box.  One can find that by following this link.
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:57 Exploring the Writing Workflow
01:11 Understanding Your Writing Process
02:39 Identifying Your Writing Style and Audience
03:57 Creating a Conducive Writing Environment
04:24 Debunking Writing Myths
04:56 The Role of Individuality in Writing
06:15 The Art of Storytelling
07:14 Breaking Writing Rules
08:21 Balancing Research and Creativity
08:48 The Importance of Believability in Writing
14:05 The Art of Starting a Story
19:45 The Mystery Box Technique
20:57 Conclusion and Contact Information
 Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear your feedback.  Drop us an email either to Matt@writeoutloudpod.com or christina@bookmatchmaker.com. We would love to hear your thoughts. What's working, what's not working. And what do you want to hear more of? Thanks so much. We really appreciate it.
Support the show
Find out more at our website.