The Write It Scared Podcast

Stacy Frazer
  • 5.0 (20)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel. 

  1. 5D AGO

    What Literary Agents Look for in a Query Letter (with Ann Rose)

    If you’re querying—or even thinking about it—this episode is going to change how you approach your pitch. In this episode of the Write It Scared podcast, I sit down with literary agent and author Ann Rose to talk about what actually makes a query stand out. (Spoiler: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be clear.) We dig into hook, stakes, market realities, why “Dexter meets Legally Blonde” works, and what happens after an agent requests a full. We also talk about imposter syndrome, the slower publishing climate, why publishing is product (even though writing is art), and why you might want to write your query—and your synopsis—before you finish your book. If you’ve been overthinking your pitch letter, this one will ground you fast. Timestamps  00:00 Queries Need Clarity (Not Perfection)  03:30 Ann’s Path to Agenting  07:15 Her Novels + Hook Examples  19:29 The Current Publishing Climate  23:57 What Makes a Hook Work  27:46 From Full Request to Offer  30:53 Writing Is Art, Publishing Is Product  34:50 Why You Should Write the Query First  36:45 Why Synopses Matter Tobias website - www.thetobiasagency.com Ann's website - www.amroseauthor.com Instagram/Threads/TikTok - totally_anntastic Books By Ann Rose The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean  A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love  www.annroseauthor.com Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    44 min

  2. MAR 1

    From 197 Rejections to a Book Deal: Querying, Revisions & Finding the Right Agent with Author Carmela Dutra

    What do you do after 197 rejections … for the same book? Well, if you’re author Carmela Dutra, you keep going. In this episode, Carmela shares the real story behind her debut cozy mystery, A Murder Most Foul—from querying too soon and rewriting extensively to finding the right agent after nearly 200 nos. We talk about saggy middles, tense slips, brutal feedback, and what it takes to rebuild a manuscript from the ground up. If you're struggling with self-doubt, facing a bunch of rejection, and just feeling like maybe it’s time to throw in the towel—this conversation will arm you with what you need to keep going and protect your mindset! Timestamps:  04:20 Personalizing cold queries 06:12 What A Murder Most Foul is about 11:19 Craft struggles: saggy middles & tense slips 15:44 Surviving 197 rejections 18:11 Ghosting & rock bottom 19:48 Finding the right agent 21:42 Learning to plot 23:10 Imposter syndrome (“Peggy”) 28:37 Querying advice 30:20 Finding time to write as a mom Guest Bio: Carmela Dutra is a writer from the Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. Her debut, A Murder Most Fowl, has been praised by Kirkus Reviews for its “serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” by Criminal Element for the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage that was almost as shocking as the murder itself,” and described as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun” by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams. She has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine. To connect with Carmela and purchase her books, visit her website and check her blog series: An Author’s Guide to Quering for hot tips! Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    41 min

  3. FEB 22

    How to Build Stakes Into Your Novel so Readers Stay Engaged

    Blog Post on Stakes with Examples  If your story feels flat or like it’s not going anywhere, check your stakes! Today, we break down what stakes really are, why “just make it worse” isn’t helpful advice, and how to create meaningful consequences for your characters that keep readers emotionally invested. We’ll talk personal, relational, and thematic stakes—and how to pressure-test them so your story actually holds. Timestamps  00:00 What Stakes Really Mean  01:37 Why Stakes Come from Choice  06:43 Personal + Relationship Stakes  11:09 Thematic Stakes  12:27 Pressure-Testing Your Story  Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    18 min

  4. FEB 15

    On Revision Magic and Not Quitting with Author Kate Broad

    What does it really take to build a successful novel?  Kate Broad discusses leaving her romance author career to write literary fiction and how her debut novel, Greenwich, required multiple drafts and rewrites.  She shares what it's like to scrap early drafts, rebuild the story from the ground up, write complex characters that are hard to like, and what she tells herself when the writing feels hard.  If you need a reminder that your first draft can become something magical, that struggling is just part of the work and process of bringing a novel to fruition, and that you’re not doing anything wrong, you’ll enjoy our conversation.  Timestamps  00:00 – Why Revision Is Where the Magic Happens  00:19 – Welcome to Write It Scared  01:29 – Meet Kate Road  03:20 – Writing Greenwich and Starting Over  05:03 – Themes of Wealth, Power, and Privilege  07:34 – Crafting Complex, Unlikable Characters  15:47 – How the Book Changed in Revision  21:40 – Self-Doubt and Staying in the Work  30:25 – Resilience and the Reality of the Writing Life  39:43 – Final Reflections Kate Broad holds a BA from Wellesley College and a PhD in English from the CUNY Graduate Center. She is a Bronx Council on the Arts award winner for fiction, and her writing has appeared in The Rumpus, No Tokens, Electric Literature, LitHub, The Baltimore Review, and elsewhere. Her debut novel, Greenwich, was released in 2025 from St. Martin's Press and was named one of People Magazine's Best New Books, a Vanity Fair Summer Read, and an Amazon Editor's Pick for Best New Literature and Fiction. Originally from Massachusetts, she lives in the Bronx.   GREENWICH - Out now from St. Martin's Press / Macmillan! https://katebroad.com Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    42 min

  5. FEB 8

    Writing Sex Scenes Without Cringe: What Actually Works in Fiction

    How do you write a sex scene that readers actually read and not just skim?  That’s what today’s episode is all about!  Author Accelerator certified book coaches Stacy Frazer and Jennifer Larkin team up for an honest conversation about writing sex in fiction—without cringe. Stacy and Jen discuss when sex scenes belong in a story, how explicit they need to be, and how to write intimacy that deepens character and advances the plot.  You’ll learn how genre expectations (including YA vs. adult), consent, and emotional intent shape effective intimate scenes—and how to make intentional choices that serve your story. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction  01:50 Guest: Jennifer Larkin  03:20 Do you need a sex scene in your novel?  10:04 Sex scenes in YA vs. adult  21:16 Purpose of sex scene and level of explicitness  26:20 Common mistakes  29:09 Consent on the page  35:05 When to include a sex scene  Jennifer Larkin helps romance writers turn good ideas into epic stories and jagged drafts into lovable novels.  Grab her free guide to writing better romance scenes at https://jenniferlarkin.kit.com/scenes. Connect on Social Media: Instagram: @jenniferlarkinbookcoach Substack: @jenniferlarkinbookcoach  Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    40 min

  6. FEB 1

    Should You Self-Publish Your Novel? A Conversation with Libby Waterford

    Self-publishing isn’t a shortcut nor a consolation prize. It’s a publishing model that works well for some writers and not at all for others. Today, I’m joined by Libby Waterford, a prolific romance author and self-publishing educator with more than twenty books published across pen names. We break down what self-publishing actually involves: the costs writers don’t always anticipate, the level of control and responsibility it requires, and how marketing, timelines, and long-term goals factor into whether it’s a good fit for you. This episode is about education and understanding your options, asking questions, and making intentional decisions about your writing career based on your long-term goals Timestamps 01:43 Meet Libby Waterford 05:28 Why Libby chose self-publishing after being with a traditional publisher 08:47 Pros and cons of self-publishing 16:38 The advantages of being your own publisher 23:09 Budgeting and essential costs 27:09 Marketing, ROI, and sustainability 38:53 Advice for new authors 41:07 What Libby’s working on next and education resources Guest Bio: Libby Waterford is the author of Sawyer's Cove, the Reboot, and The Never A Bride Contemporary Romance Series, and under her other pen name, Elle Waters, writes steamy Small Town Gay Romance. A former president of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America, Libby is also a self-publishing coach and instructor at the Westport Writers Workshop in Westport, Connecticut, where she teaches classes on genre fiction and self-publishing. Links https://libbywaterford.com/,  https://www.instagram.com/libbywritesromance/,  https://ellewatersbooks.substack.com/ https://westportwriters.org/   Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    44 min

  7. JAN 25

    How to Figure Out What the Hell Your Character Wants

    “What does my character want?” Sounds like a simple question—until it isn’t.  If you’ve ever struggled to figure out the difference between your character's wants and needs, been confused by the language of conscious goals and unconscious goals or desires, this episode is for you!  Today, we simplify things so you never get confused again!   We look at how goals create momentum on the page to inform the plot, while desires drive the character's internal change.   You’ll also get practical ways to diagnose what’s missing when a character feels stuck—and how to fix it. Timestamps:  01:32 Why “what does my character want?” is a loaded question  03:14 Goals vs. desires: what’s the difference?  04:53 Examples of clear external goals  06:11 The messier truth of character desire  11:08 Using goals and desires to drive transformation  13:37 Practical tools for revision  15:29 Closing thoughts + book coaching note  16:37 Wrap-up Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    20 min

  8. JAN 18

    Embracing the Struggle: A Conversation with Author Charlene Wang

    There’s a persistent myth that if writing feels hard, you’re doing it wrong.  This conversation with debut novelist Charlene Wang gently dismantles that idea. We talk honestly about messy drafts, perfectionism, long revision timelines, and the quiet persistence it takes to keep going when doubt creeps in. Charlene shares her path to publishing I'll Follow You, including years of revision, mindset shifts, and learning to trust the process even when progress felt slow. If you’ve ever wondered whether struggle means failure, this episode offers reassurance that struggle is often part of becoming the writer you’re meant to be. Timestamps:  01:27 Welcome + meet Charlene Wang  02:47 Charlene’s path to becoming a writer  05:11 Talking about I’ll Follow You  08:22 The realities of drafting and revision  14:43 Research and character development  20:29 Plotting, pantsing, and everything in between  21:38 Navigating self-doubt  24:33 Tools for sticking with the work  26:12 Productivity, perspective, and patience  29:18 Becoming a writer over time  36:26 Advice for writers in the thick of it  38:03 What Charlene is working on now Links mentioned Leigh Bardugo’s Ted Talk: The Art of Discomfort Ira Glass The Gap Charlene’s debut novel, I’ll Follow You, is out now. You can learn more and connect with her at charlenewangauthor.com or on Instagram @charleneshiyi Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    39 min
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5
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About

A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel. 

Information

  • Creator
    Stacy Frazer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Write It Scared Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Write It Scared Podcast

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