The Writing Podcast Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz

Imagine a tent with only one pole – it would collapse, right? The same principle applies to storytelling, where tentpole scenes provide the essential structure and support. This is true for fiction as well as memoirs and documentaries. In this episode, Cristen Iris discusses how tentpole scenes help you identify an intellectual and emotional arc for your story as well as the difference between creative nonfiction and memoirs.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
4:45 – 8:48  Disconnect between creativity and your environment, and the danger of time-blocking for some authors.
9:32 - 12:02  If you’re stuck in a project, here are questions that will help you determine whether you should move forward or pause.
12:22 – 17:10  Definition and examples of how to use tent pole scenes in memoirs.
17:11 – 21:18  How tentpole scenes help you organize supporting scenes in your memoir.
21:19 – 23:43  An explanation of the difference between an intellectual arc and an emotional arc.
23:44 – 26:05  How to think about a story arc in your memoir.
26:06 – 29:19  How to establish the status-quo of the protagonist at the beginning of your book so that readers can see themselves in the protagonist and emotionally connect to your character’s transformation.
29:21 – 33:42  How to impart wisdom through your memoir writing.
33:44 – 38:49  What it really takes to write a compelling and commercially viable memoir.
38:51 – 45:09  Difference between memoir and creative nonfiction, and how to determine what approach to take with your writing.
 
Words of the Episode 
Brown study (n): refers to a state of deep, melancholic absorption or meditation.
Titrate (v): to measure the volume or concentration of (a solution) by titration.
 
Connect with Cristen
Cristen's Website: https://cristeniris.com/

As a writer, you understand the effort needed to transform raw ideas into polished words. Feedback from beta readers, book coaches, or developmental editors can show that a seemingly complete work requires significant revisions. In today's episode, Lisa Tener, an acclaimed book writing and publishing expert, shares her experiences and insights on navigating feedback to bring your manuscript to fruition.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
2:29 – 6:30    Introduction to Lisa’s new book, Breathe Write Breathe, and how to focus your energy when you start writing.
6:31 -   10:21    How to integrate videos into your book using QR codes.
10:22 – 12:09    Tips for producing videos for your book.
12:10 – 15:48    How to deal with feedback that demands deleting entire passages and rewriting.
15:50 – 17:15    Why you need a book editor who champions for you early on in the book process.
17:19 – 18:09    What an editor looks like who is a “champion” of your work.
18:10 – 19:35    Tips for beta readers and the four questions you should ask them to help them provide valuable feedback.
19:39 – 20:47    How to find trustworthy beta readers.
20:48 – 25:10    Why you also need a ruthless developmental editor, and what that type of editor looks like.
25:27 – 27:41    Why you also need a line editor who helps you finesse your work, including looking at word choice, jargon, and connections between ideas.
27:48 – 32:08    Signals that an editor isn’t a good fit.
32:10 – 34:36    How to use discernment when evaluating feedback from readers and editors.
34:37 – 36:51    How to put yourself in the shoes of your reader when revising your work.
36:52 – 41:21    How to determine if you should self-publish or pursue traditional publishing.
41:22 – 42:50    Examples of when you should traditionally publish, even though there are many benefits to self-publishing.
42:52 – 45:45    How to know when your manuscript is ready to pitch a publisher and/or literary agent.
 
Words of the Episode
fecund (adj): producing or capable of producing an abundance of new growth; fertile.
apotheosis (noun): the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
 
Connect with Lisa
Join Lisa's launch party on June 12 at noon for prizes, a fun writing exercise, and special guests! You can check out her launch party and book here: https://www.lisatener.com/breathe/
Lisa's website: https://www.lisatener.com/
What to Do with a Messy Manuscript: https://www.lisatener.com/2024/03/what-to-do-with-a-messy-manuscript-revision/
Tips for Recording Video and Audio: https://www.lisatener.com/2024/04/tips-for-recording-video-and-audio/
 

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In this episode, Amy Davies, a LinkedIn powerhouse, author of A Spark in the Dark, and CEO of First 30, shares actionable tips for turning your LinkedIn activity into new opportunities. Discover the best times to post, what content resonates with audiences, and how to boost engagement. If you're looking to elevate your LinkedIn strategy, this is your must-listen guide to success.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
3:10 – 6:30    How to get into a speaking bureau and the benefits of a speaking bureau.
6:45 – 9:02    How to harness inspiration and planning to create engaging LinkedIn content.
9:03 – 10:55    How to identify the optimal time to post on LinkedIn.
10:56 – 15:03    How to shape your tone and content to influence people on LinkedIn.
15:04 – 20:30    Tips for evaluating how much of your personal story to bring to a professional platform.
20:31 – 23:35    How much time to devote to LinkedIn and other social media platforms to make it work for you.
23:36 – 25:25    How to spend your time on LinkedIn.
25:26 – 26:28    The value of LinkedIn compared to a conference booth.
26:29 – 31:28    How to use LinkedIn to increase attendance of your webinars and move people from your email list through the sales cycle.
31:30 – 35:48    Biggest mistakes users make on LinkedIn.
35:50 – 40:04    What content LinkedIn prefers and rewards, and how to encourage engagement.
40:05 – 43:45    How to increase and measure engagement on LinkedIn—and which metrics really matter.
44:07 – 45:32    Why it’s important to take breaks and how to take breaks from LinkedIn.
45:40 – 46:33    Final remarks: Always be generous on LinkedIn.
 
Words of the Episode
peregrination (n): a journey, especially a long or meandering one.
torsional (adj): twisting or wrenching body by the exertion of forces tending to turn one end or part about a longitudinal axis while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.
 
Connect with Amy
First30: https://first30ready.com/
A Spark in the Dark: https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Dark-Illuminating-brilliant-career/dp/1999085205
 
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Writing a memoir likely will dredge up some difficult memories. For some writers, the pain of these memories might slow down the process of writing, like it did for Cheryl Landes, author of The Best I Can Do. It took Cheryl nearly two decades to complete her memoir. In this episode, Cheryl offers advice for structuring a memoir after years of being stuck. She also shares strategies for relieving tension and writing complex characters that the reader will cheer for.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
4:57 –   9:37    How painful memories lead to procrastination, and how to push through.
10:05 – 13:30    Creating a scene list to develop a structure for a memoir.
12:40 – 14:44    Identifying scenes that capture a reader’s imagination.
14:45 – 16:18    How to write a memoir in which readers will root for the protagonist (you).
16:47 – 18:22    Creating an invisible character in a memoir to create tension.
18:25 – 19:58    How simple scenes can become pivotal, profound scenes.
21:05 – 23:58    How to provide relief in an emotionally heavy memoir.
23:59 – 25:33    How to weave in flashbacks in a memoir.
25:34 – 28:18    How to honestly portray characters in your memoir without villainizing them.
28:19 – 30:33    How writing a book can change you and your perspective on the world.
30:34 – 34:09    Advice for writers who are stuck in the memoir writing process.
 
Words of the Episode
dolce far niente: (n) The 'sweetness of doing nothing'; pleasant relaxation in carefree idleness
inure: (v) to become accustom to something, especially something unpleasant.
 
Connect with Cheryl
Website: https://tabbycatco.com/about-cheryl-technical-writer/
 
 

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If you want to write a book that influences the world, you need to start with a creative idea. Great ideas form the essence of great books. And yet idea development is one of the biggest struggles of writers. In this episode, Dave and Melissa talk about what an idea really is, how to sharpen your idea, and how to develop an idea, so that readers read your book from beginning to end.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
7:37 – 12:19    What an idea is and examples of how to narrow an idea.
12:20 – 15:06    How to use research effectively to narrow your idea.
15:07 – 17:59    Why having a narrow idea is better than a general idea.
18:00 – 22:14    How to use quotes and interpret other ideas to support your idea.            
22:15 – 22:53    The three things you can do with an idea.
22:54 – 27:26    What explaining an idea looks like in writing, and why it’s important.
27:27 – 29:48    How to prove your idea with examples of what proving look like.
29:49 – 32:18    How to use reasoning to prove an idea.
32:19 – 33:13    Using stories and counterarguments to develop an idea.
33:14 – 35:47    How to apply an idea.
35:48 – 39:06    How to develop an idea in a book through structure.
39:07 – 40:27    How to arrest the attention of your reader with each chapter.
40:28 – 41:56    How to thread your thesis—or idea—throughout the entire book.
41:57 – 43:05    How to use transition paragraphs to thread your ideas throughout the book.
43:06 – 47:18    When an idea is not big enough for a traditional book.
 
Words of the Episode
elysian (adj): blissful, delightful
limn (v): depict or describe in painting or words; or, suffuse or highlight something with a bright color or light
 
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The book publishing journey doesn’t always start with writing the book. It often starts with a book proposal, especially if you want to pursue traditional publishing. But how do you get a book proposal in the hands of a publishing house? You might need a literary agent. Octavia Goredema, author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women talks about how she landed a literary agent and secured a book deal with Wiley. She also shares how to authentically grow your influence and create partnerships, like she did with the Harvard Business Review.
 
Great Moments in the Episode
8:42 – 10:12    How to grow your influence through consistent online writing.
10:30 – 12:01    How to attract partnership opportunities through your blogging.
12:25 – 14:24    How to get published in the Harvard Business Review.
14:55 – 18:19    How to balance writing a book while building a coaching business.
18:25 – 19:55    How to find your natural writing rhythm to optimize your productivity.
20:27 – 22:39    The benefits of traditional publishing and how to find a literary agent to help you land a book deal.
24:23 – 25:55    What the terms and financials look like working with a literary agent.
26:26 – 28:32    The true value of literary agents.
29:00 – 31:55    The importance of platform in pitching a book.
32:39 – 34:09    Two most effective strategies for launching a book.
34:24 – 36:41    Why you should embrace uncomfortable publicity opportunities.
37:00 – 38:04    Difference between blogging and social media and how to overcome your weaknesses in social media.
38:10 – 41:19    The value of hiring experts to help you so you can play to your strengths.
 
Words of the Episode
hirsute (adj): having or covered with hair.
rematriating (n): refers to the process of returning to, reclaiming, or revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, practices, lands, and cultures, often led by Indigenous women.
 
Connect with Octavia
Website: https://www.octaviagoredema.com/
How to Change Careers with Octavia Goredema: https://www.audible.com/pd/How-to-Change-Careers-Audiobook/B0C5F4L45L
PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women: https://www.amazon.com/Prep-Push-Pivot-Strategies-Underrepresented/dp/1119789079/
Fire Memos - a new app that empowers you to record and recognize your work accomplishments with AI powered career coaching: https://firememos.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/octaviagoredema/
Instagram: @octaviagoredema
Pinterest: pinterest.com/octaviagoredema/
Twitter: @octaviagoredema
 

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