The Resilient Writers Radio Show

• How to Draft Faster, with Daphne Gray-Grant

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Hey there, Writer—this week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we’re diving into something so many of us wrestle with: how to get that first draft down… faster. And more importantly—without all the agony.I’m joined by Daphne Gray-Grant, who brings a lifetime of experience to the writing process. She grew up in her family’s newspaper business, later worked as a senior editor at The Vancouver Sun, and somewhere in the middle of all that, gave birth to triplets! If anyone understands writing under pressure, it’s Daphne.In this episode, Daphne shares how she went from struggling with writer’s block to developing powerful tools to help writers draft more quickly and confidently. One of the biggest shifts she teaches? Start small. Like, five-minutes-a-day small. We also talk about the deep psychology behind why writing feels so hard sometimes—especially for those of us who love editing more than drafting (hi, I see you!). Daphne explains why school doesn’t prepare us for the emotional challenges of writing and offers simple, mindset-shifting strategies to help you work with your brain, not against it.One of her favorite tricks is ending your writing session with a few quick notes for tomorrow—so when you return to the page, you’re not wasting time wondering what comes next. That little shift can make a huge difference.We also had a great chat about mind mapping, which Daphne has adapted into an incredible tool for writers. Instead of just putting a topic in the center of the page, she suggests starting with a question. This sparks creativity and helps you move past the blocks that outlining often creates. I’ve used this myself in my poetry, and let me tell you—it works wonders.This conversation is packed with practical advice that’s gentle, doable, and grounded in real-life writing experience. If you’re someone who wants to finish that draft but keeps getting stuck, I think you’ll find a lot of relief—and inspiration—here.

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• How to Find the Time to Write Big & Bold, with MT Solomon

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Well hey there, Writer—and welcome to another cozy conversation on The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with speculative fiction author M.T. Solomon, and let me tell you—this one’s for you if you’ve ever wondered how to balance real life with writing big, bold stories.M.T. grew up in Alaska, and the vast, rugged wilderness she called home now infuses the lyrical, emotionally resonant stories she writes. She’s been creating stories since she was six (including hand-stitched books at age 11—how adorable is that?) but it wasn’t until after college and becoming a mom that she fully embraced her dream of publishing novels. We talk about her journey from self-publishing her first novel, All the Fragile Hearts, to continuing the duology with Whispers in the Dark, and how she ultimately found her way to traditional publishing with Liar Queen—a lush, politically charged fantasy series released through Golden Scales Publishing. M.T. shares how empowering it was to have a team behind her this time, supporting everything from editing to cover design. But she’s also refreshingly honest about what it took to self-publish—yes, including marketing her own books and even flying out of Alaska to sell them in-person at events.We also dig into her approach to world-building—hint: it involves lots of people-watching, note-taking, and a fully developed story bible. If you’re writing speculative fiction and struggling with how to build a believable world, you’ll love M.T.’s practical and creative insights.Of course, we couldn’t let the conversation go by without talking about how she gets the writing done—because M.T. is a mom, a partner, and a coach. From early-morning writing sessions to squeezing in time in the school pickup line, she shares how she carves out time and energy for her work. She’s refreshingly real about what it takes to prioritize writing without losing yourself in the process.Whether you’re working on your first novel, wondering about the self-pub vs. traditional debate, or trying to write your book in the chaos of daily life—this episode is full of heart, encouragement, and grounded advice.Grab your tea (or coffee!) and come join us. You’ll leave inspired to keep going, one messy, magical page at a time.P.S. Here's some great news! The Resilient Writers Radio Show is featured as one of the Top 90 Book Podcasts on the web. You can find the list here.

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• Short Stories and Self-Publishing, with Terra Luft

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Hey there, Writer—welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show! Today, I’m chatting with author Terra Luft, a speculative fiction writer whose imagination leans toward the dark, twisty, and psychologically thrilling. Terra’s been writing since 2008 and just released her first solo short story collection, Nightmares of My Own. If you’ve ever wrestled with perfectionism, felt like your writing life doesn’t look “ideal,” or wondered if your small pockets of time could actually move your book forward—this episode is for you.Terra opens up about her journey from isolated kitchen writing sessions to finding her footing in the writing community—and why that community was the game-changer that kept her going. For over a decade, she’s published short stories in various anthologies, always dreaming of someday putting together a collection of her own. That dream became real in December 2024, and in this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of how it happened.We talk about why short stories became her chosen form—spoiler: instant gratification plays a big role! Terra shares how writing short fiction allowed her to sharpen her craft in the midst of a demanding life, including full-time work in healthcare IT, going back to school, and raising a family. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when Terra shares how attending my Book Finishers Bootcamp shifted everything for her. She let go of the idea that she needed perfect conditions to write and leaned into consistent, realistic goals. She started writing on weekends while camping with her family—yes, literally around the campfire in a folding chair—and that’s how her book got finished.Terra also walks us through her first foray into self-publishing, with all its surprises, challenges, and lessons learned. From choosing the perfect cover design to figuring out proofreading order (hint: it’s trickier than it seems!), Terra’s honest insights will resonate with anyone considering self-publishing. She shares how she curated the stories in her collection—crafting a reading journey from sci-fi to psychological horror to paranormal—and how discovering the unifying theme of “nightmares” helped her land on the perfect title.We also talk about what she’s working on now: revising her favorite novel, with a goal of two writing sessions a week and 3,000 words. I loved hearing how the skills and confidence she built through short fiction and bootcamp are now fueling her longer work.So if you’re wondering whether it’s “too late,” or if you have “enough time,” or if your first book needs to be perfect...this episode will remind you that the real magic is in starting anyway.You can grab Nightmare

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• Finding the Right POV, with Rebecca Morris

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the thoughtful and talented Canadian author, Rebecca Morris. Rebecca’s debut novel, Other Maps, was published in 2024 with Linda Leith Publishing, and it’s a powerful exploration of friendship, trauma, healing—and the quiet resilience that carries us through. In this conversation, we dive into her creative process, the emotional weight of writing about difficult topics, and how she supports other writers through their own journeys.Rebecca began her writing life with the big dream of crafting a novel, but quickly found herself leaning into short fiction to learn the craft and get those satisfying wins of finishing and publishing smaller pieces. That experience gave her the structure and confidence she needed to return to the long-form project that became Other Maps. Originally told from the perspective of one character, the story evolved into a dual point-of-view narrative when Rebecca realized the emotional depth and importance of her second character’s voice. The final novel alternates chapters between two women navigating past trauma and present reconnection—a structure she carefully mapped out with color-coded Post-It notes!We also explored the challenges of writing trauma with care. Other Maps is a “Me Too” novel, and Rebecca spoke with such grace and honesty about the responsibility of holding emotional truth in fiction. She emphasized the importance of taking breaks, checking in with yourself, and doing research to ensure that you’re treating sensitive material with both realism and deep respect. Even in fiction, readers bring their real-life experiences to the page—and that connection is powerful.One of my favorite parts of this chat? Talking about writing routines and how to stay focused in a noisy world. Rebecca is a big fan of analog tools (me too!), like egg timers and sand hourglasses, to carve out intentional writing time without the distraction of her phone. She starts her days with freewriting to clear her head, and aims to protect her most creative hours in the early morning—something so many of us can relate to.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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• Indie Publishing & Short Fiction, with Matty Dalrymple

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Matty Dalrymple—thriller author, podcaster, speaker, and indie publishing pro. Matty’s not only the writer behind the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, but also a passionate advocate for the power of short fiction—and trust me, she has so much wisdom to share.We kick things off with Matty’s love of all things nautical (yes, even boat-watching on vacation!), and quickly dive into how she first began writing short fiction. What started as a way to keep her readers engaged between novels quickly turned into a cornerstone of her writing life. Matty’s “snippets” from the Ann Kinnear universe are fan favorites—and she now has a growing collection of suspenseful short reads that offer bite-sized thrills and deep character moments.Matty walks us through the practical side of indie publishing short fiction, sharing tips on affordable cover design, working with beta readers, and even bringing her stories to life through audio narration. Her approach is smart, approachable, and encouraging—perfect for writers who want to do more without burning out or breaking the bank.One of my favorite parts of our conversation? Hearing how short fiction can act as a creative refresh. Whether she’s exploring a quirky character like Garak Mazur (Ann’s ghostly, curmudgeonly mentor) or experimenting with settings and ideas that don’t quite fit a full novel, Matty embraces short stories as a playful way to stay inspired—and sometimes, they even lead to new books she hadn’t planned on writing!And if you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a real market for short fiction? Matty’s answer is a resounding yes. Her short stories continue to sell (even with minimal promotion!), and they’ve become an unexpected income stream as well as a way to keep her readers excited and engaged.We wrap up with encouragement for any writer who’s curious about short fiction but unsure where to start. Matty’s advice? Don’t overthink it—just try it out. A short story can be a creative experiment, a reader gift, or even a new path forward in your writing career.Tune in and fall in love with the possibilities of short fiction, all over again

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