The Resilient Writers Radio Show

• Following Feeling to Find Your Structure, with Hollay Ghadery

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.What if the truest way to write your story is to follow feeling instead of chronology? In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by award-winning Iranian-Canadian author Hollay Ghadery, whose work fearlessly crosses genres: memoir, poetry, flash fiction, and even a novel narrated by a sock puppet.Hollay’s debut memoir Fuse won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Award for Nonfiction/Memoir, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever read. Rather than laying out her life in neat order, she trusted her own non-linear way of experiencing memory. For Hollay, moments bleed into each other like inkblots on a page, and she honored that in her book. The result? A layered, fragmented form that feels truer than any straight-line telling could.She also shares how writing changed when she got sober. For years she produced work while living in addiction, but it wasn’t until sobriety that she found the discipline to sit, revise, and shape her words with clarity. Her message is refreshingly down-to-earth: writing isn’t about waiting for a magical state to arrive—it’s about showing up and doing the work, imperfectly but consistently.Since then, Hollay has released the poetry collection Rebellion Box and the flash-fiction collection Widow Fantasies. And coming in 2026, her debut novel The Unravelling of Ou—a playful, fierce, and absurd meditation on patriarchy, joy, and queer identity, told entirely through the voice of a sock puppet named Ecology Paul. As Hollay explains, the puppet narrator was no gimmick: it’s the most honest way she knows to tell this story, bypassing shame and revealing truths we might otherwise hide.Our conversation also explores the realities of publishing. Hollay loves small presses, where collaboration feels intimate and books are treated as art objects. She talks about the highs and lows of awards season, and why it’s essential to celebrate every win—whether it’s a longlist mention or a kind note from a reader. One of her favorite lessons? “It means something to win, but it doesn’t mean anything not to win.”Hollay practices what she calls “sympathetic joy”: celebrating other writers’ successes without letting envy creep in. She reminds us that another person’s achievement doesn’t take anything away from our own path. If you stay in your lane, there’s no traffic.If you need a reminder that your quirks, your feelings, and even your sock puppets belong on the page, this episode is for you. Hollay’s wisdom is equal parts candid, funny, and deeply encouraging.

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• Writing Small Town Romantic Suspense, with Eveline Rose

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I sit down with award-winning indie author Eveline Rose, creator of the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series. If you love page-turning romantic suspense set against the backdrop of a cozy small town, you’ll want to listen in.Eveline shares how her love of storytelling began back in high school, and how it grew into a nine-book series featuring strong heroines, protective heroes, and the found families that keep us coming back for more. Book Six releases this month, and she’s already planning a Christmas special and even a cookbook with recipes from her novels.Writing across romance and suspense means balancing swoony moments with high-stakes danger. Eveline admits that sometimes she gets caught up in the suspense and has to remind herself to bring in those cozy small-town touches—family gatherings, coffee shop meetups, and community connections that make her books so beloved.We also talked about why Eveline chose the indie publishing route. For her, finding the right mentor made the difference. While indie authors wear many hats—writer, editor, marketer, planner—Eveline has leaned into the freedom and speed of publishing her own stories. She shares candidly about the challenges of marketing and why connecting with readers in person lights her up.Eveline researched the best covers in her genre, then worked with design company GetCovers to create branding that perfectly fits her series, right down to the custom Sheppard & Sons logo. She’s also a pantser who often dictates while driving, using every spare moment to keep her stories moving forward.Looking ahead, she has a historical romantic suspense series outlined for the Tudor and Plantagenet period—told through the eyes of the servants who witnessed history unfold. Doesn’t that sound incredible?This was such a fun conversation. If you haven’t yet started the Sheppard & Sons Investigations series, begin with Book One, Taken—and prepare to binge your way through these page-turners.👉 Start reading Eveline’s books here:Taken (Book One)Beaten (Book Two)Betrayed (Book Four)Author Website

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• The Step-by-Step Process to FINISH!

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, we break down the complete roadmap for finishing your book—because contrary to what movies show us, it's not just "type, spell check, publish." Finishing a book requires a systematic, step-by-step approach that prevents overwhelm and helps you track real progress.Why You Need a Step-by-Step ProcessOur culture perpetuates myths about book writing—think Jo March in Little Women or countless Christmas movies where characters magically go from manuscript to bestselling author tour. The reality? Finishing a book takes everything you've got and requires becoming the writer you need to be to complete your unique project.Breaking the process into clear phases gives you momentum, prevents paralysis, and allows you to celebrate milestones along the way. Instead of facing an overwhelming 300-400 page project, you work through manageable steps, always knowing exactly where you are in the process.The 11-Step Process to Finishing Your BookStep 1: Prepare Your Project Plan Treat your book like any other major project in your life. Calculate how many words you need, determine your weekly writing capacity, and create a realistic timeline. For example: if you need 50,000 more words and typically write 3,000 words per week, you're looking at approximately 16 weeks to complete your draft.Step 2: Complete the Essential Book Outline Create a basic outline that tracks your protagonist's journey from beginning to end, including their desires, obstacles, and transformation. This serves as your roadmap for brainstorming scenes.Step 3: Fast Draft Using "Rules for the Draft" Focus on getting the story down without perfectionism. The goal is completion, not perfection.Step 4: Optional Manuscript Evaluation Consider getting professional feedback on your messy first draft to understand what's working and what needs development before diving into revision.Step 5: Story Clarity Revision Shape your draft by determining what story you really want to tell and ensuring that vision translates clearly onto the page.Step 6: Submit to Beta Readers Send your revised manuscript to 3-4 genre readers who can provide supportive critique. Ask specific questions about pacing, character development, and any sections where they found themselves skimming.Step 7: Integrate Beta Reader Feedback Carefully evaluate feedback and decide what serves your book's vision. This may require additional revision passes.Step 8: Line Edit Perfect your language, sharpen verbs, and ensure every sentence serves your story. Only do this after incorporating beta feedback to avoid attachment to scenes that might need cutting.Step 9: Copy Edit Focus on spelling, grammar, and catching typos—especially important if you use dictation software.Step 10: Prepare to Publish Choose your publishing path (traditional or indie) and complete the specific requirements for that route.Step 11: Build Your Author Platform Develop a minimalist marketing approach that builds your presence without taking over your life—whether for pitching agents or self-publishing success.The Power of ProcessThis step-by-step approach transforms an intimidating project into manageable milestones. You can see your progress, celebrate achievements, and maintain momentum knowing exactly what comes next. Each completed step moves you closer to your goal and proves you're further along than ever before.Mentioned in this Episode: Book Finishers Bootcamp, September 11-17

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• When Writing Feels Slow

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.In this episode of the Resilient Writers Radio Show, we dive deep into one of the most common struggles writers face: the feeling that their book is taking forever to complete. If you've ever caught yourself thinking "I'm too slow" or "this book will never be finished," this episode is for you.The Story We Tell OurselvesAbout 80% of the time, the feeling that our writing is "too slow" is simply a story we tell ourselves. This unhelpful narrative often stems from comparing ourselves to other writers, particularly indie romance or cozy mystery authors who publish multiple books per year. But here's the truth: it's not about the most words—it's about the right words for your project.Why Books Take TimeWriting a book is fundamentally about becoming the writer you need to be to finish that particular book. Sometimes this transformation requires more time for deep thinking and problem-solving. As Alice Munro famously said, some of her best writing happened while staring out her kitchen window—the thinking process is just as valuable as the actual typing.The Perfectionism TrapMany writers slow themselves down by trying to perfect each scene before moving on. This approach ignores a fundamental truth: revision is a necessary part of the creative process. Your brain literally cannot hold all the elements needed for a perfect scene simultaneously—there are simply too many craft elements to juggle at once.Attempting to write perfect first drafts is not only impossible but counterproductive. You cannot create work that makes you immune to criticism or judgment. Art is subjective—just look at the one-star reviews for Ernest Hemingway on Amazon. The goal isn't perfection; it's creating the best work you can right now.The Two-Brain ProblemYour creative brain (which gets the draft down) and your editorial brain (which scans for mistakes) work differently. Trying to use both simultaneously is the slowest possible way to write a book. As Sir Terry Pratchett (RIP) said, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."Practical SolutionsWhen progress genuinely feels slow, the only practical solution is more consistent time with your book. Books are built through consistency—20 minutes here, an hour there, paragraph by paragraph, scene by scene.Consider these strategies:Increase your writing frequency from twice to three or four times per weekSchedule writing retreats or long weekend sessionsUse small pockets of time throughout your dayTake temporary breaks from volunteering commitmentsWrite during lunch breaks or before the household wakes upEmbracing Your Writing PaceEvery writer is different. Some produce 1,200 words in 45 minutes, others write 250 words in the same time—and both are perfectly valid. The key is learning to accept the writer you are rather than suffering because you think you should be different.Remember: you are an artist whose medium is words, and art takes time. That's not just okay—it's necessary.Resources mentioned: DIY Writing Retreat Guide 

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• How to Stop "ProCRAFTinating!"

  Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show.Welcome back to The Resilient Writers Radio Show! In this solo episode, Rhonda tackles a sneaky form of procrastination that plagues so many writers—what she calls “procraftination.”You know the feeling. You sit down to write that tricky third scene in Act Two… and suddenly you need to read just one more writing craft book. Or register for a new workshop. Or spend two hours researching the Victorian medical tools your character might use—even though that detail doesn’t show up for three more chapters.Sound familiar?Rhonda dives into why this kind of procrastination feels productive (because hey, it’s writing-adjacent!), but actually gets in the way of finishing your draft. She shares her love for craft books, research rabbit holes, and workshops—but also offers a crucial mindset shift: these tools are powerful when used in the right phase of the writing process.Inside the episode, you'll learn:Why we often turn to writing education instead of writing the next sceneHow to recognize when you're avoiding your draft in disguiseThe best times to read craft books or take workshops (hint: not mid-draft!)Rhonda’s “square bracket method” for handling research without interrupting your creative flowWhy fast-drafting your book—without trying to perfect every line—is so essential to long-term successRhonda also unpacks how fear, self-doubt, and “this book might be mediocre” thinking can trick us into busywork that feels safe. She shares how becoming a conscious observer of your own creative process can help you spot the difference between genuine growth and sneaky procrastination.💬 One key truth from the episode: All good books aren’t written—they’re rewritten.This liberating mindset shift can help you finally give yourself permission to write a messy first draft and save the polish for later. Because you can’t revise what you haven’t finished.Whether you’re tempted to re-read Save the Cat one more time or you’re lost in 19th-century historical medical texts (true story), this episode is your gentle but firm reminder: 📣 It’s time to finish the damn draft.🎧 Listen now and get clear on how to make progress that actually moves your book forward:Resources Mentioned:Rhonda’s Book Finishers Bootcamp (returning in September!)Rhonda’s 12-Step Revision Process (taught inside First Book Finish)Craft books and workshops: when to use them, and when to pause

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