Welcome to the Resilient Writers Radio Show! This is the podcast for writers who want to create and sustain a writing life they love. It's for writers who love ...
In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas sits down with Mia Botha, a seasoned writing coach and creator of popular writing challenges like "12 Stories in 12 Months" and "30 Days of Flash Fiction." The conversation dives into the common struggles writers face, particularly the ever-present hurdle of procrastination.Mia shares her unique journey from grappling with unfinished manuscripts to creating community-driven deadlines that transformed her productivity. She explains how procrastination can sneakily disguise itself as "productive" activities—like cleaning grout or taking yet another writing class. Recognizing this, Mia emphasizes the importance of balancing indulgence in these distractions with discipline and accountability. For her, outsourcing discipline through public deadlines and collaborative challenges has been a game-changer.The episode also explores the concept of "procraftination," where writers spend more time learning about writing than actually writing. While craft development is essential, Mia advises being mindful of when it shifts from helpful to avoidant behavior. For her, it’s crucial to focus on writing more than procrastinating, even if the writing feels imperfect or experimental. In fact, she believes that magic often lies in the brave, "wonky" stories.This episode is packed with practical advice and a warm reminder that writing is a journey best traveled with intention, community, and a bit of self-compassion. Whether you’re struggling with procrastination or looking for ways to reignite your creative spark, this discussion offers encouragement and actionable takeaways to help you build a resilient and joyful writing life.
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22:26
How to Write and Sell Your Nonfiction Book
In this first episode of Season 6 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas dives into the world of nonfiction writing with expert Meghan Stevenson. Meghan, a seasoned professional in crafting nonfiction book proposals, shares her wealth of experience, having helped her clients secure over $5 million in publishing advances and contributing to the success of 16 New York Times bestsellers.The conversation explores the distinct differences between nonfiction and fiction markets, emphasizing how nonfiction is driven by purpose—whether to educate, solve a problem, or inspire change. Meghan highlights the importance of recognizing books as products, a mindset shift essential for authors looking to navigate the publishing world successfully.The discussion also demystifies the nonfiction book proposal—a pivotal tool for securing an agent or publisher. Meghan likens it to a “mullet of publishing,” combining business-driven content in the front with creative writing in the back. Proposals typically include an overview, chapter summaries, a sample chapter, and business sections detailing marketing strategies, comparative titles, and a compelling author bio. Meghan strongly advises against writing the full book before selling it, as the publishing process often involves refining and reshaping the idea.The episode is packed with valuable advice for writers aiming to break into the nonfiction space. Meghan’s blend of candid humor and actionable insights provides a clear roadmap for authors to navigate the challenging but rewarding world of publishing. From recognizing the business side of writing to understanding the importance of collaboration and patience, listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed as a nonfiction author.Whether you're an entrepreneur, expert, or simply someone with a great idea, this episode serves as an encouraging guide to bringing your nonfiction book dreams to life. Rhonda and Meghan's warm and engaging conversation reminds writers that with the right tools and mindset, they can overcome the hurdles of publishing and create lasting impact with their work.
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29:15
How to Supercharge Your Writing Time
In this last episode of Season 5 of the podcast, I am doing a solo show talking about a step-by-step guide on how to create your own DIY writing retreats. These DIY retreats, which I’ve organized for myself for over 20 years and now include in my First Book Finish program, have helped me reconnect with my projects and make significant progress on my manuscripts. Here's a link to where you can find the DIY Writing Retreats resource I mention in the show.That is it for Season 5 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show. We are going to be kicking off Season 6 in about four weeks time. See you soon!--Rhonda xo
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13:22
Re-imagining the Old Stories, with Jeanne Blasberg
In this week’s episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I interview Jeanne Blasberg. Jeanne is a bestselling author known for her novels Eden and The Nine. Her latest novel, Daughter of a Promise, came out in April 2024. This latest novel is a contemporary retelling of the Biblical story of David and Bathsheba, set in modern-day New York. Jeanne explains that while she kept the essence of the original plot, she made significant changes to reflect contemporary themes, including giving her heroine more agency than Bathsheba had in the Bible.Our conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of reimagining classic stories in a modern context. Jeanne was inspired to explore the timelessness of themes like consent, attraction, and power dynamics, especially during the #MeToo movement. By writing from the perspective of Betsy (her modern Bathsheba), Jeanne gives a voice to a character who, in the original story, is largely voiceless. Towards the end of the interview, we also get into indie publishing vs. traditional publishing – a topic I know a lot of think about!
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33:23
Do You Need a Developmental Edit? With Sue Brown-Moore
This week's episode from The Resilient Writers Radio Show features an interview with Sue Brown-Moore, a book coach and developmental editor. We go deep into the intricacies of developmental editing, particularly for fiction and romance authors. The conversation dives into the purpose, timing, and benefits of developmental editing.When it comes to self-editing, Sue encourages writers to conduct their own developmental edits by stepping back from their manuscripts before revisiting them with fresh eyes. She offers a free 30-minute webinar teaching authors to pre-edit their manuscripts to ensure foundational storytelling issues are addressed before a formal edit.
Welcome to the Resilient Writers Radio Show! This is the podcast for writers who want to create and sustain a writing life they love. It's for writers who love books, and everything that goes into the making of them. For writers who wanna learn and grow in their craft, and improve their writing skills. Writers who want to finish their books, and get them out into the world so their ideal readers can enjoy them, writers who wanna spend more time in that flow state, writers who want to connect with other writers to celebrate and be in community in this crazy roller coaster ride we call “the writing life.”
South Africa