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Writing Rom-Coms and Outsmarting Your Inner Critic with Regency Romance Author Kate Archer
Info on Group Book Coaching with Write It ScaredWorking on a rom-com? This conversation with bestselling author Kate Archer is packed with craft insights and the best mindset support!We get into what makes humor land, how to keep your characters authentic, and how to keep conflict fresh in a genre built on familiar beats.Kate also shares how she built her writing life, the routines that keep her grounded, and the strategies she uses to push past fear, resistance, and the inner critic. It’s an honest, encouraging look at the realities of writing comedy, staying consistent, and showing up for your creativity.Timestamps: 01:23 Meet Kate Archer 03:58 Kate’s writing journey 07:32 Why Regency romcoms resonate 12:27 Crafting humor that feels true 22:23 Writing from the servant’s perspective 22:43 Revision + learning through mistakes 25:04 The power of a writing schedule 27:43 Overcoming psychological blocks 33:46 The struggle + joy of writing 36:14 Advice for aspiring writers 41:14 Final thoughts + where to find KateLinks:Visit Kate at: https://www.facebook.com/ and https://katearcher.weebly.com/ or get in touch at [email protected]. Check out Kate's books here Draft It Scared Small Group Book Coaching 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: [email protected] 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
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42:34
How a Gratitude Practice Can Reset Your Writing Life
Could a gratitude practice be the reset your writing life needs?Gratitude can shift your mindset, ease the pressure you put on yourself, and bring you back to the heart of why you write. You’ll hear how a simple practice helped me reconnect with my creative life, why it matters specifically for writers, and a challenge to help you create your own writing gratitude list.Timestamps: 00:00 The power of gratitude in writing 01:33 Why gratitude matters right now 02:23 Draft It Scared enrollment info 03:32 My gratitude list story 04:55 Benefits of a gratitude practice 05:49 Gratitude as action 06:42 Bringing gratitude into your writing 07:17 Your writing gratitude challenge 08:52 What this practice can shift 13:03 Closing + next episode previewLinks MentionedElizabeth Gilbert: Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear Gratitude ResearchJanuary 2026: Draft It Scared Group Coaching 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: [email protected] 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
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13:48
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13:48
Proof Writing Dreams Have No Expiration Date: A Conversation with Jean Ende
In this episode, I chat with debut author Jean Ende, who published her first novel, Houses of Detention, at seventy-nine. Jean shares what inspired her to start writing, how she mined her family history for fiction, and what she’s learned about persistence, rejection, and finding community along the way.It’s an honest, uplifting reminder that it’s never too late to chase your creative dreams or to finally write the story that’s been waiting for you.Timestamps: 00:00 Finding your creative spark at any age 01:31 Meet Jean Indy 07:04 The inspiration behind Houses of Detention 16:40 Turning family stories into fiction 31:14 Rejection, resilience, and the long road to publication 36:37 The power of writing groups 39:17 What’s next for JeanConnect with Jean and read Houses of Detention Links mentioned in the show: Inquire about Draft It Scared Group Coaching for January 2026Have 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: [email protected] 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
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41:43
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41:43
Special Announcement: Black Friday Book Coaching Sale
Special Offer: Mini-Blueprint Strategy Session Author Accelerator is running a Black Friday Book Coaching Sale, and I’m one of 80 certified coaches offering a limited-time Mini Blueprint Strategy Session to help 100 writers get unstuck before the year ends.If you’ve been spinning your wheels or second-guessing your story, this session is designed to help you find clarity and momentum. For $299 USD, you’ll get:Big-Picture Project AnalysisProfessional editorial feedback on your first 3,000 wordsA 50-minute private coaching call with meThis offer is ideal for commercial fiction writers—romance, mystery, thriller, speculative, and more—and it expires December 1. I only have space for three writers this winter, so if this sounds like what you need, head to writeitscared.coOr check out the other participating coaches on the Author Accelerator Black Friday Book Coaching Sale website. Let’s get you unstuck and excited to write again. See you Monday!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: [email protected] 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
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2:49
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2:49
How to Give Your Character Agency and Why It Matters
Ever get feedback that your main character feels flat, reactive, or like things just happen to them? That’s because they lack agency, one of the main ingredients in narrative drive — the force that makes readers keep turning the pages and engage with the story. In this episode of the Write It Scared podcast, we’re digging into what real agency looks like on the page and how to give your characters the power to act, choose, and change their fate. I’ll walk you through the three key ingredients every active protagonist needs—motive, means, and opportunity—and show you how to use them to turn a passive story into a page-turner.Timestamps 00:00 – Why Some Characters Feel Passive (and How to Fix It) 00:19 – Welcome to Write It Scared 01:15 – What Is Character Agency, Really? 01:55 – Why Agency Is the Beating Heart of Story 05:10 – The Three Ingredients: Motive, Means, and Opportunity 07:54 – Creating Moments of Choice That Matter 09:27 – How to Spot When Your Character’s Lost Control 11:08 – Final Takeaways Links mentioned in this episode:Episode 76: Narrative Drive: The Secret to Story Momentum and Reader EngagementWire For Story by Lisa Cron. 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: [email protected] 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
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11:46