WriterSpark: Tips & Tricks for Fiction Writing

How to Tackle Your Financial Life as an Author

Finances for authors. It’s not the most appealing topic for people who spend their time with words…but wherever you are on your writing path, it’s never too early to start thinking about how to tackle your financial life as an author. Managing your expenses, especially in relation to current and/or future profits--or even just knowing what you are spending--is pretty important.
Honing in on what’s most worth spending money on is vital. With all of the resources out there, it’s easy to get sucked into the mire of endless blind spending. It’s important to evaluate what you actually need, based on where you are in your career.
Today's episode with USA Today Bestselling author Kelsey Browning, is chock full of accessible information that will get you started.
 
Have you ever asked:
Why should I start an LLC?
How many bank accounts do I need?
Should I run a Profit and Loss statement?
Do I need to cut back on what I'm spending to support my writing career?
 
These are only a few of the topics we discuss. So grab a cup of something tasty, settle in, and get ready to ignite your WriterSpark!
 
Get my seven tips for an author's financial life HERE!
 
Resources
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
Visit Kelsey Browning's Website: https://www.kelseybrowning.com/
More Resources from Kelsey: https://www.kicksasscreations.com/
Mike Michalowicz's book, Profit First  https://amzn.to/3MxbkAP
Wave Software  
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy and http://instagram.com/writer_spark
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Learn more about our self-paced online courses at: https://writersparkwritingacademy.teachable.com/
 

Going into Deep Point of View by Adding Thought, Emotion, Action, and Decision in your Writing

Today's WriterSpark episode is about deep point of view and how to incorporate it into your fiction writing. Deep point of view is a concept that can be hard to explain and hard to understand. But you CAN master it if you use these four elements as you write your scenes:
 
Emotion
Thought
Action
Decision
 
Today I'm showing you exactly how to do that through examples. Take a listen! I'd love to hear if this helped you understand the concept. Leave a comment!
 
Please like and follow this podcast, and subscribe to the WriterSpark newsletter at https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
 
Resources
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy and http://instagram.com/writer_spark
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Learn more about our self-paced online courses at: https://writersparkwritingacademy.teachable.com/
 

Writing from a Perspective that’s Different from your Own

Who says you can't write from a woman's perspective if you're a man? Or from a man's perspective as a woman? Writing is about understanding people, and not just people who look and sound and live like you. 
Today's conversation is about just this: writing from a perspective that is different from your own, whether that means gender, race, or ethnicity. Join me in conversation with John DeDakis, author of the Lark Chadwick mystery series. John is a former White House correspondent and former senior editor for "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer". He has had an illustrious career as a journalist and he took that experience and applied it to the Lark Chadwick series. 
So how did John tackle writing from the point of view of a 22 year old woman? Take a listen!
 
Please like and follow this podcast, and subscribe to the WriterSpark newsletter at https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
 
Resources
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Visit John's website: htthttp://johndedakis.com/

Publishing Your First Book with the Wisdom and Experience of Age

Publishing is a tough industry no matter what age you are. Author Martha Anne Toll's award-winning book, Three Muses, was published when she was 64 years old. Today I am in conversation with her to talk about what it means to publish your first book as an older person--because with age comes wisdom, experience, and perspective.
I loved having this conversation with Martha and I know you will enjoy listening to it and learning about her very fascinating career, her book Three Muses, and the insight she provides.
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Visit Martha's website: https://www.marthaannetoll.com/
 

How to Make the Shift from Writing One Genre to Another

Making the shift from writing in one genre to another...or from genre fiction to a traditional fiction category...can be daunting. As writers, we sometimes feel as if we are going to be stuck in the genre in which we started. Or we may think we'll never want to make a change. 
In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle and I have an insightful conversation about this topic, specifically how to make the shift from writing in one genre to another. She's done with her newest release The Shell Collector. I've done it, too, moving from cozy mysteries to the much broader fiction with mystery elements category. 
One takeaway is to remember that you are never stuck doing just one thing. You have the power to make changes in your career and with the direction your writing takes. 
Nancy also has had many of her books turned into Hallmark movies, a subject we touch on today, as well. I know you'll enjoy this conversation, so grab a cup of something tasty, settle in, and get ready to Ignite your WriterSpark!
 
Welcome to the second season of WriterSpark, year 2023, the podcast with Tips and Tricks about Fiction Writing.
 
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Check out Nancy's Website: http://www.vmburns.com/https://nancynaigle.allauthor.com/
Download the Transcript: 
 
 

The Importance of Creating Diverse Characters to your Writing

As writers, creating diverse fictional worlds that reflect the world and communities we live in is so important. And it is a conversation we don't have nearly often enough.Cozy mystery author VM (Valerie) Burns and I talked about this (among other things) on this episode of the WriterSpark podcast. Valerie and I talked about the importance of adding diversity to your cast of characters. It's essential to have conversations like these so we all learn how to represent races and cultures and sexuality intentionally and with authenticity and respect in our writing. Because we live in a diverse world filled with people who are of varying races, cultures, and who practice different religions, and politics, and who may live their lives differently than we do.Understanding comes from having these types of conversations. Thank you to Valerie for taking the time to join me on my podcast. I hope you enjoy it!Listen now or watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i5Sjc14SH_Q
 
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Check out Valerie's Website: http://www.vmburns.com/
Download the Transcript: https://writersparkacademy.com/the-importance-of-adding-diversity-to-your-writing/
 
 

Weather Can Play an Important Part in Your Writing

Weather can be an Important Part of Fiction Writing and no one does it better than Katherine Ramsland.
 
Katherine is one accomplished woman. She holds multiple graduate degrees and currently teaches forensic psychology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where she is also the Assistant Provost.
 
Listen to this. Katherine has appeared as an expert in criminal psychology on more than 200 crime documentaries and magazine shows. She is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and she has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist.
 
On top of that, she has authored more than 1,500 articles and 69 books. I could go on and on and on!
 
During our talk, Katherine talks about being ready for opportunities, and how those opportunities come randomly. I love this and I believe that so many things for me have happened in the same way. Katherine believes in saying yes, and figuring things out along the way if need be, and making your own opportunities rather than waiting for someone else to open the door for you. I loved my talk with Katherine and hearing her take on the weather. I know you will, too.
 
Please LIKE this episode, follow the podcast, and leave a review! I appreciate you!
 
 
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy
Check out Katherine's Website: https://www.katherineramsland.net/author
 

Tools to Mine the Depths of Your Characters

As writers, we are always learning and filling our virtual toolboxes with new information. It's how we continue to grow as writers. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Leslie Budewitz, who also writes as Alicia Beckman. Rants and free writing to channel characters are two of Leslie's Go To methods of mining the depths of her characters. Learn more about her tried and true methods. I came away with several new ideas, and you will, too!  
 
Please LIKE this episode, follow the podcast, and leave a review! I appreciate you!
 
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy

What are Turning Points in a Story?

Please tell me, What are Turning Points in a Story? Are they necessary? What do they do? Let’s talk about it!
 
Whether you are a plotter or a pantser, understanding certain components of storytelling will help you create a more engaging story, which keeps readers turning the pages. In today's episode we’re talking about one of these key components: Turning Points. The simplistic explanation of a Turning Point is that something in the story changes. While that is true, there is a lot more to it.
You can follow along with this podcast on the WriterSpark website.
Also, you can download a PDF of the Three Act Structure with the major Turning Points and Pinch Points delineated. 
 
Please LIKE this episode, follow the podcast, and leave a review! I appreciate you!
 
 
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy

Planning Your Book Like a Pro with Plottr

Every writer plots, we just do it differently. Some of us are meticulous. Some...not so much. Personally, I land somewhere in the middle on the plotting spectrum.
Which is why I was so curious about how plotting software like Plottr can help someone like me. In this episode, I talk with Troy Lambert, an education specialist with Plottr, about different ways to use their software.
I actually learned a lot and am excited to give the Plottr trial a go to see how it can work for me.
 
Here's the link if you want to dig in:
Try Plottr Now!
 
 
Please LIKE this episode, follow the podcast, and leave a review! I appreciate you!
 
Join me on WriterSpark: Tips and Tricks for Fiction Writers
 
Resources
Sign up for the WriterSpark newsletter: https://writersparkacademy.com/newslettersignup/
WriterSpark Website: http://writersparkacademy.com
Grab WriterSpark Swag! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writerspark/share
Learn more about the host, Melissa Bourbon: http://melissabourbon.com
Subscribe to WriterSpark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnKN2ZVZwjoAOeHlBO-cRIw/videos
Follow WriterSpark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterSpark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWriterSpark
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bookishly_cozy
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookishly_cozy