The Write Focus: September 2022

Marilyn Levinson ~ 25+ Books and Counting

25+ books and counting, Marilyn Levinson is still penning mysteries. With a series recently completing and a new series to start, she is eager to explore new ideas, settings, and situations.

Timings

00:15 Opening with Marilyn’s writing journey
1:23 the Haunted Library series under her Allison Brook pen name. Newest release Dewey Decimated
3:45 Completing the story arc for that series and the beginnings of that series
7:00 Setting and Situation for the Haunted Library series
9:58 a Series should have novels that feel like a stand-alone so readers can enter at any time.
10:25 the Growth of repeating characters in the Haunted Library (avoiding stagnant characters)
11:54 Developing the next series, main characters, setting, research, working on the puzzle of the mystery
19:45 Adding a cat or a dog to the series, Smoky Joe the library cat of the Haunted Library series
22:15 the Title conundrum
23:47 Working from Idea to Novel, bringing in the murder
25:00 Plotter vs. Pantster, trusting your mind to work it out
27:35 After the Draft
30:30 Maintaining Productivity, motivation with friends Kaye George and Peg London
35:20 Do writers have a natural inclination to write short stories or novels?
36:50 Closing

Links

Marilyn’s website:http://www.marilynlevinson.com

Amazon page: https://amzn.to/3mAhjYO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts

Direct Link to the Audio

Direct Link to the Video

Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Our podcast is for newbies who want to become writing pros and veterans who are returning to writing after years away.

Our current focus is A Mixed Miscellany: Interviews with Writers / Fiction / Poetry / Nonfiction.

For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .

Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.

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If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)

Terri Karsten ~ Writing What She Wants / Mixed Miscellany Summer Series

Terri Karsten is writing what she wants. Multiple genres, children’s books to historical mysteries for

adults, whatever piques her interest … and she is loving what she’s doing.

And isn’t that the important thing?

Timings

0:03 Opening
0:46 Finn McCool, a legend of Ireland for Middle Grades
2:10 Eclectic in writing and reading, writing in multiple genres
4:28 Hybrid publishing: indie for books, traditional for shorter works; the journey along the way
7:00 Marketing and agents, self-publishing and an award
12:39 Cover designs
14:01 Hiring an illustrator for picture books; exploring on Deviant Art for covers
16:30 Planning the cover designs for a series: for a Philadelphia tavern in the 1760s and for the world-spanning legends for older kids
18:42 Productivity for writing and projects and schedules
22:16 Living the writing dream; sparking creativity
24:30 Tools for writing (one of them isn’t grammar!); “We are human and not perfect.”
29:46 Hard part about writing
30:35 Not writing to market
32:36 Writing fantasy; mystery in fantasy (her Roscoe Gordon stories)
35:25 Terri’s advice for newbies and veterans seeking to improve
38:45 Closing

LINKS

Terri’s website http://www.terrikarsten.com/

Her blog: https://bricabrac164.wordpress.com/

Her publishing company website https://wagonbridge-publishing.square.site/

Direct link to the audio

Direct link to the video

Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.

Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr

If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)

J.V. Caggiano ~ A "Witt" for Writing

J.V. Caggiano talks writing, her book At Witt’s End, having a “serial killer wall” to plan her books, and overcoming her launch at the start of the pandemic, in this week’s episode of The Write Focus.

Timings

0:10 Intro

2:00 J.V.’s book At Witt’s End, using emotional connections and items to link to the next books

4:35 Her route to indie publishing

6:25 Using a copy editor, problems and solutions

8:07 Cover designer and development of her novel’s title (series branding with covers)

10:02 Starting the story process, character dictating setting, and her “serial killer wall”

15:25 Her writing journey and her writing schedule

19:41 Creativity help: pen and paper

24:16 When the first draft is over

26:30 Critique groups

30:45 Her trusty notebook

33:00 Maintaining motivation

35:20 Closing

LINKS

J.V. Caggiano’s website https://jvcaggiano.com/

Her author page https://www.amazon.com/J-V-Caggiano/e/B085M6DRHQ/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084ZR2KXH/

Direct Link to the audio

Direct Link to the video

Derek Wheeless Interview ~ Writing is the Journey of Discovery ~ and Fun!

For debut author Derek Wheeless, writing is a fun journey of discovery.

He’s planted into a niche with his YA noir novel We Planned a Murder, Sam Spade-style, the angsty

detective re-invented as a teenager.

Timings

1:25 Story structure entering life
2:15 Derek’s novel, a YA noir; growing as a writer as the novel grws
5:20 Verbosity vs. tight writing: the reason picture books are difficult to write
6:50 Using a developmental editor
9:18 His current work-in-progress follows the mystery style of Nick and Nora Charles; balancing two protagonists
11:50 Outlining; plotter vs. pantster vs. puzzler
13:53 Novel construction
15:41 Hard part of writing
18:30 Finding guidance with a developmental editor; finding the right editor
23:27 A writing mistake
25:38 Developing reader magnets
26:50 Maintaining productivity
30:00 Designing a cover and branding a series
32:04 Writing books simultaneously
34:20 Avoiding contemporary slang and references
36:05 Casts of characters, the old Dell map backs, and lists of clues
39:50 Writing: the journey of discovery
42:25 Closing