Episodios
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J.F. Penn, the award-winning author of Blood Vintage and other books and podcaster at The Creative Penn, kicks off Simply Write's third season with a great conversation about "flipping the script" and allowing your creativity and writing to evolve as your interests grow and change. After creating an extensive nonfiction library for writers, J.F. Penn is now focused on writing edgier, darker fiction and nonfiction that explores the psychology of religion and other topics. In this episode she explains how and why she shifted her writing and publishing focus and why she's having so much fun. She also explains why writers shouldn't fear AI but learn how to use those tools to enhance their work.
Learn more about J.F. Penn and find her books at https://JFPenn.com
Connect with Polly and join the Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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In nonfiction essays, memoirs, and other forms, you've got to stick to the truth and discover the real-life characters in the story you are telling. But whether that's you, someone you are profiling, or a person in a service piece you encountered, it's up to you to observe their unique behaviors, details, and traits to create layered characters that readers care about and relate to. Characters are what drive the story and connect readers. In this episode, we talk about how to reveal authentic characters in your nonfiction.
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Ghostwriter Maggie Mills has written books for celebrities, athletes, preachers, and scores of other people who have overcome challenges, built businesses, survived mental illness, and have other incredible stories to tell. She's driven by curiosity, the desire to tell interesting stories, and make a living. In this far-reaching episode, she fills us in on the nuts and bolts that she uses to fulfill all of those things through her work as an in-demand ghostwriter. And she offers tips for how we can do it too.
Find Maggie Mills at maggiemills.com and don't forget to say Simply Write w/Polly Campbell sent you.
And join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com and become a paid subscriber to access our upcoming popup class Master the Techniques of Writing Better Nonfiction, on Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
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Rough drafts can help us clarify our ideas and structure, build momentum, expand our creative process, and develop new and innovative ideas in our work, but only if we can allow ourselves to abandon the drive for perfection and write freely. In this episode I share some ways to do it and why we must give ourselves permission to write trash. Only then, do we have the materials on the page that we need to create art.
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Veronica Llorca Smith, author of The Lemon Tree Mindset talks about how to grow your writer's brand and business so you can amplify your voice, build your ecosystem, and build your reach. This is a way not only to reach more readers but also to develop a platform that will help you create more publication opportunities. To start developing your writer's brand, consider what you want to be known for and listen to this podcast. You aren't selling only your book or newsletter, you are also selling yourself. An authentic brand helps you do that. Listen to this episode to learn how to start.
Contact Veronica Llorca Smith and learn more about The Lemon Tree Mindset here: https://veronicallorcasmith.com
Join Polly and the Simply Write community at https:simplywrite.substack.com where paid subscribers get full articles and archives, access to pop-up classes at discounted rates
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Creating a sustainable writing practice is as much about mindset as it is about marketing and craft. Beat yourself up and you're likely to experience creative blocks and even more self-doubt. Self-compassion is actually a way through those blocks and bad feelings. In today's episode, I'll explain why it's so helpful to writers and how you can develop your own more self-compassionate approach. It won't make you soft, it will make you better.
For more, join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com for early-bird class discounts, feedback on your work, and essays, and encouragement.
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Michael Hearns, an author, retired police, detective, and undercover agent who investigated drug cartels, money laundering networks, homicides, and other crimes in the shadows of sunny South Florida talks about the real-life details he writes into his detective fiction so that his novels feel authentic. He calls this genre of gritty realism Dark Tropics and says writing characters with emotional depth and getting the details accurate from street names to menu items are essential to respecting the readers and keeping them engaged.
Find more about Michael at MichaelHearns.com
Join our Simply Write community, at https://simplywrite.substack.com, for more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life.
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Whether you want to publish a novel or nonfiction book, essay, or article, you will need a query letter to sell your idea and yourself to agents and editors. In this episode, we cover the things that need to be in that letter as well as a couple of tips that can help you sell your work.
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Dianne Pearce loves reading so much that it seems natural that she would become a writer and publisher. Now as the founder of Current Words, an indie publisher, she has some suggestions for authors to keep in mind if they truly want to publish and release their work.
For more on Dianne Pearce and Current Words, https://currentwords.com
For more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life, join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com.
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This episode ran our first season, but writers and rejection will always be an issue. Rejection can be a painful part of the job. But, when we learn to accept and manage rejection we can use it as a motivational tool to keep writing.
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Award-winning romance writer Susan Carlisle dictates 1500 to 2000 a day on her phone to quickly get the first draft out. Then she spends most of her time in revisions and editing. That process helps her publish multiple books a year.
What does it take to write compelling romance novels? Carlisle says there are some common tropes, and she wants to leave readers with a feel-good ending, but the "trope is the umbrella of the story, but that's not the part that makes a story work," Carlisle says. Readers must be invested in the characters, intrigued by the setting, and propelled forward by everything that happens along the way.
Listen for more on Carlisle's writing process and why she says she's in the "feel-good" business.
Go to https://susancarlisle.com for more on Carlisle and her books.
Join the Simply Write community, https://simplywrite.substack.com, for more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life.
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Being a writer requires more than putting words on a page. It's a whole mindset. You have to believe you can do it and then give yourself permission to go after it and write consistently. I remember the first moment I called myself a write without any other qualifiers. It was awkward, embarrassing and life-changing.
In this episode, I'll explain why the declaration was so important and why I think calling yourself a writer is essential to becoming one.
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Book coach and author Caroline Donahue explains how we can manage our fears and even use it to build excitement and energy around our writing process. In this enlightening interview the author of three books including her newest, Writing through Fear: A Story Arcana Guide, Donahue says we can make fear an ally in our writing.
For more on Caroline Donahue and her work go to https://www.carolinedonahue.com.
And join our Simply Write community on Substack for plenty more on the writing craft and crafting a writer's life at https://simplywrite.substack.com/
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What pressures is your character facing? What does she want and why does she want it? What kind of risks will she face and what obstacles will she encounter as she strives tor her ultimate goal.
In other words, what are the stakes?
In this episode, we define the stakes of both nonfiction and fiction stories and explain why they matter. Then we cover some things to consider when ratcheting up the risk/reward scenarios for your main.
To get in touch with Polly and learn more about the writing craft and crafting a writer's life join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.com
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Lorna Hollifield starts "every single day of my life with a bath in the morning" and doesn't bother to make her bed, but she is self-aware and has used her strengths to forge a thriving career as an author, columnist and now managing editor of Charleston Women Magazine.
One of the tips she gives to writers who want to make a career out of freelancing is to study the style and tone of the magazine, its articles, and headlines, and then give them a clean and polished draft that would fit in the pages.
Her books Tobacco Sun and The Ocean At Night can be purchased wherever books are sold. You can find more about Lorna and her books here: https://lorna-hollifield.com/my-books/
And join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com and sign up for our Paid Subscriber Perks Program to access tip sheets, craft reports, full essays, writing assignments, and feedback on your work.
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Freelancing does have its perks, but paid time off is not one of them. Knowing how to manage your to-do list when life's unexpected (toothache) and planned moments (vacation) take you away from the work, is the key to managing stress and getting the work done In today's episode I'll share two of my strategies for staying on track and avoiding the pressure and overwhelm even when you are pressed for time.
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Leslie Wyatt has published young adult novels, nonfiction books, and magazine articles, and now she is working on a series of romance books for those who have lived a little longer, she says. Her writing process has changed and evolved over the years too. But how does she keep writing books across the genres?
The key, Wyatt says, is to keep showing up.
This inspiring conversation will make you want to keep showing up too.
Find Leslie J. Wyatt at https://lesliejwyatt.com/books
And, join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com
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The brash and bright days of summer can make it hard for me to focus, but with micro-goals, a daily practice, and reframing the notion of writing work, I am able to get the writing done and enjoy the summer fun. These ideas might help you stay on track too.
Join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com and become a Simply Paid Subscriber Perks member to receive writing assignments, personal feedback, craft tip sheets and more.
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Librarian Joel Shoemaker is the author of "Bacon Grief," and the award-winning "Silas on Sundays," an LGBTQIA+ affirming faith picture book featuring a gender, non-conforming character.
In this far-reaching and fun discussion, Joel talks about writing the stories he cares about for readers who don't always see themselves represented in books, the importance of knowing your audience, writing about faith, relationships, and gender norms, and how he embraces the "fun" side of marketing to connect with his readers.
Find more about Joel and his work at https://itsjoelshoemaker.com
Join our Simply Write community where, under the blue logo, we talk about the writing craft and crafting a writer's life at https://substack.com/@pollycampbell. Under the yellow logo, you'll find Simply Said, a Substack and podcast about living well, doing good, and being happy.
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How do you know when your piece is done? I am often asked this question and there are no clear answers. After months of writing and revising how do you know your book, essay, and articles are solid and ready to send to editors?
In this episode we discuss the signs to watch for that indicate you have reached The End--part intuition, part copy blindness, and even some satisfaction--and the practices you need to perform before sending out the final document.
For more on this topic, the writer's craft, and crafting a writer's life join our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com where Simply Paid, Subscriber Perks members receive bonuses including tip sheets and feedback.
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