4.8 • 733 Ratings
🗓️ 26 October 2023
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
On today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by podcast listener, Johnny Hobson. While reviewing his query letter, they discuss avoiding a synopsis-heavy query; the importance of showing the protagonism of a main character in a query; breaking down the mechanics of a love scene to reflect reality; the issue with starting a novel in a place where everything is going well; and some of the nuances in writing an alternate history.
After which, Bianca interviews Karma Brown, author of What Wild Women Do. They discuss the idea for the novel; how outlining can help you be certain that a story has legs; the pros and cons of getting feedback early in the drafting and outlining process; the epistolary elements in the book; deciding how best to structure a dual POV story in which the two characters will never be on the page together; and the importance of positive self-talk.
Find us on our socials:
Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/
https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/
https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW
Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com
Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting
To ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAW
Karma can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/karmakbrown/?hl=en and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KarmaKBrown
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
0:00.0 | It's a new year and time to get fresh eyes on your work in progress. |
0:04.8 | Are you looking for beta readers, some of whom might potentially become writing group members |
0:09.2 | down the line? |
0:10.2 | Are you wanting to be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and or time |
0:15.0 | zone so they can critique your work as you critique theirs at the same time? |
0:19.5 | Your manuscript doesn't have to be complete to sign up |
0:22.1 | for this 3,000 word evaluation. This matchup will be open to registrations from now until the |
0:28.5 | 2nd of March with the matchup emails going out on the 3rd of March. Always such an exciting day. |
0:35.4 | For more information and to register, go to Bianca Moray.com and go to |
0:39.7 | the beta reader matchup tab. And please spread the word, even if you aren't joining the matchup this |
0:45.7 | time. The more writers we have signed up, the better the matches will be. Hello from CC. |
0:52.6 | I'm so excited to announce an all new class called Starting It |
0:56.4 | Right, which is all about how to begin your story in the best place and in the best way. Now, |
1:01.6 | this is going to be a four-day class, so come prepared to take lots of notes. We'll cover the different |
1:06.9 | types of beginnings and how to choose the best one for your story, how to frame your |
1:11.6 | inciting incident in a compelling way, common mistakes writers make when starting a story, |
1:17.3 | how to balance exposition and mystery, how to make readers connect with your protagonist, and how |
1:23.6 | to make the reader want to turn to the next chapter and so much more. |
1:28.3 | And guess what? |
1:29.3 | For the first time ever, there will be an interactive component to my class. |
1:34.3 | Everyone who is registered will have the option of sending in the opening scene of their work |
1:40.3 | for a chance to be critiqued during the webinar. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.