In this episode, we interview Bitsy Kemper, a prolific author of children's books and a passionate advocate for authors navigating the publishing industry.

The theme of this episode revolves around the resilience required in the publishing industry, including the personal challenges and triumphs of maintaining a career in writing over time. The discussion also touches on ghostwriting and practical advice for aspiring authors.

Key Discussion Point

1. Bitsy Kemper's Journey: From marketing to becoming a celebrated children's book author, highlighting her persistence and adaptability.

2. Overcoming Rejection: We discuss how to handle rejection in the publishing world, emphasizing it's not personal but rather about finding the right fit.

3. Ghostwriting and Writing for Hire: Bitsy explains her experiences and the skills necessary to succeed in ghostwriting, including how to adopt the voice of the client and the importance of discretion.

4. Advice for Aspiring Authors: Practical tips on navigating the publishing landscape, leveraging platforms like SCBWI, and how to use personal and professional challenges as growth opportunities.

5. Thirty-One Day Author Platform Challenge: Bitsy introduces a program designed to help writers enhance their online presence incrementally, which is crucial in today’s digital-forward publishing environment.

Bitsy's insights provide invaluable lessons on perseverance, not taking rejections personally, and strategic career maneuvers in writing. She emphasizes the importance of community support, continuous learning, and strategic marketing to sustain a successful writing career.

Mentioned Links:
Website
31 Day Platform Challenge
List of Publishers

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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Hosts:
- Beth McMullen
- Lisa Schmid

Theme:
The importance of secondary characters in storytelling.

Key Discussion Points:
- Secondary characters add depth, complexity, and enrich the narrative.
- They contribute to the world-building, provide subplots, conflicts, and challenges.
- Effective secondary characters are distinct from main characters and have their own development arc.
- They can reflect, challenge, and highlight aspects of the protagonist, aiding in their growth.
- Secondary characters should impact the plot, offering information and altering the course of the narrative.
- Every character introduced must serve a purpose to the plot or character development.
- It’s important to avoid filler characters and “kill your darlings” if they don't contribute to the story.
- Distinctive traits or quirks should serve the story and make characters memorable.
- Complex relationships between main and secondary characters enrich the narrative and drive character growth.
- Secondary characters can embody themes or contribute symbolically to the story’s message.

Conclusion:
Secondary characters are pivotal to storytelling success. They must be multi-dimensional, engaging, and crucial to the plot and theme. For aspiring and working writers, respecting the craft of creating secondary characters can lead to richer narratives and more compelling storytelling, engaging readers who seek depth and authenticity in the stories they read. Listeners are encouraged to develop their secondary characters with care and intention.

Support the Show.

Website: https://www.writerswithwrinkles.net/
Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles
Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles
Twitter: @BethandLisaPod
Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber
Email: Beth@BethMcMullenBooks.com
Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for more!

Hosts: Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid

Theme: Writer Resilience, Success

Key Discussion Points:

1. Matt Eicheldinger's Background:
   • Transition from childhood interests to writing.
   • Teaching career and its role in storytelling.
   • Path to self-publishing and eventual traditional publishing success.
2. Celebrating Recent Successes:
   • Matt's book, "Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes," hits bestseller lists.
   • Discussion on dealing with imposter syndrome and the overwhelming nature of success.
3. The Realities of Publishing:
   • The challenges of gaining visibility and the perseverance required in the face of rejection.
   • The impact of social media presence and pre-sale records on publishing opportunities.
   • Understanding the nature of book deals and the industry's unpredictability.
4. Self-Publishing Insights:
   • Matt's experiences and learnings from self-publishing, including Kickstarter funding and distribution struggles.
   • The importance of pivoting strategies and learning from rejection to enhance one’s writing and querying process.
5. Social Media Strategy:
   • Matt’s approach to building an authentic social media presence without overtly promoting his books.
   • The significance of being genuine, consistent, and engaging in storytelling on social media platforms.
   • Lessons learned from viral content and maintaining a focus on genuine engagement over chasing trends.

Conclusion:
The episode encapsulates the highs and lows of a writer's life, emphasizing hard work, resilience, and adaptability. Matt's journey from an unknown teacher and writer to a celebrated author exemplifies the unpredictable nature of the publishing world and the importance of staying true to one's craft and vision.

Find Matt here.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the Show.

Website: https://www.writerswithwrinkles.net/
Threads: @WritersWithWrinkles
Insta: @WritersWithWrinkles
Twitter: @BethandLisaPod
Support Writers With Wrinkles - become a subscriber
Email: Beth@BethMcMullenBooks.com
Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for more!