Sue Brown-Moore is the host of the Wanna Write Romance virtual conference. Sue is a sought-after book revision coach, and one of LA Weekly’s 15 Book Coaches to Watch in 2023. She teaches fiction authors to craft their best stories in the fewest drafts, and specializes in working with experienced romance authors in her small-group programs.

Known for being a tough editor with a soft touch, Sue approaches every session from a character transformation mindset. Her empathetic teaching methods break the traditional mold of plot-first story design. She is passionate about empowering writers to embrace what makes them unique and champions progressive, inclusive literature.

On today’s episode, we explore how to develop positive growth arcs in romance. Sue gives us a sneak peak into her process to building a strong growth arc throughout your novel.

I loved talking with Sue because we have similar philosophies about writing for yourself and focusing on what resonates most with you. It’s important to be well-read in your chosen genre and specific romance plots. If what you’re passionate about aligns with your readers, that’s just a bonus! Focus on what YOU love first, and follow your passion. You have the freedom to choose how your writing life looks.

We also discuss the difference between writing the romance genre and writing a book with romance elements, embracing your imperfect first draft, and using movies to study story structure!

Learn more about Sue on her Website, and download her FREE worksheet for learning more about building a positive growth arc.

Journal Prompts:

What romance sub-plots/tropes do you enjoy writing most?

What makes you unique as a romance writer?

Which characters in your current WIP have positive growth arcs? How are you developing them?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach

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Author 1: Tina Capricorn

Tina Capricorn writes sci-fi fantasy time travel romance. She has two books out currently, Shadowglass Time-Magic, Blood-Magic and The Anchor of Time. When she’s not writing, she’s probably out in the garden, or doing the dishes.

To find out more about her and her books head over to tinacapricorn.com

The excerpt I’m reading is from Shadowglass Time-Magic, Blood-Magic. It opens after a time witch Ostra, was summoned through a Blockleiter Bar (a bar for members of the Reich in WWII) and destroyed most of the vampire nazis present.

Author 2: Stephanie M. Matthews

Having been raised as an East Coast girl in Truro, Nova Scotia, Stephanie Matthews has spent time living in Newfoundland, Oklahoma, and Italy. She has currently settled in Ontario working for a non-profit organization and writing in her spare time.

Stephanie’s love of writing came at an early age, drafting her first “real story” in Grade 2. This love has continued throughout her life, as a university professor once accused her of having made a history research paper too exciting. While this accusation inspired an opinionated debate between department professors- from which she gently excused herself, the moment solidified a decision to never take the excitement out of her writing- fiction or non.

When not writing or working, Stephanie enjoys fueling her passion for Ancient Rome and combatting her arch nemesis: her love of cookies. Stephanie also loves mountain biking, pretending like she can play hockey, or planning her bucket list, for which she had to come to the harsh reality that time travel is not an option.

Learn more about Stephanie on her website: https://stephaniemmatthews.com/

Her excerpt is from Book 1 “The Gift”. A supernatural thriller set in a Christmas wonderland. It’s an addictive story about hidden truths and one woman’s journey to survive against overwhelming darkness.

Author 3: Laura Westman

Laura Westman is an ontological coach and multifaceted creative who cares deeply about creative joy. She is the author of How to Be Creative in the Age of Digital Noise, a singer/songwriter, co-host of West of Wonderland Podcast, and the host of The Creativity Broadcast on YouTube. Laura loves being moved by art, but also being inspired by the effort behind the art. Her life is led by her core values of appreciation and joy.

Her fan fic I’m reading isn't published yet. To read more, hop on her newsletter at www.laurawestman.com for the announcement.

This fan fiction explores the world of Remus Lupin as he navigates being a werewolf, in secret. Inspired by the author's experience having an autoimmune disease, Remus's experience of being a teen wizard is remarkably different on a physical and emotional level than that of his peers.

This is a story about Remus's connection with himself and his true nature. It's also an ode to the teenage antics of the author, as (non-canon) American witch Laurel Witherby transfers from Ilvermorny to Hogwarts in her sixth year. Away from the normal trappings of her life, family and people-pleasing tendencies, Laurel finds new confidence, power and ambition as she chooses life in Slytherin House.

Journal Prompts

What would your life be like as a vampire?

How would you handle a mysterious situation where you know everyone is keeping a secret from you?

Write a fan fiction about your favourite fictional world.

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach

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Rhonda Douglas is an award-winning poet and fiction author. She’s the host of The Resilient Writers Radio Show podcast for writers, and the creator of First Book Finish.

Living and writing in Ottawa, Canada, she’s committed to helping writers overcome fear and eliminate distractions so that they can write with ease and achieve their writing dreams.

On this episode, we’re talking about writing retreats.

Rhonda has vast experience with a range of retreats from the high-end paid ones to free events you can create in the comfort of your own home. By yourself or with friends, a writing retreat is what you make it.

Rhonda tells us how retreats are page boosters, and if you bring them into a regular part of your schedule, they can be a lot of fun. She shares how to do advanced planning that works best for you and your lifestyle for a 3-day retreat. Making it fun and comfortable is very important to her. She comes prepared with writing prompts, scheduled breaks, and the pomodoro technique.

Listen in to learn her tips on balancing productive writing with relaxing downtime. Even if you can’t do a 3-day retreat, make the most of the time you DO have. If you can’t write for hours at a time, that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Don’t wait for “ideal conditions” like a spotless home or enough energy to feel like what you’re writing is perfect. Ideal conditions are myths. We must stop telling ourselves false stories about our limitations. Start by regulating your nervous system, then find your writing flow NOW!

Download her FREE The Busy Writers' Guide to DIY Writing Retreats, then connect with Rhonda on her website and Instagram. Make sure to listen in to the Resilient Writers Radio Show too!

Journal Prompts:

If money were no object, what would your ideal writing retreat weekend look like?

In your current situation, what would an ideal D.I.Y. writing retreat look like?

What preparation needs to be done for your retreat?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach

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Worthy Writers! I've got a solo episode for you today where I read story excerpts from THREE different authors:

Author 1: Catherine Larkin

Catherine Larkin is the author and illustrator of the Wizards of the Apocalypse series. Growing up in Washington state, she spent her free time voraciously reading and drawing characters to go with her short stories.

Catherine’s passion for creative writing is inspired by the love of fantasy, horror, and history. She started writing the first book in the series during her junior year of high school. When she’s not writing, she is drawing a few of her favorite characters, taking commissions, traveling, playing piano, and visiting with friends.

Her snippet is about the three main heroes of the story investigating a break in to the king's castle.

Website: https://www.x-zombie.com/about

Author 2: Heather Lucinda

Heather Lucinda lives in Newmarket, Ontario. She’s the author of three thriller\drama novels all of which are on amazon. She’s a collector of oddities and taxidermy. You can find her primarily spending free time at the cottage enjoying a drink and a good novel on the dock, normally beside her dog Eddie, or watching a good horror movie.

This excerpt is from her second novel CONFESSIONS. The synopsis is:

Izzy Calleta never knew her real father; he disappeared before she was born and her older half-sister and her mother claim he vanished one day fifteen years ago, never to be seen or heard from again.

Izzy has always been close to her sister Theo and Theo’s best friends and they’ve always felt like a family. But as Izzy gets older and starts questioning the ties that bind her family and their friends together, it becomes clear that everyone knows something she doesn’t...

As questions are answered and the lies part to reveal the truth, Izzy starts to ask herself: is it sometimes better not knowing who you are and where you come from?

Instagram: @heather.lucinda_author

Author 3: Cecilia Agetun

Cecilia Agetun writes YA fantasy. Growing up she was an avid reader of Fantasy and always enjoyed creating stories in her head and writing them down. However, due to her dyslexia, she never thought she had the skillset to write and publish her own books, but the lock downs provided her with a perfect opportunity to expand her writing skills, and overcome her insecurity. After all you’ll never know how far you can go until you try.

So she set her sights on writing a series about love, friendship, and self acceptance, inspired by magic and Norse mythology. Her first book Forgotten Memories published in September 2022. Magical Bond, the second book, published February 2024 – She’s currently working on book three, and book four, which will be the last book in the series.

Her excerpt is from Chapter 1 of Forgotten Memories, the first book in Freya’s Legacy series. Jax is a crow demon that has the ability to turn into a crow. He was abandoned at birth and taken in and cared for by Freya, who taught him the importance of Love and Friendship.

Instagram: @ceciliaagetun

Journal Prompts:

How would you handle fighting a zombie?

Write about a time where you had a challenging argument with a loved one. How did you handle it versus how you WISH you handled it?

If you could be any animal, what would you be and with what powers/abilities?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach

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Worthy Writers! I've got a solo episode for you today where I read story excerpts from THREE different authors:

Author 1: C.H. Carter

C.H. Carter is a fantasy author with a lifelong love of the genre in all its forms. In middle school, she wrote a fan letter to Tamora Pierce and received the most encouraging reply! That experience cemented her desire to become an author. (She also still holds out the hope they can meet in person one day!)

When not writing, you can find her working on a number of rotating projects (Crochet, anyone?) and obsessing over her two rescue dogs.

Her excerpt is from her debut novel, To Kiss the Sea. It's the first full chapter from Ally's POV. It gives an insight into what her childhood was like and the events leading up to the traumatic moment that triggered her incredible fear of water.

Website: chcarterwrites.com

Author 2: Elizabeth Suggs

Elizabeth Suggs is the co-owner of the indie publisher Collective Tales Publishing, owner of Editing Mee, and is the author of a growing number of award-winning published stories, one of which was part of an Amazon Bestseller collection. She is also a book reviewer (EditingMee.com), popular bookstagramer, and cosplayer (@ElizabethSuggsAuthor) on Instagram. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s traveling the world.

Her piece was inspired by the exclusion Covid and a new move brought to her life. It also sheds light on her relationship with her family, specifically her mother and how Elizabeth couldn’t cope without her around.

Author 3: B. Joyce

B. Joyce, author of the Moon Beetles series, is a Canadian independent fantasy author. She writes to connect readers to deep emotions and themes such as mental health, self discovery, intuition, and authenticity, with a backdrop of high fantasy world building.

To create her fantasy world, she uses her experience with biology and psychology to create an environment that sucks you into new magical possibilities and forces you to care about the characters. In her free time she can mostly be found playing video games, reading, wandering in the woods, or creating for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Her excerpt is from Soul Tether, the second book in her three part Moon Beetles series. Eliote doesn't have any essence abilities (magical abilities) like most people in the world of Illyson. However, she is able to see and feel auras from other people. She's been training at a Guardian academy for the past year, but as she's learned about herself, she's starting to think it's time for something new, something that fits her own skills.

LinkTree: B Joyce

Journal Prompts:

What would you do in Ally's situation?

Write a journal entry reflecting on a time when you felt isolated and how you handled the situation.

What is your favourite element of fantasy?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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"Kris Ashley is a dynamic coach, author, speaker, podcast host, and television host with a passion for personal development. She has spent over two decades immersed in the research and teachings she shares.

With both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in creative writing, and a flair for transformative storytelling, she first made her mark in the tech industry as a copywriter before moving into digital marketing. She quickly worked her way up to head of marketing, where she led teams to break new ground with bold campaigns.

Her leadership journey then took a turn towards wellness, overseeing west coast operations and a team of eighty as a Director for a major yoga company. She also ran workshops and led yoga teacher training, discovering her love of serving others in the process.”

-Excerpt from Kris’ About Page – View Full Bio Here

Kris’ book is a spiritual personal development book. It was endorsed by 3 experts from the film The Secret, Anita Moorjani, John Gray (who wrote Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus), and many others who are in the spiritual and personal development space.

On today’s episode, Kris shares all about her book Change Your Mind to Change Your Reality. It was a decades long process in building a life that she HAD to turn into a book, and once the writing began everything flowed.

She talks about creating a manifestation memoir, and other strategies for strong manifestation, as well as how to change your thoughts to build a beautiful life for yourself. Break away from what’s blocking you by listening in to this episode!

Connect with Kris on her website, Instagram, and her podcast, and don’t forget to buy her book!

“Imagine looking at the events of your past and the circumstances of your present moment from a completely new perspective. How would this new mindset alter the course of your life?” -Kris Ashley

Journal Prompts:

What meaning does life hold for you?

What strategies help you keep a positive mindset on your writing journey?

How do your current writing and mindset habits reflect the person you're meant to be?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Heart-centered entrepreneur, Abigail Gazda has transformed her passion for education into a full-time career as an author, publisher, and life coach.

Abigail is the CEO of Hearts Unleashed, a full-service transformation company committed to empowering people to operate with full freedom, power, and self expression in every area of life.

As the Founder of Hearts Unleashed House Publishing, she helps authors share their mission and message with the world.

She is a Clarity Coach and supports souls speaking up about their silent struggle and unleashing the authentic leader within. She also empowers heart-centered leaders to create a life of fulfillment, impact, and legacy.

As the Host of the Hearts Unleashed Podcast, she is committed to turning dreamers into doers and helping raise the frequency of humanity with the development of Emotional Intelligence.

As a best-selling author, she personally thrives the most in life while writing, educating, and spending time outdoors. Born and raised a proud Indiana Hoosier, Abigail enjoys traveling the world to speak, work with clients, and adventure.

Today we connect with Abigail to learn about her business Hearts Unleashed, her writing experiences with over 6 books, and advice on facing fears in your writer journey.

Though she had writing experience from an early age, she didn’t claim the title of writer until later in life. As a heart-centered leader, she has learned many lessons about who she is and how to create a sustainable business that helps others unleash their greatness and embrace their authenticity.

When working with writers, she helps them manage their expectations of success while still embracing the full extent of their passion, ambition, and excitement. Abigail shares her thoughts on how worth it the writing experience is and what it means to be open to failure.

Share your voice, because “we cannot find each other when we’re all hushed up.” Connect with your creative self to ensure you’re in alignment and integrity with the true YOU.

Abigail says kindness to yourself is the “healing we need to have the courage we want.”

Connect with her on her websites (Abigail Gazda + Hearts Unleashed), Instagram, and check out the episode we did on her podcast: Finding the Courage to Publish

Journal Prompts:

How are you unleashing your writer heart?

What are you passionate about that you'd rather keep to yourself and what are you open to sharing?

What fears are holding you back from being your most authentic writer self?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

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Heather LaFond is an emerging thought leader on empowering women to stop playing small, kill limiting beliefs, and start leading kickass lives.

After overcoming an addiction to alcohol, challenges with emotional eating & losing 100 pounds, she awakened to her calling: elevating other women. Heather built a coaching biz from scratch to pass-on what helped her transform so other ladies can stop struggling alone.

Heather’s straight-talk style delivering real advice has attracted speaking gigs from podcast appearances to events globally. Her vision is no joke - ignite worldwide change by encouraging women through motivational messages that provoke action.

‘Cuz when we help gals maximize their potential? Society transforms. Period.

Her mission is to empower girls and women to stop settling, find their voice and change the freakin’ world.

You in?

In this episode, Heather LaFond shares her experiences writing her first book Rise & Roar: Unleash Your Inner Power. She had no idea what she wanted to write at first, but working with a publishing coach helped her understand her ideal reader and kept her accountable through the process.

There are ebbs and flows to creativity and surrendering to the process is key. Trust yourself and the ideas that are flowing through you. It will all work out in the end!

Heather loves to shake people up and push them towards a positive transformation. Writing her book helped her embrace who she is and to see what’s possible on her creative journey. She hopes when you’re reading Rise & Roar, you will have a similar experience.

Find her book on Amazon, and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook!

Journal Prompts:

What are your biggest strengths as a writer?

What is the powerful impact you have on your readers?

What does Rise & Roar mean to you?

Never forget that you are worthy!

Kirsten McNeill: Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach | Book Editor | Artisan

Create Your Worthy Writers Lifestyle 5-Day Challenge

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