EP 475 - Writing Emotions and Making the Reader Feel with Jeff Elkins
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Release Date: 05/22/2026
EP 486 - Seeing The World Metaphorically with Melissa Heathers
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Melissa Heathers, author and host of The Book Crawl. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections for the post dated June 12, 2026 for your special 67% off coupon) (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation -...
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EP 485 - On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode Mark reads Chapter 5 (The Beautiful Mess: On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong) from his book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections...
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EP 484 - Serializing a Novel on Substack with Matty Dalrymple
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark talks to Matty Dalrymple about her recent experience serializing a never-before-published new novel on Substack. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Matty talk about: How long Matty has been a writer, a podcaster, and a consultant to indie authors The 52 days Matty has been experimenting with serialization...
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EP 483 - Author Branding with Jessica Sorentino
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Mark interviews Jessica Sorentino, an author brand strategist with more than a decade of experience helping writers and thought leaders connect with their audiences in meaningful, lasting ways. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: What an author's brand is and how to determine what that brand is A technique of visualizing a...
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EP 482 - Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline with Paul Austin Ardoin
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE. Prior to the interview Mark shares a person update and a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In the interview Mark and Paul talk about: Paul's previous non-fiction book for writers FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES Mark's offer of gifting 3 copies of FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES by buying them from Paul and/or a local bookshop for listeners based...
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EP 481 - Becoming A Creative Luminary with Voice Actor Laura Holley
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Laura Holley, a Utah-based voice actor and speculative fiction writer whose passion for storytelling began with her first stage performance at seven years old. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura getting into theatre in the second grade and the first role that she played The power of playing a...
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EP 480 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: Returning From Camping & Vitamin N
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark shares a solo reflection recording pm his return from a couple of nights spent camping on the shores of Lake Huron at Point Farms Provincial Park. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update (which includes a segment from Joanna Penn's latest episode of The Creative Penn Podcast) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In his reflection Mark considers the idea of the value of nature/simplicity when recharging. He asks...
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EP 479 - The Keyboard Is My Favorite Fidget Toy with Premee Mohamed
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Premee Mohamed, a Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, Locus, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book...
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EP 478 - Stark Realities Excerpt: The Pinocchio Problem
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
This episode features an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Mark's book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The chapter is called "The Pinocchio Problem." Prior to the main content Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The Truth About Building a Writing Career With No Sugarcoating, Just Real Talk. The Honest, practical guide that every writer...
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EP 477 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to StokerCon
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode recorded while driving between Waterloo, Ontario and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on his way to attending StokerCon, a horror writer conference, Mark shares some reflections on his dual life as an author-supporting industry representative and a horror author. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) The introductory, end,...
info_outlineMark interviews Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor, about writing emotion and a new in person gathering he's organizing in Baltimore in late 2026.
Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor.
This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026
Learn more about Author Nation and register at AuthorNation.live.
During their conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:
- Jeff's latest book in the Dialogue Doctor series on writing emotions
- How Jeff has never really done any marketing for his books
- Struggling with intense self doubt
- Co-authoring with JP Rindfleisch IX
- The concept of thinking about how a scene makes the reader feel instead of how the character feels
- How in a world of AI you should be the most human you can be and how it leads to the question: "What does it look like, what does it mean to write like a human?"
- Seven different ways you can manipulate the reader's emotional journey and how they've come from the coaching Jeff does with authors
- Recentering our story around the question of what our character's growth is
- The book THE ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOP
- The concept of the reader's ally character to either increase or relieve the pressure, or tension in a moment
- Jeff's in person gathering happening in Baltimore later this year
- And more...
After the interview, Mark reflects on four different things from the conversation, and includes an additional personal update that comes with a reflection.
Links of Interest:
- The Dialogue Doctor
- The Fiction Makers Conference (Aug 22, 23, 2026)
- Jeff's Previous Appearances
- Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
- Buy Mark a Coffee
- Patreon for Stark Reflections
- Mark's YouTube channel
- ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)
- Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)
- An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries
- The Relaxed Author
- Publishing Pitfalls for Authors
- An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores
- Wide for the Win
- Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
- The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard
- Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises
Jeff Elkins is the founder of the Dialogue Doctor where he and two other passionate coaches help authors and provides free resources and a supportive community. He's the author of 13 novels, 5 books on the craft of writing, and over 100 short stories. He has worked with hundreds of authors over the years and helped thousands more via his many resources, his public speaking, and the Dialogue Doctor podcast.
The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0