The Written Scene

Writers, creators, and anyone involved in the literary scene discuss path, process, and craft.

Episode 57: K.A. Fox 04/30/2024

Episode 57: K.A. Fox As fun as it is to create characters and build worlds, the same holds true for our own writing voice. For author , writing also as Krysta Fox and Kristi Fox allows her to have several ways to tell stories. In this episode of , K.A. discusses why she uses pen names, the dread of killing off characters due to emotional attachment, reading for escape from the real world, the challenges of writing outside your genre, how playing with her kids when they were young informed her later as a writer, being a plantser instead of just a planner or pantser, the personal importance of writing strong female characters, including real life moments in stories no matter the genre, how writing is an art with a business end to it, sticking to the rules you create when world building, finding ways to wake up the muse, respecting the mental health aspect of being a writer, the proper way to incorporate validation into our writing careers, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter with upcoming guests, events, and other fun and interesting things. Click or tap to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/31045973

Episode 57 Teaser: K.A. Fox 04/23/2024

Episode 57 Teaser: K.A. Fox A pen name can say a lot. A sexy pen name? Well, that says it all. For author K.A. Fox, the name allows her to have some fun. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. And don't worry, it'll be safe for work. Promise. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30925238

Episode 56: Richard Podkowski 04/16/2024

Episode 56: Richard Podkowski If you like a thick Chicago accent— and who doesn't— have we got an episode for you. In this episode of , author and former U.S. Secret Service agent discusses how working in law enforcement both helped and hurt him as a writer, the genesis and karma of his debut novel through , getting inspiration from the Hallmark Channel, why storytelling was a skill but law enforcement was his choice, learning to be more structured when writing, using other artistic endeavors to keep the creative juices flowing, having a finish line mentality when writing while also remaining flexible, the life milestone of holding a book you wrote in your hands, why it's sexier to write street crime novels, and much, much more. If you like this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter about upcoming guests, events, and stuff to ponder as a writer. Click or tap to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30815903

Episode 56 Teaser: Richard Podkowski 04/09/2024

Episode 56 Teaser: Richard Podkowski Sure, skill is necessary to writing a novel. But for author and former U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Podkowski, a little karma doesn't hurt either. Enjoy this brief teaser of The Written Scene ahead of next week's full episode with Richard. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30739873

Episode 55: Marni Freedman 04/02/2024

Episode 55: Marni Freedman When it comes to having a fun name for every trick of the writing trade, , an author, writing coach, and the co-founder of the , has you covered. In this episode of , Marni discusses bridging gaps in the San Diego writing community, how creativity is a life-giving force we can all tap into, opening doors to share power dynamics, being a monkey throwing spaghetti (aka: a writer), wishing she could live just one more day in film school, what writers groups need and when to know you're in a good one, learning storytelling and writing outside of school and other writing atmospheres, choosing to move on instead of saying something's done, what Elizabeth Gilbert said that pissed her off, and much more. If you're listening to this before April 6th, 2024, be sure to check out San Diego Writers Festival from 9am to 6pm on Coronado Island. It's free and full of vendors and amazing talks you heard about in this episode. If you're listening to this after April 6th, 2024, now you have no reason to miss next year's festival. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. The Written Scene newsletter goes out once a month. Click to sign up for events, upcoming guests, and more. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30636773

Episode 55 Teaser: Marni Freedman 03/26/2024

Episode 55 Teaser: Marni Freedman According to author and force of nature (as well as some scientific proof), sometimes not writing is writing. Please enjoy this brief teaser of ahead of next week's full episode with Marni. is April 6th. Hope to see you there. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30519648

Episode 54: Dr. Darla Calvet 03/19/2024

Episode 54: Dr. Darla Calvet Many people have a story to tell. For author and educator , it was imperative. In this week's episode of , Darla talks about never giving up on writing if it's a passion, being in a familiar spot to get in the zone while writing, becoming more addicted and skilled when you give in to your muse, how writing can be both cathartic and painful, reading in the area in which you want to write, the pros and cons of writing groups with different genres and topics, the harsh sobriety of rejection letters, why humor is needed for both the reader and writer in certain stories, using prompts for places you're stuck, the strange places and times when our best ideas come, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also sign up for our once a month newsletter by tapping or clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30412198

Episode 54 Teaser: Dr. Darla Calvet 03/14/2024

Episode 54 Teaser: Dr. Darla Calvet For author and educator , writing her story required defying death. Twice. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30368428

Episode 53: Justin Brooks 03/05/2024

Episode 53: Justin Brooks In over two years of podcast, we've heard about the various paths writers take to becoming an author. If there's one thing you can count on, it's that there is no one single way to becoming an author. Once again, author and law professor provides further proof. In this episode, Justin discusses the grind of non-fiction, bias as a writer that can ruin the story you write, how the internet has made fiction more accurate, finding a balance between description and movement, why reading modern writers is important if you want to be a modern writer, the terrible cycle of illiteracy among kids of incarcerated people, adjusting and evolving character while writing the story, being a pantser as both a writer and a student, why the actor Greg Kinnear followed him around the law school where he taught, writing and selling a movie script, and much more. (Univ. of California Press, 2023) Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter you can subscribe to by clicking . Upcoming guests and events, as well as fun and deep things to think about. What's not to like about all that? Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30200603

Episode 53 Teaser: Justin Brooks 02/27/2024

Episode 53 Teaser: Justin Brooks Weekends are meant for your true love: writing fiction. Enjoy this brief teaser of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with author and law professor Justin Brooks, and be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30117758

Episode 52: Dennis K. Crosby 02/20/2024

Episode 52: Dennis K. Crosby Before we dive in, just a quick note. This episode of marks two years of the podcast. It has been a fantastic hell of a journey so far. No matter how long you've been listening, whether from the beginning or if this is your first time, thank you so much. Expect more good things to come. Ok, now on with the show notes. Many writers have a love of writing and storytelling that resides deep inside them and they struggle to ignore it. For author , it was something he, like those other writers, would eventually find hard to ignore. In this episode of The Written Scene, Dennis discusses writing for both ourselves and our audience, how television in his childhood shaped his love of storytelling and world building, writing poetry while working cases as a private investigator, getting cranky when you haven't written anything for a little while but still remaining patient, why a good facilitator is important in a writer's group with writers in different genres, the joy of writing in the urban fantasy genre, when to use pen names, how romance is used in a story for storytelling purposes vs. writing romance stories, ensuring the hook in a story is properly placed, being open to critiques, making sure awards are a only nice byproduct and not your reason for writing, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter for all things writing and Written Scene podcast related. Click to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/30018623

Episode 52 Teaser: Dennis K. Crosby 02/13/2024

Episode 52 Teaser: Dennis K. Crosby All the ideas, all the books, all the reason to keep writing and reading. We'll get to them eventually. Enjoy this brief teaser with author Dennis K. Crosby ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29858908

Episode 51: G.J. Berger 02/06/2024

Episode 51: G.J. Berger Author has had a love of good storytelling since he was a child. Over the years, this has driven him to not only tell his own stories but also on constant lookout for the best story. In this episode of , G.J. discusses using pen names, how we once were able to find time to read because of a lack of modern distractions, using the mind behind our mind to write instead of mimicking other writers, why readers rule, the effectiveness (and stress) of reading his writing out loud to people, how word of mouth is a great ad for your book, avoiding imposter syndrome and maintaining good mental health as a writer, the ways to offer an honest review without crushing someone, and much more. If you like this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter. Click or tap to sign up for the goods. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29812518

Episode 51 Teaser: G.J. Berger 01/30/2024

Episode 51 Teaser: G.J. Berger According to author G.J. Berger, readers reading your writing will tell you more about how to write effectively than you reading everything you can get your hands on. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with G.J. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all other episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29708253

Episode 50: Holly Kammier 01/23/2024

Episode 50: Holly Kammier There are many reasons , author and co-founder of , enjoys books. One of them is because of that crinkly plastic wrapping they put on the covers of books at libraries. So good. In this episode of , Holly discusses what makes a good manuscript, what a hybrid publisher looks like, the books she read as a kid (for better or worse), making the want vs. should career decisions, why memoirs are her favorite genre, a little love (and hate) for John Mayer, using art and writing itself to conquer imposter syndrome, the get-to-the-good-part mentality when editing, dreams of a world where readers are reading books written by writers, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also sign up for our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29604093

Episode 50 Teaser: Holly Kammier 01/16/2024

Episode 50 Teaser: Holly Kammier Publisher and writer Holly Kammier was introduced to books by both of her parents- for better or worse- at a very young age. Please enjoy this brief teaser of The Written Scene with Holly before next week's full episode. If you do enjoy it (and we're pretty sure you will), please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of the podcast. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29492903

Episode 49: Adam Stutz 01/09/2024

Episode 49: Adam Stutz For publisher and poet , writing doesn't come easy. And while he doesn't expect it to, he also wouldn't want it any other way. In this episode of , Adam (the guest, not the host) discusses the lifespans and handoffs of poetry readings, how the LA scene is different than the SD scene, the creative ways of publishing and sharing poetry, why it's difficult to get paid as a poet, his introduction to poetry via The Simpsons, how starting became his poor man's MFA, why reading is essential for a writer, the joy of editing, the effectiveness of short and punchy writing, and so much more. If you enjoy this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter that provides a sneak peek into upcoming guests, writing resources, and things to think about. Click or tap to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29398338

Episode 49 Teaser: Adam Stutz 01/02/2024

Episode 49 Teaser: Adam Stutz Moving to a new city with an already established literary and open mic scene- a scene that is as vast as the city (Los Angeles)- can be a good thing. For poet and publisher Adam Stutz, it is that and, unexpectedly, a little more. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Adam. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29297448

Episode 48: Allan Musterer 12/26/2023

Episode 48: Allan Musterer Writing has been a significant part of Allan Musterer's life and career as an engineer. In his 80's, Allan is discovering the creative side of writing. In this episode of The Written Scene, Allan discusses how his love of writing came about, the way he experiences and processes death (grieving in a positive way), why being an engineer made his writing almost too organized, what it was like writing a patent application, how disasters turned into blessings, why writing sporadically instead of every day works better for him, an important lesson learned for writers about readers, and much more. If you enjoy this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter you can subscribe to by clicking here. Upcoming guests, things to do, and things to think about, all writing-related. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29218833

Episode 48 Teaser: Allan Musterer 12/19/2023

Episode 48 Teaser: Allan Musterer Every writer has their moment when their love of books and storytelling dawns on them. For memoirist , it happened very early on and in a very endearing way. Enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Allan. And please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29116908

Episode 47: Katie Kemple 12/12/2023

Episode 47: Katie Kemple For many writers, the joy of writing is unmatched by many things in life. For poet , that joy is evident in her voice when it's merely brought up in a conversation. In this episode of , Katie talks about how to sell poetry books in a non-traditional way, why travel and experience can help spark ideas, workshopping poetry before submitting for publication, why old and grizzled poets are the best editors, how poetry has an element of music to it, the ability to tell when a poem isn't right just from reading it out loud, why it's hard to write about the past, the allure of small art and making art just for the sake of art, how baseball is poetry, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to the once-a-month newsletter by clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/29028608

Episode 47 Teaser: Katie Kemple 12/05/2023

Episode 47 Teaser: Katie Kemple Even though the online world has opened doors for writers to submit their writing for publication seemingly en masse, poet Katie Kemple prefers to do a little more research first. In you enjoyed this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of the podcast. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28903933

Episode 46: Margarita Pintado Burgos 11/28/2023

Episode 46: Margarita Pintado Burgos Poet and professor was born and raised in Puerto Rico and it was there she grew up with a love of writing and poetry. Her educational and professorial experiences in the U.S. added another dimension to her writing and voice. In this episode of , Margarita discusses the need for self-expression, her desire to write at an early age, what saved her from becoming a lawyer, the experiences and surprises while teaching in Arkansas, how language changes between generations, why we need to embrace the blank page, the cultural diversity in the U.S. while still needing more and quicker translations of international authors, and so much more. If you like this episode, shout it into the sky out your window. If you have easily offended neighbors, you can also subscribe, rate, review, and share (electronically) this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking . Upcoming guests and things to do, as well as a few writing related thoughts. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28814963

Episode 46 Teaser: Margarita Pintado Burgos 11/21/2023

Episode 46 Teaser: Margarita Pintado Burgos For poet and professor , her voice has followed a natural evolution no matter the language she writes in. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28733438

Episode 45: Billiekai Boughton 11/14/2023

Episode 45: Billiekai Boughton Being passionate about good writing is an important trait for any writer. For , an author, speaker, military vet, and more, her passion for the craft of writing is strong, evident, and welcomed. In this episode of , Billiekai talks about the people we meet through writing about hard things, the experience of a class interpreting your poem without knowing you wrote it, learning to write poetry just for her, the need for art to be in dialogue with the audience, how she fell in love with writing at UC Berkeley, that anybody can write but not everybody can write well, that we're all born with our own spark and personalities, and much more. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month-newsletter of upcoming guests and other writing-related things which you can subscribe to by clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28605613

Episode 45 Teaser: Billiekai Boughton 11/07/2023

Episode 45 Teaser: Billiekai Boughton When it comes to the ability for poetry readings to become a staple in a poetry community, author and editor has a few reasons how that can happen. Enjoy this brief teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28538975

Episode 44: Tiffany Michelle Brown 10/31/2023

Episode 44: Tiffany Michelle Brown For horror author , writing scary tales didn't come naturally but it sure has become a perfect fit. In this Halloween episode of , Tiffany talks about how nice it is when a theme falls into place, the boundaries horror writers have, why she leads the group through haunted houses, the cornerstones of horror creativity, how it's good to know your voice but experimenting is still good practice, the various opportunities for book debuts, the catharsis of writing horror stories, and much more. by Tiffany Michelle Brown Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Sign up for our once-a-month newsletter highlighting upcoming guests and other cool things to check out about writing. Click or tap . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28471190

Episode 44 Teaser: Tiffany Michelle Brown 10/24/2023

Episode 44 Teaser: Tiffany Michelle Brown From horror to romance to kid lit, read everything. Everything. Enjoy this brief teaser with author ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28400213

Episode 43: Carly Marie DeMento 10/17/2023

Episode 43: Carly Marie DeMento A life in the creative arts is not an easy one, nor is it easy to avoid if you're an artist at heart. For poet , her creative life is more intentional these days. In this week's episode of , Carly discusses the neurobiology of wisdom, how a life of different experiences (for better or worse) makes for a better writer, how being a poet is like being in a long conversation with poets from the past, what a pretzel goth is, how different people in different non-creative professions express themselves through poetry, the ways beginner artists still make beautiful art, her obsession with her meat poem, and so much more. If you like this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28339067

Episode 43 Teaser: Carly Marie DeMento 10/10/2023

Episode 43 Teaser: Carly Marie DeMento For writer Carly Marie DeMento, submitting single poems for publication is a way of building excitement. Enjoy this brief teaser before finding out why, along with so much more, in next week's full episode of The Written Scene. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/28273499

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