My Imaginary Friends With L. Penelope

Fast drafting, writing rituals, and a mini rant on naming your fantasy months. "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." —Terry Pratchett This week’s best thing: New York Times's Tiny Love Stories - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/style/tiny-modern-love-stories-most-beautiful-hands.html Mentions: Author Darynda Jones on her process: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/04/right-braining-with-darynda-jones/ Alphasmart Neo on eBay Time Cubes Pacemaker - goal tracking for writers: https://www.pacemaker.press    Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope  Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://yo

Peeling the layers back on character and plot as I prepare to fast draft next week. Also, The Matrix turns 20 this year and I wax philosophical on my Matrix tattoo. This week's best thing: New music from Sleater-Kinney! Video directed by Miranda July! Mentions: Me and You and Everyone We Know - film by Miranda July No One Belongs Here More Than You - short story collection by Miranda July 20th anniversary of The Matrix - There is no spoon. Dramatica story theory - http://dramatica.com/ Plot Outlining with Dramatica: https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/plot-outline.html Enneagrams: The Psychology of Creating Characters: http://booklaurie.com/workshops_psych.php Guardian article - "Watched plots… Hilary Mantel and the writers under pressure from fans" https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/24/watched-plots-hilary-mantel-and-the-writers-under-pressure-from-fans Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepe

Scheduling the time needed to chip away at my long to-do list.   This week’s best thing: The Jeffersons live on ABC   Mentions: The Career Author Podcast - https://thecareerauthor.com/ Readercon - http://www.readercon.org/ Tananarive Due - https://www.tananarivedue.com/ Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM   Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

An overview of my first week plotting book 4 in my fantasy series.  This week’s best thing: Plotting! Perhaps my favorite part of the writing process. Mentions: Michael Hauge character development - This article is what started it all for me in terms of understanding this method for creating inner conflict: http://blog.janicehardy.com/2012/08/the-inner-struggle-guides-for-using.html Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke - https://amzn.to/2JMZTX0 Creating Character Arcs by KM Weiland - https://amzn.to/2LVOp6t The Negative Trait Thesaurus - with Reverse Character Backstory tool - https://amzn.to/2YJmyIj Dan Wells 7 Point Plot Structure - https://hunterswritings.com/2016/09/16/7-point-story-structure-resources/ Save the Cat Beat Sheet - https://jamigold.com/2012/02/how-to-use-the-save-the-cat-beat-sheet/ The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin - https://amzn.to/2EuRDrx   Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslye

Starting a brand new book… no, I’m not scared at all.   This week’s best thing: Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling   Links: Namesake by Kate Stradling Project Management Software Smartsheet Trello Notion Calendar templates  Write, Better, Faster course George RR Martin on endings Story Genius by Lisa Cron Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland positive, negative & flat character arcs! Save the Cat by Blake Snyder     Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast   Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope   Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM   Affiliate Disclosure I may receive compensation for lin

I have turned in my manuscript (let us all rejoice!) and muse on my ongoing struggle with perfectionism.   This week’s best thing: Publishers Weekly starred review of Whispers of Shadow & Flame   Links: Awario.com and Mention.com - for tracking online mentions  AppSumo - deals on techies things VONA/Voices workshop for writers of color The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman The Shadow Warrior by Ann Aguirre Heinlein's rules for writing success Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody   Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast   Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope   Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZk

Thoughts on publishing paths: indie and traditional. Also, inspiring honesty in writing and life. THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Avengers: Endgame(!!!) MENTIONS: - Angelina Lopez blog post - Indie Author Central (IAC) on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letztalkbooks/ Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM  

This week I have a special guest: actor Paul James (aka my brother). Known for Greek, The Last Ship, and The Path, Paul shares his perspective on creating characters by bringing a writer’s words to life. This week’s best thing: my birthday! + Game of Thrones! Links: The Hot Sheet – https://hotsheetpub.com/ Ran Walker, 2019 Indie Author of the Year – https://indieauthorproject.com/2019-indie-author-of-the-year-award/ Kboards – https://www.kboards.com/ The Passive Voice – https://www.thepassivevoice.com/ The Sell More Books Show – http://sellmorebooksshow.com Paul James on IMDB GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Deb Dixon   Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC B

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - Haruki Murakami THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: I got to see Audra McDonald perform live! (She could be every week's best thing!) https://audramcdonald.com/ WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT: - Sending my April newsletter - What to write next? - Working on chapter epigraphs for CRY OF METAL & BONE LINKS: - Fonda Lee Twitter quiz: https://twitter.com/FondaJLee/status/1115051419134877696 Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast

How novel revision and software development are basically the same thing. This week I enter the last(ish) stage of my revision, discuss the many uses of index cards, character verbs, and try not to let thoughts of piracy derail me. This week's best thing: I finished the final proofing of WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME! Hoorah! Mentions: - Verbalize by Damon Suede - https://amzn.to/2ORE0qa - The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne - https://amzn.to/2Um01DB - Write Your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell - https://amzn.to/2I3ndQd - Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland - https://amzn.to/2UkBv5u - Author Rachel Caine on piracy   Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: http://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-

"The function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work." — Toni Morrison Writing updates, quarterly planning, and my thoughts on recent events in the romance writing world.  This Week's Best Thing: WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME Advanced Reader Copies are here!! Other Mentions: Robin Covington, romance author Mindlogr - private video diaries Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

On managing decision fatigue and why high output (writing all the things!) requires high input (aka my excuse for binge reading). This Week's Best Thing: The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas  Also Mentioned: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks Robin LaFevers IG Post on Decision Fatigue - https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKP68fHj8w/ - Check out her books! http://www.robinlafevers.com/ Neil Gaiman on Neil Armstrong and Imposter Syndrome Subscribe and view show notes at:

This week I talk writerly intuition and do some research to come up with character names. This week's best thing: Trailers Galore! - Aladdin trailer - Avengers:Endgame - Bel-Air The Writer's Well podcast: http://thewriterswell.org Article on the Sami Concept of Time: http://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/anthro/concept-time.htm Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas Show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

This week I got stuck in my writing and determined I wasn't leaving enough blood on the page. Show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Mentioned in the show: - The Umbrella Academy - Madhuri Pavamani, author & poet - Franz Kafka quote and translations Website: http://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM

When the flu knocks me down, I get back up again (slowly) AKA When self-care kicks you in the face.

Researching for my novel, while trying to stay focused and grounded in the story I'm actually telling.

Starting something new & finding your reason for being.