Embracing the Fiction Author Journey

Ever wondered what makes a bestselling book tick?
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of genre analysis and why having this knowledge is vital to your author career.
Learn how to identify and leverage the key components that make your genre resonate with readers. You’ll also discover how understanding those components can unlock your writing potential.
Tune in today so you don’t make the same mistakes I did... Oops.
Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why you’re not selling out
• Technical considerations
• The power of tropes
• Reading book reviews
• Studying book covers
• Learning the hard way

Connect with Parents Who Write:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite

Send us a text

Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.

Do you ever feel like you're drowning under the pressure to be a perfect parent, spouse, and—on top of that—a creative writer?
In today’s episode, host Erin P.T. Canning and fellow Fantasy Author Michelle Summers share their experiences and strategies for balancing writing with family life.
Through this conversation, listeners will discover how Michelle and Erin combat the pressure to do it all, how to prioritize tasks in a way that refills your creative cup, and how to jump start the creative writing process.
Bonus: Listeners will learn about the concept of a discovery draft, a technique between outlining and a first draft that allows for flexibility and exploration.
Get Michelle’s books:

• The Guardian Series: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michelle-Summers/author/B0BZQH7FT6

Connect with Michelle:

• FB page: https://www.facebook.com/msummerswriter
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msummerswriter
• Website: https://msummerswriter.com

Books discussed during the show:

• How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis
• Ruins and Redemption by Erin P.T. Canning
• Author Liane Moriarty
• Author Phoebe Ravencraft

Send us a text

Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.

Have you started revising your story only to feel like you're going in circles? Does the revision process feel overwhelming and you don't know what to tackle next?
In today's episode, you are going to learn how you can use different lenses to review your work and how this method can help make the revision process less chaotic.
Tune in to learn 6 different editing lenses for the revision process that you can start using today.
Topics discussed in this episode:

• Changing your focus
• Simplifying overwhelm
• 1. Time and location
• 2. Showing emotions
• 3. Character arcs
• 4. Chapter purpose
• 5. Plot
• 6. Mood
• The four stages of the writing process

About Erin:
Erin P.T. Canning has worked for more than 15 years as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals.
She always planned to write a book. Then she had kids. While she focused on them, she stopped writing—for six years. Something deep inside was missing. Depression, anxiety, and anger forced her to search for herself, both for her sake and her family’s.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. One journal entry led to one blog post that led to her creating her podcast, Parents Who Write. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help others pursue their writing dreams.
Finally, she finished writing her own shitty first draft and will release her first novel in 2023. She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she lives with her husband and their two boys in Maryland.
Connect with Erin:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
• Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite
• Book a free 30-minute consultation call: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting

Send us a text

Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.

Parents have an unparalleled understanding of imposter syndrome. While many find writing to be a cathartic experience, facing the fear of rejection and failure stops many from pursuing their passion. Is 30 years old too late to become brave? Can you be an intern and a mom at the same time? Can you resurrect passions that used to feel impossible?

Joining today’s conversation on balancing writing and parenting is Danielle Hayden, freelance writer and mother to a young daughter. She gives valuable advice on freelancing, her new focus on creative writing, and making time for herself and her writing goals.

In working on their biggest obstacles in writing, such as procrastination and self-doubt, our host and Danielle have been able to help their own children combat negative self-talk. Even when mom guilt comes creeping in, they are able to remind themselves of the importance of meeting their own needs.

Danielle started her freelancing career with an internship at age 30 and has since had more than 80 pieces published — with more to come. Now, after focusing on nonfiction and journalistic writing, she’s pushing past her fears and turning to her childhood passion of fiction writing. She’s able to relish these moments while living a busy life as a parent.

Danielle is proving it’s never too late to chase after your dreams!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Danielle’s background and self-published children’s book
• Why she loves to write and her favorite type of writing
• How to succeed as a freelance writer
• Tips for pitching ideas
• Danielle’s journey with fiction writing
• Danielle details her WIP essay collection and historical fiction book
• Putting pen to paper
• One pivotal lesson Danielle learned about writing
• Learning to “kill your darlings”
• Roadblocks Danielle has overcome in writing
• Conquering procrastination
• Writers and sleep deprivation
• Mom guilt
• 3pistolary, Danielle’s letter writing project
• Favorite books

About Danielle:

Danielle Hayden writes mostly creative nonfiction and journalistic pieces but also dabbles in fiction. She is currently working on an essay collection and a novel. She published her first children's book, A is for Aria, which she wrote as a gift to her daughter.
In 2021, Danielle launched the website 3pistolary to help build connection and community via the practice of letter writing. She lives in Seattle with her techie husband and kindergartener daughter.

Get her book:

• A is for Aria:
  https://www.lulu.com/shop/danielle-hayden-and-nithini-wathsala/a-is-for-aria/hardcover/product-gm4gve.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

Connect with Danielle:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellehaydenwriter
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_daniellehayden_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wordsaremything
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co

Send us a text

Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.

Parenthood brings unmeasurable joy, but it’s also possible to feel lost in a new world of responsibility. For writers, this radical shift in priorities can move writing to the bottom of their list.
In today’s special episode, Erin’s friend and colleague, Maria, interviews her. Erin shares the lead up to losing her identity and her motivation for writing after parenthood, as well as how she found the resources to get back to expressing herself through writing, dreaming, and being the kind of parent she’s proud of.
Erin and Maria also discuss breaking the cycle of generational trauma. You’ll hear what led Erin to create this podcast and her future dreams.
Vulnerability is key to self-awareness and change, so take the first step to reconnect with yourself by tuning in now.
Topics discussed in this episode:

• Erin describes her journey as a writer and editor
• When and why Erin lost her motivation for writing
• Struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and anxiety
• Erin’s breaking point and impetus for change
• Breaking the cycle of trauma and its constant work
• What helped Erin reconnect with herself and her writing
• Erin’s favorite way to eat a potato!
• Where does Erin see herself in 15 years?
• Progress in Erin’s relationships, fulfillment, and self-nourishment
• Why Erin is sharing her story and how she’s already meeting her goals

About Erin:
For 15 years, Erin has worked as a magazine and book editor. When she became a parent, she set aside her writing aspirations to focus on her family.
Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again to unearth her identity beyond being mom. She shared her journey through her blog, Life Beyond Parenting. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help parents pursue their writing dreams.
She earned her MA in Writing and has finished the first draft of a fantasy-romance novel. She lives with her husband and their two young boys in Maryland.
Connect with Erin:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning
• Book a free 30-minute discovery call: https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting

About Maria:
Maria Secoy spent more than a decade in the classroom helping students grow as authentic writers. She wrote and published her first romance novel, Alongside Lucy, in February 2022, which has since reached #4 on the Amazon Best Sellers List.
After hearing stories of editors gone wrong, flopped cover designs, marketing, and anxiety over the self-publication process, she launched All Write Well, which includes a team of supportive experts to meet the self-publishing needs of writers.

Send us a text

Looking for an editor or book coach?
As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.
With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.
As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.