The Fiction Lounge

Writing a Series and Lessons from the Publishing Industry with Carmela Dutra

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Three-peat guest and series author Carmela Dutra checks in on her author journey and shares valuable insights about plotting vs. pantsing, how she juggles multiple projects at once, and what she's learned during her time in the industry.

Carmela Dutra is a writer from the Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. Her debut, A Murder Most Fowl, has been praised by Kirkus Reviews for its “serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” by Criminal Element for the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage that was almost as shocking as the murder itself,” and described as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun” by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams. She has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine.

A lover of humor, quirky characters, and all things geeky, Carmela spends her days sketching, sipping far too much coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She lives with her husband and two dinosaur-obsessed sons, drawing inspiration from rainy afternoons, bustling farmers’ markets, and the unexpected moments that make life memorable.

SHOW NOTES

A Murder Most Fowl: Book 1 (available now)

Hot Wings and Homicide: Book 2 (available May 12, 2026)

Carmela's first episode with The Fiction Lounge

Carmela's second episode with The Fiction Lounge

Carmela's Instagram

Carmela's website

When, How, and Where to End Your Novel

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:33:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss endings: how to know what your genre expects of an ending, how to make sure your ending is strong, and some dos and don'ts when working on your ending.

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SHOW NOTES

The Do's and Don'ts of Novel Endings | Writer's Digest

How to Write the Perfect Ending for Your Novel | Masterclass

Exit Strategies: So How Are You Supposed to End a Story? | LitHub

How to Write Strong, Effective Openings

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:33:01 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk about what makes a strong opening, what detracts from a good opening, and they both bring different genre examples to examine together.

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SHOW NOTES

How to Write a Killer Opening Scene | Write it Scared

Openings | Brandon Taylor

The Journey to Debut Author with Michelle Maryk

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Guest author Michelle Maryk shares the keys to her writing journey, what she's learned from her improv background that helps her as a writer, and shares about her debut novel, The Found Object Society.

Michelle Maryk graduated from Cornell University and also attended the Yale Writer’s Worskhop. She has been a full-time voiceover artist as well as a commercial and comedic actor for over 25 years. THE FOUND OBJECT SOCIETY is a novel of speculative suspense and her debut. She is also a dual citizen of Sweden and the US. Fun fact: Michelle starred in an atrocious horror movie with Oscar-winner Cliff Robertson written by…her dad.

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SHOW NOTES

The Found Object Society

Can I Get a Noun, Please? (Or, How Improv Made Me a Better Writer) | Michelle Maryk

Michelle's website

Michelle's Instagram

Writing Beautiful and Effective Prose

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:56:06 GMT

Jess and Hannah talk about the purpose of prose, its pitfalls, how to develop your prose style, and Jess shares some literary examples of solid prose.

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SHOW NOTES

Nikita Gill's Instagram

Kate Baer's Instagram

How to Write Strong Character Arcs

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:34:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the different (main) types of character arcs, why they matter, how to apply them, and how they can be useful for your secondary and minor characters.

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SHOW NOTES

Positive Character Arcs | Write it Scared

Negative Character Arcs | Write it Scared

Static Character Arcs | Write it Scared

Making Setting a Character with Leigh Shalloway

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:33:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah interview new author, Leigh Shalloway, on her Hilltown series debut. She shares important insights and valuable advice on resilience in the novel writing process, and shares how she was able to make setting almost like its own character within the narrative.

Leigh Shalloway has a psychology degree from Emory University and a master's degree in counseling and school psychology from Seattle University. Following graduation, she interned at the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and worked as a lead psychologist for Sammamish schools.

She is also a holistic care practitioner who trained other practitioners and taught hospice volunteers' various methodologies for helping their patients.

Leigh lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and has four grown children. Journey back to you is the first novel in the Hilltown trilogy.

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Q&A Episode

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:35:00 GMT

In this installment of The Fiction Lounge Q&A, Hannah and Jess answer another round of questions ranging from the necessity of editing to what inspires our stories.

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Villains and Antagonists

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:52:05 GMT

Hannah and Jess explore villains and antagonists: the different types, the genre expectations for villains, and how to effectively build a villain your readers can love to hate.

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SHOW NOTES

Notes on Writing Character Relationships | Junot Diaz

How to Write Strong Characters | September C. Fawkes

How to Build Powerful Character Relationships | Writers Helping Writers

Guest Interview with Molly Donlan

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:30:00 GMT

With special guest and reiki teacher Molly Donlan, Hannah and Jess dive into the magic of creativity and how it can be fostered through ritual, while discussing Molly's upcoming release, Mundane Magic, available February 17.

Molly Donlan is a Reiki Master Teacher, crystal healing expert, yoga teacher, and co-host of the Demystify Magic podcast who has dedicated her life to helping others unlock the transformative power of energy work and alternative healing modalities. With a background as an advocate for survivors of sexual violence and as a former skeptic of all things woo, Molly emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care while teaching Magic through a blend of science and spirituality.

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SHOW NOTES

Preorder Mundane Magic

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Website

Character Relationships

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:01:38 GMT

Hannah and Jess spend some time sharing their friendship lore, provide practical writing exercises that contributed to their writing wins of the week, and share the essentials of how to structure and envision your character relationships to make a stronger story.

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Guest Interview with Jennifer van der Kleut

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:38:18 GMT

Hannah and Jess interview debut author Jennifer van der Kleut about her upcoming debut novel, The Better Mother, available February 10.

Jennifer van der Kleut (née McBride) is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications, including the D.C. affiliate of ABC7 News. A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C., where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. For nearly a decade, she was the lead singer of the Bay Area-based band SweetDuration, and performed with artists like Jason Mraz, Big Country, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Stabbing Westward. When she’s not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with her girlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book.

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SHOW NOTES

The Better Mother by Jennifer van der Kleut

Jennifer's Website

Jennifer's Instagram

Jennifer's TikTok

Building Character Backstory

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:33:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss character backstory: what it is, what it does for your story, how to build it, how to utilize it, and more. If you're struggling to figure out character motivations, or if you just want to make sure you're doing strong character work, make sure to give this episode a listen!

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SHOW NOTES

Backstory is Essential to Story–Except When it's Not | Tiffany Yates Martin

From Self-Publishing to Traditional Publishing: What to Know

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:34:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess break down the recent trends of artists who are signing traditional publishing deals after self-publishing, what this means for the industry, and how you can apply these trends to your responsibilities as a career writer.

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SHOW NOTES

Easy Tips to Improve Your Manuscript

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:32:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess give advice on practical ways you can elevate your manuscript. Whether it's reading your book out loud, or learning how to ask for feedback, these tips are guaranteed to improve your current WIP.

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Favorite Books of 2025: Q4

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:33:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss their favorite books of the semester, including some horror, romance, historical fiction, and honorary mention memoir!

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SHOW NOTES

HANNAH'S PICKS:

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Alchemised by SenLinYu

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir Of A Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

JESS'S PICKS:

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

Heavy by Kiese Laymon

Guest Interview with Jade Gonzalez

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:33:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess interview guest author Jade Gonzalez about her self-publishing her journey ahead of her next release in her series. She gives advice on how to tackle insecurity as a writer with a dream and offers powerful perspective on how to navigate the self-publishing world.

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Jade Gonzalez is a New York–based author of young adult and contemporary romance. She is best known for her debut YA novel As The Sparrow Flies and her coming-of-age romance The Unhappiest Place on Earth. With more than a decade of writing experience, Jade specializes in stories about messy hearts, growing up, and the complicated relationships that shape us.

When she’s not buried in a manuscript, she’s usually spending time with her husband and two cats, listening to Taylor Swift on vinyl, or daydreaming her way into the next story.

SHOW NOTES

Jade's Instagram

Jade's TikTok

Jade's Website

A Conversation on AI

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:52:13 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the pros and cons along with the ethics of generative AI in the writing industry, as well as guidelines for ethical use for those interested.

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SHOW NOTES

Author's Guild Ethical AI Use Guidelines

ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study | TIME

How Creativity Survives in an AI Monoculture

Guest Interview with Literary Agent Jessica Berg

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:34:00 GMT

In their first interview with a literary agent, Jess and Hannah discuss all things querying, publishing, and more. They talk about the agent/author relationship, how the business of writing a book can be the majority of an author's work, and Jessica even answers some rapid fire literary agent questions!

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Jessica Berg is the founder of Rosecliff Literary. As a literary agent, she’s help guide authors through every stage of the publishing journey. With an MFA, a roster of successful clients, and a role as a contributing editor at Writer’s Digest, she is known for her clear, approachable style. She speaks regularly at major conferences, teaching querying, comp titles, and the business of authorship with an emphasis on building sustainable, long-term careers. Her client list ZS Diamanti, Lisa Roe, Trisha Blanchett, Christa Innis, Katia Sinchenko, Vincent Zandri, Arizona Bell, and others.

SHOW NOTES

Rosecliff Literary

Jessica's Instagram

Hannah and Jess at the Texas Book Festival

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess visited the 30th Texas Book Festival and share live insights from their time there!

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Guest Interview with Emily Soderberg

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:33:00 GMT

Emily Soderberg has always loved reading and writing mysteries. She was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, only moving away for college. She graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied Religious Studies and German, subjects that have come in handy exactly twice in her professional career. She's lived in St. Louis ever since, because moving seems like a huge hassle. These days, she spends her free time up in the air as a trapeze and aerial hoop coach. She might be tempted to run off and join the circus, but her cats prefer a more settled lifestyle.

SHOW NOTES

How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder by Emily Soderberg

Emily's Website

Emily's Instagram

Let's Talk Tropes

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:33:00 GMT

Tropes have received a bad rep, but The Fiction Lounge is here to set the record straight! Jess and Hannah discuss what a trope is, how it is used, how it can benefit your work, and how you should embrace tropes in your work without compromising its literary value.

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SHOW NOTES

Tropes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Jane Friedman

How to Use Tropes in Fiction | Writers.com

Book Tropes | Kindlepreneur

Tips for Using Genre Tropes to Generate New Work | Writer's Digest

Your Book Pitch

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah process how to make a book pitch you can be proud of, while discussing all the aspects that need to go into making sure that pitch is solid.

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SHOW NOTES

TFL Episode on Loglines and Elevator Pitches

The Basic Pitch Formula for Novelists | Jane Friedman

The Ultimate Guide to Pitch Writing | Jami Gold

The Ins and Outs of Hybrid Publishing

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:36:21 GMT

After a thoughtful question from the earlier Q&A episode, Jess and Hannah tackle the new industry of hybrid publishing: exploring the pros and cons, the expectations, and the standards that have been set for those interested in pursuing this hybrid path to publication.

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SHOW NOTES

Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Hybrid Publishing | Jane Friedman

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Publishing | Urban Writers

IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria

Q&A Episode

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess answer questions about editing, revising, genre, and hybrid publishing, the last of which is a new adventure our co-hosts will revisit in full in an upcoming episode!

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SHOW NOTES

Jess's Editing Services

Punctuation Breakdown

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:33:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess tackle the trickier side of punctuation, explaining the differences between certain similar punctuation marks, as well as breaking down the different rules of dialogue tags.

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SHOW NOTES

Punctuation "Cheat Sheet"

Jess's Editing Services

Guest Interview with Vicki Delany

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:45:04 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk to prolific writer Vicki Delany on her writing inspiration, her process, and she gives advice to writers seeking the opportunity to write books full-time.

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than fifty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year-Round Christmas mysteries, the Tea by the Sea books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates).

She is a past chair of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. She is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing, and will be the Cozy Guest of Honor at Bouchercon in Calgary in 2026. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the CWC Awards of Excellence.

Vicki lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

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SHOW NOTES

Vicki's website

O Deadly Night by Vicki Delany

Coffee Chat with Hannah and Jess

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:01:02 GMT

Hannah and Jess share over coffee the highs and lows of their novel writing process thus far, along with things they're learning as well as struggles.

Point of View

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:04:01 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk about the different points of view in literature, ways you can determine your own POV for your work, and give examples of books in each POV as well as recommendations on how to study it.

NOTE: You might notice at times, it seems like Hannah and Jess are talking over each other significantly. This was a software glitch from the day of recording, and most of it has been edited out.

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SHOW NOTES

Masterclass on POV

Whitney Hemsath on POV

Pub Day Interview with Carmela Dutra

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:56:12 GMT

Author Carmela Dutra returns to share with the podcast how her journey to publication day has gone, and gives some wisdom to those of us pursuing publication as well!

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SHOW NOTES

A Murder Most Fowl

Carmela's website

How to Find a Writing Community

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:31:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess break down the different types of writing communities available both in person and online, and give tips on how to find the writing group or groups that will best support your journey.

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Jess and Hannah's Favorite Books of 2025: Q2

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:03:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess share their favorite reads of the summer semester. Hannah shares an upcoming release she read early, the pair share their most anticipated fall reads, and surprisingly enough, Jess's favorite of all her summer semester reads is....non-fiction?

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Hack Your Writing Process

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:21:58 GMT

Hannah and Jess share their tips on how to make your writing process more productive, but not the typical kind of productivity. They discuss the kind of productivity that isn't measured but brings life to every writing session.

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Guest Interview with Stacy Frazer of Write it Scared

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:05:00 GMT

Stacy Frazer is a formerly repressed creative soul turned fiction writer, Author Accelerator-certified fiction book coach, and host of The Write It Scared Podcast. She helps writers work through self-doubt, shape stronger stories, and actually finish the novels they’ve been dreaming about without losing their voice (or their sanity) in the process. When she’s not writing, reading, or cheering on writers, you can find her crafting with her daughter, hanging out with goats, or on the trail with her goofy love-pups.

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SHOW NOTES

Hannah and Jess's Writing Styles

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:17:46 GMT

Jess and Hannah talk about their writing styles–from outlining to drafting and rewriting, and more!

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The Challenges of the Writing Industry

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:35:47 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the unique challenges facing writers today, such as generative AI, oversaturation of the market, and more.

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Q&A Episode

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:16:45 GMT

Hannah and Jess answer author questions!

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Invoking Curiosity and Suspense in Your Story

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:56:33 GMT

Curiosity, tension, and suspense: which is which and how to use each one? Hannah and Jess break down the differences, discus the importance of each, and provide practical steps to help you build tension in your own story!

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SHOW NOTES

Jane Friedman Blog: The Importance of Curiosity and Tension in Storytelling

Write it Scared: How to Write Suspense and Tension in Your Novel

Why Curiosity is the Mainspring of Successful Fiction

Resilience as a Writer

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:16:17 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk about the areas in which you will need resilience during your writing journey, as well as encouraging words for you and practical tips for how to build resilience.

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SHOW NOTES

A Writer's Guide to Resistance by Alice Fowler

Hannah Kaner on Writing Resistance

Guest Interview with Jasmine Carolina

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:02:09 GMT

In this episode, Hannah and Jess interview author Jasmine Carolina. As a practiced self-published author, she brings her self publishing perspective with lots of helpful advice for writers just starting out or writers who are returning to the work after a long break.

Jasmine De La Cruz, an Angeleno born and raised, is a wife and dog mom to two hellions, Maiya and Chloe. She has written as Jasmine Carolina since 2014, and has published five Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels to date: Losing Me, Never Let Me Go, Almost Everything, Unbroken, and Take It All. Jasmine tends to always throw a bit of real life into her books, whether it’s her own, or current events. After a seven year grief-fueled hiatus, she is now back and more dedicated to her craft than ever.

Her most recent novel, When It's Over, released July 2024.

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SHOW NOTES

Jasmine Carolina (Linktree)

When It's Over by Jasmine Carolina

Writing from the Wound

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:05:31 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the power of identifying the wounds our characters carry and how it impacts the way we write them. Hannah gives a homework challenge at the end of the episode, so make sure to have your pen and paper ready.

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SHOW NOTES

Write From The Wound, Edit From The Scar (Heather Demetrios)

Intentionality in Writing

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:54:37 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss how to be intentional about the editorial choices you make when working on your novel. No matter what genre you're working in, intentionality is important to the craft. Hannah and Jess explain intentionality, give literary examples, provide practical tips for being intentional as a writer, and more!

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A Breakdown of Genre

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:25:15 GMT

Genres can often be confusing when you're trying to find a way to apply the concept to your book. How do you know which genre is the best fit? What about when it feels like genres are blending together? Why is genre important, and how does it impact my bottom line as an author? Hannah and Jess answer these questions and more!

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SHOW NOTES

Infographic on Literary, Upmarket, and Commercial Fiction (Carly Watters)

A Short Guide to Genres (Nancy Christie)

Word Counts by Genre (the Novelry)

Author Platforms: Interview with BookWorks

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:21:44 GMT

Join Hannah and Jess as they interview Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer of Book Works about all things author platform! How do you start one? When do you start one? What do you post? Do you need a social media following to be successful? Gretchen and Nicole answer these questions and more!

Nicole Meier and Gretchen Schaffer are the duo behind Book Works, dedicated to empowering authors through expert book coaching and branding strategies. Part book coaches, part branding experts, they help fiction writers develop strong author platforms and pitch strategies to stand out in the writing world.

Nicole Meier is a certified book coach and author of four upmarket novels, including The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay, The Second Chance Supper Club, and City of Books. Her books have been recognized by Booklist, Refinery29, BookBub, and Popsugar. She also hosts the Steps to Story podcast for emerging novelists.

Gretchen Schaffer is a seasoned marketing and PR strategist with experience at industry-leading companies like Adobe, Microsoft, Meta, and Sony. She has crafted innovative campaigns that elevate visibility and brand presence. Now, she channels her expertise into the literary world, helping authors position themselves for success, build their audience, and create compelling pitches that capture attention. Her passion lies in elevating new voices and ensuring writers step confidently into the publishing landscape.

Together, Nicole and Gretchen provide the strategic guidance, industry insight, and encouragement fiction writers need to build their platforms, connect with readers, and confidently pitch their work.

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Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Book Works Website

TFL Exclusive Discount

Book Works Writing Retreat Information

Jess and Hannah's Favorite Books of 2025: Q1

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:36:15 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss their top four books of the first quarter of the year, each bringing an honorary mention as well!

We want to make a note to apologize for Jess's audio quality, as she was recording this during a thunderstorm and sounds like she's a First Time Caller into a radio show. (Pun fully intended.)

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Hannah's Book Picks:

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Funny Story by Emily Henry

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christine Lefteri

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

First Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Jess's Book Picks:

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Long Division by Kiese Laymon

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

Comp Titles

Tue, 20 May 2025 06:31:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the details of what goes into choosing comp titles for your book, what agents are looking for versus publishers, and a few tips on how to find titles to get you started.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Penguin Random House on Comp Titles

Blue Pencil Agency on Comp Titles

Writing Mastery: Tips for Comp Titles

Guest Interview with Carmela Dutra

Tue, 13 May 2025 06:30:00 GMT

In this episode, Hannah and Jess interview author Carmela Dutra, an author releasing a traditionally published novel this fall. She gives insight into the querying process and how she knew her agent was the one, and warns against common mistakes in querying.

Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh.

After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.

When she's not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. A lover of alternative rock, Carmela often writes to its rhythm and finds comfort in rewatching The Big Bang Theory and M*A*S*H.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

A Murder Most Fowl Pre-Order

Carmela Dutra's Querying Blog Series

Carmela Dutra's Newsletter

Carmela's Instagram

The Querying Process

Tue, 06 May 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the mental toll of querying and how to prepare, give suggestions on what resources assist the querying process, talk about how to strategize and find agents, and so much more! Plus, Jess provides a fun "hack" for the inevitable rejections authors face in the process.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

The Artist's Way

QueryTracker

Manuscript Wish List

Sarah Penner: Getting the Most Out of QueryTracker

Olivie Blake: Everything I Know About Querying

Alyssa Matesic: Strategic Tips for Querying Agents

Jane Friedman: What I Learned From 90 Queries

Bookends Literary: Querying Strategies for Success

Writing Your Query Letter

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess get specific about the key points of writing a query letter, what to include, what to exclude, and more!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Jane Friedman on Query Letters

Q&A Episode

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess answer anonymously submitted questions about all parts of the writing process. Want your question to be featured next round? Don't forget to fill out our form with anything you want us to address in the podcast!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon (author) and Alexis Franklin (illustrator)

TFL Episode on Characters

Loglines and Elevator Pitches

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess navigate the tricky world of log lines and elevator pitches: what they are, what purpose they serve, and what best to include within them. They also give real-world examples of log lines and discuss why they work.

TW: There is mention of SA in this episode. Hannah will prepare anyone who needs to skip, and gives the appropriate amount of time to fast forward.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Writing Mastery: How to Write a Killer Logline

The Novelry: How to Write a Book Pitch

Hannah and Jess Get Interviewed!

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Guest interviewer Jordan asks Jess and Hannah about their writing journeys, spoiler-free synopses of their books, and even asks about the most unconventional writing advice they've gotten!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

Finding Your Authorial Voice

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:46:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess explore the ever-elusive concept of authorial voice, bringing practical advice to an abstract conversation, and talking through real examples.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Random House Article on Voice

Voice First by Sonya Huber

Editing: How Do You Know When You're Done?

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss the signs they follow when deciding if the manuscript is truly finished, as well as different strategies to make sure you're getting the most out of your editing time before it's time to move to the next phase.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Sarah Cannon: How to Know When Your Book is Done

Editing: Feedback (Alpha Readers, Beta Readers, and Editors)

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the importance of seeking feedback as well as taking it, spend a bit of time discussing sensitivity readers, give input on how to get the most of alpha and beta readers, and discuss the value of critique partners and feedback groups.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Jane Friedman: What to Ask Your Beta Readers

Between the Lines: Feedback Partners

Professional Editing Resources

Sensitivity Readers

Grammar Handbook

Editing: The Second Pass (Reading Like a Writer)

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:29:28 GMT

Jess and Hannah discuss the second pass of editing: how to edit at the line level, what to look for, and all that comes with a deeper dive into edits!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Editing: The First Pass (Reading Like a Reader)

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 14:34:53 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss the first phase of editing, where you consider elements like story structure, world building (setting), character, and more. They discuss their own approaches and share important must-haves for this phase of the process.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

Editing: How to Pre-Edit

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:32:22 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss how they each approach preparing their manuscripts to be edited. They also talk about the difference between different types of editing, and give suggestions on how to approach this "pre-edit" process in a way that works best for you!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Tiffany Yates Martin website

TFL S1 Episode on Editing

Guest Interview with Aubrey Reverie

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Join Hannah and Jess as they interview their FIRST guest on the podcast. They talk all things writing process!

Aubrey B. (Aubrey Reverie) was born and raised in a working-class, small Appalachian town, and like most kids from the sticks, dreamt of leaving that town in the dust the day she turned 18.

She got as far as West Virginia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. While enrolled, she placed as runner up in the university’s Waitman Barbe Creative Writing Awards with a piece of creative nonfiction, and had an essay published by NPR’s This I Believe programming. Two months after graduation, while working in corporate communications, she re-enrolled to study Digital Marketing Communications at the graduate level in the Reed College of Media, earning a master’s certificate. (Go Mountaineers).

She spent 15 years as a professional writer and digital marketer, specializing in feature writing and digital storytelling, while continuing to write creatively in her free time. Her current focus is on full time creative authorship.

Aubrey lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and can usually be found barefoot and slightly feral, tending to her flower gardens and chatting with the bees.

Her creative writing style is heavily influenced by the grit of her upbringing, including themes of resilience, poverty, dark humor, and the overwhelming ache of the human condition. As an eternal pessimistic optimist, her stories (usually) have happy endings.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Inclusive Writing & Editing Resources

Words for Skin Tone | How to Describe Skin Color

Teaching Materials Archive

Resources for Writers

Query Tracker

Fix Your Draft: Symbolism and Themes

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss what themes and symbols are, as well as how to incorporate them in your draft after you've finished writing it.

And Jess would like to make sure the record is corrected: she is 65th on the list for her Onyx Storm library hold.

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

"Fix Your Draft" Series: Fixing Pace, Dialogue, and Repetition in Plot

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Fixing your draft isn't always easy; where does one begin? This series hopes to help you figure out where to start. Hannah and Jess talk all things pace, dialogue, and repetition in plot!

If you want to participate in our feedback form, click here.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

"Fix Your Draft" Series: Show vs. Tell

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 07:30:00 GMT

In this first episode of our three-part "Fix Your Draft" series, Jess and Hannah talk about the difference between "Show and Tell" and "Show vs. Tell". And these writing wins are ICONIC!

Do you have feedback or episode requests for us? Fill out this form to let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Writers.com: Show Don't Tell

Story Structure: A Deep Dive

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:21:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess do a deep dive into story structure, Hannah provides a real-life book example to explores its structure, and they review the more popular story structures out there, with a discussion on experimenting with structure as a more experienced writer.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

What is story structure? (Article)

Story Structure Guide

Scene Work

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah talk more in-depth about scene work, go off-topic about the new Wicked movie (it was new at the time of recording!), and Jess issues a writing challenge to our listeners.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Stephanie Danler's “The Middle Third: Beats” Article

Story by Robert McKee (Bookshop)

Jane Friedman on The Fundamentals of Writing a Scene

Developing a Scene Outline for Your Novel

Neurodivergent Writing Tips

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Jess and Hannah are back with a second season of the Fiction Lounge! Join the duo as they discuss what it's like to be a neurodivergent writer, and share tips and tricks they've collected along the way.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

Bonus Episode: Hannah and Jess's 2024 Reads

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:30:00 GMT

Join Hannah and Jess as they discuss their favorite books of the year!

The Power of Writing Rituals

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess share the power and importance of ritual, teach about meditation and its benefits for writers, and discuss their own personal writing rituals.

SHOW NOTES

Beethoven Blues by Jon Batiste

Tips to Improve Your Writing

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:00:02 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss some tips and tricks to improve your writing, talk about the joys of drafting, and even give some tips on criticism.

SHOW NOTES

The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk Jr.

English Grammar for Dummies

Book Activism

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:30:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess share different ways you can be a book activist and fight against book banning, as well as inform listeners about systemic issues within the book publishing industry.

SHOW NOTES

The Free Press: The Fight for Future Publishing

Teachers College Columbia University: What You Need to Know About the Book Bans Sweeping the US

American Library Association: Banned Books Week Ideas and Resources

PEN America: 5 Ways to Fight Book Bans

NYT: Just How White is the Publishing Industry?

NYT: How the Push to Diversify Publishing Fell Short

The Lee & Low Diversity Baseline Survey 3.0 (2023)

Editing

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:25:52 GMT

Hannah and Jess discuss how they approach their novel edits. Why do some writers edit in "layers"? And what does that mean in the first place? Jess and Hannah demystify the editing process with some laughs along the way.

*NOTE: When discussing AI, we want to make it clear that our conversation about utilizing it responsibly also means we need to remind our listeners of the impact AI can have on the environment. Use these tools wisely.

SHOW NOTES

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)

Gina Denny on Patreon

Drafting

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 06:34:21 GMT

Join Hannah and Jess as they discuss the details of drafting! The first draft is such a mountain of intimidations for new writers, so Jess and Hannah take time to demystify the "woes of the first draft".

Don't forget to join us every Tuesday, and don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Gina Denny's Six Stages of Editing on TikTok

Interiority

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:40:00 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk more in-depth about characters: more importantly, character interiority! Interiority is the inner world of a character, and managing it can be somewhat of a juggling act for writers. This episode offers Hannah and Jess's takes on interiority and how they use it, as well as resources for writers who want to learn more about it.

Don't forget to join us every Tuesday, and don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

SHOW NOTES

Interiority Study by Rebecca Makkai

Plotting and Story Structure

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:28:43 GMT

Hannah and Jess talk all things plot and story structure, with some recommendations on how to determine these aspects of your story on a personal level. Don't forget to join us every Tuesday, and don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

Narrative Structure Article

Seven Basic Plots (book)

Characters

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:52:55 GMT

Join Hannah and Jess as we talk all things character research and development! When starting a novel, it's important that you intentionally approach the people about whom you will be writing. It can feel confusing and overwhelming at first, but we share our processes in hopes of helping ignite a spark for you as well.

Don't forget to follow us on social media: @thefictionlounge on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! And you can always visit our website!

The Fiction Lounge: The Trailer

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 23:28:28 GMT

Welcome to the Fiction Lounge podcast, the passion project of two writing besties who want to demystify your writing journey. Join us every Tuesday as we talk characters, plot, drafting, and more.