The Writing Podcast
127 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago -This is the podcast for aspiring writers, an A-to-Z guide to writing, publishing, and promoting your article, book, or any other writing project. Your hosts are Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz, co-founders of Journey Sixty6, an editorial services company and independent publisher for the family business community. Each episode is designed to inspire and instruct writers as they take the long road trip to write and promote their ideas.
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Episodes
Interior Designer and Influencer Natalie Papier on Starting Her Book Project
March 28, 2022 20:47 - 33 minutes - 45.9 MBArt, color, and design - these three elements define the brand of Natalie Papier, interior designer and Instagram influencer (@home_ec_op). In this wide-ranging interview, Natalie discusses the role of authenticity in her brand and how she began working on a book project. Through connections on a different project, Natalie found a book proposal editor, who is helping Natalie tease out her ideas for the framework of the book. Natalie makes the trenchant point about timing for one's writing pr...
The True Definition of Publishing for Writers
March 15, 2022 15:39 - 39 minutes - 54 MBWhat does it mean to publish? The original, Latin definition of the word publish means "words made public." In this episode, we make the case that to develop a rich writing life means embracing a broader definition of the word "publish." Even a Christmas letter or a social post is a form of publishing. Every time you write something intended for others to read, you are publishing. So, make it count. This episode will encourage you to persist in your current writing project and thus take the ...
Prop Stylist Robin Zachary on Paying Attention to the Little Things When Publishing a Book
February 28, 2022 02:12 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBIt's always the little things that can make or break a project. In the publishing process especially, an author needs to pay attention to every detail until after the book has been printed. In this interview, Robin Zachary discusses the process to publish her forthcoming book, Styling Beyond Instagram: Take Your Prop Styling Skills from the Square to the Street. She explains how she landed a book deal, but most importantly, she gives aspiring writers some practical tips for when they near th...
Journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer on Researching Her Parenting Book
February 13, 2022 14:24 - 42 minutes - 58.1 MBParenting is not for wimps, as the saying goes. Science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer might say that the biggest parenting challenge is "How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes," the provocative title of her recent book. Melinda has written a column for Slate magazine and publishes regularly with the New York Times. In this interview, she discusses the "scaffolding" (structure) of her book chapters and her writing process. She also helps writers maintain their voice while integrating researc...
8 Insights into How Editors View Your Manuscript
January 31, 2022 01:05 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBEditors serve an audience. A magazine editor keeps his or her job only if the majority of readers renews their yearly subscription. A book editor whose acquisitions are not profitable will need to find a new job. In this episode, Melissa and Dave discuss eight specific insights into how an editor thinks. One is the hyper focus on serving readers. Other insights include their perspective on articles or book proposals that don't immediately arrest their attention. You'll come away with a bette...
Polygamist’s Daughter Anna Lebaron on How She Wrote Her Memoir
January 16, 2022 14:42 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBAnna LeBaron was born into a polygamist cult. She endured the unimaginable: abandonment, horrific living conditions, child labor, and sexual grooming. At 13, she escaped to a new life, though it took decades for her to recover. In our interview, Anna discusses the process of writing her memoir and how she used a professional editor to help her create the scenes for her story. Anna gives practical insights for new writers, such as how she protected both the guilty and the innocent in masking ...
Jennifer Risher on her 14-Year Memoir Writing Journey
January 02, 2022 13:29 - 47 minutes - 65.7 MBThere's a ancient saying that money is not so much the problem; it's the love of money that causes the trouble. There's another truth about the topic: It's really hard to write about money - specifically, your money. And yet, that is exactly what Jennifer Risher does in "We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth." She and her husband became what only can be described as an "ultra high net worth" family through their stock options from Microsoft and Amazon. In this interview, Jen inspires all of...
Executive Coach Rose Hollister on Train Time and Writing with a Co-Author
December 19, 2021 17:23 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBLife is not easily broken down into writing segments. Executive Coach Rose Hollister made time for writing while commuting into Chicago from her home in the western suburbs. Rose runs a coaching and consulting practice and has written for the Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review. She has also written a book for young adults who've just landed their first corporate job called "Nobody Told Me: 129 Unwritten Rules for Career Success." In this interview Rose discusses "train t...
Virtual Assistant Kaitlyn Bouchillon on Creating a Book Launch Team
December 05, 2021 03:36 - 48 minutes - 66.7 MBThere are at least three distinct phases in launching a book into the world. The second phase is the six-week to three-month window when the book is released. It's when your book is new news. Kaitlyn Bouchillon has built a business as a virtual assistant helping authors launch their books. Her focus is on creating and managing book launch teams. In this interview, Kaitlyn explains the role of a book launch team and how to set one up. She also offers up tips and hacks to make sure your team p...
Bookbaby.com President Steven Spatz on the Power of Self Publishing Your Book
November 22, 2021 20:12 - 39 minutes - 54.5 MBGone are the days when the phrase "self-published" referred to a second-rate book. Today, many authors choose the self-publishing route because it gives them control over their book rights, a faster time to market, and a higher margin per book. Bookbaby.com has ridden the self-publishing trend to become one of the largest book services companies in the world. In this interview with Bookbaby.com president Steven Spatz, he provides an overview of the self-publishing journey while offering some...
Literary Agent Adria Goetz Thinks You‘re Not Persistent Enough as a Writer
November 09, 2021 16:30 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBPositive, warm, and encouraging - three qualities not typically associated with literary agents. But literary agent Adria Goetz exemplifies all three. In this practical interview, Adria explains her process for sorting through all the queries she receives by email. She also discusses how to pitch your book to agents via Twitter and how she discovers new writers through the social media platform. She argues for the importance of researching books similar to yours before you pitch an agent and...
HarperCollins Executive Editor Mickey Maudlin on the Elements of a Great Memoir
October 24, 2021 18:23 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MBWhat, exactly, is a memoir? Is it simply a great story? Or is it a style of writing that addresses a larger theme? Yes. In this practical interview with Mickey Maudlin, Senior VP and Executive Editor at HarperCollins, he distinquishes between memoir as a genre and memoir as a writing style. He also helps aspiring writers ask a basic question, "Why would someone buy my memoir?" A few authors might be able to engage readers by telling a good story, but most will need to have something to say o...
How Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck Co-Wrote Their Memoir, ”I‘ll Push You”
October 04, 2021 00:55 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBHow do two authors write one memoir? Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck co-wrote ”I‘ll Push You,” and their awards for the memoir speak for themselves. The book chronicles not just their unique journey on the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trek through Spain, but the lifetime friendship of Patrick and Justin, who suffers from a neuromuscular disease that has robbed him of the use of his arms and legs. In this episode, the authors describe their writing process and help aspiring memoir writers ...
The Ways and Means of a Literary Book Agent
September 19, 2021 12:56 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MB"How do I find a literary book agent?" is one of the most common questions of aspiring writers. In this episode with literary agent Don Gates, founder of The Gates Group, he identifies the three C's that agents seek in a new author: Concept, Crowd, and Content. In other words, the book concept needs to rock, the author must have a following or some means to distribute the book, and he or she also needs to write in a compelling way. Gates also discusses the importance of referrals and how age...
How Curiosity Makes Your Writing Memorable
September 13, 2021 01:24 - 50 minutes - 69.4 MBUnless you are writing a textbook, curiosity is what makes your writing memorable. It all starts with the questions that you ask of others. More specifically, the follow-up questions that evoke emotion, stories, and insights. You also want to be curious of your ideas as you write, asking, "Why do I really believe that?" In this episode, we discuss the role of curiosity and how it raises the quality of your writing.
The 6 Writing Discipline Models
September 06, 2021 14:48 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBA few of you rise before dawn, run 10 miles, and write 1,500 words - all before 7 AM. Bully for you. The rest of us, however, structure our lives a bit differently. In this episode, we identify the six models of writing discipline. The first is the aforementioned Early Riser model, and the second is the "Edge of the Toilet Seat" model. The goal is to find a writing discipline model that works for you. We hope you find encouragement in this episode as you seek to fit writing into the white sp...
How to Start Writing a Book
August 31, 2021 14:22 - 34 minutes - 48.1 MBThere are a thousand clichés about how to take the first step of a long journey. But they all have one thing in common: you have to start. In this episode, we offer up a series of tips for taking that first step, including the importance of fighting through and overcoming the so-called imposter syndrome. At some point, no matter how insecure we feel, the only way to overcome our emotion is the physical act of writing something down. We hope you come away encouraged and the inspiration to sit...
What Magazines Teach Us about Writing Well
August 30, 2021 14:16 - 46 minutes - 63.2 MBThe golden era of magazines is a distant memory. Part of their demise was the Internet, which flooded the world with free content. Even today, however, magazines feature some of the best writing for a variety of reasons. In this episode, we identify five lessons from magazines that can help you improve your book writing. One of those is the hook or angle of every article in a magazine. Each article begins with a hook that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go until you read the artic...
5 Hacks When You're Lost Writing a Chapter
August 15, 2021 17:56 - 33 minutes - 45.4 MBYou're not a writer if you've never been absolutely lost while working on a piece, whether a blog, an article, or, especially, the chapter of a book. Writing is thinking in motion. You may have not thought about your idea in this way before, until you laid down that sentence. In this episode, we offer up what amounts to five writing hacks to help you find your way once you've become lost. One hack is to go back to your thesis for the article or chapter: What is your topic? And what do you wa...
Prenup Book Author Emily Bouchard on How She Lands Media Interviews
August 08, 2021 19:42 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBEmily Bouchard's approach to landing media interviews for her book was quite simple. She reached out to a journalist and asked for one. She didn't know how to create a press release, so she googled it. And then created one. Seems like we all can do that! Emily is a Family Dynamics Coach to ultra high net worth families, and author of "Estate Planning for the Blended Family" and "Beginner's Guide to Purposeful Prenups." Emily didn't let what she didn't know stop her. Her persistence and tenac...
An Introduction to Writing a Memoir
August 01, 2021 15:25 - 46 minutes - 63.6 MBThe reasons for writing a memoir are many. Some write to understand their past; others share truths from their past to help others. Still others write memoirs as a way of preserving their family history. In this episode, we introduce the topic of writing a memoir and identify five basic elements to keep in mind when starting out to write one. Every person has a story to tell. It's how you tell the story that makes it a memoir.
A.C.T.S. - the 4 Essential Elements of Writing a Great Story
July 14, 2021 03:35 - 55 minutes - 76 MBStory. Story. Story. No one argues with the idea that stories are one of the primary ways we communicate as humans. It's one thing to enjoy a great story. And quite another to write a great one. In this interview with Steve Mathewson, author of "Art of Preaching Old Testament Narratives," he lays out the four essential elements of writing a great story. He also discusses the importance of "strategic delay" - creating tension in your story. He says that when the tension is gone, your story is...
Tech Founder Dave Parker on the Whacky Economics of Book Publishing and Promotion
July 04, 2021 14:42 - 51 minutes - 71 MBIt can never be about the money. No realistic financial model for book publishing exists, unless of course, you hit the lottery with your first. In this episode, tech founder and book writer Dave Parker applies start-up thinking to writing, publishing, and promoting his book, Trajectory Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit. Our interview with Dave is realistic yet practical. The time is now to get back to your laptop. And buckle up and write.
5 Ways to Overcome Your Writing Self Doubt
June 27, 2021 13:08 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBSelf-doubt is the constant road companion of the writer, and especially of the aspiring writer. Self-doubt can be paralyzing. Contribute to procrastination. Even derail the writing journey altogether. In this episode, we discuss at length the shadow of self doubt and how aspiring writers can step into the light and overcome their self-doubt. The only way through the self-doubt is the act of writing. Doing the work itself goes a long ways towards dispelling the shadows.
Author Relations Expert Andrea Martin on the Power of Persistence in Book Promotion
June 10, 2021 19:46 - 47 minutes - 64.1 MBWhen your book is launched, you've got about three months. And then your book becomes old news. Your publisher moves on. So does the media. And then the long slog to promote your book begins. In this episode, we interview Tyndale Publishers author relations director Andrea Martin on how to stay focused when the promotions don't go as planned. You'll come away encouraged to keep pressing on and to come up with creative ways to tell the story of your book.
Book Publicity Expert Andrea Martin on Arresting the Attention of Media for Your Book
June 10, 2021 19:46 - 47 minutes - 64.1 MBWhen your book is launched, you've got about three months. And then your book becomes old news. Your publisher moves on. So does the media. And then the long slog to promote your book begins. In this episode, we interview Tyndale Publishers author relations director Andrea Martin on how to stay focused when the promotions don't go as planned. You'll come away encouraged to keep pressing on and to come up with creative ways to tell the story of your book.
How to Spot and Eliminate Clichés in Your Writing
June 04, 2021 17:36 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBWe want to pivot a bit and discuss how to spot and eliminate clichés as you write your book. Whoops, we need to eliminate "pivot" from this introductory copy! In this episode, we regale each other with the challenge of how to write in fresh language. A cliché is simply a word or phrase that is overused, tired, well worn. If you want your book to be read - and then referred - you'll want to do the hard work of eliminating the worn-out phrases of your industry or community from your writing.
Growing Your Social Media Following through Hashtags
May 21, 2021 16:41 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBThe last thing a writer may want to add to the journey of publishing a book is the job of building a social media following. It's a slog. Tedious. And unless you're a gregarious, larger than life celebrity, building your following takes thought and skill. In this episode, Dave once again interviews Melissa on how she has built her Instagram following. This time, the topic is hashtags. Melissa clears up the confusion on hashtags and gives authors practical help to use the right hashtags to bu...
Caryn Rivadeneira on the Hard Work of Book Proposals and Her Writing Disciplines
May 13, 2021 19:02 - 45 minutes - 62.4 MBShe calls it her "pop in" writing discipline. Caryn Rivadeneira, who has published 13 books, learned to make writing progress while sitting on the edge of the toilet as her kids splashed in the bathtub. In this wide-ranging interview, Caryn discusses the value of writing a full book proposal, even for those who plan to self publish. She also clarifies the job of a good book agent and why some writers prefer to self publish, given the slow metabolism of traditional publishers. Caryn motivated...
5 Social Media Insights to Boost Engagement
May 04, 2021 19:50 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBIf you want to write, you'll need a way to promote your book. One common way is through social media. In this episode, Dave interviews Melissa about a data analytics project that helped her identify five key insights about how to improve her engagement on Instagram. Melissa's son Davis, a stats, econ, and math major at Northwestern University, analyzed the response to Melissa's Instagram posts over the course of a year. The results will help you become more effective at building a social med...
5 Social Media Insights from Melissa's Instagram Research
May 04, 2021 19:50 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBIf you want to write, you'll need a way to promote your book. One common way is through social media. In this episode, Dave interviews Melissa about a data analytics project that helped her identify five key insights about how to improve her engagement on Instagram. Melissa's son Davis, a stats, econ, and math major at Northwestern University, analyzed the response to Melissa's Instagram posts over the course of a year. The results will help you become more effective at building a social med...
Rewriting after Your Book Idea Changes
April 20, 2021 15:36 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBNo one welcomes the prospect of a rewrite. Especially when the realization that the thesis or main idea of the book has changed. It can be downright discouraging when your thinking evolves significantly, requiring you to rewrite sections or entire chapters. In this episode, we address the emotion of rewriting and the importance of slowing down when your thinking changes. You will come away feeling more hopeful and discover some practical ways to jump back into the writing process.
The Courage to Rewrite after Your Book Idea Changes
April 20, 2021 15:36 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBNo one welcomes the prospect of a rewrite. Especially when the realization that the thesis or main idea of the book has changed. It can be downright discouraging when your thinking evolves significantly, requiring you to rewrite sections or entire chapters. In this episode, we address the emotion of rewriting and the importance of slowing down when your thinking changes. You will come away feeling more hopeful and discover some practical ways to jump back into the writing process.
Advertising iconoclast Jim Morris on Narrowing Your Book Audience and Book Agents
April 14, 2021 12:39 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBAgents of stupidity - that's what iconoclast Jim Morris calls advertising agencies that whitewash bad advertising and romanticize the profession. Jim is the author of Badvertising: An Expose´of Insipid, Insufferable, Ineffective Advertising. A 40-year advertising veteran, he knows his industry's foibles firsthand. In this episode, Jim discusses the process of coming up with the angle for his book, the importance of narrowing one's audience, and how he found a book agent.
Andrew Keyt on How Book Publicity Grew His Consulting Practice
April 07, 2021 03:30 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBIt's one thing to write a book. And quite another to sell your book. Author Andrew Keyt made a significant investment in the publicity of his book, Myths and Mortals: Family Business Leadership and Succession Planning (Wiley Finance). The first publicity phase was the six weeks after its launch, the second was the long slog since. In this episode, Andrew, who is also a professor in the business school at Loyola University Chicago, discusses the value he placed on book publicity and how it pa...
Corporate Onboarding Expert Amy Davies on Overcoming Writing Obstacles
March 31, 2021 02:25 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBAmy Davies, author of "A Spark in the Dark," offers helpful tips to business writers on what a book can do for your business, how to energize your writing by narrowing your audience, and how to make progress one chapter at a time. Amy also discusses how she launched her book on Linkedin and uses her book to build her business.
Author Jaimie Engle on Persistence, the Why of Writing and Promotion
March 24, 2021 03:27 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBYouth fantasy fiction and non-fiction writer Jaimie Engle wanted to be an author since she was a child. Three weeks before her first book, “Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light,” was slated to be published, the publisher bailed. Jaimie had no choice but to figure out how to self publish the book. In this episode, Jaimie talks candidly about the long writing road to where she is today and the purpose she found for writing novels along the way.
Leadership Coach Jon Lokhorst on Planning for His Book Promotion
March 16, 2021 13:32 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MBA plan is essential to a promoting your book, no matter the size of your budget. In this episode, Melissa and Dave interview Jon Lokhorst, a leadership coach, trainer, and keynote speaker. In a few weeks, Jon will be launching his new book, “Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions," into the world. Aspiring authors will benefit from his approach to book promotion, including his "one to one" and "one to many" strategy.
How to Make Progress When You Feel Discouraged
March 07, 2021 22:15 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBEvery worthy endeavor requires time, discipline, failure, and persistence. And any grand undertaking will also include stretches of discouragement. In this episode, Melissa and Dave discuss the different kinds of discouragement and offer up some ideas for how to move past the days of doubt while making progress. One idea is to step away from your project for a time, while another is to double-down on your commitment to write. There's no right answer, but the goal is the same: Get back on the...
How to Make Writing Progress When You Feel Discouraged
March 07, 2021 22:15 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBEvery worthy endeavor requires time, discipline, failure, and persistence. And any grand undertaking will also include stretches of discouragement. In this episode, Melissa and Dave discuss the different kinds of discouragement and offer up some ideas for how to move past the days of doubt while making progress. One idea is to step away from your project for a time, while another is to double-down on your commitment to write. There's no right answer, but the goal is the same: Get back on the...
Memoir Writer Christina Quist on Baboons, Storytelling, and Morning Pages
March 07, 2021 17:09 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBThe American suburbs have little in common with the post-apartheid communities of Capetown, South Africa. Christina Quist knows this firsthand. She, her husband, and their five kids sold most of their belongings and moved from Ohio to the southern Hemisphere. Christina never imagined that she'd be dodging stray bullets and shooing baboons from her house. In this episode, Melissa and Dave interview Christina on her memoir, “Kaleidoscope: absurdly short stories of traveling and unraveling." In...
Bestselling Author Lorilee Craker on Book Agents, Writing Habits, and Meeting Oprah
February 22, 2021 15:59 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBThe call came out of the blue. Lorilee Craker's book agent knew the business manager of Lynne Spears, mother of pop star Brittney Spears. A few hours together in Nashville sealed the deal, and Lorilee became the co-author of a New York Times bestseller. Writing success, like any kind of success, doesn't happen without the grind, the years of discipline. Lorilee has devoted her life to writing. Since her book with Lynne Spears in 2008, she has published three other books and is now working on...
Bestselling Author Lorilee Craker on Book Agents, Writing Habits, and BISAC Codes
February 22, 2021 15:59 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBThe call came out of the blue. Lorilee Craker's book agent knew the business manager of Lynne Spears, mother of pop star Brittney Spears. A few hours together in Nashville sealed the deal, and Lorilee became the co-author of a New York Times bestseller. Writing success, like any kind of success, doesn't happen without the grind, the years of discipline. Lorilee has devoted her life to writing. Since her book with Lynne Spears in 2008, she has published three other books and is now working on...
Meteorologist Amy Sweezey on Writing Children's Books
February 15, 2021 14:47 - 44 minutes - 61.6 MBIt takes grit to cover the morning weather, like award-winning broadcast meteorologist Amy Sweezey did for 25 years. For starters, she set her alarm for 2 AM every morning in order to clock in for the 4:30 AM news. It also takes grit to work on a book project for almost twenty years. Named "Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Weather Association in 2018, Amy had a vision to educate children on the weather. In this episode, Melissa and Dave interview Amy on her book writing and self-publ...
The 3 Benefits of Self Publishing
February 08, 2021 15:45 - 44 minutes - 61 MBThere are many reasons to self-publish your book or project. It's not just because you couldn't land a contract with a traditional publisher. One of the big reasons is control over intellectual rights, pricing, and, among other things, book packaging. In this episode, Melissa and Dave offer up three benefits of self publishing and how authors can benefit from this trend.
The Enneagram for Writers - What's Your Writing Style?
February 01, 2021 14:56 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MBThe Enneagram is everywhere. Based on 105 questions, the personality test casts personality types into nine buckets. Coaches, consultants, HR departments, leadership gurus - many use the Enneagram to help with team building and bonding, and self-understanding. In this episode, Melissa and Dave interview Alysa Clark, who is conversant in the Enneagram and working on her first book. Alysa assists us in applying the Enneagram to writers: How does your Enneagram number shape what you write and h...
Writing's Two Essential Elements: Passion and Persistence
January 25, 2021 18:32 - 51 minutes - 70.5 MBThere's no joy like that of diving into a writing project with an author. If you need inspiration, hope, and practical help, this episode is for you. Melissa and Dave tell the writing, promotion, and publishing stories of five authors with whom they've work over the past several years. The five book projects couldn't be more different. Yet the threads of passion, persistence, and promise run through each story. You'll be inspired to persist while taking away fresh ideas for your writing and ...
5 Stories of Inspiration and Hope from Our Authors
January 25, 2021 18:32 - 51 minutes - 70.5 MBThere's no joy like that of diving into a writing project with an author. If you need inspiration, hope, and practical help, this episode is for you. Melissa and Dave tell the writing, promotion, and publishing stories of five authors with whom they've work over the past several years. The five book projects couldn't be more different. Yet the threads of passion, persistence, and promise run through each story. You'll be inspired to persist while taking away fresh ideas for your writing and ...
Lessons from a Professional Writer
January 19, 2021 14:15 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBThere's a chasm between writing for yourself and writing for a client. Writing for yourself is, well, so personal. One foundational question is, "What do I want to evoke in the reader?" In this episode with Jennifer Olvera, Melissa and Dave explore the life of a professional writer. Jennifer has been a professional writer for more than twenty years, and she has written eight books. Her latest is "The Easy Meat Cookbook: 75 Simple Recipes for Beef, Pork, Lamb, Veal, and Poultry."
The Perils of Polite Writing
January 12, 2021 14:59 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBAfter the worry of never getting published comes the fear of not selling any books. On its heels comes the thought, "What if people hate what I wrote?" or "What if the reviews are exceptionally negative?" Sometimes, those anxieties can tempt us to write bland prose in an attempt to stay a member of, as writer Stephen King calls it, "polite society." In this episode, Melissa and Dave wrestle with the importance of voice - and writing what you really think.