The Writing Show

Writers' conferences can be expensive. Are they worth it? Get the lowdown from an agent and two veteran conference attendees. Please join agent Kristin Nelson, writers Frances Julia Kemp and Del Landis, and host Paula B. as they tour the conference landscape, including: What to expect from a conference How much writers' conferences cost What agents who go to conferences are looking for How to pitch agents and publishers at conferences What to wear How best to enjoy a tipple at a conference.

Find out what our 2008 first-prize winner is all about. Please join Linda Simoni-Wastila and host Paula B. as they explore: Where her story came from What it was like to write in the voice of a 19-year-old boy How she would describe her style What was easy and difficult in the writing of Brighter Than Bright What her writing goals are What she'd like her Contemporary Authors entry to say Why she writes about the things she does.

In this commentary, Blake explains how you can sneak exposition into your script and entertain viewers at the same time.

One of the most common questions writers ask is how to query agents and publishers. Here's one editor's take. Please join Jennifer Silva Redmond and host Paula B. as they reveal what editors are really thinking, including: How to select a publisher to query What the difference between a query letter and a proposal is How to write a great query (and what not to do) How to talk yourself up without being obnoxious Why you should adhere to publishers' guidelines (and what happens when you don't) How long is reasonable to wait for an answer.

Novelist Susan Choi likes prickly, difficult characters. In this fascinating interview, she explains why. Please join Susan Choi and host Paula B. as they discuss: Whether protagonists need to be likeable Whether protagonists of advanced years are rare in literature Why she relies so heavily on description Why much of the story is told through flashbacks How she got the FBI to help her research the story.

"In the stillness of the night it spoke to them."

"An innocent wasp sting leads to a monumental discovery, that aliens are invading the earth, and nobody anywhere knows how they can be stopped"

"Eternity is a heck of a long time. With the right soundtrack, it can feel even longer."

"The afterlife is pleasant and peaceful until they arrive. Haunting will never be the same again."

"Monsters! On the bloody banks of the Thames! Who would have ever believed? Certainly not Gavin sitting in his lounge room in Sydney, half a world away. Even his friend Tom was struggling. But there they were, right in front of them on the TV. It had to be real, surely."

Mick Halpin returns with another great Irish crime fiction author interview! Please join guest host Mick Halpin and Declan Burke as they explore: Why Declan turned to writing crime fiction How Irish crime fiction differs from that of other countries How fiction helps people deal with their fears Why so many crime fiction books are written by journalists Why his novels are so different from each other Why crime fiction follows the money.

If you've ever become discouraged about how hard it is to get published, you must listen to this show. Please join Maralys Wills and host Paula B. as they discuss: How she's ended up working in so many genres How jumping around has affected her writing career What it's like to work in each genre Whether she'd jump from genre to genre if she had it to do over What her most useful writing tricks are.

In this episode, Mark talks a little about his recent fiction and non-fiction sales and a lot about the Espresso Book Machine he's getting for his bookstore.

With this podcast, we begin a series of commentaries by screenwriter Blake Snyder. This time, Blake explains why theme in a movie is important and how to work with it.

When most people hear the word "essay," they think of the horrors of school exams. But this week's guest shows us that essays can be as expressive as poetry and a whole lot of fun. Please join Sheila Bender and host Paula B. as they probe: What a personal essay is, and why you might want to write one What you should and shouldn't do when writing a personal essay What sorts of obstacles confront writers of personal essays Whether writing personal essays is self-indulgent How to publish personal essays How to overcome fears associated with writing personal essays.