Is it a problem when kids jump right from early reader to YA novels? How in the world can someone with a family and/or a full time job find time to write? To outline or not to outline? And how do you solve the dreaded writers block?
Listen to Jeff, James, and Nathan discuss all this and more, count how many times they can refer to Stephen King, and win this awesome new book that hasn’t even hit bookstore shelves yet!
It's easy to win. All you have to do is comment or tweet a link to the wordplay podcast with the hastag #wordplaypodcast and you are entered. Do both and you are entered twice. We will draw one winner on Sunday, October 2nd. And remember, if you like the show, please tell your friends about us!
Your teacher tells the class you will all be writing stories, and your brain instantly turns into week-old macaroni and cheese. How do I come up with an idea? Who should it be about? What do you mean I need obstacles? Can I go pound my head against sharp rocks instead? Because that sounds far less painful.
Does this sound like you? Well, no need to fear any longer. Because Wordplay Podcast has invented a pill guaranteed to cram your head full of wonderful story ideas, and turn your scribbles into works of art! Okay, not really. But we do give your some tips and tricks for how we come up with our stories that might just work for you too.
In our first Just For Kids episode, we give out writing advice, talk about everything from characters to consequences. And, as if that wasn’t enough, we do our best to turn a lovely fairytale into a gruesome story of fangs, bones, spooks, graveyards, and . . . well you get the idea. Listen to the very end to discover that maybe you aren’t the only one who panics when you get a new assignment.
To all those who suffered loses of any kind on September 11th, we offer our sincerest condolences. And to those who are working to make sure it never happens again, our heartfelt appreciation.
Also, thanks so much to all of you who spread the word about the podcast. We had over 50 tweets and re-tweets. Congratulations to @leigh2481 who won a signed copy of Ally Condie’s matched. E-mail contact@wordplaypodcast.com to claim your prize. More cool prizes coming soon.
Are traditional publishers doomed? Does self-publishing make it harder or easier to get an agent? What is, literary agent, Michael Bourret reading? And how the heck do you pronounce his last name? These questions and more can only be answered by listening to episode 3 of the Wordplay podcast.
Jeff, James, Nathan, and Michael dig into topics like e-books, editors, agents, self-publishing, and what publishers must do to earn their authors’ loyalty. Listen to the very end to hear what Jeff feels he adds to the podcast.
Next week is our first “Just for Kids” episode. So be sure and tell your children, students, nieces, nephews, and annoying neighbor kids about it. If you like the Wordplay podcast and want to share it on your site, use the embed code below and please link back to this site.
Music for this episode is Change by Shearer. Used under a creative commons license.
Are you a fan of the the international bestselling YA novel Matched, and its equally cool author Ally Condie? Ally joins Nathan, James, and Jeff to discuss things like how Matched was inspired by Legos, whether or not Snape was a good Villain, if character or plot is more important, and which Wordplay host knows who Jughead Jones is.
If that doesn’t hook you, we also discuss how to create good protagonists and antagonists, whether certain books are more plot or character driven, where Ally’s new novel, Crossed, is set, and whether she plans on having more fart jokes now that she has added a male narrator.
Finally, for those last few holdouts, find out how you can win a signed copy of Matched. And as a special bonus for staying until the very end of the podcast listen to one of the Wordplay hosts sing, then vote on whether that should be at the end of every Wordplay Podcast.
Don’t forget to tweet to enter our signed Match contest and remember you can ask us questions for future podcasts by leaving a comment or e-mailing us at contact@wordplaypodcast.com.
Next week, literary agent Michael Bourret of DGLM joins us to discuss whether or not the publisher sky is really falling.
Rules for winning a signed copy of Matched.
You must tweet a link to this week’s podcast. You must include the hash tag #wordplaypodcast (or we won’t be able to track your entry) One entry will be chosen at random Sunday, Sep 11th at 6:00 PM PST, and notified by Twitter
Music for this podcast is from Bring Me a Match by Pleasure Kills provided under a creative commons license.
David Dickson { Hey Wordplayers, Figured I'd throw down a gauntlet. I promise to buy at least one novel from each of you this calendar year if you... } – Mar 22, 10:24 AM
Vonna { I'm so glad you're back and I'm delighted Janette is joining you! I hope to see James back for guest posts. } – Feb 25, 11:52 AM
Mark { I love this podcast and I'm thrilled it's coming back. Can't wait! } – Feb 16, 12:55 PM
Donna Gephart { Welcome, Janette! So glad the podcast will be back. Looking forward to it. } – Feb 14, 7:59 PM
Robin Weeks { Yay! Go, Janette! She's gonna rock the podcast. Excellent choice. } – Feb 05, 7:15 PM
