Ep. 52 Creating Tension and Conflict in Your Story

Creating Tension and Conflict in Your Story

Want to know the secret sauce to keep your readers engaged? In today’s episode, Lauren goes over two super important ingredients your story should have if you want to keep your readers from putting your book down – tension and conflict. She starts the episode by defining these concepts, as well as giving examples of […]

Ep. 48 Ego vs. Armor

Ego vs. Armor

Does your writing make you feel egotistical?Writer’s ego is a real thing. As a writer, you may face it more than once throughout your career. However, these blocks that oftentimes keep us away from sharing our stories, are covered by something thicker. An armor that makes us feel protected from the outside especially if there […]

Ep. 47 Rest and Writing with Octavia Raheem

Episode 47: Rest and Writing with Octavia Raheem

Hey there! Welcome back to the School For Writers podcast!We’re taking a short break during August but coming back in September. In today’s episode, Lauren interviews devotee of rest, Octavia Raheem. Octavia is a yoga teacher, book author, wife, and mom. During this beautifully inspiring interview, they talk about Octavia’s relationship with reading and writing. They also […]

Ep. 46 Finding Your Unique Voice as a Writer

Finding Your Unique Voice as a Writer

Have you ever been told you need to find your own solid voice as a writer? That essence that makes your writing unique and distinguishable from the rest and that your teachers talked about in your first day of creative-writing classes. In today’s solo episode, Lauren delves into what voice is, what isn’t, and what […]

Ep. 43 Exploring Pleasure Through Romance Novels with Thien-Kim Lam

Exploring Pleasure Through Romance Novels with Thien-Kim Lam

Do you enjoy romance literature, sex toys, and good tropes? If the answer is YES, you are going to love this episode! Today on the show, Lauren welcomes debut author, Thien-Kim Lam to chat about all things diversity in writing, sex toys, and the importance of own voices. Thien-Kim had been writing for years. However, it […]

Ep. 40 How to Choose a Cover for Your Book

How to Choose a Cover for Your Book

Having put in hard work to make your book the best it can be, now it’s time to make sure its cover design is attractive and enticing enough to catch your readers’ eyes! This is probably one of the most exciting parts of the publishing process, where focusing on what your ideal reader would look […]

Ep. 38 Writing and Editing a Self-Published Book

Writing and Editing a Self-Published Book

While self-publishing is often seen as a lesser form of publishing, thought to be unpolished, and oftentimes not taken seriously, there are always ways to combat that! You don’t need to wait for a traditional publisher to approve that your idea is worthy of being out in the world. Your audience needs your expertise now! […]

Ep. 36 Finding and Training Beta Readers for Your Book

Finding and Training Beta Readers for Your Book

Finding the right beta readers is key if you’re actually serious about publishing your writing one day. However, it is important to make sure that you not only choose the right beta readers but train them so you can get useful feedback that helps improve your book.Beta readers are a crucial part of the book […]

Ep. 35 Writing About Social Issues with Kavita Das

Writing About Social Issues with Kavita Das

Today on the show, Lauren welcomes Kavita Das.Five years ago, Kavita transitioned from the world of social justice to the world of writing to tell the life story of Grammy-nominated Hindustani singer Lakshmi Shankar in her book Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar.Aside from her amazing essays and articles, she also enjoys […]