Interview With Odyssey Writing Workshops Graduate, Ai Jiang

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

If you want to use the summer to improve your writing, you may consider joining a one-on-one intensive workshop with the Odyssey Writing Workshop program. Since its inception in 1996, the Odyssey Writing Workshop has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror in the world. You can join one of their three private writing workshops teaches you what you need to know, at the pace right for you, in extensive one-on-one sessions. Sign up today! Your application deadline is April 1, 2025. 

We're interviewing a graduate of the program, Ai Jiang, who shares about her personal experience with the program. She is a Chinese-Canadian writer, winner of the Bram Stoker®, Nebula and Ignyte Awards, and Hugo, Astounding, Locus, and BSFA Award finalist, and an immigrant from Shanghu, Changle, Fujian currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can be found in F&SF, The Dark, Uncanny, The Masters Review, among others. She is the recipient of Odyssey Workshop’s 2022 Fresh Voices Scholarship and the author of Linghun and I AM AI. The first book of her novella duology, A Palace Near the Wind, is forthcoming 2025 with Titan Books. Her debut novel, An Empire Above Opera, will be coming from Titan Books in 2026.  Find her on most social media platforms and for more information go to aijiang.ca.

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First of all, thank you so much for chatting with me today! I learned that you are a graduate of the Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop. What led you to taking a workshop with them?

Ai: The Odyssey Workshop, before it became Your Personal Odyssey, was already extremely well-known and much spoken about in the writing community when I first started in the short fiction space, and it was one I’d always wanted to attend. I’d applied during my MSc in Creative Writing as I wanted to continue to improve my craft as well as find a program that was very science fiction/fantasy targeted. Your Personal Odyssey came at the perfect time. I’d also noticed one of my newly favourite authors, R.F. Kuang, was a graduate of the workshop.

WOW: I've heard so many good things about this course, especially for science fiction and fantasy writers. Why is it so important for writers to invest in their skills with courses?

Ai: One thing someone once said was “learn the rules so you can break them,” and I think this is particularly true when it comes to writing, at least for me personally, so I can better understand why traditional story structures work so well, why they appeal to readers, and how I can change and manipulate my stories unconventionally to achieve the same affects or perhaps elicit very different reactions and emotions from my readers. I think it’s also important for writers to learn from a variety of other authors so they can see how their processes may differ or adopt tools by these instructors to help improve their own craft. Much like reading the work of others, especially for early writers, I think it’s important for them to invest in acquiring story fundamentals even if they go on to leave them behind as they discover their own voice and style.

WOW: I totally agree! The best way to know how to break the rules is by knowing how to use them in the first place. How did this workshop improve your writing?

Ai: The workshop offered one-on-one guidance that targeted my specific strengths and weaknesses, offering in-depth critiques on all my submissions, which helped me recognize and be able to fully tackle what I already knew I lacked in my work but also offered new revelations about the shortcomings of my craft. I was able to gain skills to better sustain narratives and plot in long form and achieve greater coherency in the same in my short form work. I gained new tools that I can use both in my pre-writing process, craft and revision practices in general as well. The workshop also improved my critique skills in elevating my ability to dissect stories of others and that feeds into my own revision process, helping me better spot inconsistencies and holes in my own work.

WOW: You have such incredible successes under your belt, as a writer. What advice can you pass along to those who hope to make 2025 their year for creative writing?

Ai: I think keeping in mind that writing is subjective is very important, as well as what your goals are as a writer—is it to achieve acclaim? Commercial success? Critical success? Win awards? Make a living? Create art? Write the book you’ve always wanted to read? I think it all feeds into what you end up writing, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, it might hit all the categories. But I would say to write what you truly desire, and your readers will come, and that every piece is an attempt, you only have to start and finish, and it doesn’t have to be perfect, because there is always the next piece waiting to be written.

WOW: I love that! What important lessons have you learned through your publishing journey that you want to share?

Ai: Don’t take rejections personally even though sometimes it can really feel that way, and that persistence, at least for me, seems to be the key to surviving in this industry, along with passion, because readers can always tell if you aren’t enjoying what you’re writing.

WOW: That is hard but important to remember. When is it a good time in someone's writing journey to take this type of workshop and why?

Ai: I think the best time to take this workshop is when you are ready to be utterly focused and immersed in the improvement of your craft, when you are in a good mental space for rigorous studies as well as able to handle in-depth and intense feedback on your work, when you can step away from your writing and view it with the aim to dissect and reassemble and not be afraid to discard your darlings, and when you are open to trying new things with your pre-writing, writing, and revision process because this is a workshop that will force you out of your comfort zone and make it feel as though you’ve taken a nose-dive before you digest the feast that it offers and begin to soar.

WOW: I think that timing is the best, too. Thank you so much for talking with us today! 
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Studying Scenes or Mystery Writing or Self Publishing or . . .

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Recently Angela Mackintosh was telling us a group of us about the amazing class she is taking. It is Jordan Rosenfeld’s Scene Crafting Masterclass. There are video lessons and a workbook. One of the things that Angela likes best is that the instructor does the lessons as well so that you get to see how her scenes develop. Hmm. I’m getting ready to revise a piece of fiction. I bet my scenes could use some work. To take this course, you must be a member of the Writing Mastery Academy which costs $29/month or $289/year. 

I’m in the middle of a series of deadlines so I decided to think it over. 

Meanwhile an email dropped into my inbox. I could sign up for Write Way Better Scenes with Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez. It is part of Pages and Platforms. For $159, I would be able to attend three live sessions with video replays for a year. Was the universe trying to tell me something? 

Still, I had a deadline to meet. When I needed a break, I got up and looked around my office. Despite approximately 3.5 board-feet of how-to books, I didn’t have anything specifically on scenes. So I popped over to my library’s site and Amazon, curious about what I would find. The list included: 
The Writer’s Guide to Vivid Scenes and Characters by S. A. Soule 
The Writer’s Guide to Characters, Plots, and Scenes by S. A. Soule 
Fiction Writing Tools by S. A. Soule 
The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script by Jim Mercurio 
Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham 
Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page Turning Fiction by Mike Klaasen 

As I looked at the list of books I was finding, I realized that most but not all of them focused on scene. Maybe some of the books I have here also have sections on scene. Sure, I focus on writing nonfiction, but a lot of the books I have in 3.5 feet of shelf space are on fiction writing. And there are an embarrassing number that I purchased but haven’t read, haven’t read in their entirety, or haven’t read in a very long time. 

In reality, if the universe is trying to tell me something, it is that I have a lot of options. There are a lot of things for me yet to learn about writing. And maybe just maybe I might start that study with what I have here in my office. Not that that reality is going to keep me from signing up for WOW! classes on mystery writing, first chapters, or self-publishing. Let's be serious.  I like taking classes.

What are your favorite ways to learn? 

 --SueBE

  • Click here to find her newsletter.
Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:
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Interview with Court Harler: Q1 2025 CNF Essay Contest 2nd Place Winner

Sunday, February 16, 2025
Court’s Bio: Court(ney) Harler (she/her) is a queer writer, editor, and educator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She holds an MFA from University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe (2017) and an MA from Eastern Washington University (2013). Court is currently editor in chief of CRAFT Literary Magazine and editorial director for Discover New Art, and has read and/or written for UNT Press’s Katherine Anne Porter Prize, The Masters Review, Funicular Magazine, Reflex Fiction, and Chicago Literati in recent years. She also instructs and edits for Project Write Now, and formerly hosted their podcast, PWN's Debut Review. For her creative work, Court has been honored by fellowships and/or grants from Key West Literary Seminar, Writing By Writers, Community of Writers, Napa Valley Writers' Conference, and Nevada Arts Council. Court’s work has been published in multiple genres in literary magazines around the world. Links to her publications and other related awards can be found at https://harlerliterary.llc. Find her on Instagram @CourtneyHarler. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Court's award-winning essay "How to Breathe" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing second in the Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Contest! How did you begin writing your essay and how did it and your writing processes evolve as you wrote? 

Court: I'd been thinking about breath for a long time, and why breathing, and general matters of breath, had sometimes seemed problematic for me. So, my subconscious had been working on that idea in the background, probably for years, but the true catalyst, the actual beginning of the essay, was that text exchange. So, I made the launch the launch. And from there, I think I wrote the rest of the piece in one sitting. Granted, I had also been thinking about segmentation and fragmentation, and I had wanted to try a new (to me) structure for a flash essay. The sections seemed to flow organically from my mind right through my typing fingers. After the initial headrush of drafting, the piece underwent some tightening, but honestly, very little radical revision. 

WOW: That’s a nice combination of factors you used to pull your piece together. What did you learn about yourself or your writing by creating this essay? 

Court: The essay helped me identify and analyze my history of trauma surrounding breath. I realized that my trauma was older than I thought—that it likely began with my own birth, then was compounded by my son's birth and death. I desperately wanted to understand why breathing had never seemed "natural" to me as a bodily function, and why I felt so fiercely protective of my own breath, even when I should be letting go, trusting and relaxing. I mean, yes, we all need to breathe to live, but my issues seemed to extend beyond mere self-preservation. And it was a great relief to finally recognize those primordial fears, and to wrangle with them in a productive way. 

WOW: Wow, that is a powerful realization. Thank you for sharing that, and your essay, with us. I love hearing about the healing properties of writing. You have an impressive writing resume. Of your many literary accomplishments, which one most stands out to you and why? 

Court: Haha, you're asking me to choose between my children, which is impossible to do. I know that some literary critics feel like the mother-writer metaphor is overdone at best, fundamentally flawed at worst, but I do feel a particular type of maternal fondness for my work. I grow frustrated with it, too, just as I've done with my biological children. Maternal love can be sometimes fickle, as well, a terrible lesson I learned from my own mother. Or maybe it's more generous to say that sometimes mothers are...tired. When I read over my published work—which I do from time to time to remind myself of where my words reside in the world—I sometimes fall in love again with the text, and other times I grow frustrated with its obvious limitations. But I've learned that those natural feelings of inadequacy are my own and shouldn't be attributed to the "children" themselves. 

WOW: Which creative nonfiction essays or writers have inspired you most, and in what ways did they inspire you? 

Court: I know I am not alone in this praise, but I so admire Aimee Nezhukumatathil's deep connection with the natural world. The way that she situates herself within the world, with such deep respect for nature's creatures and landscapes. She writes a beautiful, tender blend of personal memoir and ecological literature. She's a wonderful writing instructor as well. I took an online workshop with her a few years ago on the nocturne and left the class feeling truly inspired. I hope to catch her on tour for her new book this spring, when she visits Northern Kentucky University, my undergrad alma mater. 

WOW: How wonderful to have been taught by someone whose work you admire so deeply. If you could tell your younger self anything about writing, what would it be? 

Court: Though I knew I was a writer early in life, I spent many years denying myself that identity. I let others degrade my interest in the art for the sake of financial security. Security is necessary, of course, but you can live securely as a writer—there are ways. I'm lucky that my day gig as an editor keeps the lights on while I continue to explore my craft, and I'm especially lucky that my day gig connects me with talented writers passionate about their work. I learn so much from editing the work of others, but I do sometimes lose focus on my own writing goals. So, I think I would tell my younger self to follow the light within, the one leading me to words and their wisdoms. 

WOW: I love that advice, and I imagine that rings true for many other writers, too. Thank you for sharing your writing with us and for your thoughtful responses. Happy writing! 


Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes. Engage on Twitter or Instagram @GreenMachine459.
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Friday Speak Out!: Wouldst Thou Read Medieval Dialogue?

Friday, February 14, 2025
by Terri Lewis

Ten years ago I was struggling to finish a novel when by chance I encountered the story of Isabelle d’Angoulême, and in short order, she completely swamped my imagination. Using a few meager facts—when quite young, she’d been stolen from her fiancé by King John of England who married her and whisked her away to England—I’d daydream scenes, certain a great novel was hidden in her life.

I should mention that thanks to a brilliant college professor, I’d long loved medieval history. We’d read original texts such as writs of charter, excommunications, or guild laws, and discussed what those texts meant to the people they touched. I became fascinated by the dynasties, marriages, clothes, and illuminations; the Cloisters museum in New York City and Musee d’Orsay in Paris were favorites; and when I traveled, I sought out cathedrals, stained glass, and castles. I felt prepared to bring a woman in the early 13th century to life.

And that was the point. My Isabelle would step off the page as a woman who gained power in difficult times; she’d entrance the reader as she had me. Although unpublished, I had been working on my craft for over ten years. I knew how to create a plot, tension, and a believable character who transformed through experience.

So I abandoned the other novel and began. Soon I had Isabelle, John, and Hugh, the fiancé, riding through great forests, walking and dancing in stone rooms heated by fire. But then I ran into a difficulty. How did they talk? For a relatable story, Isabelle and John’s dialog needed a sense of difference, but mustn’t sound stilted. The minute they said prithee or doth, their reality would disappear and the story would cease to resonate for a modern reader.

Dialog has many functions. It should forward the plot, but also establish tone and reveal character. Word choice is key. When I remember my grandfather saying, “How’s that now?” his rough whiskers and sly humor comes into focus. My sister’s pet phrase “They’ll figure it out,” evokes the time when her kids were teens. What were medieval equivalents? I wanted to evoke real people living in a completely foreign era.

Research told me Isabelle and John likely spoke a mixture of Latin, Middle English, and some variant of French, so I inserted bits of modern French and touches of Latin but avoided archaic language such as alas or thy/thee/thine. Eventually I did allow an occasional oddity such as “Walk on, 'tis cold,” or “I leave on the morrow.”

I also renounced contractions when the characters spoke. Cannot and is not would give a tinge of distance. But I retained contractions in general text so the narrative could flow naturally to the modern ear.

Because Isabelle lived in a time of war when swearing would seem natural, I searched for pertinent swear words. Some were hilarious. I chose maléfice, a pox on you, and God’s bones, plus descriptions such as dankish gudgeon and useless shite. Because Isabelle was eleven in the novel’s first chapter, the more demure Pismire, meaning ant, but derived from the Latin for piss, seemed appropriate.

Most of my characters were high-born, but for the occasional peasant or guard, I used slight grammatical errors—“I now alone, without my husband” or “Most like I’ll never go”—dismaying my proofreader.

And finally, as I edited at the sentence level, I researched alternate verbs on Merriam-Webster’s Word History, choosing words that were in use at the time or that had stemmed from Latin, Middle English, or old French. The word might be perfectly modern but still have an unusual feel. Hugh’s first appearance in the story has some examples: He wanted to be deemed (considered) worthy of being a squire—his life’s goal at sixteen—and fight to uphold (defend) his family’s honor, but instead he’d been sent to Angoulême to ferret out (find out) if an attack was imminent.

I’ll note that this editing is anal and time-consuming, but like all writers, I wanted my debut novel to be the best I could make it.

My hope is that with these slight adjustments readers will sense some otherness in the language, but find the story of a woman who locates and claims her own power in the face of men’s disdain and contempt completely modern.

* * *

Terri Lewis fell in love with medieval history in college. Not the dates or wars, but the mysterious daily lives of the people. Building on this love, she read widely and traveled, marveling at Europe’s preserved towns and castles. Finally, a sentence in a book bought at Windsor Castle led her to write Behold the Bird in Flight.

Her writing has been honed through workshops with Jill McCorkle, Laura Van Den Berg, and Rebecca Makkai and she has published in literary magazines. She lives with her husband and two lively dogs in Denver, Colorado.

You can check out her novel here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Behold-the-Bird-in-Flight/Terri-Lewis/9781647429102

Or read about her life in writing and ballet here: https://terrilewis1.com

Or signup for her newsletter here: https://terrilewis1.substack.com/

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Being Brave on Wednesday Night

Thursday, February 13, 2025
I've belonged to writers' groups in the past. Once-a- month meetings that consisted of a speaker, news about upcoming events for writers, and maybe a member or two sharing some of their writing. For the most part we were beginners and kind to writers who were brave enough to read aloud.

But last night was something new. This was a two hour Writers Cafe. I was allotted 11 minutes to read my work online for complete strangers (to me at least). This was scary. Thankfully, I was sent some tips before the meeting. Reading 500-750 words takes about five minutes, leaving six minutes for members to offer critiques.

Torn about what to read, I selected two pieces: a flash fiction essay and a scene introducing most of the characters in the novel I was writing. I would decide later.

Then came meeting time. And it was a struggle since the guy who is my pinch hitter when it comes computer problems wasn't home. I managed to get into the meeting and naturally I couldn't get my video or audio to work. Something that mystified me since just four days ago I gave an online presentation complete with audio and video.

So I divided my time between trying to make the black box labelled Jodi "come alive" and listening to the readings (even though no one could hear my comments). First off, intimidation set in immediately. They're screen sharing, so people can follow along with the reading. I just printed out the piece I planned to read. Everyone was prefacing their reading with something like, "As you remember, Jane and June were ignoring each other at the zoo. This is the conversation that happens..."

Jane? June? The zoo?

OMG. These people are reading long pieces, 500 words at a time. And I just plucked 500 words out of nowhere. Well, now I know how readings work. In their critiques, people are referring back to past sections of the piece. And these critiques are serious. No bland positivity. Not harsh, but honest, insightful, pinpointing specifics. 

"Your dialogue feels so authentic..."

"This section seems unfocused. I understand the cartoon reference but why did you use it? How does it tie in with the events at the zoo?"

"What is a packie?"

Even though I was more an eavesdropper than an active participant, I learned a lot last night. I learned how to be an effective critic. Banish good and bad from your vocabulary. Critics should be more specific about what they liked about the piece. Ditto for dislikes. Sometimes it's enough to say, "This is what I took away from that section....is that what you meant to portray? Did you want it to be confusing...tense...secretive...a harbinger of things to come."

I also learned how to be an effective reader. Do a quick "when we last heard from our characters they were..." recap to help listeners jump back into your story. Be open to criticism. Ask probing questions  so you understand what about your reading missed the mark. Don't try to argue people into liking your reading.

And of course, most importantly, ensure that your video and audio are working. Despite, not actually reading last night, I still learned a lot about the value of an outside viewpoint. and I promise that at the
next Writers Cafe, I'll start reading from page 1. I will be brave NEXT Wednesday night.

Do you belong to a writers group (or groups)? Have you found it easy or difficult to join a group to critique your writing? 

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 
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Interview with William VanderHorst: Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

William’s Bio: 

William VanderHorst is a Georgia native who has spent most of his life in the mountains of Rabun County. An avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, he spends much of his free time filming the many waterfalls of the Appalachian Mountains as well as gardening. Making a living in manufacturing, he juggles his time to allow for his creative side to flourish. A lover of and writer in fantasy, science fiction, and horror, he dreams of one day joining the ranks of J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, and Stephen King. 

Having taken to writing since his early years in high school, William has a number of projects under his belt including a dark fantasy, five book series titled The Symphony of Shadows as well as a new horror series titled Feral America. Along with his list of self-published works, he has also been named an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future short story contest on three consecutive entries. 

William currently lives in the beautiful north Georgia mountains with his wife and their two sons. 

----------interview with Sue Bradford Edwards----------

WOW: What was your inspiration for “Monsters Are Not Real?” 

William: My inspiration for most of my stories and novels come from a lifelong love of anything fantasy or science fiction. Everything from tabletop gaming in Dungeons and Dragons, books by the greatest fantasy minds in the business, and movies that brought those books to life. Anything I can roll around in my head for a while could one day work its way onto paper. 

WOW: Revision is such a big part of the writing process. How did your story change from first draft to the version you submitted to the WOW! flash competition? 

William: Honestly, the finished product was the first draft for this story in question. I sat down with an image in my head and tried to describe what I was feeling as I placed myself in the scene. When I was finished, I reread the scene several times. In the end, I was satisfied and I felt like it captured the feelings I would have were it me in the place of the character. 

WOW: I'm not ashamed to say it. Considering that was draft one, I'm a little jealous!  We never learn the name of the narrator. Why did you decide to withhold that piece of information? What do you want readers to discern about him from the story? 

William: My hope was that by leaving the narrator anonymous, the reader would be able to put whoever they wanted in the place of the soldier. Some of my favorite works have been those that allow me to imagine myself as either the hero or the villain when I am reading. 

WOW:  I love a good villain. You’ve created both novel length work and flash.  What advice do you have for writers who are working to write in multiple forms? 

William: For the longest time, I was only interested in writing novels and full length stories. I started to realize that by focusing on only writing longer works, I found myself regularly hitting blocks or stumbling even with chapters I had diligently planned beforehand. Once a friend suggested trying my hand at writing short stories for numerous competitions, I realized that taking small breaks helped to clear my head and keep creative juices flowing. 

WOW:  Excellent advice! You’ve chosen to self-publish your novels. What do you wish someone had told you about self-publishing that you would like to share with our readers? 

William: For me, my initial dream was to be picked up by an excellent agent and shown to every large publisher in the business but as time went by, I began to set more realistic goals for myself. I realized it was more important to me to get my stories out to an audience than it was to chase the allure of fame. With self publishing that dream became a reality. Out of everything, I would say the biggest hurdle with self publishing is that you are also in charge of marketing and distributing your work. This can be challenging but worth the effort in the end.

WOW: I know that our readers will be heading over to Amazon to check out your work, so I'll make it easy for them to just click here.  Thank you for taking time to discuss your process and your enthusiasm for science fiction and fantasy with us! 
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Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, February 10, 2025
 
Sleeping with Dogs by Barbara Barth

I'm so excited to announce the launch of another blog tour with the prolific author, Barbara Barth. Her newest book, Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir, chronicles her journey—in poetic form—of loving dogs throughout her life. This is a chapbook you don't want to miss if you love dogs, have ever loved dogs, or plan to have a dog some time in the future.

We'll be interviewing Barbara and talking about this charming poetic memoir and giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader. Before we get to that, here's more about the book:

Barbara Barth started adopting dogs after the loss of her husband in 2008. From larger dogs to downsizing to Chihuahuas there are always five to six dogs at home. Barth has captured the essence of each dog's personality in short free verse poems. Known as Writer With Dogs, Barth has written two memoirs and a variety of novels. Dogs are always present in her stories. This is her first collection of poems. A chapbook of second chances.

ISBN-13: 979-8988575061
ASIN: B0DNMFXP46
Print Length: 37 pages

Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.

About the Author, Barbara Barth

Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after the loss of her husband in 2008. Known as Writer With Dogs over the years, she now calls herself Chihuahua Mama and lives with six demanding Chihuahuas in a charming small town forty miles from Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair on the Board of her local art center. Inspired by the many talented artists she meets Barth started painting. Her whimsical style embraces ladies, gardens, critters, and of course cats and dogs.

Find her online at:


-- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: I am so glad to have you back with us at WOW! And I absolutely love your book of poetry. What inspired you to write this?

Barbara: I'm so happy you love my little book! I saw a challenge on Facebook to write 21 poems in 21 days and decided to give it a try. I thought it would be fun, And honestly, I am a bit burned out working on a new novel. The poems were completed in three weeks time. Every morning with my coffee I sat down to write a new poem. I'm hooked now and am continuing to write a quick poem daily. May not publish them but I find it relaxing.

WOW: What an amazing, relaxing routine that resulted in a charming poetry collection. What was your compilation process? How did you decide where each should go? 

Barbara: This is a poetic memoir on all the dogs I've adopted since losing my husband in 2008. I started with the first dog we had as a couple because Foxy helped with all the new dogs that came to live with me as a widow. The poems (and dogs) are in chronological order which was hard to remember who came first with five or six rescue dogs always with me. My goal was to capture each dog's unique personality and also include a few poems on how they have made my life so lovely. The very last poem is a PS because I adopted Lucy from Animal Control. I wasn't planning on another dog, but she was on Facebook and so sad. 
 
WOW: I love how you followed a poetic timeline. I feel like you are a fantastic example of a writer who knows how to connect with her local community and use that to promote her work. Can you share any tips on how a writer can engage with their community better?

Barbara: I have found that promoting other writers and artists opens up new venues and friendships. In the early days of writing I had several blogs and did book reviews that I shared on social media. In 2010-2011, I had a small antique shop that turned out to be a meeting place for writers who taught classes and did book launches from the tiny hub. And most recently since 2018, I am the Literary Arts Chair on the Board of a charming art center where I schedule writing classes, book signings like I used to do in my shop, and our writing group Walton Writers. In everything I've done I'm meeting new people who are readers or writers or artists. We all help each other. And my two favorite things to do with a new book, a blog tour with WOW! and a fundraiser book signing at the art center where 100% of book sales that day a donation to my favorite place. 
 
WOW: Fantastic combination! I love the cover of this book! Can you tell me about the designer and her process in creating it at all?

Barbara: I designed the cover image based on a photograph I saw of a woman in bed with her dog. I'm the chunky gal with each of my six dogs sleeping with me. It's a very naive drawing which is what I wanted for the cover. While my paintings are whimsical, they are not this simplistic. My sister put the final touches on it with color and a few tweaks. Of course she did the rest of the work, designing and uploading to KDP. My sister's book covers are always awesome so I was happy she approved of this one!

WOW: Your cover captures the beauty of your poetry and the delight the reader will have while reading it! You always write such uplifting books that put a smile to your reader's face. And I feel like the world needs more of those books. Why do you think those are the types of books you are pulled to write?

Barbara: Thanks for a wonderful compliment, Nicole. I love a bit of drama but I love a happy ending better. Starting with my first book The Unfaithful Widow, the memoir on losing my husband and finding a creative life, I wanted to share hope with my words. And finding my creative path and adopting dogs played  a huge part in healing. Since then I've written about things I love; dogs, antiques, gardens, art, old houses. And most of my characters have had loss but find their happy ending. Life is hard and I want to be a soft edge on that. Sometimes I think I live in my own little world wearing rose colored glasses. But with a lap full of dogs that's easy to do.
 
WOW: I'll bet! Where do you write? Can you tell us about it, including sharing any pictures?

Barbara: I write at my desk in my den. It's an old farm table in the corner of the room next to French doors so I can look out at nature. It's really a bit of a mess because I also paint here. The table has my laptop, jars of brushes and an old monitor that I painted for an art show with a frog, rabbit, mouse, and the words Wake Up and Create. My mantra in the morning. I have to work in this spot because the dogs are all sleeping in little beds around me. If I went into another room the howling would be horrible. 



WOW: What a beautiful space! I love it. It's so inspiring. Thank you so much for your time today. I loved talking with you again. Enjoy your tour!

-- Blog Tour Calendar

February 10th @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Barbara Barth's poetry memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.

February 11th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 12th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 13th @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about finding creative time.

February 13th @ Love a Librarian
Stop by Zarah's blog for an excerpt from Sleeping With Dogs. Zarah will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 14th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her dog rescue story and a spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdre's blog for her spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ Book Bunnies
Stop by the Book Bunnies blog for a fun review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 16th @ Chit Chat With Charity
Visit Charity's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Charity will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 18th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 20th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 20th @ One Writer's Journey
Sue will be sharing her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 22nd @ Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog to read an excerpt from Barbara's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 24th @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Join Rebecca for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for her story of how she rescued her dog. You can also win a copy of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog again for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

February 26th @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog for a guest post from Barbara Barth about book covers.

February 27th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for her spotlight of Sleeping With Dogs.

February 27th @ Tracey Lampley's blog
Tracey shares an excerpt from Barbara Barth's Sleeping With Dogs.

February 28th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for Barbara Barth's guest post on her art.

March 1st @  One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog again for her interview with Barbara Barth about her memoir.

March 2nd @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog to read a guest post from Barbara Barth about rescuing dogs.

March 3rd @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Visit Rebecca for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

March 4th @ Just Katherine
Stop by Katherine's blog again for an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 5th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about writing poetry for the first time.

March 6th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir, Sleeping With Dogs.

March 7th @ Kaecey McCormick's blog
Join Kaecey for her post featuring an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 8th @ Free to be Me
Join Leslie for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 9th @ Caitrin C. King's blog
Visit Caitrin's blog her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
 
Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth Blog Tour
 
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
 
Enter to win a print copy of Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Barth! Fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends February 23rd at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!

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Interview with Ari Honarvar, First Place Winner in the WOW! Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Sunday, February 09, 2025
Ari Honarvar is the founder of Rumi with a View, dedicated to building bridges between the arts, social justice, and well-being. She is a keynote speaker who dances with refugees and facilitates Resilience through Joy workshops on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Teen Vogue, NPR, and other prominent outlets. Ari is the author of the critically acclaimed novel A Girl Called Rumi inspired by her war-torn childhood, and the bestselling oracle deck Rumi’s Gift, which pairs her translations of Rumi’s poetry with meditative practices.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on winning first place in our Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction essay competition! What inspired you to write your essay, “My Poet Mother, the War, and a Used Car?”

Ari: I work with refugees and immigrants, and we often reflect on what’s lost (or occasionally gained) in translation. Coming from Iran, a nation of poets, I initially struggled to adjust to life in the U.S., where poetry isn’t woven into everyday life. As I mention in the piece, over time, it became like a vestigial organ.

Then came the era of speech-to-text voicemail apps. When my family left messages in Persian, the transcriptions were unintentionally hilarious gibberish and I began to see them as a sort of accidental poetry. It inspired me to explore how my relationship with poetry has evolved alongside my relationship with my poet mother.

WOW: How did your essay develop, both in your initial thinking about it and in the revision process?

Ari: I knew I wanted to begin the piece with the nonsensical voicemail poetry. Deciding where to go next and which story to highlight was a bit tricky since there were so many to choose from! I ended up moving back and forth between Iran and the U.S., focusing on the car sale incident. To meet the word count, I had to shorten the original piece, which meant making tough choices about what to keep and what to cut. Come to think of it, I actually enjoy that part of the process.

WOW: What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Ari: I'm fortunate to be part of an ever-expanding circle of women and LGBTQ+ authors, which allows me to explore fascinating genres and styles. At the moment, I'm starting A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea by Laura Taylor Namey.

I'm also finishing Doppelganger by Naomi Klein. I've been following Klein's work for a while and admire how she uses the metaphor of the mirror world (a theme prominent in Persian literature) to illustrate the interconnectedness of the current political landscape, conspiracy theories, climate collapse, and our shared responsibility in it all. I recently finished Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, and I like how both books offer unique perspectives on similar themes.

WOW:  Can you tell us what projects are you currently working on (writing and otherwise)? What can we plan on seeing from you in the future? 

Ari: My work centers around joy as reparative rehumanization. As a Musical Ambassador of Peace, I hold healing dance and art sessions with thousands of refugees from all over the world, deliver speeches, and facilitate Resilience through Joy workshops and retreats. This spring, I’ll be training future Musical Ambassadors to build community through the healing power of movement and music sessions. I'm also working on an audiobook of Rumi's poems and guided meditations set to music.
In terms of writing, I have a few investigative pieces on joy, the power of the arts, neuroaesthetics, and health equity set for publication. My poems will appear in upcoming anthologies, and I’m co-authoring a YA novel with my husband.

WOW:  Such wonderful and important work you do! The Rumi audio book is also something I'd be interested in. Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Ari. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

Ari: Tune in to your own temperament and natural rhythms: Find a writing schedule that suits you, cultivate the right conditions for creativity, and strike a balance between productivity and pleasure.


***
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Friday Speak Out!: Finding Your Writing Rhythm: How I Turned My Morning Chaos into Creative Gold

Friday, February 07, 2025
by Leslie Williams

As a mother of two young children and a freelance writer, my mornings used to feel like a tornado of lunch boxes, missing socks, and half-finished manuscripts. I'd watch the clock tick away, promising myself I'd write "later" – a mythical time that rarely materialized. Sound familiar? But what if I told you that the very chaos I was fighting could become my greatest writing asset?

Here's how I transformed my morning mayhem into a sustainable writing practice, and how you can too:

1. Embrace the Imperfect Time Block

I discovered that waiting for the "perfect" writing time was my biggest mistake. Instead of craving uninterrupted hours, I learned to work with what I call "pocket moments" – those 15-20 minute gaps between making breakfast and school drop-off, or while waiting at soccer practice. These fragments add up surprisingly fast.

Practical Tip: Keep a small notebook or use your phone's note-taking app to capture ideas during these pocket moments. Some of my best story concepts have come while waiting for the pasta water to boil.

2. Turn Distractions into Material

Remember that time your toddler flushed your car keys down the toilet? Or when your teenager's drama rivaled your novel's subplot? These aren't interruptions – they're material. I started keeping a "chaos journal" where I document these daily disruptions. These real-life moments have become gold mines for authentic character development and dialogue.

3. Create a Mobile Writing Station

Since I couldn't guarantee where or when I'd find time to write, I created a portable writing kit. It includes:

  • A tablet with a bluetooth keyboard
  • Noise-canceling earbuds
  • A small notebook and pen 
  • Writing prompts on index cards

This kit goes everywhere with me, turning school pickup lines and dentist waiting rooms into pop-up writing offices.

4. The Power of the "Terrible Ten"

Here's my most effective strategy: I commit to writing ten terrible sentences every day. Just ten. They can be awful, ungrammatical, or completely unusable. This removes the pressure of perfection and often leads to writing much more than planned. Some of my published pieces started as "terrible ten" exercises.

5. Build Your Support System

I joined an online writing group specifically for parents who write. We meet virtually twice a month, share resources, and most importantly, understand when someone has to step away because of a juice box emergency. Having this community has been invaluable for both accountability and encouragement.

The Result?

By implementing these strategies, I've published three short stories and completed my first novel draft – all within the beautiful chaos of family life. My productivity actually increased when I stopped fighting against my circumstances and learned to work with them instead.

Remember: Your writing journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's. The key is finding rhythms that work within your reality, not despite it. Those stolen moments between life's demands? They're not just good enough – they might be exactly what your creative process needs.

Start today: Pick one strategy from above and try it for a week. You might be surprised to find that your best writing doesn't come from perfect silence, but from the beautiful mess of real life.

* * *

Leslie Williams is a freelance writer, chaotic-morning connoisseur, and mother of two who’s mastered the art of drafting novels between school runs and snack time.

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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My Full-Circle Moment

Thursday, February 06, 2025

 

This past week I experienced a full circle moment. From 1996 to 1998, I worked at my campus newspaper, The Blue Banner, at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, starting out as a staff writer, and then later moving up to a features editor and then the news editor. Most of the time I was covering current events on campus, writing about pop culture, and assigning stories to other staff writers. I was not writing about true crime. Sure, it was something I had always been interested in reading, but there wasn’t really a crime beat on our newspaper. In fact, I didn’t even know about an unsolved murder on our campus from 1973 until just a few years ago. 

I’m not even sure how I found out about the case, where a 19-year-old young woman was sexually assaulted and murdered on a Sunday afternoon while studying alone in the botanical gardens adjacent to the campus. I just know that I read an article that the student newspaper published in 2021 and was shocked.

My next step was to learn as much as I could about the case, and unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of information out there. I was surprised when a blog post I wrote garnered some attention, especially from a retired law enforcement officer who lived in the area when Virginia "Ginger" Olson was murdered. We exchanged phone calls and he shared memories of the event, which stayed with him throughout the years because he was in elementary school when it happened. He even knew who the two people were that discovered Ginger after the murder, two teenage boys who lived nearby. 

I knew I wanted to pursue the project further, but didn’t know where to begin. I dug into the newspaper articles and put together a timeline of all published reports. I could tell police had zeroed in on one suspect, but never released his name. I followed rumors in the town of Asheville about different suspects, and as it turned out, that was quite a rabbit hole. I requested a meeting with a cold case detective in charge of the case, but didn’t learn a lot of new information, other than that the primary suspect, who he still didn’t name, was deceased, and it had been for many years. I released a podcast episode based on what I knew, hoping to stir some new interest in the case.

Then I got a message from another UNC-Asheville alumni, now a college professor in West Virginia, who was also interested in the cold case. We exchanged information and he had uncovered a lot more than me. He and his co-author and brother put together a book proposal and pitched it to a small press. It was immediately accepted, and they only had a few months to write and edit the book for publication. It was a whirlwind. A few weeks ago I interviewed Brian and Cameron Santana on my podcast. 



The case is finally receiving more media attention, and they have named the primary suspect in the murder. I was flattered that they thanked me in the acknowledgements of the book! 

And on Friday, in my full-circle moment, a reporter with The Blue Banner interviewed me about my interest and work on the case. I never imagined as a young, inexperienced news reporter in 1998 that I would one day be writing and researching true crime and being quoted in the newspaper that gave me my start. Never put limits on what you can accomplish. And if you get the chance, check out A Murder on Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina’s Most Notorious Cold Case.

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and the host/creator of the Missing in the Carolinas podcast. She is currently seeking representation for her novel about, what else, a podcaster trying to solve a disappearance!
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Interview with Jane Cleere Johnson: Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, February 04, 2025
Jane’s Bio: Jane Cleere Johnson has been a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for over 30 years and has been published in children’s magazines like The Friend and knowonder! Jane’s first Indie tween fantasy The Legends of Caraigdun: Quest to Slay the Dragon was released to global distribution through IngramSpark in September. Jane is currently working on developing her picture book manuscripts and is working on a middle grade novel. Every now and then Jane feels the muse singing to her, “write for adults.” She knows she can appease the Goddess by writing flash fiction. Way back in the beginnings of WOW!—in 2007, Jane was honored and ecstatic to be awarded 1st place for her story "Funding a Memory." She has submitted to WOW! on and off since then, has recently been awarded honorable mention for her story "The Haunting" and has been grateful for the opportunity to have her stories critiqued by the insightful women of WOW! When Jane is not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, reading (especially picture books to her nine grandkids), and going for walks on crisp autumn days. You can read more about Jane and purchase her debut novel on her website Mushroom Manor Books. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Jane's award winning story "Never Too Late" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Jane: This story came from an idea I had many years ago and I was excited to submit to WOW, get an excellent critique last year, make some revisions, and place with this story. It was a fun task, to fit this tale of love into a flash fiction format. 

WOW: Excellent! We’re so glad you found the critique beneficial and that you resubmitted! What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Jane: This story came from deep within my heart, a tender heart that loves people and still believes in soul mates. David and Margaret and the beginnings of their story sat in a file for many years. Their story needed to be told! What I learned is to look through all my files because there are a lot of good ideas and first drafts in there. 

WOW: From your bio, it sounds like much of your writing has been for children. Why do you think you’ve been called to write for adults through flash fiction recently? What differences and similarities do you see between writing for children and adults? 

Jane: I have written many short stories aimed at children's magazines over the years, but every once in a while, an idea pops in my head that is about adults. Flash fiction is perfect for me, especially as I've gotten older and feel that there's no way I could remember enough to write a novel! I write for children because I know children. There is rarely a day that has gone by in my life that I wasn't with children. Even in college I volunteered with children and youth. So, I write what I know and for those I know. Writing for adults doesn't come as naturally for me. 

WOW: What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Jane: This question makes me smile. I always seem to have at least three books that I'm reading at once. I am reading Atomic Habits. I'm 61 and even though they say you can't teach a dog new tricks, I'm retired and want to focus on getting in shape, eating more healthily, and writing. I'm learning some great concepts! I'm also reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott which was recommended to me by my oldest daughter and a great read for writers! And, I'm re-reading The Hobbit, because I can and it's so much fun! 

WOW: What a great array of classics from different genres! If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Jane: Write. Revise. Submit. Repeat. My writing literally got buried many times over the years. I kept little yellow notepads and wrote down so many ideas, beginnings, and I typed up so many first drafts, first chapters, even got up to 5th and 10th chapters on some YA, and Middle Grade attempts, but life would get in the way. I'd get distracted. There was work, rearing six children, and lots of volunteering and now my brain doesn't work the way it did even five years ago. So, I would tell myself and everyone out there. Write. Write while you're young. Write while you can. 

WOW: Great advice, and I love the idea of mining your old drafts for gems to work with. Anything else you’d like to add? 

Jane: WOW is always in my mind as a place to submit. I really value the critiques I've gotten. Your words of encouragement are a boon to my soul. Thank you. So much. 

WOW: You are very welcome! Thank you for sharing your story and your inspiring responses with us. Happy writing! 


Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes and offers developmental editing and ghostwriting services to partially fund the press. Connect on Twitter @greenmachine459.
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Friday Speak Out!: Express Yourself

Friday, January 31, 2025
By: Jenn Todling

When you were a child, what creative outlets lit you up? Were you a painter, singer, pillow fort architect, or LEGO master? And more importantly, how many of those creative outlets have followed you into adulthood? Anyone?

For me, writing and dance have always been the purest expressions of my heart and soul. Yet, I spent the entirety of my 20s pushing them aside. I was climbing the corporate ladder, collecting accolades, but something was missing. I didn’t feel fully alive.

Why? In my pursuit of professionalism, I lost sight of the value and importance of creativity. I forgot how vital it is to bring our full selves—not just our to-do lists—into the workplace. A turning point came during the pandemic. I reconnected with my favorite hip-hop teacher in NYC (thank you, virtual classes!)—right in the middle of busy season. To my surprise, this creative outlet didn’t just keep me balanced; it sharpened my mind and made me better at my job.

We often think of creative passions or exercise as “extras”—nice to have if we have the time, which we usually don’t. But what if we reframed them as essential components of balanced leadership? Our brains operate on two key networks: the task-positive network (TPN), perfect for getting things done, and the default mode network (DMN), which is where innovation and insight live.

As a former accountant, I was a master of the TPN. I could tackle to-do lists, solve audit challenges, and outwork anyone around me. But allowing myself time to “chill”—to paint, sing, dance, or simply daydream? That was harder for me to wrap my head around. Yet, the more I learned about neuroscience and leadership, the more I realized that without tapping into both networks, I was only using half of my superpower.

Now, I start each morning with a reflective walk in nature, letting my mind wander and giving space for my DMN to wake up. Every day, I come home with a new creative insight to kickstart my day. I’ve also joined a weekly choir to train my brain in new ways, and I’ve returned to teaching ballroom dance. Moving my body and expressing myself has brought more of me to my work and leadership—not less.

What about you? How will you express yourself this week? For the world needs who you were made to be.

***

Jenn Todling is an author, speaker, executive coach, as well as an adjunct instructor at the University of Denver as part of its Frontline Manager Leadership Program. Formerly an audit partner at a global Big 4 accounting firm with over twenty years of professional services experience and an ICF-certified transformational leadership coach for over ten years, Jenn helps her clients express their soul in their work and life. A lover of adventure, travel, and dance, she currently resides near her hometown of Boulder, Colorado, with her husband (and dance partner), and young daughter. Her debut memoir Dancing on My Own Two Feet will be available April 2025. Learn more at jenntodling.com. 

Social media links: Substack  LinkedIn  Instagram  Facebook

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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A Rose by Any Other Name: Why You Need to Call Your Book What It Is

Thursday, January 30, 2025

I love it when a discussion comes together in the comments on a post. Recently Renee Roberson and I were discussing Erik Larsen’s The Devil in the White City. You can see the conversation on Jodi Webb's post "Why Good Writers Read Bad Books." Renee disliked it, but I love it. 

Obviously, different people love different types of books, but she diagnosed an important problem. The book had been misidentified when it was recommended to her book club. They were told it is historic fiction and true crime. While it deals with true crime and a serial killer, it is a nonfiction history about the Chicago World’s Fair and a serial killer that operated against that backdrop. 

What’s the big deal? So, it’s nonfiction and not fiction. Surely a book lover could get over that. 

The problem is focus and pacing. True crime is tense and fast paced. Danger and deceit keep the reader turning the pages. History? The pace is going to be much slower because you must pull in so much material. This is all about the Gilded Age and is as layered and complex as a Gilded Age drawing room. There’s landscape architecture, architecture, and city politics. What? Oh, right. A murderer. He’s in there too, but he is only a part of a very complicated whole. People who read history are okay with that. People who read true crime may be, but it is going to help if they know what they are getting into. 

Call your book the wrong thing, and you are going to lose potential readers. Call your manuscript the wrong thing and you are going to lose potential sales. 

So how do you make sure you’ve got it right? A big part of it is knowing the market. If you read in a certain area, then you are going to have a better idea what to call a manuscript. I read a lot of mysteries. I can explain the difference between a cozy, a police procedural, and noir. Although I enjoy fantasy, my recent reading is more science fiction. Because of this, I have only a vague idea of what a romantasy is versus a cozy fantasy. I’m much more familiar with older terms like high fantasy, steampunk, and Arthurian. 

Reading your competition but still not sure what to call your own writing? Read articles about writing mystery or fantasy, essays or whatever it is that you write. Don’t forget to look up “types of fantasy” or “mystery subgenres.” And don’t read just one list but several since they are sure to have different sub-genre listed. For example, I just did a quick search and only one of three articles I skimmed included Wuxia fantasy. 

A third way to find the right term is to read reviews. Do you have a mentor text? Google it and read reviews. Be sure to look for professional journal reviews. Skim them for phrases like “a perfect example of real crime” or “the best cozy we’ve read this season.” 

Still not sure? Ask a book seller or librarian. They need to know how to find things, and they often make book recommendations. If they can tell you what genre or subgenre your mentor text falls into, this can help you categorize your own work. Categorize it correctly and you are that much closer to helping your readers find your work. 

--SueBE

  • Click here to find her newsletter.
Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:
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