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Hey fiction writer! Want your readers to stay up until 2am, so engrossed in your story they just can’t put it down? Want to build a successful, fulfilling, and sustainable writing life that works for YOU? Story Magic is the place for you. Every week, professional book coaches and editors Emily and Rachel from Golden May dive into writing craft, community, and mindset tips, tricks, and advice so you can write and publish books you’re damn proud of, again and again. We cover craft topics like story structure, character development, worldbuilding and ‘show, don’t tell’; we dive into how to grow your writing community of readers and writing partners; and we’ll talk about all those mindset challenges from imposter syndrome and perfectionism to fear of the blank page. Story Magic has all the tools you need to become the author you’re meant to be. You’ve got this, let’s go!
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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132 - Revising while integrating feedback with Sam Cameron
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May 14, 2026 |
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131 - Scene transitions
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May 07, 2026 |
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130 - How to write a believable romantic couple
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Apr 30, 2026 |
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129 - Finding writing flow
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Apr 23, 2026 |
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128 - Tips and tricks for staying organized while writing
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Apr 16, 2026 |
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127 - Using magic as a metaphor for mental health with Ruth McKell
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Apr 09, 2026 |
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126 - Reclaiming the Lens: How Marginalized Writers Build Worlds for Their Own Communities with Tiffany Grimes
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Apr 02, 2026 |
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125 - Digital Minimalism with Gauri Yardi
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Mar 26, 2026 |
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124 - Commissioning artists
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Mar 19, 2026 |
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123 - Balancing the book of your heart with market decisions
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Mar 12, 2026 |
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122 - Writing good love triangles
|
Mar 05, 2026 |
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121 - What is the romantasy genre?
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Feb 26, 2026 |
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120 - How do you know when you're done?
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Feb 19, 2026 |
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119 - To prologue or to not prologue
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Feb 12, 2026 |
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118 - Where and when to end a chapter
|
Feb 05, 2026 |
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117 - How to write in different POVs
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Jan 29, 2026 |
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116 - The brain science behind writer's resistance with Monica Hay
|
Jan 22, 2026 |
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115 - Writing effective descriptions
|
Jan 15, 2026 |
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114 - Happy New Year! 2025 Wrap, 2026 Dreams
|
Jan 08, 2026 |
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113 - Writing unlikeable characters well
|
Nov 13, 2025 |
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112 - Diving into totally new projects
|
Nov 06, 2025 |
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111 - Should you revise or rewrite messy scenes?
|
Oct 30, 2025 |
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110 - Dealing with post-book-release emotions
|
Oct 23, 2025 |
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109 - Return from hiatus
|
Oct 16, 2025 |
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108 - Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
|
Oct 09, 2025 |
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107 - Book coaching behind the scenes with Sam Cameron
|
Jun 26, 2025 |
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106 - Studying published works
|
Jun 19, 2025 |
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105 - Revising chunks of your manuscript
|
Jun 12, 2025 |
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104 - Atmosphere and setting with Thea Verdone
|
Jun 05, 2025 |
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103 - Publicity and book marketing with Jenn Vance
|
May 29, 2025 |
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102 - Tackling serious themes with Michael Dante DiMartino
|
May 22, 2025 |
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101 - Intuitive writing with Becca Syme
|
May 15, 2025 |
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100 - Celebrating our 100th episode
|
May 08, 2025 |
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99 - Acts and act breaks
|
May 01, 2025 |
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98 - Hybrid publishing with Evette Davis
|
Apr 24, 2025 |
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97 - Dos and don'ts of writing retreats
|
Apr 17, 2025 |
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96 - Using a penname
|
Apr 10, 2025 |
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95 - You don't have to do anything we say lol
|
Apr 03, 2025 |
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94 - Writing process with Karisa DeLay and Jaime Vendera
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Mar 27, 2025 |
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93 - Lessons from writing sequels
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Mar 20, 2025 |
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92 - The market challenges of genre blending
|
Mar 13, 2025 |
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91 - Getting back to your story after a break
|
Mar 06, 2025 |
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90 - Who is the internal narrator?
|
Feb 27, 2025 |
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89 - This is not marketing advice
|
Feb 13, 2025 |
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88 - We are a blip in the universe
|
Feb 06, 2025 |
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87 - Can ambition be anti-hustle?
|
Jan 30, 2025 |
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86 - Perfectionism and hustle culture
|
Jan 23, 2025 |
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85 - Art when the world is falling apart
|
Jan 16, 2025 |
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84 - 4 Pillars to Author Success with Emma Dhesi
|
Jan 09, 2025 |
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83 - How and when to apply the story point
|
Nov 21, 2024 |
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82 - Overthinking vs. thinking something through
|
Nov 14, 2024 |
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81 - Character want vs need
|
Nov 07, 2024 |
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80 - The risk of plagiarism in the writing community
|
Oct 31, 2024 |
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79 - Lower your expectations with Rachael Herron
|
Oct 17, 2024 |
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78 - How to start querying with Abigail K. Perry
|
Oct 10, 2024 |
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77 - Plot + character in the crime/thriller genre with Marybeth Whalen
|
Oct 03, 2024 |
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76 - Negative arcs
|
Sep 26, 2024 |
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75 - Book marketing with Erica Birtles
|
Sep 19, 2024 |
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74 - Reviews and your ideal reader
|
Sep 12, 2024 |
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73 - Beta reading
|
Sep 05, 2024 |
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72 - Sweet and clean romance with Victorine Lieske
|
Aug 29, 2024 |
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71 - Publishing's changing landscape with Nicole Meier
|
Aug 22, 2024 |
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70 - Character arcs across a series with Jennifer Armentrout
|
Aug 15, 2024 |
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69 - Dog Training with Eric Goebelbecker
|
Aug 08, 2024 |
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68 - Lean into messy humanity
|
Aug 01, 2024 |
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67 - All is Lost vs Dark Night of the Soul beats
|
Jul 25, 2024 |
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66 - Writing is not always fun
|
Jul 18, 2024 |
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65 - Spicy and erotic romance with Jordyn Kross
|
Jul 11, 2024 |
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64 - Making intentional writing choices with Kat Caldwell
|
Jun 27, 2024 |
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63 - Convincing antagonists
|
Jun 20, 2024 |
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62 - Shedding the shame of talking about your book with CC Tyler
|
Jun 13, 2024 |
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61 - Rejection mindset with Kayla Stansbury
|
Jun 06, 2024 |
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60 - Author Interview with Emilia Emerson
|
May 30, 2024 |
|
59 - Being afraid to do it wrong
|
May 23, 2024 |
|
58 - Return from hiatus
|
May 16, 2024 |
|
57 - Choosing scene POV
|
Mar 21, 2024 |
|
56 - Listen up, procrastinators
|
Mar 14, 2024 |
|
55 - The versatility of the writing process
|
Mar 07, 2024 |
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54 - Author interview with Brit KS
|
Feb 29, 2024 |
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53 - Exploring perfectionism with Jocelyn Lindsay
|
Feb 22, 2024 |
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52 - The "standard of excellence" rant
|
Feb 15, 2024 |
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51 - Are character thoughts show or tell?
|
Feb 08, 2024 |
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50 - Use character movement to "show"
|
Feb 01, 2024 |
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49 - The 3 layers of show, don't tell
|
Jan 25, 2024 |
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48 - Emily & Rachel updates
|
Jan 18, 2024 |
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47 - A little rant about "should"
|
Jan 11, 2024 |
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46 - Set goals free from shame
|
Jan 04, 2024 |
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45 - LGBTQ+ representation with Sam Cameron
|
Dec 14, 2023 |
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44 - The art of self-editing with Tiffany Grimes
|
Dec 07, 2023 |
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43 - Static / flat arcs with Lewis Jorstad
|
Nov 30, 2023 |
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42 - NaNoWriMo behind the scenes with Lewis Jorstad
|
Nov 16, 2023 |
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41 - Create consistency without burnout with Lewis Jorstad
|
Nov 09, 2023 |
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40 - Stakes and why they're important
|
Nov 02, 2023 |
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39 - Creating strong and purposeful secondary characters
|
Oct 26, 2023 |
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38 - Low stakes stories
|
Oct 19, 2023 |
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37 - How to come up with ideas you actually like
|
Oct 12, 2023 |
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36 - Tips to trick your inner perfectionist
|
Oct 05, 2023 |
|
35 - Reaction progressions
|
Sep 28, 2023 |
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34 - How to grow a thick writer skin
|
Sep 21, 2023 |
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33 - When to write or reject a series with Lewis Jorstad
|
Sep 14, 2023 |
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32 - Digging into character backstory
|
Sep 07, 2023 |
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31 - Harmony in your creative life with Corrie Legge
|
Aug 31, 2023 |
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30 - The pros and cons of external motivation
|
Aug 24, 2023 |
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29 - Build your story with genre with Savannah Gilbo
|
Aug 17, 2023 |
|
28 - Where to start your story
|
Aug 10, 2023 |
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27 - Burnout with Gauri Yardi
|
Aug 03, 2023 |
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26 - The flow of learning
|
Jul 27, 2023 |
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25 - Making money with your writing with Nicole Stork-Hestad (Part 3)
|
Jul 20, 2023 |
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24 - Investing in your writing with Nicole Stork-Hestad (Part 2)
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
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23 - How money mindset is crucial to your writing journey with Nicole Stork-Hestad (Part 1)
|
Jul 06, 2023 |
|
22 - How to start a revision
|
Jun 29, 2023 |
|
21 - Theme, story, and character, oh my! with Emma Dhesi
|
Jun 22, 2023 |
|
20 - Internal goals give characters dimension
|
Jun 15, 2023 |
|
19 - Intro to Scene Structure
|
Jun 08, 2023 |
|
18 - When and why to table a story
|
Jun 01, 2023 |
|
17 - Descriptive characterization
|
May 25, 2023 |
|
16 - Art when the world is burning with Corrie Legge
|
May 18, 2023 |
|
15 - Staying true to your humanity
|
May 11, 2023 |
|
14 - Our favorite plotting tool: pivot point plans
|
May 04, 2023 |
|
13 - Writing is work
|
Apr 27, 2023 |
|
12 - "How do I write faster?"
|
Apr 20, 2023 |
|
11 - Creating in Sequence with Kristen Kieffer
|
Apr 13, 2023 |
|
10 - Do writers actually discover their stories?
|
Apr 06, 2023 |
|
9 - Dialogue that feels natural
|
Mar 30, 2023 |
|
8 - Toxic positivity in your writing life
|
Mar 23, 2023 |
|
7 - Wtf is agency?
|
Mar 16, 2023 |
|
6 - The balance between exposition + info dump
|
Mar 09, 2023 |
|
5 - Feedback should never feel like this
|
Mar 02, 2023 |
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4 - A stellar brainstorming technique
|
Feb 23, 2023 |
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1 - The writing life you deserve
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
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2 - What if it could be easy?
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
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3 - Flawed people are more interesting
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
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Welcome to Story Magic! - Trailer
|
Feb 03, 2023 |