Shows
The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerSaying Farewell after 225 episodes... and Hello to The Happy Writer Book!In this final (!) episode of the Happy Writer podcast, Marissa and Joanne chat about the past almost five years and 224 episodes of the podcast: favorite moments, what they learned, what they will (and won’t!) miss, how many people tuned in, and more fun facts and stats. Also discussed: THE HAPPY WRITER book – how it came about, what changed thanks to the podcast, what’s inside, what Marissa hopes readers take from it, a giveaway, and more! Show Notes: Happy Writer free downloads: https://www.marissameyer.com/the-happy-writer-book/Enter the giveaway! https://forms.gle/1sYq...2025-01-2747 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerCelebrating Accomplishments and Setting Writing Goals for the New Year - with Tamara MossMarissa is joined by repeat podcast guest, author, longtime critique partner, fellow Sailor Moon fanfiction writer and now, cowriter, Tamara Moss. Discussed in this episode: Tamara and Marissa’s writing accomplishments for 2024 and how they celebrated (hint: Tamara shares the kind of ‘celebration’ we don’t recommend), the benefits of cleaning and decluttering, looking forward to what’s ahead for 2025, Parkinson’s Law, goal-setting and breaking down goals to be manageable, being kind to yourself, SMART goals, staying motivated, and more! Show Notes: Tamara’s other episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/950767/episodes/4229966-epic-world-building-advice-with-tamara-moss-lintang-and-the-pirate-queen The Deadbolt Myst...2024-12-301h 00The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerBehind the Scenes of Audiobook Narration with Gabi Epstein and Rebecca SolerMarissa and Joanne are joined by Rebecca Soler and Gabi Epstein – the narrators for the LET IT GLOW audiobook (You may also recognize Rebecca’s voice from most of Marissa’s other audio books!). Discussed in this deep dive episode all about audio books: the similarities and differences between audiobook narration and stage acting, how much interaction narrators have with authors and co-narrators, the process of recording and editing, what typical recording days look like, narrator voice tips and tricks, narrator pet peeves (hint for writers: read your books out loud!), how song lyrics work in audio (includes a behind...2024-12-091h 14The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerLet It Glow - Live from Book Tour with Marissa Meyer and Joanne LevyMarissa and Joanne get together to tape this special episode (less than 24 hours after they met in person for the very first time!) as they embark on their LET IT GLOW tour! They answer listener-submitted questions on topics like their origin stories, the origin story for LET IT GLOW, writing fanfiction, the inside story on their collaboration, what they love about the characters, their favorite scenes and what they loved best about the process, how they started working together, a couple favorite holiday reads, and so much more.For Lunar Chronicles and Renegades questions see Episode 200...2024-11-0442 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerRevise Your Novel, Step by Step! Marissa's Revision ProcessIn this bonus craft episode, Marissa shares her steps and processes for revisions. Hint: they begin in the drafting process! Also discussed: celebrating milestones and accomplishments, the importance of letting a project simmer, how to know when to jump back in, making a plan to tackle revisions and the different methods, how many rounds of revisions are typical, things to watch for in each pass, crutch words and how to get rid of them, and so much more! The Happy Writer at Bookshop.orgPurchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. 2024-09-0934 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerVampires Meet Dark Academia with Tigest Girma - Immortal DarkMarissa chats with Tigest Girma about her debut, a YA romantic vampire novel, IMMORTAL DARK. Also discussed in this episode: struggling with the young adult/new adult/adult labels, making the change to age down a book and characters and what that entails, writing morally gray characters, crafting an extreme enemies to lovers romantic storyline, creating a found family ensemble, planning subsequent books in a trilogy (second book syndrome is a thing!), and more!Bonus: a new book announcement from Marissa!We Could Be Magic - https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250379399Joelle Murray: https...2024-09-0244 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer7 Tips for Balancing Multiple Writing Projects with Marissa MeyerIn this bonus craft episode, Marissa shares her seven best tips and strategies for balancing multiple writing projects. Discussed in this practical episode: how many projects she works on at any given time and what stage in the process they are at, how she prioritizes, what she does in the times when she isn’t or can’t be drafting, and so much more! Extra bonus: This episode also includes upcoming book announcements that you may have missed!The Happy Writer at Bookshop.orgPurchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookst...2024-07-1541 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAsk Me Anything! Marissa Meyer Talks Writing, Books, Life, and More for our 200th Episode Celebration!In this 200th (!) episode of The Happy Writer Podcast, Marissa (with some help from Joanne) answers many of your burning questions. Topics discussed: dealing with burnout, crafting three-dimensional characters, writing to trends, co-writing, balancing writing with parenting, and so much more. Also included: much-anticipated updates on TLC production, upcoming tours, new books, and yes, a couple of first-time-heard future project reveals! Order and find out more about LET IT GLOW: https://www.marissameyer.com/let-it-glow/Marissa's book playlists: https://www.marissameyer.com/extras/playlist/Melanin in YAYour source for all things Black in t...2024-06-101h 06The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer10 Tips for Better Writing-Life Balance with Marissa MeyerMarissa shares her top 10 tips for improving your work-life balance. From starting with a focused to-do list, to reframing goal time frames, to the best way to approach multitasking, and so much more, you’re sure to find something helpful in this practical episode. Note: For more writing-specific productivity tips, you can also check out episode 141 where Marissa and Joanne share their favorite productivity hacks. https://www.buzzsprout.com/950767/12094972168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, Laura VanderKam https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781591844105 Preorder your copy of The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Wri...2024-04-2942 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAnswering Your Publishing Questions: From Query to Book Deal to PublicationMarissa and Joanne get together to answer listener-submitted questions about publishing, getting into nitty gritty details of what it’s like to be a published author. Also covered in this jam-packed episode: word count guidelines, what happens after signing with an agent, the submission process, what it’s like to break up with an agent, advances and how they’re determined and paid out, who has the control of what in publishing, marketing, building a social media presence – and is it really necessary – and so much more. Also—what it was like for Marissa and Joanne when they each got “the cal...2024-04-081h 12The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerThe Audiobook Narrator and Comic Artist of With a Little Luck: feat. Chuck Gonzales and Stacy CarolanIn this week’s episode, the first of the 2024 season, Marissa chats about her brand-new book, WITH A LITTLE LUCK, the companion to INSTANT KARMA. Featured in this episode are two special guests: Chuck Gonzales, the illustrator for the comic book pages inside WITH A LITTLE LUCK, and Stacy Carolan, the book’s audio edition narrator. Discussed in this episode: the process of illustrating graphic novel panels (in black and white) as spot illustrations through a novel, illustrating a story within a story, the challenges of some of the finer details of illustrations, how the pandemic inspired the mo...2024-02-051h 03The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWitchy Romance and Favorite Tropes with F.T. Lukens - Spell BoundIn this week’s episode, Marissa chats with F.T. Lukens about their contemporary YA fantasy, SPELL BOUND. Also discussed: finding the hilarity in the mundane, humor as a coping mechanism, using favorite tropes and putting your own spin on them, identifying character motivations, writing romance as part of a larger plot, and more. Find the Happy Writer and Marissa Meyer Merch here:https://thehappywriter.creator-spring.com/https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-happy-writer The Happy Writer at Bookshop.orgPurchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. 2023-04-2441 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerBonus: Write More Words! Marissa and Joanne's Top Productivity TipsIn this week’s bonus episode, Marissa and Joanne (the Happy Writer Social Media Captain and writer of several middle grade books) chat about the topic they most frequently get asked about from authors and aspiring authors: how to be more productive. In this conversation Marissa and Joanne share their best tips on how to be a productive writer, maximize time management, maintain joy in the process, tackle big goals, find the perfect work/life balance, and more. Some of the methods/suggestions discussed:Alphasmart: https://hackaday.com/2020/11/05/alphasmart-neo-teardown-this-is-the-way-to-write-without-distractions/The Pomodoro Meth...2023-01-3057 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerHandling Rejection with Ellen O'Clover - Seven Percent of Ro DeverauxIn this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Ellen O'Clover about her debut SEVEN PERCENT OF RO DEVEREUX - as well as her long and twisty journey to publication; how you’ll publish the book you’re meant to publish; researching technology to get inside a character’s head and create believable details that might be outside your own knowledge; about the question of would you want to know the future if given the chance; how giving each character an arc adds depth to the novel, and protecting the magic of writing from the heartbreak of rejection. Bonus: Marissa and Elle...2023-01-2343 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerLuscious Settings and Romantic Tension in YA Fantasy with Emily J. Taylor - Hotel MagnifiqueMarissa chats with Emily J. Taylor about her debut YA fantasy - HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE - as well as writing a "setting-first" book by treating your setting as a character, with its own backstory and personality; using a variety of sources (many unexpected) to inspire unique setting details; digging deeper into your worldbuilding and magic system with every round of revisions; and constantly asking yourself what else you can add that will surprise your readers. We also discuss using your characters' secrets to build romantic tension, and how it's important that your love interests see each other as equals, even...2022-04-0447 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerNewbery Award Winner Erin Entrada Kelly Talks Writing and Middle Grade Fiction - Those Kids from Fawn CreekMarissa chats with Erin Entrada Kelly about her new middle grade contemporary - THOSE KIDS FROM FAWN CREEK - as well as including a multitude of points of view in your novel and how to give a unique voice and character arc to each one; some different ways to think about how you develop primary versus secondary characters; finding the middle ground when it comes to subtext, so that it is neither too vague or too obvious, and still leaves space for readers to draw their own conclusions; one fantastic question to ask yourself during editing that will help...2022-03-2849 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWriting Fairy Tale Retellings with Jennifer Donnelly and Marissa Meyer - Stepsister, Poisoned, & GildedMarissa chats with Jennifer Donnelly about her fairy tale retellings - STEPSISTER and POISONED - as well as Marissa's newest novel - GILDED! We delve into some of the deeper themes in our favorite stories, and how writers can use retellings to change an ongoing discussion in our society; how so many retellings come from a place of irritation with the source material and why creators are often drawn to "set the story right"; why embracing the darkness in fairy tales adds a layer of authenticity and can ultimately be empowering for young readers; writing protagonists that include a...2021-11-1550 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerTips for Landing a Literary Agent with Superstar Agent Jill GrinbergIn this bonus episode, Marissa chats with her own literary agent - Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Answering questions from listeners, topics include how Jill became Marissa's agent and the author/agent relationship (which shares a lot of similarities to marriage); what, exactly, a literary agent does and why it's important to find one that shares your overall vision; why authors should think long-term when it comes to career planning, and how many sustainable writing careers are built gradually, not necessarily with a big, splashy debut; how publishing is an industry built on relationships, and a little...2021-11-041h 15The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWriting the Book of Your Heart with Marie Lu - Skyhunter & SteelstrikerMarissa is joined by listener Allison Phillips to chat with Marie Lu about her new futuristic duology - SKYHUNTER and STEELSTRIKER - as well as how characters who speak different languages and have different communication styles makes for some unique writing challenges, but ultimately add depth and realism to your world building; what to do with that book of your heart when the market isn't quite ready for it; a great tip for differentiating character voices when writing from two separate first-person POVs; and some of the difficulties of creating during the pandemic, but how we can care for...2021-10-0455 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWriting Complex Character Relationships with Farah Naz Rishi - It All Comes Back to YouMarissa chats with Farah Naz Rishi about her new contemporary romance - IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU - as well as writing sibling dynamics and relationships that are as complex and interesting as real-world families; the roles that fate and coincidence can play in a romantic storyline; a few interesting narration techniques that act like different camera lenses through which to view the story and characters; how we tend to be inspired by issues that concern us in the real-world, and how we can use them to add dimension to our stories, no matter what genre we're writing...2021-09-1348 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerCharacter Archetypes and Historical Fantasy Death Tournaments with Sarah Raughley - The Bones of RuinMarissa chats with Sarah Raughley about her new historical fantasy - THE BONES OF RUIN - as well as balancing incredible superpowers with weaknesses and drawbacks - whether physical, emotional, or psychological; using your protagonist's greatest desires, and the consequences they'll face if they don't get what they want, to create escalating suspense; a number of things to consider when designing an in-story tournament or competition; how grounding your historical fantasy in well-researched reality helps your readers suspend disbelief; and a great tip inspired by anime and manga: developing characters around a set archetype, before digging deeper to make...2021-09-0750 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerPushing the Bounds of Middle Grade Fiction with Maryrose Wood - Alice's Farm: A Rabbit's TaleMarissa is joined by her daughters, Sloane and Delaney, to chat with Maryrose Wood about her new middle grade novel - ALICE'S FARM: A RABBIT'S TALE - as well as writing in third person omniscient point of view (yes, even for young readers!) and how multiple perspectives can be used to show the interconnectedness of your characters, subplots, and the world at large; how following our writerly intuition often pays off with a serendipitous gift from the universe... or research; crafting authentic cultures and belief systems based on factual research, even when your characters are animals; and the pleasure...2021-08-3058 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerA Surplus of Writing Craft Advice from YA Fantasy Superstar Victoria Aveyard - Realm BreakerMarissa chats with Victoria Aveyard about her new fantasy novel - REALM BREAKER - as well as a surplus of juicy craft discussion! Topics include the three-act, eight-sequence structure for screenwriting and how it can be applied to novels and series; focusing on plot escalation over the course of multiple books, and using callbacks to show how far your characters have come; a friendlier way to think about the age-old plotter vs. pantser debate; some thoughts on long-term career planning and how to choose your next project; and using maps, real-world history, and "one unbelievable thing" to improve your...2021-08-2349 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerSupport Your Local Indie Bookstore - The Bookstour Documentary with Mason EngelIn this bonus episode, Marissa chats with Mason Engel, sci-fi writer and filmmaker, about his documentary: THE BOOKSTOUR. Topics include a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the documentary making process; why bookstores are the best places to make new friends; the adventure inherent in any roadtrip (hurricanes, pandemics, power outages, oh my!); the unfortunate disconnect that persists between indie authors and indie bookstores; and at least one reason why someone might choose to shop at an independent bookstore, even when there are cheaper options online. (Spoiler: it's all about the love!) Find out how you can watch The Bookstour by...2021-08-1940 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerElevator Pitches and Playing with Comedic Narration Techniques with Margot Wood - FreshMarissa chats with Margot Wood about her debut contemporary novel - FRESH - as well as using unusual narration techniques to break down the fourth wall between narrator and reader, to absolutely hilarious effect; trusting your instincts and ignoring the naysayers, even when/especially when you're writing something very different from the current market; how a book's design and typography can make for an immersive reading experience; the #1 marketing tool for writers, according to the founder of Epic Reads (spoiler: it's your elevator pitch!); and on that note - thinking of your book like a wedding in order to...2021-08-1648 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerFrom Classic Literature to Modern Horror with Tori Bovalino - The Devil Makes ThreeMarissa chats with Tori Bovalino about her debut young adult novel - THE DEVIL MAKES THREE - as well as tapping into your own fears in order to write effective horror and really scare your readers; treating your setting as its own character, and using real-life locations to hone in on atmospheric details; how completing higher education can change our creative process and impact our career goals; some ways that classic literature can inspire us, and perhaps encourage a bit more sarcasm and wit; and some suggestions for including religious elements in your story without imposing specific beliefs on...2021-08-0945 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerRetelling a Modern Cinderella and Writing Disney IP Projects with Julie Murphy - If the Shoe FitsMarissa chats with Julie Murphy about her first adult romance - IF THE SHOE FITS - and her 8 million other projects (PUMPKIN, FAITH, anthologies, oh my!); as well as a little bit of TWILIGHT appreciation; working with a publisher on packaged projects and how much creative control Julie had in her Disney-based romance; placing characters, especially villains, in "different lights" in order to alter how both the reader and other characters respond to them; how groundbreaking and inspiring DUMPLIN' and Julie's full-figured protagonists have been for the market; and some of the differences between writing young adult versus (closed...2021-08-0248 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerMG Graphic Novels... with Romance! - Amy Kim Kibuishi (Realm of the Blue Mist) & Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet)Marissa chats with Amy Kim Kibuishi and Kazu Kibuishi about their graphic novels - REALM OF THE BLUE MIST: BOOK ONE OF THE REMA CHRONICLES and AMULET - as well as the bittersweetness of reaching the end of a decades-long project; why romance might be more "acceptable" in middle grade graphic novels than prose novels (though Marissa would love to see more romance in both!); the state of the comics market and where it might be headed next; how living your life according to your values can help you be a good role model for young readers, without the...2021-07-261h 00The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerK-Pop, BTS, and Book Playlists with Axie Oh - XOXOMarissa chats with Axie Oh about her new contemporary romance - XOXO - as well as... K-Pop! The music, the phenomenon, and our personal BTS biases. On the writing front, we talk about using music as inspiration and curating a book's playlist before or after you've written it; why celebrity romances call for a strong protagonist with dreams of their own; choosing to write in genres that you love, and how switching to new genres can help keep us inspired; and the importance of following our intuition when it comes to writing, a.k.a. ignoring the trends and...2021-07-1944 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerSwoony Villains and Retelling Rumpelstiltskin with Brandie June - Gold SpunMarissa chats with Brandie June about her debut YA novel - GOLD SPUN - as well as All Things Rumpelstiltskin! We compare and contrast our different takes on this beloved fairy tale, covering topics that range from giving our protagonists more agency and independence, to deciding how villainous (or swoony...) to make Rumpelstiltskin and the King. Also: how uplifting - or not - to make the ending of the first book in a series; crafting a love triangle that keeps your readers guessing; the trouble with titles; and when to make the executive decision to toss out elements of...2021-07-1247 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerTreasure Hunts and Inclusive Middle Grades with Basil and Kevin Sylvester - The Fabulous Zed Watson!Marissa chats with Basil and Kevin Sylvester about their co-written middle grade novel - THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON - as well as writing aspirational "weird kid" characters that can help encourage self-acceptance in readers; the power of brainstorming as a duo and how receiving instant feedback and bouncing ideas off each other can make for speedier writing; one method for dividing the work between co-writers, even when their processes put them on different schedules; how today's young readers are ready for books that feature non-binary/LGBTQ+ characters having adventures beyond the coming-out narrative; and some great tips on creating...2021-07-051h 07The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWriting Swoony Contemporary Heroes and Pivoting After Rejection with Emiko Jean - Tokyo Ever AfterMarissa chats with Emiko Jean about her contemporary romance - TOKYO EVER AFTER - as well as channeling your inner teen to write an authentic (and potentially hilarious) protagonist; developing a romance around two characters who are polar opposites, and watching the sparks fly; casting off the idea that we only get "one shot" at a publishing career, and how to pivot after a post-debut rejection; and some tips for researching cultures and places in order to bring authenticity to your contemporary settings.Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or...2021-06-2840 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerIntegrating Fantasy with Science Fiction with Liselle Sambury - Blood Like MagicMarissa chats with Liselle Sambury about her debut futuristic fantasy - BLOOD LIKE MAGIC - as well as integrating fantasy and science-fiction in a way that the magic and technology work with, and not against, each other; deciding what to cut and what not to cut when it comes to revisions, and making sure your "fun" scenes are important to the overall plot; writing big family dynamics, plus one way to ensure that each character has their own opinions; writing morally gray ethical dilemmas and difficult decisions that keep your reader guessing; and using YouTube and social media to s...2021-06-0752 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerPlot Your Murder Mystery (Clues! Suspects! Red Herrings!) with Maureen Johnson - The Box in the WoodsMarissa chats with Maureen Johnson about her newest murder mystery - THE BOX IN THE WOODS - and her recently released Cruella De Vil origin novel - HELLO, CRUEL HEART - as well as the in-depth mechanics of plotting and planning a complex mystery story; some discussion of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Frances Glessner Lee (so! fascinating!); thoughts on what makes for a good mystery, from "fair play" to "closed circuits"; and a few tips on how to maintain joy throughout your writing career, including embracing change and appreciating the simple things in life. B...2021-06-0148 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerNail Your Elevator Pitch and Chapter Endings with Arnée Flores - The Firebird SongMarissa chats with Arnée Flores about her debut middle grade fantasy - THE FIREBIRD SONG - as well as the importance of preparing for and practicing your elevator pitch; how to handle it when an agent or editor asks you to drastically trim your manuscript's word count - and one idea for what to do with all the content that gets taken out; how focusing on dramatic chapter endings can improve the overall pacing of your novel; and adapting your writing schedule to life with young kids. (Speaking of young kids, there is also a surprise visit from S...2021-05-2449 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerA Sapphic Take on the Fake Dating Trope with Adiba Jaigirdar - Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake DatingMarissa chats with Adiba Jaigirdar about her new YA contemporary romance - HANI AND ISHU'S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING - as well as bringing the beloved "fake relationship" romantic trope into sapphic love stories and how publishers are finally picking up on this need in the market; using specific accents and lilts to influence your character voices; one super clever social media strategy that makes use of cross-promotion with other authors; and the little-talked-about phenomenon of the "second book depression" (not to be confused with the sophomore slump), which is probably more common than we think and might be...2021-05-1742 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerWriting Enemies to Lovers and Lighthearted Fantasy with Tricia Levenseller - Blade of SecretsFor our first live-recorded event, Marissa joins Tricia Levenseller for the launch of her new YA fantasy novel - BLADE OF SECRETS. Topics include: developing a protagonist with social anxiety, and how we put so much of ourselves into our characters; drawing on popular epic fantasy tropes while maintaining a fun, light-hearted vibe; some tips for writing those oh-so-popular hate-to-love romances; and Tricia's technique for ensuring that every scene is fun for her to write (and therefore fun to read). Plus: some bonus questions from the audience! Many thanks to Best of Books and Macmillan Children's for inviting us...2021-05-1054 minThe Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerQuiet Your Inner Perfectionist with Fast First Drafts - with Emery Lee - Meet Cute DiaryMarissa chats with Emery Lee about their debut YA novel - MEET CUTE DIARY - as well as crafting a heartwarming romance that does not rely on traditional romantic tropes; knocking out those fast first drafts (in Emery's case - REALLY fast first drafts!) in order to quiet your inner perfectionist and maintain that initial burst of inspiration; writing the story of your heart, even if it goes against editorial feedback or market trends; and an idea for pre-order campaigns that Marissa finds absolutely genius.Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent...2021-05-0342 min