Shows
Write Your Heart OutHot Takes on the Writers' LuncheonThis week, we attend a virtual "lunch and learn" hosted by the Women’s National Book Association and featuring legendary San Francisco literary agent Andy Ross—and yes, we actually lunched. While the rest of the Zoom played it cool, we munched focaccia and dished about querying, rejection, and whether you can ever send your manuscript to another agent at the same agency (spoiler: the answer was… confusing).We share the best and weirdest advice from the talk (a query letter in Q&A format?!), plus our own rollercoaster querying journeys, writing struggles, and revelations about the myster...2025-07-3047 minWrite Your Heart OutBrandon Sanderson Mansplaining, The Next Big Story, The Bonnie Blue of Agents, and Rachel's Muse is MurderousKayla and Rachel share juicy updates on their newest writing projects—Rachel’s twisty, spicy dinner party murder mystery (with a murder mystery game inside!) and Kayla’s speculative dystopian novel idea, recently submitted to The Novelry’s “Next Big Story” contest. They discuss the thrill and terror of writing fast, sending before revising, and navigating feedback while staying creatively uninhibited.You’ll also hear:A breakdown of Brandon Sanderson’s best story structure tips (and how Kayla used them to analyze Rachel’s character motivations)A tangent about writing sex scenes while your kids are awake (oops)A deep...2025-07-231h 13Write Your Heart OutStorytime 2 - Stories that were too good for Reedsy. MJ’s “Clouds,” The Flamingo Poem and love for Chuck PalahniukEpisode 7: Storytime – The Ones We Never Submitted This week on Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel read the stories they didn’t submit to the Reedsy contest—and wow, you’re in for a ride. Kayla's story, “The Muse,” features a moody writer, a mysterious muse, and an ex-fan with unsettling cinnamon energy. Rachel shares “An Extra Scoop of Revenge,” a tale of friendship and arson.Also in this jam-packed Storytime episode: – Our first-ever listener-submitted poem (thank you MJ!) – Rachel debuts a flamingo poem that starts in a zoo and ends in full mama bear mode...2025-07-0955 minWrite Your Heart OutDid we just get rejected?Rejection Letters, Contest Drama, and the Return of the MuseIn this episode of Write Your Heart Out, Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr unpack their experiences with the Reedsy Prompts Competition. Spoiler alert: neither of them submitted their stories to it! Why? Word count woes, shady contest terms, and a deeper conversation about protecting your creative work.They also talk through their first rejection letters—Rachel gets ghosted and rejected (double sting), while Kayla shares some querying wins and woes, including a personalized pass and a surprise full manuscript request from a Canadian ag...2025-07-021h 05Write Your Heart OutStorytime - Larry is Not WellEpisode 5: Story Time — 17 Cats, 2 Writers, and One Very Unwell ManIn our first official Story Time episode, we (Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr) read aloud the short stories we wrote based on prompts from The Writer’s Toolbox—including the eerie first line “There were 17 cats living in Larry’s basement.” What follows is a shared descent into feline chaos, lonely hearts, and the kind of dark humor that sneaks up on you.We talk through the weirdly specific details we both managed to include, and the experience of writing from unusual points of view....2025-06-2539 minWrite Your Heart OutChallenge AcceptedThis week on Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel dig into the very beginning of storytelling—literally. They each bring the opening lines of two favorite books and analyze what makes a first paragraph sing (or fall flat). From the Southern charm of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood to the eerie minimalism of Vanishing World, the hosts explore voice, tone, and the power of starting strong. Kayla also reads an excerpt from her new short story, “#Vanlife,” featuring a possibly misunderstood—or deeply menacing—therapy client named Clayton. (Shawn and Marc, their husbands, weigh in with wildly dif...2025-06-1846 minWrite Your Heart OutA Court of Horny PosersLouis CK & Mr. Beast are authors now? Posers...Episode 3 – Thoughts on ACOTAR, Sex Scenes, Ghost Stories, and Cancelled Comedians: Writing What Scares YouIn this spicy episode of Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel tackle everything from Louis C.K.’s surprise debut novel to the challenges of writing authentic (and not cringe) sex scenes. Rachel shares a scene from a ghost story based on true events—and the surprising workshop feedback that made her question if her character even likes men. Kayla & Rachel read A Court of Thorns and Roses for the fi...2025-06-1846 min