Episodes

Got something to say? Send us a text! Join our NEW Patreon - Write Out Loud Patreon - patreon.com/WriteOutLoudPod In the inaugural episode of Season 3 of 'Write Out Loud,' hosts Matt Cassem and Christina Trevaskis discuss the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome among writers. They touch on personal experiences, relatable anecdotes, and use examples like Stephen King and Billie Eilish to emphasize the importance of embracing one’s own journey and growth. The episode offers insights on how to m...

Season 3 Preview and Behind-the-Scenes Shoutouts In this episode, Matt & Christina preview the upcoming third season of their podcast, discussing the exciting new guests and topics that will be covered. Highlights include conversations with wishlist guests, tackling subjects like imposter syndrome, using Kickstarter to fund your writing project, resistance fiction, and revisiting AI developments. They also tease discussions on popular books, shows, and movies such as 'The Barbie Movie,' 'The L...

Buy us a coffee to support the show! That's a wrap for season two! This episode finds Matt and Christina reflecting on the highlights of season two, including favorite episodes and guest interviews. They discuss plans for season three, inviting audience input for future topics and guests. They express enthusiasm for possibly exploring diverse writing-related topics such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Last of Us, Schitt's Creek, and inviting screenwriters to share their insights. The epi...

If you're enjoying our show, won't you help us out? Buy us a coffee or drink to show your appreciation. It really does help us bring you better guests, better content, and maybe some surprises. You can do that here. In this episode of Write Out Loud, hosts Matt and Christina delve into the challenges of transitioning a great story idea into skilled execution, using the recently released Netflix movie 'Damsel' as a case study. Despite their anticipation and the cast's standout names like Millie ...

In this episode titled "Author Spotlight: A Conversation with Scarlett Cole", Matt and Christina invite Scarlett Cole, an acclaimed romance writer, on to talk about her history as an author. Scarlett talks about her journey from being a reader to an author, and her dual careers as a romance writer and senior vice president of strategy for a leading company. She discusses her transition from writing full-time to part-time and exploring different genres like contemporary romance and darker romance...

***See the time stamps towards the bottom for links to the upcoming books Erin mentioned in today's episode!!*** In this episode of Write Out Loud, Matt and Christina chat with Erin Galloway, Director of Publicity for Berkeley, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Galloway shares her journey into the publishing industry, from her initial interest in journalism to realizing her talent and passion for publicity in book publishing. She provides an in-depth look at the roles and responsibilities of ...

In this podcast episode, Matt and Christina discuss the importance of authenticity and confidence in writing. They express the importance of writers finding their personal writing style and trusting their abilities, rather than trying to emulate others. In fact, by doing so, they argue that writers can boost their creativity and potentially become more commercially successful. They also advocate listening to advice from professionals, discarding what doesn't fit, and practicing writing regularly...

In this episode of the 'Write Out Loud' podcast, hosts Tina and Matt discuss various topics related to the process of writing and storytelling. They delve into the personal workflow of different writers, tips and techniques for productive writing, the weight of research vs. improvisation, and various writing tools. They also discuss finding one's identity as a writer, understanding the audience, managing time based on personal circumstances, the importance of consistency, creativity, and breaki...

Superheroes, Self-Publishing, and Storytelling with W.T. Meadows In this episode of Write Out Loud, hosts Matt Cassem and Christina welcome author W.T. Meadows to discuss his journey with writing & storytelling. Meadows shares valuable tips from his experience co-writing novels, using Kickstarter in self-publishing his novel 'Introduction Events', and so much more! He emphasizes the importance of author-audience connection, getting accurate representation in his work, and navigating diverse ch...

In this engaging episode of "The Writing Dance: Plotting, Pantsing, and Everything in Between with Special Guest Sean Dare", the conversation delves deep into different aspects of writing and storytelling. The discussion brings out the differences between 'plotting' and 'pantsing', the two primary modes in which writers create their stories. The conversation includes advice on progressing a writers' craft, the flexibility of these methods, and how adapting and figuring out what works best for e...

Matt and Christina discuss the key difference between writing and storytelling. They explore the art and craft of storytelling and how it influences the process of writing. They also highlight unique techniques and elements that are specific to storytelling and how they contribute to creating engaging stories. Join them in this insightful conversation about the importance of storytelling in the world of writing. Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoy...

In this episode, Matt and Christina discuss the importance of writing a good book as the most effective marketing tool. They discuss the significance of having a well-written book, building a fan base, and the power of word-of-mouth marketing. They also touch on the concept of the curiosity gap and the importance of engaging with readers on social media. The conversation emphasizes the need for writers to stay true to themselves and their stories, while also exploring different marketing strateg...

In this episode, the hosts, Matt and Christina, interview Big Robb, a mental health advocate and host of the podcast "Chewing the Fat." The conversations are centered around the intertwined relationship between creativity, mental health struggles, and self-expression, with an emphasis on the necessity for open conversations on mental health. The conversation consists of introspective confessions, personal anecdotes, and advice on handling creativity blockages and dark days. The ultimate takeaway...

In this episode of the Write Out Loud Podcast, the Matt and Christina discuss the current state of storytelling, writing, and being an author with special guest, Michael Aspen, a fellow writer and podcaster. Together they delve into the pros and cons of self-publishing, the intricacies of quality story composition, and the impact of pacing. The discussion includes the impact of reality TV and Marvel movies on storytelling, and the challenges self-published authors face in standing out amidst a h...

It's season two! We're back! This episode is focused on Christina interviewing Matt. They discuss topics such as why they read and write, impactful books and authors, and the best piece of writing advice they've received. They hope to connect with their audience and leave a thumbprint on the souls of their readers through their writing. And they hope you will too! Hey, thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We really hope that you're enjoying every bit of it, but we would love to hear y...

We are putting the final touches on this first season of the podcast, and we are sharing a little glimpse of what's to come in the future. Heartstopper is the muse with which we kicked off this endeavor, but going forward, there won't be discussion based on Heartstopper anymore (Yay for some of you!). What's to come? Listen and find out! Or read the transcript. Either way! Join us for more fun stuff to come in Season Two which will kick off January 1st in 2024! Until then, you may have the occa...

This week we step back to chat with Christina Trevaskis, my co-host and the genius behind this operation. Christina has achieved remarkable feats in the book selling industry in diverse ways, and she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight to the table. During the podcast, we take the opportunity to become better acquainted with Christina's journey, her methodology, and even gain some valuable tips on how to approach our own writing. If you have any questions for us, please visit ...

This week we deep dive into the portrayal of relationships using "Heartstopper" as the reference point once again. We're coming to a close on using "Heartstopper," so if you're annoyed that we keep talking about it, hang in there. We also throw in a little "Shameless" plug too. Ultimately, we're here to help inspire you to build a toolkit that makes you a better writer than you were before...by even as little as 10%! That's improvement! So tell us what you want to hear? Tell us what you'd like ...

It's another week, and this week we're discussing some of the small, easily-missed details you might have spotted if you're eagle-eyed enough to catch them! These are the little things that add so much to the story but stay out of the way of the story itself. This week's episode was based on a number of details discussed in Tessa Fahey's Buzzfeed article titled "33 Tiny Heartstopper Details." So thank you, Tessa, for the assist this week! Additionally, we have another challenge this week for th...

During this week's episode, we discuss the variations between book and screen (mostly about Heartstopper). We are taking a look at the rationale behind why writers will sometimes differ particularly when they're the same person to write both the book and screen play. We would love to have your voice added to our podcast, so sign up to be a guest or just leave us a voicemail that we might play during one of the episodes by visiting our website at writeoutloudpod.com! You can find Christina at @...

Joining us this week is special guest and "Heartstopper" super fan, Rania Gollakner! Rania comes to share her perspective on the things that have made "Heartstopper" so amazing for her, what she got out of the writing and storytelling that Alice Oseman does so well, and to share with us her wishes for what Alice will do next! We appreciate the support, and if you would like to be a guest on the podcast, join us by going to the website (writeoutloudpod.com) and clicking the "Be a Guest!" button....

We start off a little differently this week with a brief detour around what happened when Matt decides to ask AI about Heartstopper, and things, well, don’t go as well as the AI overlords may have hoped. We then talk about the use of villains in your story to highlight, compare, contrast, and illuminate things. Enjoying the podcast? Give us a rating on Apple Podcasts, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts! It’s so helpful! Want to be a guest on the pod? Head to our website at writeoutloudp...

Today we're discussing a writing technique called show vs tell and using "Heartstopper" to illustrate our points. We also talk a LOT about Ikea, but don't worry, it all comes together. What do you think? Sound off on our webpage (writeoutloudpod.com) and share your thoughts with us. You can even leave us a voicemail there which might mean you get to hear yourself on one of our upcoming episodes! Would you like to be a guest? You can sign up for that there as well! Thanks so much for listening...

In this week's episode, we continue our discussion representation within Heartstopper and how much of a difference it makes in writing. You'll hear us talk about things like how the story treats LGBTQIA+ individuals, my own coming out story (sort of), and more! Check it out, and please share the podcast and throw us a rating on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Thanks so much for listening, and if you enjoyed the podcast, please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts and wherever yo...