Season 4 Finale: From Imposter Syndrome to Bestseller Secrets

Matt: Welcome back to Write Out Loud, the podcast where we talk about the power of storytelling and the magic of making your words matter. I'm Matt, and as always, I'm joined by the radiant, resplendent and relentlessly upbeat queen of creativity herself, the one and only Christina,

Christina: Good. You make it sound like I float in on a glitter cloud.

Matt: you do float in on a glitter cloud.

Christina: Yes,

Matt: Yeah,

Christina: I've

Matt: mean.

Christina: wanted to write in on a glitter cloud. Everywhere I go is that Glitter Cloud. Following me around.

Matt: Yes, you do. You do. Well, today's episode is a special one. We're gonna take a look back at everything. Season four has given us the lessons, the laughs, and the behind the scenes chaos, and all the unforgettable moments that made this season one of our favorites. So whether you've been With us from the beginning or you've just joined the party, we are so glad you're here.

So listen, grab a coffee, settle in, and let's wrap up season four. And the only way we know how. Loud, proud, and with a lot of heart.

Christina: Yay.

Matt: So perfect. Uh, let's talk, let's reflect on this season, right? It's been a good season. We've got a lot under our hat. We started this season by kicking things off with a little bit of imposter syndrome.

Christina: Yes, my favorite topic to talk to, talk

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: um, believe it or not, because I think a lot of people don't realize where it comes from. Uh, once, once I realized where, specifically my clients were. Experiencing imposter syndrome. It was places that I could see that they really were at that point that they were ready to get better.

They were noticing things in their own writing that they could improve, people that aren't improving their writing and just going on their merry way. Don't suffer from imposter syndrome because they aren't actively trying to, be better.

Matt: Sure.

Christina: for me, that discovery of imposter syndrome, meaning that, hey, you're ready to improve, you are ready to go to work.

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: saying that there isn't anything to work on, that you're fine and dandy. But, um, yeah, really that idea. And so ever since I've said that anytime people start feeling that imposter syndrome, we talk about it, we work through it, they figure out, oh, okay. And even in my own life, when I've started to feel like. Oh, Lordy, am I, am I ready for this?

Matt: Yeah.

Christina: like, oh, wait a minute. I must be, because if I'm thinking that I'm not ready for it, then I'm ready for the challenge.

Matt: Yeah, this was probably, these two episodes were the ones that I received the most feedback on in a good way. Most people that had reached out and said, oh my gosh, I listened to that and I was really feeling that today, and it was just a thing that. Was almost a sign that I needed to listen to it.

So I was really glad that you guys put out that episode and then, the next one came out, it was about what to do with it. Right. And how to approach it. Um, so it was cool to get that feedback and to to hear that from 'em too.

Christina: That's awesome.

Matt: And if we were feeling any kind of imposter syndrome, of course, we had to quickly tamp that down because next up on the list was Kristin Ashley.

Christina: Yes, my favorite episode,

Matt: it was amazing.

Christina: of the season.

Matt: Yep. Absolutely amazing. Loved having Kristen on. I think we had such a great conversation with her and I think we're, hopefully looking forward to inviting her back on soon.

Christina: Yes. Yes. Um, she is welcome to come on anytime she

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: She's got, a couple releases, one of which is up shortly. So,

Matt: Nice.

Christina: yeah, so Kristen, if you hear this, let's

Matt: talk, let's talk.

Christina: on. Yeah. I think, that was so fun for me. In two ways, not just. As a podcaster, as someone who works with writers as an editor, but as a reader,

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: I've been a fan of hers for a long time and, just to be able to discuss the book. and it was a turning point book that, some really great things happen. I don't wanna. spoilers out there for anyone. if you listen to the episode and you want the spoilers,

Matt: They're there.

Christina: and Yep. Um, so I think, yeah, that was one of my favorite episodes that we've

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: but definitely my favorite episode of this season.

Matt: For sure, for sure. Then we followed that up with, of course, a little bit of belief in yourself and some resistance fiction and,

Christina: Yes.

Matt: then even dabbled into what makes a best seller. So we talked, a little bit about those pieces. Uh, and then I think my next favorite one was the mystery box, and really talking about what that means.

Christina: yes. Yeah, I, think that, the way JJ Abrams framed that just made so much sense to me. And, specifically when I am reading or watching something that really is giving you little grains instead of the breadcrumbs. Instead of just full blown, here's the story and here are the characters, but one that feeds you little by little.

Those are always my favorite stories because it automatically makes me wanna like, what was that? Okay, I've gotta turn the page. I've gotta go to the next, so I've gotta find out what happens next.

Matt: Yeah. Oh, abs, absolutely. I like a little bit of mystery. It's one of my favorite genres along with, the kind of the thriller, right? And like

Christina: Yeah.

Matt: getting into that. So that episode in particular, I really, really enjoyed. And then of course, we met up with a wonderful author and client of yours, uh, Susanna Strum and writing that killer first chapter.

So we talked to Susie about that one. That was a lot of fun actually. I really enjoyed that conversation too.

Christina: good. I'd love to have her back on, um, as well as Scarlet Cole, um, to talk about plotting versus Pantsing. 'cause I think

Matt: Hmm.

Christina: interesting story. Again, Scarlet Cole, we touched on it just a little bit during her episode. You know how think you are gonna be one. it turns out you're the other

Matt: Yeah, for sure.

Christina: So yeah, we've gotta readdress that one. But yeah, I love Susie.

Matt: That'd be awesome. We hit up a couple things in terms of writing as a path to healing. Uh, we then had an episode that I think also was maybe not my favorite, but it is definitely one of them, villains we love to hate. So we talked about crafting complex characters, right? And I think that one was, it was fun to think about those villains that we genuinely, genuinely just love to hate.

Christina: Yeah. Yep.

Matt: The conversation around that one. Then we got to speak a little bit with Kelly. And we talked about the ownership debate in digital books, right? Do you actually own the books that you've purchased?

Christina: Yeah. Yeah. I think, that to me is, some of that behind the scenes stuff I know a little bit about, but not the depth that, Kelly can speak to, that

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: so it's always fascinating to listen to what, her perspective is on things and, and what's going on in that, part of the industry. I was actually not aware, that I didn't own. My Kindle

Matt: Yeah.

Christina: and that they can be torn away from me at any moment, that I'm only quote unquote borrowing them.

Matt: Yep.

Christina: so it really made me think about where do I wanna spend my money? Do I wanna rebuy some of the things, maybe in, paper copy, hard copy.

Matt: Yeah.

Christina: Um.

Matt: Real books.

Christina: books.

Matt: Yeah. Well, and actually we talked in the episode too about some of the places that you can go to get the actual physical. Physical in air quotes, digital copies, right? Like it ones that you know, that you own.

Christina: Yes.

Matt: we talked about going directly to the author's pages and buying them from the authors.

A lot of times that will work, but to also humble bundle, I talked about that and I literally just did that the other day. I bought the entire Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series,

Christina: Oh

Matt: From hun from, humble Bundle, and it worked out really, really well.

Christina: Yeah.

Matt: So we get some good deals there. And then finally, a couple of kind of wrap up episodes.

We talked about the creativity and controversy, right? Can we separate the art from the artist? And of course, big part of that one was JK Rowling and how horrendous of a person she is.

Christina: man, after that episode, did that really blow

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: So yeah, very timely on that one.

Matt: Yep, it did indeed. And then we wrap things up. We took, when we, we went from Hate to Love with the last of us and the Art of Storytelling and the episode three long, long time.

Christina: Yeah, and I've already been getting feedback on that one, quite a bit. A lot of people saying that that's, their favorite episode of television ever.

Matt: I.

Christina: and I said it at the time during the podcast, I literally had to listen to the song and watch the credits roll because I just, I. I didn't wanna move, I didn't wanna, I wanted to stay in that episode. I

Matt: Yeah.

Christina: wanna leave it. So,

Matt: Yep.

Christina: that, that episode I. We did, I, I think is one of my favorite episodes that we've done for, this podcast. and I've been wanting to do it for a long time.

Matt: Yes.

Christina: So

Matt: A long, long time, would you say?

Christina: time, pun absolutely intended.

Matt: Mm-hmm.

Christina: so I'm glad we finally got to do that.

Matt: Yeah, it was fantastic as that show is and just keeps going. I love it.

Christina: Uh, yes.

Matt: I love it. So, yeah, over this whole season we've had a lot of great little, little moments that came together to weave this whole tapestry of, of what became season four.

And I know it wasn't necessarily what we had originally intended for the season to, to look like. We talked about some things Exactly. Sometimes we think of things that are more timely and more relevant and we need to make that shift that is, that is what we do so well, that is the wrap on season four of Write Out Loud.

Thank you for sticking with us, for sending your stories and your notes, your questions, and your love. We'll take a little break. We're gonna dream up even more magic for Steven season five. But in the meantime, catch up on any episodes you missed. Follow us on the socials we are at, write out loud pod and hey, maybe even write a little something of your own so we'll be back.

Before you know it, but until then, write out loud.

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