My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope

Prepping for Preptober

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/XI92ZBNSvDg
NINC (Novelists, Inc.)
Maryland Romance Writers - https://marylandromancewriters.com/
Capclave - https://www.capclave.org/
Imaginary Worldbuilding course - https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net/courses/imaginary-worldbuilding
Preptober 2023 - prep your NaNoWriMo with me - https://myimaginaryfriends.net/nano
 East City Bookstore, Washington, DC with Ariel Kaplan (hybrid event)  Thursday October 5, 2032 - https://eastcitybookshop.com/events/20231005
My events - https://lpenelope.com/calendar/
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - https://bookshop.org/a/582/9780593321201
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter & become an Imaginary Best Friend: https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show: https://paypal.me/heartspell
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Respecting Romance + Story Surgery

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HWjjXkRIO_o
Yale Romance Conference - https://romancefictionconference.yale.edu/
Love Between the Covers documentary - https://www.lovebetweenthecovers.com/
RWA implosion in detail - https://claireryanauthor.com/blog/2019/12/27/the-implosion-of-the-rwa/
The Black Romance Podcast - https://blackromancepodcast.libsyn.com/
Virgil Abloh on perfectionism 
My YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@leslyepenelope
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Writing Through Difficult Times

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2wDPB6W9q0
"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it." - Eckhart Tolle via InspiringQuotes.com
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
My interview on the Black Writer Therapy podcast -
The Write Women Book Festival
Novelists, Inc. (NINC)
The Muse Writers Center workshops: Building a World Around Your Characters & Plot and Fantasy Worldbuilding 
Author websites by me: https://theauthor.digital/
Joy Harris GoFundMe
 
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Advice to My Younger Self

Watch on YouTube
Become an Imaginary Best Friend to support the show!
Mentioned:
InkersCon
Authortube Writing Conference
ApollyCon - https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/apollycon/
Imaginarium Book Festival
 "Advice I would give to baby author me" by Angelina M. Lopez
https://snazzymaps.com/ - custom Google Maps
https://www.wellspent.so/ - App to stop mindless scrolling on social media
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

What’s In Your Circle of Control?

Developing story ideas, novel playlists, and mapping
Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
- Imaginarium Book Festival- The Story Seed Mini-course- Footnotes newsletter- Scribblemaps- "It's Our World, AI Just "Lives" In It" by Tara McMullin - Circle of Control graphic- Fast X- InkersCon
 
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Scene Values and Turning Points

Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
Sistah Scifi bookstore 
Afrofuturism exhibit at NMAAHC 
Our group at the exhibit 
Ytasha Womack
Plottr software (affiliate link)
GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
C.S. Lakin courses
Scene Turning Points article
Story by Robert McKee
The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
Genres of writing 
Susan Dennard "How to Level Up Your Settings, Part 1"
Queen Charlotte on Netflix
Leap Year movie
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
SciFiTalk podcast with me and narrator Shayna Small
"Heal Chaos and Overwhelm: DECLUTTER Every Part of Your Life"
 
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

My First Week Plotting a New Novel

Watch on Youtube
Mentioned:
Savage City on sale for $.99 (limited time)
Calendar I use for my writing calendar
My Resources Page 
https://todoist.com/
The Story Seed Workbook Mini-course
Imaginary Worldbuilding: Creating Fictional Worlds for Writers
Save the Cat 
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
ChatGPT
Whimsical
OneStopForWriters.com
Michael Hauge character development - The Inner Struggle 
Enneagrams
Prioritize Like a Pro free webinar mentioned last week
Freewrite Traveler
Imaginarium Book Festival - May 20 & 21, 2023, Washington, DC
My Events Calendar 
 
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Prioritize Your Projects

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-plK0hBFKig
Mentioned:
Beastly Kingdom is here!
Apollycon
Draft 2 Digital
Scribecount for book sales tracking 
Imaginarium Book Festival - May 20-21, 2023, Washington, DC
Imaginary Worldbuilding Course
Autonomous Creative with Jessica Abel
"Why it’s so hard for writers to ask for money for their work" by Mason Currey
Backwater Books "Meet the Romance Writers of Maryland" - Ellicott City, MD - May 4, 2023
 
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Doubling Down on Being Human in an A.I. World

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/eg1ZHOp1yf4
Mentioned:
Ram's Promo Stacker
ChatGPT
Sudowrite
"What's Your North Star?" post
"Hi Ren" music video
A reaction video compilation
Sarra Cannon's HB90 Method
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The Opportunity Costs of Saying ”Yes”

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LQB3as3Z8RM
Mentioned:
ProWriting Aid software
Scrivener
Shayna Small audiobook narrator
Street Faërie by Cree Summer (Spotify link)
Author Author
bad copies of Monsters photo 1 | photo 2
My essay “When Fantasy & STEM Collide" on the Fantasy Cafe 
Jane Friedman
The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing.
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - https://myimaginaryfriends.net
Support the show - https://paypal.me/heartspell
My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts!
Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM
Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.