My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope

Starting a brand new book… no, I’m not scared at all.
 
This week’s best thing: Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling
 
Links:
Namesake by Kate Stradling
Project Management Software
Smartsheet
Trello
Notion
Calendar templates 
Write, Better, Faster course
George RR Martin on endings
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland
positive, negative & flat character arcs!
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
 
 
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
 
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
 
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative 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.

I have turned in my manuscript (let us all rejoice!) and muse on my ongoing struggle with perfectionism.
 
This week’s best thing: Publishers Weekly starred review of Whispers of Shadow & Flame
 
Links:
Awario.com and Mention.com - for tracking online mentions 
AppSumo - deals on techies things
VONA/Voices workshop for writers of color
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Shadow Warrior by Ann Aguirre
Heinlein's rules for writing success
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
 
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
 
Website: https://www.lpenelope.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
 
Music credit:
Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
Creative 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.

Thoughts on publishing paths: indie and traditional. Also, inspiring honesty in writing and life.
THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Avengers: Endgame(!!!)
MENTIONS:- Angelina Lopez blog post- Indie Author Central (IAC) on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letztalkbooks/
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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
 

This week I have a special guest: actor Paul James (aka my brother). Known for Greek, The Last Ship, and The Path, Paul shares his perspective on creating characters by bringing a writer’s words to life.
This week’s best thing: my birthday! + Game of Thrones!
Links:
The Hot Sheet – https://hotsheetpub.com/
Ran Walker, 2019 Indie Author of the Year – https://indieauthorproject.com/2019-indie-author-of-the-year-award/
Kboards – https://www.kboards.com/
The Passive Voice – https://www.thepassivevoice.com/
The Sell More Books Show – http://sellmorebooksshow.com
Paul James on IMDB
GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Deb Dixon
 
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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 DisclosureI 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.

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - Haruki Murakami
THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: I got to see Audra McDonald perform live! (She could be every week's best thing!) https://audramcdonald.com/
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT:- Sending my April newsletter- What to write next?- Working on chapter epigraphs for CRY OF METAL & BONE
LINKS:- Fonda Lee Twitter quiz: https://twitter.com/FondaJLee/status/1115051419134877696
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast

How novel revision and software development are basically the same thing. This week I enter the last(ish) stage of my revision, discuss the many uses of index cards, character verbs, and try not to let thoughts of piracy derail me.
This week's best thing: I finished the final proofing of WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME! Hoorah!
Mentions:- Verbalize by Damon Suede - https://amzn.to/2ORE0qa- The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne - https://amzn.to/2Um01DB- Write Your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell - https://amzn.to/2I3ndQd- Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland - https://amzn.to/2UkBv5u- Author Rachel Caine on piracy
 
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: http://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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 function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work." — Toni Morrison
Writing updates, quarterly planning, and my thoughts on recent events in the romance writing world. 
This Week's Best Thing: WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME Advanced Reader Copies are here!!
Other Mentions:
Robin Covington, romance author
Mindlogr - private video diaries
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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

On managing decision fatigue and why high output (writing all the things!) requires high input (aka my excuse for binge reading).
This Week's Best Thing: The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas 
Also Mentioned:
Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
Robin LaFevers IG Post on Decision Fatigue - https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKP68fHj8w/- Check out her books! http://www.robinlafevers.com/
Neil Gaiman on Neil Armstrong and Imposter Syndrome
Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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

This week I talk writerly intuition and do some research to come up with character names.
This week's best thing: Trailers Galore!- Aladdin trailer- Avengers:Endgame- Bel-Air
The Writer's Well podcast: http://thewriterswell.org
Article on the Sami Concept of Time: http://www.laits.utexas.edu/sami/dieda/anthro/concept-time.htm
Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
Show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Website: https://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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

This week I got stuck in my writing and determined I wasn't leaving enough blood on the page.
Show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast
Mentioned in the show:- The Umbrella Academy- Madhuri Pavamani, author & poet- Franz Kafka quote and translations
Website: http://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope
Music credit:Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative 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