The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer

Latest Episodes:

A Multi-POV Fantasy Death Tournament with Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman - All of Us Villains Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with writing duo Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman about their young adult fantasy - ALL OF US VILLAINS - as well as using archetypes to guide your decisions when building a large cast of characters, then adding layers through personality details; developing a complex magic system and determining when and how to break your own magic rules; being intentional with your setting details and descriptions in order to evoke a certain mood; and lots of insight into the co-writing process, from things to consider when entering into a writing partnership (think: communication, trust, and a shared vision for the project), as well as some potential challenges (like technology hiccups and - gulp! - having to share your unpolished work with someone else).

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Romantic Tension and Discovering Your Characters with Tif Marcelo - The Holiday Switch Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Tif Marcelo about her contemporary YA romance - THE HOLIDAY SWITCH - as well as the importance of being flexible, whether that's making adjustment to your career path or trying something new with your writing to see where it leads; discovering your characters in your first draft, and "putting them together" in revisions - yes, even if it means having to rewrite all your dialogue; balancing romantic sparks with ongoing tension by first determining where your protagonist and love interest both attract and repel each other; why the power of changing your mind is just as important for us writers as it can be for our protagonists; some thoughts on how hosting our respective podcasts has helped us feel connected to other writers during the pandemic; and the idea that reading a book can be a little bit like reading your horoscope - we often get from it what we are looking for.

Writing Fairy Tale Retellings with Jennifer Donnelly and Marissa Meyer - Stepsister, Poisoned, & Gilded Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Jennifer Donnelly about her fairy tale retellings - STEPSISTER and POISONED - as well as Marissa's newest novel - GILDED! We delve into some of the deeper themes in our favorite stories, and how writers can use retellings to change an ongoing discussion in our society; how so many retellings come from a place of irritation with the source material and why creators are often drawn to "set the story right"; why embracing the darkness in fairy tales adds a layer of authenticity and can ultimately be empowering for young readers; writing protagonists that include a little bit of ourselves in them and also a little bit of who we'd like to be; using word choice, sensory details, and haunting music to capture an eerie vibe in your writing; and various techniques for developing villains and morally ambiguous side characters who are both alluring and multi-dimensional.

Alternating POVs in YA Fantasy with Roseanne A. Brown - A Psalm of Storms and Silence Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Roseanne A. Brown about her new fantasy novel - A PSALM OF STORMS AND SILENCE - as well as weaving together two storylines with alternating points of view by ensuring that each subplot consistently informs the other; developing big stakes and powerful motivations for your protagonists that will continuously increase the book's suspense; using riddles (or spells, or clues, or prophecies...) as a clever plot device to build forward momentum into your plot; some tips for making a fantasy world that feels particularly lush and lived in; balancing multiple writing projects at a time by first developing a time management system that works for you and then finding ways to access a different headspace for each project; and choosing to take your writing seriously, no matter where you are on the journey.

Tips for Landing a Literary Agent with Superstar Agent Jill Grinberg Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Marissa chats with her own literary agent - Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Answering questions from listeners, topics include how Jill became Marissa's agent and the author/agent relationship (which shares a lot of similarities to marriage); what, exactly, a literary agent does and why it's important to find one that shares your overall vision; why authors should think long-term when it comes to career planning, and how many sustainable writing careers are built gradually, not necessarily with a big, splashy debut; how publishing is an industry built on relationships, and a little bit of kindness and appreciation can go a long way; and lots and lots of talk about - yes! - the query letter! Including a few Dos and Don'ts, and how you can get your query letter to stand out from the crowd.

A Hades & Persephone Webcomic Turned Bestselling Graphic Novel - Rachel Smythe - Lore Olympus Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Rachel Smythe about her debut graphic novel - LORE OLYMPUS, Volume 1 - collected from her popular web comic. Topics include recontextualizing Greek myths for a modern audience; respecting your old work - no matter how cringy you feel about it - because it got you to where you are on your creative journey today; how sadness and angst in our reading material can actually make us happier (who knew?); some thoughts on writing serialized stories, such as web comics, and how each episode should be written for both your long-term readers who crave ongoing story structure, and also new readers searching for week-to-week entertainment; a glimpse into Rachel's intricate plotting process; and a wonderful tip for taking away some of the pressure of perfectionism: draft in Comic Sans!

Dark Fairy Tales and Weaving in Subtext with Soman Chainani - Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Soman Chainani about his new story collection - BEASTS AND BEAUTY: DANGEROUS TALES - as well as the incredible feeling of gratitude one feels when they know they are following their true calling in life; weaving layers and subtext into your short stories, and how those nuances will be interpreted differently by readers depending on their age, experience, and imagination; taking a deeper look at the questions inherent in fairy tales in order to reinterpret their themes, morals, and the idea of happily ever after; the question to ask yourself after cutting something from your work, once you've had a chance to let it settle - "Do I miss it?"; what to do when your story falls into that gray area between middle grade and young adult (hint: you may not have to do anything); plus a behind-the-scenes look at working with an illustrator.

Nail Your Descriptions and Emotional Action Scenes with Ayana Gray - Beasts of Prey Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Ayana Gray about her debut young adult fantasy - BEASTS OF PREY - as well as using online resources to learn from other writers about the publishing journey, and as a way to know that you're not alone; choosing your descriptive words carefully in order to evoke a particular feeling, whether you're describing a minor character or a great mythical beast inspired by real-world lore; striking that balance between fast-paced action and deep emotional moments, even when they both need to happen in a single scene (hint: sometimes your story - and characters - just need to pause and take a breath); using backstory and motivation to get your readers invested in your protagonist's emotional journey; and giving yourself permission to pursue a career in writing, despite the naysayers.

Jumpstart Your Creativity! with Sarah Rhea Werner, Host of the Write Now Podcast + Girl in Space Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Marissa chats with Sarah Rhea Werner - host of the Write Now podcast and creator of the award-winning audio drama "Girl in Space" - about All Things Creativity! Topics include the definition of "creativity" and how all types of creative expression deserve credit and affirmation; why the practice of conscious consumption is step one in generating lots of ideas; keeping a journal and playing the "what if?" game as effective brainstorming strategies; lots of tips for overcoming various writing fears - from fear of running out of ideas, to fear of failure, to fear of success, and everything in between; re-sparking inspiration for an idea that has started to fizzle out; and how to know when working with a creativity consultant or book coach might be right for you.

Writing the Book of Your Heart with Marie Lu - Skyhunter & Steelstriker Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Marissa is joined by listener Allison Phillips to chat with Marie Lu about her new futuristic duology - SKYHUNTER and STEELSTRIKER - as well as how characters who speak different languages and have different communication styles makes for some unique writing challenges, but ultimately add depth and realism to your world building; what to do with that book of your heart when the market isn't quite ready for it; a great tip for differentiating character voices when writing from two separate first-person POVs; and some of the difficulties of creating during the pandemic, but how we can care for our own mental health by inserting pinpoints of light and optimism into our work. Plus: Marissa's favorite new tip for snacking-while-writing (and avoiding getting your keyboard all messy)!

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