Podcast - Write Better Together

The Write Better Together Podcast

Write Better Together is an interactive podcast hosted by writer/educator Emily Brooks and writing instructor/conference speaker Jon Meyers—designed with YOU in mind. Write Better Together incorporates your needs and input into every aspect of building a community of encouragement, support, and hope to make you comfortable exploring the writer lifestyle more deeply.

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Newest Episodes

How Your Culture Impacts Your Creativity (with Vietnamese Writer/Producer Mai Luu Ly) – Write Better Together

Mai Lu Ly is a Vietnamese filmmaker seeking to improve her society through story. Today, we talked about the fascinating world of Vietnamese storytelling in film and literature, and how censorship and culture affect story. Here are just a few of the projects she has worked on. Country of Blind (2023) – IMDb WONDERLAND | Palm Springs International Film Festival Ren hai tong you (2023) – IMDb ‘Borrowed Time’: Busan Review THE OUTLAW DOCTOR LISTENER RESPONSES We hear from many of you about your inventions! We'd love to know what YOU have invented as well. HEY JON MEYERS Emily tests if Jon Meyers can guess what a strange contraption is (picture in show notes at writebettertogether.com/podcast CALL TO ACTION Pick a stereotypical situation, but put it in a strange setting. See what happens! Links to things we mentioned The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Show Notes

How Your Culture Impacts Your Creativity (with Vietnamese Writer/Producer Mai Luu Ly)

Mai Lu Ly is a Vietnamese filmmaker seeking to improve her society through story. Today, we talked about the fascinating world of Vietnamese storytelling in film and literature, and how censorship and culture affect story.
Finding What Works For You: Emily’s Writing Process

From brainstorming to revision, Emily shares how her writing process has changed over time and what worked for her when she wrote her most recent fantasy novel.
Cultivate Your Community (Online and In-Person) with Sandra Tayler

Author/Entrepreneur Sandra Tayler shares her process for cultivating multiple communities, balancing several projects at once, optimizing crowdfunding efforts, choosing the appropriate live events, and a host of other related independent publishing issues.
Finding Inspiration Outside of Your Bubble: Writer Fest 2024 (Afterthoughts #7)

We reflect on our takeaways from Writer Fest 2024 in Nashville!We were inspired by various presenters and friends, and today we talk about Aaron Covington, William Paul Young, Kiersten Modglin, Randa Newman, Korby Lenker, Mimi McCarley, and David L Hancock! LINKS The Arrangement by Kiersten Mogdlin – https://amzn.to/3Z3ddM2 All Kiersten Mogdlin books (all free with Kindle Unlimited) – https://amzn.to/4g6OFbN…
Research and a Unique Drafting Strategy with Dr. Matthew Huddleston

How do you research for your fiction? Physicist and professor Dr. Matthew Huddleston share his research process for his new novel, Final Eclipse, which included on-site exploration, interviews, and study, as well as his own personal expertise. He also shares his unique layering approach to drafting. Matthew’s Projects Final Eclipse Substack Youtube Channel Emily’s Inside…
What to Do with Your Finished Screenplay with Bob Sáenz

We talked (again!) with the wonderful screenwriter Bob Sáenz about marketing yourself and your scripts.
Keeping it Positive with Austin Francis

Austin Francis practices pitching and tells us about his networking experiences. We also talk about the movie business and what it takes to be a screenwriter. Then, Emily talks about her ringneck doves, and Jon Meyers and Emily play an “Underconsumption Core” scavenger hunt. Check back next week for our episode with Bob Sáenz where…
“I’m a writer, but…” What’s stopping you?

Are you a writer? Can you confidently say it?
How Confidence and Self-Esteem Impact Creativity (and we react to Aimee Carty’s “Baker”)

What is the difference between confidence and self-esteem, and how do they impact our creativity differently?
Character Creation with a Screenwriter of 8 Lifetime Movies: David Hal Chester

We talked with screenwriter David Hal Chester about how he creates characters using a questionnaire!
Fan Fiction: The Writer’s Playground with Fallon Bechtel

We talked with Fallon Bechtel about why she writes and reads fan fiction, and why it’s a tool for authors to grow. You can find Fallon’s work at https://archiveofourown.org/users/abrahamsdaughterraisedherbow/works Fallon can also be found at: Instagram: @itsmefallonb X: fallonsbechtel HEY JON MEYERS Today’s fact came from a video by @tirthak.saha on Instagram CALL TO ACTION…
The Psychology of Revision with Rene Gutteridge

We talk with author and screenwriter Rene Gutteridge about the mental work of revision, from receiving feedback to editing with grace. We also talk about how to have a healthy author’s identity.
Embrace Your Day Job with Screenwriter Charlotte Winters

We talked with screenwriter Charlotte Winters about why we shouldn’t quit our day jobs but embrace them instead.
The Cowriting Lifestyle with Sophie Gardiner and Fiona Ross

We talk with cowriters Sophie Gardiner and Fiona Ross about how they WRITE BETTER TOGETHER! We also talk about confidence and the power of collaboration.
Why We Need Indie Artists with Dean Diehl (Part 2)

Dean Diehl continues to share why indie and amateur artists are essential for moving an art form forward, and why writers must have intrinsic motivations to create good work.
Why We Need Indie Artists with Dean Diehl (Part 1)

Dean Diehl shares why indie and amateur artists are essential for moving an art form forward, and why writers must have intrinsic motivations to create good work.
Using Narrative to Write Compelling Nonfiction that Transforms your Reader with Dr. Cindy Childress

We talked with Dr. Cindy Childress about outlining nonfiction and memoir, considering audience, dialoguing with the reader, and branding! Basically it was the hardest episode to title because we talked about so many different things! “Dr. Cindy, The Expert’s Ghostwriter®, supports entrepreneurs to write books that make money and make an impact. Her clients achieve bestseller…
Making Your Mental Health Work For Your with Lucy V. Hay PART 2 [ALL NEW CONTENT]

We continue our conversation with Lucy V. Hay about mental health that we started in Episode 18!
Collaborative writing with Ami McConnell

About Ami McConnell We talked with the wonderful Ami McConnell about collaborative writing! Ami calls herself a “book midwife” who helps authors birth the stories within them. She has worked on numerous projects, including The Ins-N-outs of In-N-out Burger with Lynsi Snyder; Me and Patsy Kicken up Dust with Loretta Lynn, and Kind is the…
Our Writing Process for Our Book, WRITE ANYWAY

We react to Misty L. Butler’s reaction to our book trailer, answering her questions about how we wrote the book. Then we answer her question about where she should travel! Check out Misty’s Youtube channel at @studioofmistyl.butler2060
Writing Conferences and Pitching to Agents with Misty L. Butler – Episode 22

We talk about what it was like to pitch to agents, what strategies we learned to pick out agents, and what we learned about agents, networking, and the publishing business.
Dealing with Disappointment—Episode 21

Whether you’re a writer or not, you have probably been disappointed by something. If you are a writer, you’ve most definitely been disappointed (unless you’re Jon Meyers and have trained your brain to think positively at all times!). Today, we share how we deal with disappointment and offer some advice to help you make the…
The Little Rascals 30th Anniversary: Behind the Scenes with Paul Guay (Episode 20)

We talked with Paul Guay about his work on The Little Rascals (1994) film! This was a fun, insightful conversation about screenwriting, working in the business, the importance of humor, and what new screenwriters should know. Paul Guay is the co-writer of The Little Rascals and worked on several other films, including Liar Liar (1997)…
Improving Classroom Experiences for Students with Mental Disabilities with Hunter Little

Hunter Little shares her doctoral research on the effects of centering a writing class on mental disability.
Making Mental Health Work for You with Lucy V Hay

We talked with author/screenwriter Lucy V. Hay about mental health and overcoming the past.
Layering Conflict in Your Story with Brian Baker

We talk about the different types of conflict, raising the stakes, choosing your conflict based on your characters, and when to let conflict be resolved.
How we name our characters! (Afterthoughts #6)

Emily Brooks and Jon Meyers share how they name their characters!
Are you bored enough? Poet Adrian Sanders on why boredom sparks creativity (Episode 16)

Poet Adrian Sanders joins us to discuss the importance of boredom for creativity!
We’re writing a book!

As we prepare to launch the book, we are looking for people who are just as excited as we are to join our team and spread the word. If that’s you, send us a message, and we’ll find a way to get you involved!
Sara Wigal shares why you should come to WriterFest in Nashville!

Sara Wigal shares why WriterFest exists and why it’s a fantastic conference for writers to grow and find community!