Best Alba Arango Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 18: How to Begin Paragraphs: Wording Matters 9:12

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5d ago9:12

9:12

What is the best way to start paragraphs? In this episode, I will delve into the some cautions of writing in first person, especially in regards to paragraph opening sentences, as well as general tips for keeping your writing from becoming monotonous. So, sit back. Relax. And let's talk paragraphs. Links mentioned in this video The Ruby Diamond (re…

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Episode 17: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing in 2025: Which is Best? Pros and Cons 34:16

13d ago34:16

34:16

Are you ready to publish your book? Now comes the toughest decision you have to make...do you go traditional or self (indie)-publishing? Things have changed in the publishing world in the past ten (let alone 20) years. In this episode, I focus on some of the main things to consider when deciding on how to publish your book in today's market. Topics…

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Episode 16: How to help an author without spending any money :) 15:19

20d ago15:19

15:19

We all want to help our author friends, but sometimes buying books isn't within our budget. Here are seven ways we can all help our author friends and family without spending any money. Helpful links (some are affiliate inks): Scrivener (the writing software I use) AlbaArango.com (my website and contact information) Jeopardy in Geneva (one of my bo…

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Episode 15: Five Ways to Learn the Craft of Writing 14:04

27d ago14:04

14:04

Never stop learning. That is not just my regular mantra but my writing mantra as well. I hope, wherever you are on your writing journey, you never give up exploring new ways to expand your writing universe. There are, of course, many ways to learn about the craft of writing. In this episode, I focus on five ways to get you started. Links from this …

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Episode 14: First Page Do's and Don'ts 12:04

1M ago12:04

12:04

Ever want to know what agents and publishers want to see (and what they don't want to see) on the first page of your book? After attending many agent/publisher First Page panels, I've comprised a quick list of DO's and DON'Ts to help you create that stellar first page. Helpful links (some are affiliate inks): Scrivener (the writing software I use) …

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Episode 13: Does grammar really matter anymore? 13:57

1M ago13:57

13:57

It's 2025. People are used to texting and memes. Does grammar matter as much as it used to, or have we as a society kind of lost our interest in proper grammar? Links from this episode: Scrivener (the writing software I use, also an affiliate link) Pro Writing Aid Grammarly Additional links: AlbaArango.com (my website and contact information) The S…

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Episode 12: Which Tense to Use When Writing a Book? 15:11

2M ago15:11

15:11

Past tense vs. Present tense... which is better when writing a book? In this episode I will first explain the difference between the two tenses, and then look at different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and discuss which tense is more popular within each genre. Links mentioned in this episode Episode 3: Who's telling this story? Examining Di…

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Episode 11: Shhh, I'm reading. Why Reading is So Important for a Writer 12:10

2M ago12:10

12:10

Not all readers are writers, but all writers are readers. At least, I hope that's true. In this episode, I will get into why reading (in general) is important for a writer, but also why reading in your genre (specifically, the genre you are writing) is a must. I will also go over the importance of craft books, something I feel is beneficial for wri…

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Episode 10: Do you see what I see? Utilizing the Senses in Your Writing 13:33

2M ago13:33

13:33

Most authors are pretty good about describing the things the characters see, but what about what they hear? Smell? Touch? Taste? In this episode, I will go over some tips on how to incorporate all the senses into not only your setting, but also your character development. Some helpful links (some are affiliate inks): Scrivener (the writing software…

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Episode 9: What do you want to share? Why newsletters are important for authors. 15:35

2M ago15:35

15:35

For many years, your social media platform was stressed as the most important thing an author had to do (besides writing a good book, of course). But times change. Social media apps rise and dive in popularity. People take breaks from social media, often for their own mental well-being. But. Email is still around. People who sign up for newsletters…

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Episode 8: Why are they like that? How to (and not to) add backstory to your story. 13:26

3M ago13:26

13:26

In this episode, I’m going to delve into the amazing tool of backstory. If done correctly, backstory can help you fully develop your characters and help your reader better understand your characters by seeing elements from their past. But, if done poorly, backstory can take your readers out of the story and drive them away from your book. So, if yo…

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Episode 7: How’s the weather out there? Using Weather to Enhance Your Story 12:06

3M ago12:06

12:06

In this episode, I will be talking about the weather. Random, right? I mean, normally people talk about the weather when they have nothing else to say. lol But! As an author, using the weather in your writing is a great way to not only bring your reader further inside your setting, but it can also help with character development within your story. …

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Episode 6: Can we talk? Tips for Writing Dialogue 12:30

3M ago12:30

12:30

Dialogue is such an important part of a story, and what characters say and how they say it can affect the way readers perceive your characters. There are entire seminars that focus on the topic of dialogue, but in this (short) episode, we are going to focus on a few ways to make your characters sound believable, and then how to use character tags i…

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Episode 5: Hey, world, it's me. Connecting with other authors (even if you're an introvert) 13:21

3M ago13:21

13:21

Whether you’re a newbie author two chapters into their first book, or a seasoned author with two dozen books in the bookstores, connecting with other authors can be a wonderful source of inspiration and motivation. In this episode, I will share many different places to connect with authors (some of which don’t even require any speaking for my shy i…

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Episode 4: I'm so stuck! Tips to Overcome Writer's Block 14:37

3M ago14:37

14:37

I don't know about you, but sometimes, as an author, I get stuck. Just...stuck. And when that happens, I need some help to get...unstuck. In this episode, I will discuss the different strategies I personally use, and strategies I know other authors use, to help overcome "writer's block." Helpful links (some are affiliate inks): Scrivener (the writi…

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Episode 1: I have an idea for a book. Where Do I Begin? 19:22

4M ago19:22

19:22

Episode 1: Welcome! If you have an idea for a book, but don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place (or the WRITE place...hahaha). After a quick introduction (this is the first episode), I dive right into today’s topic…Where Do I Begin? I start by discussing various methods/software for doing your writing, and then I share some differ…

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Episode 2: How am I gonna finish writing this book? Setting Realistic Writing Goals 10:49

4M ago10:49

10:49

Whether you're a new author working on your first book, or a seasoned author with three or four books under your belt, setting writing goals can be the defining factor for getting that book done in a timely manner. But setting unrealistic goals can cause frustration and, sometimes, cause authors to give up. In this episode, I'll give you several di…

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Episode 3: Who's Telling this Story? Examining Different Points of View (POV) 15:43

4M ago15:43

15:43

Not sure which POV is best for your book? This episode breaks down the pros and cons of writing in the different points of view, from first person to third person limited and omniscient (and even second person!). Not really sure what each of these are? No worries! I'll break down what each POV means and (hopefully) give you some food for thought on…

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TEASER: Hey, what's this new podcast about? 1:12

4M ago1:12

1:12

BOOK WRITING TIPS: Quick Tips for New and Seasoned Authors is a podcast for authors at any stage of your writing journey. Whether you're a novice with nothing more than an idea in your head, or a veteran with a hundred published books, this podcast will hopefully give you inspiration and ideas to not only start that book, but see it through and fin…