Best Manuscript Development Podcasts (2025)

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Developing Better Plots Using a Character-Driven Approach with Daniel David Wallace 27:36

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1d ago27:36

27:36

Send me a Text Message! Struggling with how to write a thriller that grabs readers immediately? In this interview, writing expert Daniel David Wallace shares game-changing writing tips for crafting plots that keep readers hooked from page one. Daniel, creator of the Character First Writing Approach and host of Escape the Plot Forest summit, reveals…

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215. How to Write a Prologue Readers Won’t Skip (& When to Start at Chapter One Instead) 18:57

4d ago18:57

18:57

Should you include a prologue or skip it? Here's how to make the right choice for your novel. Prologues are one of the most debated topics in fiction. Some literary agents warn against them, some readers skip them altogether, and yet many of the most beloved bestselling novels begin with one. The real question is this: Does your story need a prolog…

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Traci Abramson - Victim #8 19:42

7d ago19:42

19:42

Former CIA officer Traci Hunter Abramson trades classified briefings for bestselling novels, written with the kind of authenticity only experience can give. We talk about her latest, Victim #8, how a layover in Istanbul sparked a story, and why her years in the Agency still shape every page.By Terry Shepherd

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Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers 54:04

7d ago54:04

54:04

Developmental editing holds the power to make a manuscript connect with publishers and readers, yet few scholarly writers have the training to do it well. Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers (Princeton UP, 2025) offers scholars a practical method for assessing and refining the features of their texts th…

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What is Free Speech with Fara Dabhoiwala 1:09:38

7d ago1:09:38

1:09:38

The speech debates have not abated, and it’s clear that invoking the First Amendment, and the importance of free speech for democracy, does not settle these debates but provokes more questions. We have lost our way, it seems, since people on all sides invoke free speech and then try to silence those they disagree with. Historian Fara Dabhoiwala of …

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How to Write Thrillers That Actually Matter with Aaron Philip Clark 32:31

7d ago32:31

32:31

Send me a Text Message! What if the setting you choose could be as morally complex as your protagonist? In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Aaron Philip Clark pulls back the curtain on how he crafts crime fiction that thrills and matters. Aaron reveals: his process for weaving heavy themes into page-turners without slowing the pace why he…

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214. Subverting the Mainstream Lens: Writing Stories That Stay True to Your People (With Tiffany Grimes) 35:37

11d ago35:37

35:37

Learn how to write authentic, diverse characters without over-explaining or fearing criticism. Writing diverse characters can feel intimidating. You want to include different voices in your story, but worry about misrepresenting them. This leads many writers to either avoid diversity altogether or fall into the trap of over-explaining everything fo…

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Raymond E. Foster - Chasing the Surge 22:01

10d ago22:01

22:01

By Terry Shepherd

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Deepa Das Acevedo, "The War on Tenure" (Cambridge UP, 2025) 1:02:47

13d ago1:02:47

1:02:47

As academia increasingly comes under attack in the United States, The War on Tenure (Cambridge UP, 2025) steps in to demystify what professors do and to explain the importance of tenure for their work. Deepa Das Acevedo takes readers on a backstage tour of tenure-stream academia to reveal hidden dynamics and obstacles. She challenges the common bel…

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Michael Fernandez and Amauri Serrano, "Streaming Video Collection Development and Management" (Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 2025) 47:03

15d ago47:03

47:03

Streaming video is not new to the library environment, but recent years have seen an exponential growth in the number of platforms and titles available for streaming. For libraries, this has meant an increasingly complex acquisitions landscape, with more vendors occupying the marketplace and larger portions of the budget dedicated to streaming. Use…

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Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education 52:26

14d ago52:26

52:26

In Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education (JHU Press, 2025), Dr. Annmarie Caño reimagines academic leadership as a practice rooted in liberation and equity. Drawing on her experiences as a Latina, first-generation college student, clinical psychologist, and higher education administrator, Caño shows how lea…

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146 How to turn 'wasted' drafts and subverted tropes into your writing superpower with Charlene Wang 14:49

15d ago14:49

14:49

Send me a Text Message! What if the tropes you love are actually holding your thriller back? In this episode, Charlene Wang reveals how she transformed the beloved campus novel into a feminist revenge thriller by strategically subverting genre expectations. And the results landed her a major book deal. You'll discover the counterintuitive truth abo…

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213. 5 Expert Tips To Edit Your Messy First Draft Without The Overwhelm 28:23

18d ago28:23

28:23

Five book coaches reveal the editing secrets that turn messy first drafts into ready-to-publish manuscripts. Finishing a first draft is an incredible milestone, but what comes next can feel overwhelming. If you're staring at your messy pages and wondering how to even begin editing, you're not alone. The good news is that there is a way to move forw…

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Heather Ogden - The Betrayal 17:12

18d ago17:12

17:12

In a world where loyalty can be the sharpest weapon and truth itself is treason, debut novelist Heather Ogden invites us into the haunting depths of her new dystopian fantasy, The Betrayal—the first in The Lies We Fear series. With a passion for fantasy and magical realism, Heather has crafted a story that blends mysterious magic, hidden truths, an…

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145 The View from the Slush Pile: A Literary Agent's Fresh Take on What Works with Tommy Dean 20:19

21d ago20:19

20:19

Send me a Text Message! What if I told you that right now, while established agents are drowning in hundreds of submissions, there's a brand new literary agent who's actively building his client list and genuinely excited to discover your manuscript? In this episode, Tommy Dean shares what makes him your ideal partner in this industry. Tommy shares…

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Stephen K. Postema - Running Around Town 26:42

23d ago26:42

26:42

Stephen Postema started running in Kindergarten. His strides through Ann Arbor, Michigan in the 60s and 70s became a metaphor for a city and nation in evolution.By Terry Shepherd

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212. 5 Ways Writers Can Use AI to Help With Book Marketing 18:29

25d ago18:29

18:29

You’ve poured your heart into writing your book, but now you’re staring down the next challenge: how do you actually get it into readers’ hands? Marketing your book can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. With the right tools—like AI—you can turn it into a streamlined, even fun, part of your creative process. In this episode, I’m breaking…

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Sam Daley-Harris - Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy 28:01

28d ago28:01

28:01

Sam Daley-Harris has updated and expanded his classic work, Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy. And it's become a playbook for positive change. Get the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Our-Democracy-Citizens-Transformational/dp/1953943381By Terry Shepherd

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Debaditya Bhattacharya, "The Indian University: A Critical History" (Orient BlackSwan, 2025) 58:45

27d ago58:45

58:45

Is there such a thing as an ‘Indian university’? Is there an ‘idea’ of an Indian university? Were universities in India living and breathing products of the soil, or were they conceptual imports from a colonial heritage? What is the relationship between universities in India and the ‘publics’ that have inhabited or are alienated by them? More point…

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M.A. in Yoga Studies with Christopher Chapple 37:35

29d ago37:35

37:35

Dr. Christopher Chapple, founder of Loyola Marymount University’s pioneering M.A. in Yoga Studies, joins us to discuss how the program blends rigorous scholarship with embodied practice. We explore its study of Sanskrit, classical texts, philosophy, and modern applications, as well as its flexible residential and low-residency formats. Hear how thi…

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Charles Philipp Martin - Rented Grave 18:06

30d ago18:06

18:06

Charles Philipp Martin's Rented Grave, re-introduces Inspector Herman Lok, delving deep into the underbelly of Hong Kong, a city caught between modern ambition and the haunting legacy of Mao’s Cultural Revolution.By Terry Shepherd

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Alisha Karabinus et al. eds., "Historiographies of Game Studies: What It Has Been, What It Could Be" (Punctum Books, 2025) 27:01

1M ago27:01

27:01

Historiographies of Game Studies: What It Has Been, What It Could Be (Punctum Books, 2025) offers a first-of-its-kind reflection on how game studies as an academic field has been shaped and sustained. Today, game studies is a thriving field with many dedicated national and international conferences, journals, professional societies, and a strong pr…

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Sharon Eubank - Doing Small Things With Great Love 25:09

1M ago25:09

25:09

Drawing from decades of experience in global humanitarian service, Sharon Eubank offers a wisdom-packed guide on how to enact impactful aid in the world through actions you can initiate in your own backyard.By Terry Shepherd

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What Editors Really Want Right Now with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Who Provides a Sneak Peek Inside Simon & Schuster's Newest Imprint 27:39

1M ago27:39

27:39

Send me a Text Message! You’re going to love this exclusive conversation with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster's new imprint, Simon Maverick. Chantelle reveals how the publishing industry is evolving to meet indie and hybrid authors where they are. And why audio is becoming the new frontier that could transform your writing …

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211. How to Write Romantasy Power Couples Readers Obsess Over With Jenna Moreci 35:25

1M ago35:25

35:25

Want to write a Romantasy that readers obsess over? Here’s how to deliver the tropes, intimacy, and magic readers crave. Romantasy is everywhere right now, and for good reason—it’s the perfect mix of swoony romance, epic fantasy, and unforgettable characters. But if you’ve ever thought, “How do I even start writing Romantasy?” you’re not alone. Wit…

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Stacy Bass - Lightkeeper 27:40

1M ago27:40

27:40

Stacy Bass delivers a transformative story of grief, offers a new way into resilience, and illustrates how photographs can be portals to the stories, moments, and love that loss cannot diminish.By Terry Shepherd

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Designing and Facilitating Workshops with Intentionality 47:49

1M ago47:49

47:49

Designing and Facilitating Workshops with Intentionality offers practical guidance, tools, and resources to assist practitioners in creating effective, engaging workshops for adult learners. Drawing from three key learning frameworks and the author’s considerable expertise in facilitating workshops across both educational and corporate settings, th…

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Why Your Perfect Manuscript Isn't Enough And What to Do About It with Author Tamara Miller 16:57

1M ago16:57

16:57

Send me a Text Message! Tamara Miller's debut thriller INTO THE FALL has launched her career with a two-book publishing contract. But her path from government policy analyst to published author wasn't built on talent alone. It was strategic business thinking that made the difference. In this episode, Tamara Miller reveals the approach that got her …

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210. 5 Tips For Writing A Multiple POV Novel Without Confusing Your Readers 11:55

1M ago11:55

11:55

Discover the five essential strategies for mastering multiple-POV novels without confusing your readers. Have you ever wondered if you could write a multi-POV story like The Girl on the Train? Or how about The Six of Crows? The kind that pulls you into multiple characters' worlds so completely that you feel like you know each one personally? Writin…

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Tim Kirk - All His Damned Mother's Sons 26:37

1M ago26:37

26:37

What if Elvis died while serving in the Army? Who might emerge to try and replace the young, still emerging superstar? Tim Kirk discusses how his Hollywood screen chops influenced a tightly plotted story of four men Elvis' age who were influenced by what few realized in this altered timeline was a seismic event.…

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Stephanie K. Kim, "Constructing Student Mobility: How Universities Recruit Students and Shape Pathways between Berkeley and Seoul" (MIT Press, 2023) 53:07

1M ago53:07

53:07

Constructing Student Mobility: How Universities Recruit Students and Shape Pathways between Berkeley and Seoul (MIT Press, 2023) challenges the popular image of the international student in the American imagination, an image of affluence, access, and privilege. In this provocative book, higher education scholar Stephanie Kim argues that universitie…

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Christopher Willard et al., "College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals" (Oxford UP, 2025) 45:11

1M ago45:11

45:11

With a growing number of students entering college with an existing mental health diagnosis, College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals (Oxford UP, 2025) offers hope and clear direction to those struggling with mental illness. There is an undeniable mental health crisis on campuses these days. More students are anxi…

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Sarah McLaughlin, "Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2025) 41:51

1M ago41:51

41:51

In an era of globalized education, where ideals of freedom and inquiry should thrive, an alarming trend has emerged: foreign authoritarian regimes infiltrating American academia. In Authoritarians in the Academy, Sarah McLaughlin exposes how higher education institutions, long considered bastions of free thought, are compromising their values for f…

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Who Needs College Anymore: Imagining A Future Where Degrees Don’t Matter 51:42

1M ago51:42

51:42

In this optimistic yet practical assessment of how postsecondary education can evolve to meet the needs of next-generation learners, Kathleen deLaski reimagines what higher education might offer and whom it should serve. In the wake of declining enrollment and declining confidence in the value of a college degree, she urges a mindset shift regardin…

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Literary Agent Lori Galvin Talks Going From Query to Deal: What Agents Need to See Before They Sign You 22:13

1M ago22:13

22:13

Send me a Text Message! Literary agent Lori Galvin reveals exactly what makes a query letter irresistible. She breaks down the specific elements that make agents request materials, and the common mistakes that lead to instant rejections. Whether you're crafting your first query or your fiftieth, this episode delivers the agent perspective that ever…

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209. How to Revise Your Novel Like a Pro (Without Losing Your Mind) With Alice Sudlow 53:28

2M ago53:28

53:28

Discover the counterintuitive first draft editing approach that transforms messy manuscripts into page-turning novels readers love. Most fiction writers struggle with novel revision because they jump straight into editing their manuscript after finishing their first draft. This approach leads to endless rewrites, overwhelming confusion, and stories…

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141 Literary Agent Vicky Weber on Why Most Writers Aren't Agent-Ready (And How to Fix It) 29:37

2M ago29:37

29:37

Send me a Text Message! Ever wondered why it feels nearly impossible to land a literary agent these days? In this episode, I had a chat with Vicky Weber, a literary agent, bestselling children's author, and marketing strategist, who pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities facing today's publishing industry. Vicky reveals why the bar for getti…

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208. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 6) 23:46

2M ago23:46

23:46

Real writers share how they broke free from endless rewrites and abandoned drafts to finally finish their novels in just 90 days—using the exact framework that can unlock your story too. In this episode, I’m sharing real, inspiring stories from fiction writers who went from stuck and overwhelmed to finishing their novels using the exact framework I…

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Claire Booth - Throwing Shadows 20:27

2M ago20:27

20:27

Claire Booth beautifully blends real-life location with a mix of mystery and drama in Hank Worth 7. Throwing Shadows effectively demonstrates how past events ripple into present drama.By Terry Shepherd

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207. What Agents & Readers Want: How to Write a Story That Works 11:33

2M ago11:33

11:33

Have you ever sat down to write a novel and thought, “Where do I even begin?” Or maybe you’ve started writing, but something feels... off. The story isn’t coming together the way you imagined, and you’re not sure why. You’re not alone. Most writers struggle with this because they’re missing the foundational elements that make a story work. It’s not…

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Loxley Browne - The Charms Series 15:39

2M ago15:39

15:39

Author and entrepreneur Loxley Brown discusses her Charms book series, teaching young people about dreaming big and taking action to make those dreams real.By Terry Shepherd

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Matthew Goodman, "The City Game: Triumph, Scandal, and a Legendary Basketball Team" (Ballantine Books, 2019) 50:28

2M ago50:28

50:28

The 1949-50 CCNY Beavers basketball team were one of the unlikeliest of champions in sports history. CCNY was a tuition-free in Harlem, New York, intended to give working class students the best education possible. The school was comprised of minorities, many of whom were the immigrants or children of immigrants. In 1949-50, the CCNY squad, led by …

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Christopher R. Matthews, "Doing Good Social Science: Lessons from Immersion, Understanding Social Life and Exploring the In-Between" (Routledge, 2025) 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

Doing Good Social Science: Lessons from Immersion, Understanding Social Life and Exploring the In-Between (Routledge, 2025) takes readers on a personal and thought-provoking journey and empowers readers to become unshakeable, free-thinking scholars. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in research and mentorship, this book shares insights …

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David Theo Goldberg, "The War on Critical Race Theory: Or, The Remaking of Racism" (Polity Press, 2023) 1:15:23

2M ago1:15:23

1:15:23

The War on Critical Race Theory: Or, The Remaking of Racism (Polity Press, 2023) by David Theo Goldberg discusses how “Critical Race Theory” is consuming conservative America. The mounting attacks on a once-obscure legal theory are upending public schooling, legislating censorship, driving elections, and cleaving communities. In this much-needed re…

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Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life 56:38

2M ago56:38

56:38

In an overloaded, superficial, technological world, in which almost everything and everybody is judged by its usefulness, where can we turn for escape, lasting pleasure, contemplation, or connection to others? While many forms of leisure meet these needs, Zena Hitz writes, few experiences are so fulfilling as the inner life, whether that of a bookw…

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Tom Epperson - Baby Hawk 52:41

2M ago52:41

52:41

Tom Epperson, the screenwriter behind One False Move—the cult classic crime thriller co-written with his childhood friend Billy Bob Thornton. He's the author of the Edgar-nominated The Kind One and the haunting noir Sailor. But today, Tom Epperson is here to talk about something entirely different. His new book, Baby Hawk, is a bold, breathtaking d…

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Brian Cranley - The Call of Wonder 20:43

2M ago20:43

20:43

Brian Cranley is a biomedical engineer turned theologian, whose new book The Call of Wonder invites readers to rediscover awe at the intersection of empirical discovery and spiritual truth. From the Big Bang to the human brain, from ancient wisdom to quantum theory, Cranley reveals how the mysteries of science may not oppose belief—but illuminate i…

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#206. Student Spotlight: How Gina Elizabeth Went From Stuck to Publishing Two Books in Just One Year 32:13

2M ago32:13

32:13

After years of getting stuck at chapter six, Gina Elizabeth finally discovered the missing piece that helped her finish writing not just one novel, but two books in a single year. Today I'm chatting with Gina Elizabeth, indie fantasy romance author of the Bonded in Blood series (and Notes to Novel graduate!), about her transformation from someone w…

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Teacher by Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives 51:08

2M ago51:08

51:08

Teacher By Teacher traces the journey of the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education and is a deeply personal love letter to all the teachers in our lives. The story of John B. King Jr.’s inspiring path to President Obama’s Cabinet begins the day that his mother died. He insisted on going to school that day, knowing he would find comfort in his classroom…