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Successful writing requires The Write Focus. Hosted by M.A. Lee with occasional forays from Remi Black and Edie Roones, we focus on productivity / tools / craft / process for fiction and nonfiction, entertainment and academic writing.
Episodes
3 hours ago
3 hours ago
Consider your Cover is Quick Tip #12.
One of the greatest expenses that an indie writer will have is the cost of a professional cover.
Yes, yes, people say that the editorial cost is the highest one. Development editors and content editors and line editors are expensive.
Let me argue with that. The first attractor for a book is the cover design. To capture and charm readers, invest in a great cover design.
How do we ensure the best cover design? Follow along for the tips.
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 01:15 Cover Considerations
- 04:56 Closing
Total Run Time = 5:57
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/07/cover-considerations-quick-tips-for.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Content copyright is 2020 to 2026, Writers Ink Books.
Wednesday Jun 24, 2026
Wednesday Jun 24, 2026
Writing constantly, writing fast ~ these can outpace our creativity, leaving us drained. The answer is to Juggle Projects.
I cannot simultaneously write two fiction projects; the projects we juggle have to be different.
This episode talks about that HOW.
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 01:15 Juggle Projects
- 04:50 Closing
Total Run Time = 5:49
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/juggle-projects-quick-tips-for-writers.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
“Cocoons” is the Quick Tip for Writing in this episode.
When the words do not come as soon as we are ready to write, what can we do? We have to think like inchworms, the ones that eventually become beautiful butterflies.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 01:15 Think Cocoons
- 03:43 Closing
Total Run Time = 4:42
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/think-cocoons-quick-tips-for-writers-10.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Long before a writer pens the last word in a story and launches into the Proof-Plus, that writer is considering promotions.
Promotions, marketing, that’s the same thing.
So much of marketing depends on spare cash and good fortune in eyes discovering it. The chief marketing tool, however, is something the writer can totally control.
Let’s look at the Loss Leader, also known as the Reader Magnet.
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 01:15 Reader Magnets
- 06:18 Closing
Total Run Time = 3:45
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/reader-magnets-quick-tips-for-writers-9.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Wednesday Jun 03, 2026
Every successful story, short or long, has two key elements. These two keys recur throughout the story.
One takes a new form at every instance, teasing the reader into reading more. The other also teases the reader, but this time the key remains the same, merely doubling and re-doubling, increasing and intensifying.
What are these key elements?
You’ll have to listen to discover that answer. ;)
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 01:15 Two Key Elements for Successful Stories
- 04:16 Closing
Total Run Time = 5:17
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/2-keys-to-successful-stories-quick-tips.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Wednesday May 27, 2026
Wednesday May 27, 2026
In our second episode on antagonists, we discuss the additional evil actors that drive a plot, as much a part as our main character, our Protagonists.
We offer three Quick Tips, first about our major antagonist and then two more about minor antagonists.
A key element whips by pretty rapidly, in that each minor antagonist teaches the protagonist a skill or a way to defeat the major antagonist. We don’t want you to miss that. ;)
Quick Tips for Writers continues next week with 2 Requirements for Every Story.
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 01:15 Antagonists, part 2
- 03:31 Closing
Total Run Time = 4:31
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/03/antagonists-part-2-quick-tips-for.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube.
Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus.
We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY
Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
• You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters series.
• Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Sunday May 24, 2026
Sunday May 24, 2026
Pentecost concludes the Easter Season.
Fifty days after the Resurrection, ten days after Ascension, it completes the jubilation that starts before sunrise on Easter Day with the Son’s rise.
“He is risen” does not complete everything. Pentecost is the completion.
Let’s ground ourselves in the reasons.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Pentecost
- 08:55 Closing
Total Run Time = 9:54
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/05/pentecost-concludes-easter-season.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
In the Quick Tips series, episodes 6 and 7 are linked, for both are about antagonists, twisty and surprising antagonists.
A truth of conflict is that a weak antagonist creates a weak Protagonist. Since we writers want our main characters to be strong, then the conflict-creator of the story needs to be equally strong.
The first way to do this is to twist our readers’ expectations of the antagonist.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 0:1:12 Learn to Twist / Antagonists
- 06:18 Closing
Total Run Time = 3:36
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/03/quick-tip-6-learn-to-twist-721.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting).
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Sunday May 17, 2026
Sunday May 17, 2026
40.
Forty days after Easter, the Resurrection of Christ Jesus, we have another important date to commemorate, a date that’s been part of the Christian Church since the early days. The first documented festival occurred in 68 A.D.
Along with Easter Day, the regular observance of Sunday, and Pentecost, we have Ascension Day, the day when Christ ascended to Heaven, back to His Father.
The later additions of Christmas and Epiphany were added to these four foundational dates, and all became the beating heart of the Church year.
Let’s examine that 40-day span, a unit of God-time, and set our own plan for this time of transition.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Ascension
- 06:10 Closing
Total Run Time = 7:10
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/05/ascension-more-easter-season-725.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
Wednesday May 13, 2026
Wednesday May 13, 2026
As writers we control many things about our writing, but times do come when we lose control.
And that is not a bad thing. It’s actually a blessing.
That’s our topic: Be willing to lose control.
The Write Focus offers the Quick Tips for Writers series from Spring into Summer. We hope these bite-sized takes on writing inspire your words this week.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 01:10 Be Willing to Lose Control
- 03:00 Closing
Total Run Time = 3:59
LINKS
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/05/be-willing-to-lose-control-quick-tips.html
Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube.
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools.
As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Also available: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)