Lesbians Who Write

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The real world has forced TB to give up, and she doesn’t plan to get out of her PJs and robe. Ever. Or, as Clare says, dressing gown, which makes the duo ponder why that particular lounge-around-the-house item is called something fancy in both countries.

TB is scrambling to get Dagny ready for an early December release. Tick tock! She’s also finished audio proofing Life in Bits, and it’s already heading to retail. Spectacular speed for ACX, which has been struggling lately. One Golden Summer has been in moderation for well over a month now, and the audio version may not see the light of day.

Unlike TB, Clare is focusing on the positive. Her Christmas in Mistletoe book has launched! Can we get a woot woot? The week has been intense, but the good news is she’s feeling positive about the book after last week’s wobble. ARC readers are loving it! Grab your copy, and let the Christmas feels of her romance wrap around you like a snuggly blanket.

The duo moves on to the power of rest. Clare outlines four different types, and she recently read a line that has had a great impact on her: Not all your hours have to be monetized. TB, who suffers from chronic insomnia, discusses the importance of sleep and how it impacts not only your health but creativity. Focusing on rest is just as important as concentrating on work, and it’s impossible to separate the two.

Are you fitting in enough rest, or are you finding it hard in 2020? Also, please weigh in on the robe vs dressing gown. Which do you say?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the pair will be discussing a surprise topic. (Yep, they forgot to decide before recording.)

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Christmas in Mistletoe: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/christmas-in-mistletoe/

Rest: www.amazon.com/Rest-More-Done-When-Work-ebook/dp/B01IMZ5DR4/

The SHED Method: www.amazon.com/SHED-Method-groundbreaking-step-step-ebook/dp/B074Q5NR91/

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Politics are getting Clare and TB down and it’s nearly impossible to avoid the subject in the UK and US.

Speaking of stressful situations, TB opted to skip her break from writing and started digging into another British novella since she needs to go to her happy place: London. She’s also been audio proofing Life in Bits. Basically, TB isn’t holidaying well, but this seems to be the only way to keep her from doomscrolling 24/7.

Clare is also trying to avoid doomscrolling and she’s gone back into lockdown. She’s two weeks from launch for Christmas in Mistletoe. Woohoo! Although, she’s suffered some software glitches because that always seems to happen when stressed. Clare did a virtual author event that was pretty cool. Clare is smashing the virtual world!

The duo moves on to epilogues. Are they necessary and what exactly are they? Neither of them can remember how many they’ve written. Clare has received a specific request from many readers for her epilogues. They provide the do’s and don’ts of an epilogue. They have a minor spat about cake, but they can fight about anything. While Clare loves a good epilogue, TB is on the fence.

Do you like epilogues? Should every epilogue for a romance have a proposal scene? More importantly, do you like Clare’s pineapple, mango, coconut cake idea?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the pair will be discussing the importance of rest.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

First Chapter of Christmas in Mistletoe: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2020/11/christmas-in-mistletoe-first-chapter-preview/

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TB would never wear an orange and pink outfit, but Clare thinks the color combo is high fashion. Can you let them know who’s right in the comments?

On the work front, TB sent off Dagny to the editor, and within an hour, her editor was questioning TB’s math in the book. Later that day, TB’s narrator for The Setup was questioning why there was no chapter nineteen. Let’s just say, it’s a good thing TB is not in charge of counting votes in the US election because it would be nothing but chaos.

Clare is knee-deep in the final draft of her holly, jolly romance, but she supplied an interesting slang term for vagina that had her editor scratching her head. The book hits all the Christmas feels and should be released in a few weeks, so be sure to add it to your Santa list. In more Christmas news (Clare loves the holiday), she’s got a bone to pick with Costa Christmas coffees.

And TB learned a sporting fact about Clare that is shocking!

The duo moves on to answer questions from listeners, ranging from boxers or briefs to paying taxes (no one should ask TB a question that has to deal with numbers). Clare admits she’s a control freak. At one point, it pained Clare to agree with TB about a marketing tip. She’s probably still trying to recover. TB confesses to being a word nerd, collecting new ones from the different places she’s lived. Don’t miss this question and answer session!

Let us know what you think. Would you wear pink and orange together? How was Clare’s German pronunciation? Anything else on your mind? And, as always, let us know if you have any writing and/or publishing questions.

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the pair will be discussing epilogues.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Before You Say I Do (In German): www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/before-you-say-i-do/

Self-Doubt Episode: lesbianswhowrite.com/lww-33-self-doubt-what-is-it-how-do-we-deal-with-it/

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Neither of the cohosts remember how to open the show after a two-week break, but somehow, they muddle through it with lots of awkwardness.

TB has big news about her personal life. Humungous news! On the work front, she has been laser-focused on Dagny to get it to the editor on time. The fear of the deadline is driving this project over the finish line. Also, after she sends off Dagny, TB is taking a couple of weeks away from writing, and she’s in dire need of a break. Sadly, TB has to tackle a hellish job when she returns to work.

Clare’s feeling refreshed after her time away in Devon, but she learned she’s not made for camping. TB is amazed Clare didn’t already know this fact. Anyhoo, Clare is slowly easing back into work by watching Christmas movies. Speaking of the fa la la season, she’s expecting her Xmas novel back from the editor, and she plans on whipping it into shape just in the St. Nick of time for a November release. On the technology front, Clare had a heart-stopping moment. Yikes!

The duo moves on to answer questions from listeners dealing with several facets of writing, such as what books they wish they’d written and pros and cons about putting a book in audio format. TB is befuddled by Clare’s prerequisite for a television drama series, and TB admits she enjoys torturing her characters. Also, they discuss why they think they work so well together as podcast hosts, given their different personalities.

Do you have questions you’d like the duo to answer?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week is part two of ask them anything.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Reedsy: blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-short-story/

The Creative Penn: www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

Sandra Gerth: sandragerth.com

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The duo is on a break, but they didn’t want to leave you in a lurch, so they’re replaying some of their most popular episodes.

In this blast from the past, TB had been cranking out the words on the first draft of Heart of Ice, which she recently published. Clare had just returned from a holiday (not knowing this would be the last one for the year), and she was prepping for the Before You Say I Do launch, which became a mega hit.

Also, this was the episode right before TB flew to London, the week before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.

The duo moves on to the topic: can you make a full-time living from writing lesbian fiction? They break down the stages of their careers, including when they realized they could support themselves by writing full-time. While it hasn’t been smooth sailing for either, persistence and consistency have helped them stay the course. They outline the key ingredients necessary to continue a writing career and stress the importance of continuing to learn and persevering.

Do you have aspirations of writing full-time?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

When they return, they’ll be doing an ask them anything episode, so send in your questions.

Happy listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

SPA Girls Episode: www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep-227-elana-johnson-part-one-productivity/

Before You Say I Do: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/before-you-say-i-do/

Heart of Ice: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/heart-of-ice/

Patreon: www.patreon.com/

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The duo is on a break, but they didn’t want to leave you in a lurch, so they’re replaying one of their most popular episodes.

TB’s hair can be a force of its own, making it difficult for Clare to concentrate. And, Clare threw TB off her game by discussing nipples. If you didn’t catch this episode the first time, don’t miss the nipple muff convo. Solid gold.

It’s good to revisit this episode on self-doubt because it’s something all humans, especially creatives, have to battle every single day. The first step is to recognize how it manifests and how difficult it is to overcome imposter syndrome. It can rear its ugly head in so many forms, and you might not even be aware of certain tendencies you have that sabotage your writing. Sometimes all it takes is to redefine the scary aspect to something exciting, like not thinking of it as a revision but as a reimagining. Whatever tricks you need to do to overcome self-doubt, the key thing is to keep going.

How have you handled self-doubt?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, they’ll be rerunning another episode while Clare is away on holiday and TB has a writing deadline.

When they return, they’ll be doing an ask them anything episode, so send in your questions.

Thanks so much for listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Nipple Centering Episode:

 lesbianswhowrite.com/lww19-lets-talk-about-lesbian-fiction-covers/

Neil Gaiman discussing pirating sites:

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI

The Creative Penn episode:

www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/09/23/trust-creativity-choose-yourself-jen-louden/

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For the second week in a row, before hopping on the call, TB audio proofed a sex chapter in One Golden Summer, making things awkward for the prude. She’s getting closer to the sex chapter in Dagny that she had skipped, and now has to write it. It’s like the sex gods are torturing her. In fun news, she rewatched My Big Fat Greek Wedding and laughed for two hours. Just what TB needed to avoid all the news alerts blowing up her phone this past week.

Clare has finished the second draft of the Christmas book and is nearly done with her third read. Jolly good news! Especially since it’s going to the editor in less than a week. Tick tock! In shoe news, Clare reveals if she kept the pair with pink trim. You’re dying to know, aren’t you? Clare visited a brow artist, and TB can’t wrap her brain around the concept. Finally, Clare is going glamping!

For the topic of the day, box sets, Clare takes the reins. They’re a great way to drum up extra income, increase visibility, and offer the reader a deal. Clare stumbles when it comes to math, making TB smile. She’s not the only math-challenged host! Things to consider when putting a box set together are: cover, timing, ARC teams, pricing, exclusive content, and whether or not to have the paperback version.

Do you love to read box sets, or if you’re an author, have you done one?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

For the next couple of weeks, they’ll be rerunning some episodes since Clare is going away on holiday and TB has a writing deadline.

When they return, they’ll be doing an ask them anything episode, so send in your questions.

Thanks so much for listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

Spark for Heart of Ice: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/2020/10/03/the-spark-for-heart-of-ice/

Bella Books: www.bellabooks.com/submission-guidelines/

Clare’s Love Happens Here: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/love-happens-here-series-starters-short-stories/

Vellum: vellum.pub

Paul Teague: self-publishing-journeys.com/how-i-earned-five-figures-in-one-month-as-a-self-published-author/

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Prior to hopping on the call, TB was audio proofing a sex chapter in One Golden Summer and can’t look Clare in the eye. The horror! TB used an unusual but effective method to publish The Setup, her London novella, in record time. After a two-year lapse, she’s testing BookBub by running a deal on Reservations of the Heart.

The duo hasn’t spoken in three days, and Clare has been busy with sex. Writing sex scenes, that is. Get your headphones ready because the audio version of Before You Say I Do is coming out in October. Woot! And, Clare has purchased another pair of shoes, because if there’s one thing Clare likes almost as much as Christmas, it’s shoes.

They move on to success stories from LWW listeners. This is a truly special episode, sharing how listeners have taken action to make their writing dreams come true. And, frankly, it’s something neither TB nor Clare had considered when they started this podcast. How listeners would take their advice and be inspired to put words down. They’re both pleased as punch to have played a small role in a major feat. The success stories range from completing a first draft to publishing multiple books. Bravo to all, and here’s to more triumphs.

What success have you had recently?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Tune in next week for more sparkling chat.

Thanks so much for listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

The Setup: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/the-setup/

ROH: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/reservations-of-the-heart/

Before You Say I Do Audio: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2020/09/pre-order-before-you-say-i-do-audiobook/

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TB’s week has been terrible. Truly DREADFUL. She’s prepping the release of The Setup, her quirky London romance novella. Dagny is back, and TB has a title, but she’s being coy and won’t announce it quite yet. Working on both of those projects has been time-consuming, but two surprise tasks also hit this week, causing TB to pull out her hair. The first is actually brilliant news for One Golden Summer fans; the second involved technology and nearly broke TB.

Clare, being the bestest of podcast cohosts, also had a bad week involving technology. They’re in sync! Listeners won’t be surprised to hear Clare is having a printer issue. In outstanding news, Clare sent off London 7 to the editor a week early. And, she’s completed the first draft of the Christmas novel. She’s ticked off all her to-dos for the month. Is there anything she can’t do, aside from printers?

The duo tackles the topic: saying no, which is a skill both of them have been working on this year. Becoming a people pleaser is a trait many learn in childhood, and it’s a hard habit to break as an adult. It’s important to remember one of your most valuable assets as a writer is your time, so you need to spend it wisely. They walk you through weighing whether or not you want to say no and how to say it. There are many upsides to saying no, and it gets easier with practice, allowing you to take control of your career.

Are you learning to say no?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the duo will share LWW listener success stories.

Thanks so much for listening!

Clare and TB

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The success stories episode will be recorded soon since TB and Clare wanted to give listeners time to share their triumphs. Don’t be shy. Let them know how awesome you are.

TB sent Dagny to the editor, but she did it again. She put off a sex chapter and has to tackle it on the next draft. She’s started researching for the next book in The Miracle Girl series, and the things she’s learning are dark. Just what she needed for 2020, more darkness.

Clare recorded in Whitstable, where she’s on her writing retreat. The place makes her so happy. She’s written two sex scenes this week, and she should complete the first draft of her Christmas novel. Also, she celebrated her birthday and watched a movie from a boat on a canal.

The duo tackles writing mentors and challenges listeners to expand their definition. Both have learned so much from some of the big names in indie publishing, and so can you, by listening to successful authors’ podcasts, reading their books, subscribing to their newsletters, and taking online courses. We’re lucky to live in an age where you can learn from a broad range of experts. It’s important to have a growth mindset and be open to ideas. And never stop learning since the business constantly changes.

What have you learned from your mentors?

Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.

Next week, the duo will discuss a mystery topic.

Thanks so much for listening!

Clare and TB

Links:

WMG Publishing Workshops: www.wmgworkshops.com/online/

The Creative Penn Podcast: www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/

David Gaughran: davidgaughran.com

Indie Author Mindset: indieauthormindset.com

The Tim Ferriss Show: tim.blog/podcast/