The Writing Community Chat Show

"Like a University Lecture on Creative Writing" – A Masterclass with Maria L. Secoy.

One viewer described this episode as “a university lecture on creative writing.” This week, we unearth the systems behind a sustainable, profitable indie author career.Our guest is romantic suspense author and book coach Maria L. Secoy. As a former English teacher with a Master’s in Secondary English, Maria spent over a decade in the classroom before transitioning into a full-time indie career. Her teaching background shines through as she breaks down the science of writing and the business of being an author. In this episode, we discuss: * The 15-Hour Productivity Rule: How to write four high-quality books a year without burning out. * The "Legacy Quest": Transitioning from writing for your soul to building a commercial catalog. * Crafting Fierce Heroines: Using the "Vulnerability Gap" to create strong, relatable characters. * The 80/20 Research Method: How to build authentic tech and security worlds without "data dumping." The Masterclass Highlights Productivity & Deep Work: Maria emphasizes that full-time writing doesn’t require a 40-hour week. By utilizing "Power Hours"—60 to 90 minutes of disconnected deep work—and batching administrative tasks, you can protect your creative energy.  The Science of Character: We dive into Maria’s Taylor Industries and On-Trail Love Adventures series. She explains why competence is key for romantic suspense heroines and how to find the one thing your strongest character is afraid of. Treating Writing as a Business: Passion is the spark, but systems pay the bills. Maria advocates for a "Truly Successful Author" mindset where rest is treated as a vital productivity metric. The Research Balance: Learn how Maria handles deep research into tech and security. The goal is to use research to build your own confidence so the dialogue feels authentic to the reader, even if 80% of the facts never leave your notes. Join the Community: If you enjoyed this "University Lecture" on the craft, consider subscribing for more deep dives into the indie author world. Visit our home base: thewccs.substack.com/subscribe [https://thewccs.substack.com/subscribe] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Connect With The Community 🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities. * 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos. [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] * ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Together as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

The Dark Side of Mind Reading: A Deep Dive with D.I. Jolly.

The Burden of Mental Noise: Social Anxiety & Psychic Thrills with D.I. JollyWhat if you couldn’t turn off the thoughts of everyone around you? In this episode of The Writing Community Chat Show, we sit down with Berlin-based indie author D.I. Jolly to dive into his latest psychological thriller, Blurred Lines.More than just a "superpower" story, Blurred Lines serves as a visceral metaphor for social anxiety. We discuss how the protagonist, Miles, navigates a world of overwhelming mental chatter and the moment a psychic cry for help forces him out of his self-imposed isolation.Inside the Episode: * The Power of Practice: How writing over 300 short stories for the Berlin Poetry Club sharpened Jolly's craft. * Genre-Bending & Metaphor: Using lycanthropy to explore bipolar disorder in the Mostly Human series. * The Research Process: Consulting with therapists to accurately portray the mechanics of anxiety and human thought. * Killing Your Darlings: The reality of cutting 15,000 words to save a story. * The Indie Hustle: Insights into the “Buy My Effing Book” marketing strategy and the impact of living in seven different countries on world-building. Whether you're an aspiring novelist looking for consistency tips or a fan of dark, psychological fiction, this conversation is packed with raw honesty and wit.Connect with D.I. Jolly: * Buy Blurred Lines: https://amzn.eu/d/05ZGvoUo [https://amzn.eu/d/05ZGvoUo] Support the Show: We are celebrating our 6th Birthday! Help us make it a big one by visiting: https://thewccs.substack.com/p/six-years-400-episodes-and-166-days?r=20fopa [https://thewccs.substack.com/p/six-years-400-episodes-and-166-days?r=20fopa] Follow The Writing Community Chat Show: Ranked in the top writing podcasts in the UK, we bring you interviews with NYT best-sellers, celebrities, and the best indie voices in the business.Watch the video version on YouTube: The Writing Community Chat Show - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Connect With The Community 🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities. * 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos. [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] * ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Together as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

Smugglers, Spirits, and Starred Reviews: A Masterclass with Linda Wilgus.

The Secret Sauce to a 'Big Five' Deal with Linda Wilgus. The WCCS: Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) An overnight success 21 years in the making. We were joined by the brilliant Linda Wilgus, author of the enchanting debut novel, The Sea Child. From writing during two-hour nap times to securing a "Big Five" publishing deal and a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly, Linda’s journey is a masterclass in persistence. The Story of The Sea Child is set against the rugged cliffs of 1800s Cornwall during the Napoleonic Wars. The Sea Child follows Isabel—a widow found as a child, dripping wet and alone. Is she the daughter of a seboka (sea spirit)? When a wounded smuggling captain is carried into her cottage, a timeless tale of folklore, adventure, and romance begins. 💡 Masterclass Tips: The Linda Wilgus Method * The 75% Rule for Plotting: Plan 75% for structure, but leave the final 25% open so your characters can surprise you. * The “Crap First Draft” Philosophy: You can edit a bad page, but you can’t edit a blank one. Stick to your daily word count! * Don't Self-Reject: Linda landed a superstar agent by being brave enough to hit "send" on a "long shot" query. * The “Tiffany Effect”: How to balance 18th-century authenticity with modern readability in historical fiction. * Magic Needs Rules: In Magical Realism, magic must have firm limits—it can't be a "get out of jail free" card for your plot * Follow Linda: Instagram @LindaJWilgus | LindaWilgus.com * Watch the Interview: https://youtube.com/live/sBan9N46S0Q * Support the Community: Join our Substack for more "stories behind the stories. WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] The WCCS: Together as one, we get it done! What was your favorite tip from Linda? Let us know in the comments! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Connect With The Community 🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities. * 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos. [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] * ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Together as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

Katherine Bradley: Writing The Institute, AI Fears, & The “No Tea” Rule.

Katherine Bradley: Writing The Institute, AI Fears, & The “No Tea” Rule. The WCCS: Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) Are we right to be worried about technology, or are we just worried about being worried? This week on The Writing Community Chat Show, we sat down with the brilliant Katherine Bradley, author of the critically acclaimed The Sisterhood and her haunting new release, The Institute. Described as The Sanctuary meets Shutter Island, Katherine’s work explores the dark limits of human connection and the terrifying power of collective impulses. Inside the Episode: * Balancing the Hustle: How Katherine manages life as a full-time Head of Year responsible for 300 students while writing high-concept psychological thrillers. * The "Flock Phenomena": The chilling inspiration behind The Institute—what happens when humans lose individual agency to a collective, tech-driven trance? * Black Mirror Realities: Why Katherine is frequently terrified by the very AI and technology she writes about. * The "No Tea" Rule: A masterclass in pacing. Why an agent told her, "No one wants to read about people drinking tea," and how to ensure every page moves the story forward. 💡 Masterclass Tips for Authors: * Bet on Yourself: Why Katherine turned down a major promotion to protect her writing discipline. * The Road to Writing: The "Filter Coffee and Tenacity" method for writing before the 9-to-5 grind. * Finding the Right Agent: Katherine discusses her partnership with Stephanie Glencross at David Higham Associates and how to avoid "mean" agents. What’s the Story? The Institute: Set on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, The Institute follows Billy, a survivor of a "flocking event," sent to a mysterious spa-like facility for brain injuries. But is the Arbor Institute a place of healing, or a gilded cage? Connect & SupportThe WCCS is a registered CIC (non-profit) dedicated to supporting authors, readers, and creatives. * 📺 Watch the Interview: https://youtube.com/live/tXVjpaYKiG8 [https://youtube.com/live/tXVjpaYKiG8] * 📚 Get the Book: https://amzn.to/4bN1Xdh [https://amzn.to/4bN1Xdh] * ✍️ Join the Community: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * ☕ Support our Mission: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Follow Katherine Bradley: Find her on Twitter/X and Instagram @KateBradley. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Connect With The Community 🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities. * 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos. [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] * ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Together as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.

The Taboo Show: Breaking Barriers and Spicing Up Your Writing with Dr. Trina Read.

Welcome back to another episode of The Writing Community Chat Show, recently ranked number 3 in the top 10 writing podcasts in the UK for 2025. In this special “eve of Valentine’s Day” edition, hosts Chris and the team dive into the messy, complicated, and wonderful world of intimacy with the internationally recognized sexologist and best-selling author, Dr. Trina Read. Trina Read [https://substack.com/profile/123248964-trina-read] With over 25 years of experience helping people navigate the world of pleasure, Dr. Read joined us to talk about her journey from a syndicated sex columnist to a pioneer of the “self-help fiction” genre. Her latest novel, The Taboo Show, is set to challenge perceptions and make us laugh while rethinking what we know about pleasure.Trina answers the questions we want to know. How much sex in a relationship is normal? What should couples do after 10 years of marriage, and much more. Plus, listen to CJ reading Chris Hooley some ai generated suggested sext texts. From Non-Fiction to “Self-Help Fiction”Dr. Read’s transition into fiction was born from a desire to reach women who might find traditional non-fiction a “slog”. After the success of her bestseller Till Sex Do Us Part, she developed a five-step program that she eventually wove into the lives of four fictional characters in The Sex Course.Her new book, The Taboo Show, continues the journey of these four women as they explore the “Taboo Sex Show”—a trade show experience Dr. Read knows well from her years as a mainstage speaker. From tantric skepticism to “Wiccan sex magic,” the story uses relatable characters to demystify complex topics.Expert Advice for Writers and Couples.One of the most enlightening parts of the episode was Dr. Read’s advice on the craft of writing intimacy. She admits that writing sex scenes is “incredibly difficult” and requires a delicate balance. Her top tip? Edit out the “darlings.” To keep fiction engaging, she often removes up to 80% of the educational content to focus on the character’s emotional reaction rather than the instruction itself.Advice for couples at every stage:* New Couples: Slow down and enjoy the courtship; don’t rush the buildup.* The 6-Month Mark: This is when bad habits form. Start having conversations now before the “newness” wears off.* The 10-Year Veterans: Focus on “erotic threads” outside the bedroom—small acts of kindness and desire throughout the day to help bridge the “delayed sexual response”.Demystifying the “Taboo.”Dr. Read also breaks down the common misconceptions around Tantra, describing it simply as an exchange of energy and a way to build pleasure through connection. She encourages couples to lean into the awkwardness of talking about sex, noting that most people can share their bodies for decades but still struggle to share their words.Final Thoughts & Pre-Order Info.Whether you’re looking to spice up your Valentine’s weekend or looking for tips on writing authentic, “classy” intimacy in your next novel, this episode is a must-watch.Dr. Trina Read’s new novel, The Taboo Show, is available for pre-order now and officially launches on February 28th. Visit her website at trinaread.com [http://trinaread.com/] for pre-order bundles and free educational resources..Watch the full episode here: Enjoying the show? Subscribe to our Substack for more interviews with NYT best-sellers, celebrities, and indie authors. Together as one, we get it done! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewccs.substack.com/subscribe [https://thewccs.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-writing-community-chat-show--5445493/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Connect With The Community 🏆 Ranked #3 Writing Podcast in the UK (2025) The WCCS is more than a show; it’s a masterclass in the craft and business of storytelling. Join 380+ interviews with NYT Bestsellers, Indie Icons, and Celebrities. * 📺 Watch the Full Shows: The Writing Community Chat Show | 360+ Author Interviews, Writing Tips & Creative Chaos. [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWritingCommunityChatShow] * ✍️ The Stories Behind the Stories And Great Writing Articles: WRITE, CONNECT, GROW, With The Writing Community Chat Show. | 📚The WCCS | Substack [https://thewccs.substack.com/] * 🚀 Support the Mission With Tips And Donations: PayPal.Me [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TheWCCS] Together as one, we get it done! The Writing Community Chat Show is a proud supporter of indie authors and creative persistence.