Author Interview - Carley Hoffman on YA dystopian writing and building a career

Dialogue: Giving Your Characters a Voice

In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we dive into one of the trickiest (and most fun!) aspects of writing: dialogue. How do you make it sound real without being boring? How do you give each character a distinct voice? And what do you do when all your characters sound like…you?   We share our earliest (and cringiest) attempts at writing dialogue, the advice that’s actually helped us improve, and the pitfalls we still fall into. Plus, we shout out some of our favourite authors who nail character conversations and unpack what makes their dialogue so effective.   Timestamps: 00:20 – Intro 00:50 – Earliest memories of writing dialogue (and hilarious fails) 08:52 – Making dialogue sound natural (reading aloud, dictation, stealing from real life) 11:01 – Giving characters distinct voices (quirks, tone, education, personality) 13:55 – Common dialogue pitfalls we’ve fallen into 25:46 – The controversy of dialogue tags 31:45 – Little improv game: can you guess whose character is speaking? 35:46 – Books/resources that helped us level up 37:23 – Dialogue “rules” we’ve happily broken (and why it worked) 39:32 – Authors who nail dialogue according to us   Keywords: writing dialogue tips, character voice, realistic dialogue, novel writing craft, witty banter, subtext in fiction

World Building in Fiction

Welcome to Season 4 of Daggers & Daydreams! We’re kicking things off with one of Helen’s favourite topics—worldbuilding. Whether you’re crafting an elaborate fantasy realm or setting your story in the “real” world, the way you build your world shapes your characters, your plot, and the entire reading experience. We talk about what worldbuilding really means, how it differs across genres, and why even contemporary fiction needs it. We also dig into our own processes, what comes first (the world or the characters), the common pitfalls we’ve encountered, and whether you really need that fantasy map. Finally, we share some of our favourite fictional worlds we’d happily live in…and the ones we’d run from screaming. Timestamps 00:18 – Season 4 welcome & upcoming topics 01:33 – What worldbuilding means to us 02:44 – How the world impacts story and character arcs  04:31 – Why worldbuilding matters in all genres 10:26 – Differences in worldbuilding between fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary fiction 15:17 – Our personal worldbuilding processes 18:00 – What comes first: the character or the world? 23:16 – Do you really need a fantasy map? 26:42 – Pitfalls we’ve fallen into when worldbuilding 30:55 – Favourite worlds we’d want to live in and worlds we’d definitely avoid 34:05 – Top tips for Worldbuilding 36:46 – Closing thoughts   Keywords: worldbuilding tips, writing craft, fantasy writing, contemporary fiction, story setting, character development, novel structure, writing advice

Author Interview - Carley Hoffman on YA dystopian writing and building a career

In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we sit down with Carley Hoffman, YA dystopian author of Providence, the first book in a trilogy she began writing while still in high school. Now a college student, Carley is continuing to build her series while balancing life, studies, and a passion for storytelling. We chat about her writing journey—from that very first story idea to turning it into a published novel—and how her process has evolved for book two. Carley opens up about the surprises (both good and bad) of indie publishing, what she’s learned about connecting with readers, and the tools that have made the biggest difference for her. Of course, we couldn’t resist a few fun questions: which character she’d have dinner with, who she’d cast in a Providence adaptation, and the most surprising feedback she’s ever received from a reader. Timestamps 00:18 – Intro & welcome to Carley Hoffman 02:19 – Has storytelling always been part of your life? 03:43 – Writing process: planner, pantser, or in-between? 05:38 – Writing book two: challenges & changes from book one 07:37 – A typical writing day & fitting writing around life 08:48 – Choosing the indie publishing path 10:19 – Biggest surprises about publishing her first book 12:46 – The most rewarding & most challenging parts of being indie 17:17 – Fun Q: Which character would you have dinner with? 18:15 – Most unexpected feedback from a reader 19:16 – Writing software preferences 20:20 – Writing quirks & surprising rituals 22:02 – Advice to her past self before publishing 22:55 – Outro Keywords: YA dystopian, debut author, indie publishing, writing process, author interview, young adult fiction, Providence book series, writing advice for beginners

Q&A – Honest Answers, Wild Dreams & Writing Truths

This season, we’ve covered everything from writing advice and editing tips, to feedback, traditional vs indie publishing, mindset, marketing, and money. Now, we’re wrapping up with something a little more fun—and very real. In this unfiltered Q&A episode, we each brought five unprepared questions to surprise one another with. From honest reflections on our writing careers to dream guests, AI debates, and which ridiculous writing items we secretly want to buy… nothing is off the table. This is a behind-the-scenes chat about being an author in real life, packed with heart, humour, and the kind of conversations you can only have with your writer bestie. Timestamps: 01:05 – Q1: Biggest writing lesson we’ve learned in 2025 so far 04:40 – Q2: What does our real dream writing career look like—and could we get there? 11:07 – Q3: Our dream podcast guest (hint: one of us gets specific 👀) 12:50 – Q4: One thing we always say to our coaching/editing clients 14:49 – Q5: Who inspires us creatively, in business, and with mindset? 20:10 – Q6: If we got a million-pound book deal—what’s the most irresponsible thing we’d buy? 22:53 – Q7: A writing rule we secretly love to break 24:06 – Q8: If our inner critics had names and personalities, who would they be? 27:10 – Q9: The most ridiculous writing-related item we’d secretly love to own 29:32 – Q10: Publishing deal via AI… or only ever self-publishing our own words? Whether you’re here for honest author chat, a dose of writing motivation, or just want to feel a little less alone on the creative journey, this episode is for you. Keywords: beginner writing, debut authors, author Q&A, writing career, writing mindset, creative process, indie publishing, writing advice, podcast for writers

Finances – Money, Sales & What It Really Costs to Be a Writer

Let’s talk numbers. In this candid episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we’re diving into one of the most asked-about but least talked-about parts of the writing journey: money. Whether you’re just starting out or considering publishing your first book, this episode is packed with honest reflections, real figures, and lessons we’ve learned the hard (and expensive) way. From editing costs to royalties, from first draft to final product, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it takes, financially, to be an indie author. We’re not financial advisors, but we are writers who’ve walked the path and are here to share the raw, unfiltered truth. Episode Timestamps: 00:20 – Intro  03:02 – The True Cost of a Book 12:02 – Surprise Expenses 21:10 – How Much Do You Really Make? 32:51 – Beyond Book Sales 34:42 – Setting Yourself Up for Indie Publishing 39:21 – Pitfalls, Regrets & Smart Spending 42:56 – Why We Still Write (Even When It Doesn’t Pay Much) 45:15 – How Many Books Have We Actually Sold? 50:22 -  Outro Whether you’re getting ready to publish or just starting your first manuscript, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants the financial side of writing demystified. Keywords: beginner writing, writing advice, indie publishing, debut authors, book sales, author income, writing costs, self-publishing, personal finance for creatives, creative careers Links: Season 1 - Episode 7: The Publishing Journey [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fAaDRx8c6Q85eiSZ4LTc1?si=3c4b81004ec64b1c] Season 2 - Episode 6: Marketing & Personal Branding: The Hardest Part of Being an Author [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0w3yd262drcQwyqZ31ciGB?si=d0b5d3e8ef7b458f] Reedsy [https://reedsy.com] Fiverr [https://www.fiverr.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22792970843&gbraid=0AAAAAqL8ChN0Y_7wlmFr_o1SZZTPgmCUZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ZHEBhCxARIsAGGN96L9NhFRnmBKFEIF4pbQps0lXninwdFdJiPYbQZd-RmMYsC_gvU81H4aAhfNEALw_wcB] Scrivener [https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview?fpr=thuy84&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22294789883&gbraid=0AAAAA-KuFCwkFA6_0cNQQpgFve9qdSGen&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ZHEBhCxARIsAGGN96IX5qaT_yt6RP7p5tbx0I-pw6I04BYdBn_gAwDuZNa8dtF5Sv04ZbIaAp6MEALw_wcB]