Bright & Ambitious - Writing, Revising, Sharing Your Next Novel

How to Make a Hit Series on Social Media - Bright & Ambitious Episode 17

Shownotes: Every author dreams of having their books in store shelves across the country, but some have made that dream a full-on life mission. Romantasy author Whitney McGruder has archived her adventrures on social media as she works to visit every single independent bookstore in the states of Texas and Utah, garnering an impressive numbers of likes and comments along the way. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, indie author Kailey Bright talks with Whitney about how she started this viral social media series, how she’s been able to keep it ongoing for so long, and what other authors can learn from her Instagram excapades. Links: Check out Whitney’s books [https://witandtravesty.com/our-books/] or her Instagram series [https://www.instagram.com/whit2ney/reels/] Referenced in the episode: American Booksellers Association [https://www.bookweb.org/] Check out The Un Series By Kailey Bright [https://www.kaileybright.com/unseries] Also available on Kindle Unlimited [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGSM75M5?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_cpsb_vgsr&storeType=ebooks] Music by Stream Cafe [https://ko-fi.com/streamcafemusic]

How “Graceless Heart” Perfected the “Big Reveal” - Bright & Ambitous Episode 16

Many authors try to surprise their readers with big reveals and plot twists, but oftentimes they feel underwhelming, predictable, and even frustrating. When indie author Kailey Bright read Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez though, she was surprised at how much the twists and turns impacted her, even after she predicted one of the book’s biggest reveals. What made this book so different? In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey explores how to effectively surprise your audience through the examples of Graceless Heart, Once Upon a Broken Heart, and how these stories can help you write a successful surprise yourself. LINKS: Check o [http://gohavok.com/]ut The Un [http://nietz.com/] Series By Kailey Bright [https://www.kaileybright.com/unseries] Also available on Kindle Unlimited [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGSM75M5?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_cpsb_vgsr&storeType=ebooks] Sign up for Kailey Bright’s monthly newsletter [https://tr.ee/w7m5LfAQd0] Music by Stream Cafe [https://ko-fi.com/streamcafemusic]

A Professional DM’s Guide to Worldbuilding - Bright & Ambitious Episode 15

Whether you’re an aspiring author, or planning your next Dungeons & Dragons campaign, worldbuilding is often one of the first and most difficult challenges to overcome. But with years of playing table-top RPG’s for a living comes with the advantage of wisdom and insight. In this episode of the Bright & Ambitious Writing Podcast, Noah Woodyard (professional dungeon master and host of the live-play podcast “The Bastard Children of Everil”) talks through the 5 things every fictional world needs, the pitfalls to avoid, and how you can make your audience (or players) get invested into your world. Links: Listen to The Bastard Children of Everil: An UUN BARDUN ADVENTURE [https://open.spotify.com/show/40mUc2Y0sbKbPztfZ1shhL] Plan a visit to Polaris Gaming [http://instagram.com/polarisgaminggreenwood/] Check o [http://gohavok.com/]ut The Un [http://nietz.com/] Series By Kailey Bright [https://www.kaileybright.com/unseries] Also available on Kindle Unlimited [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGSM75M5?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_cpsb_vgsr&storeType=ebooks] Sign up for Kailey Bright’s monthly newsletter [https://tr.ee/w7m5LfAQd0] Music by Stream Cafe [https://ko-fi.com/streamcafemusic]

What “Heathers: The Musical” Proves About Editing & Revising

When writer Daniel Waters and director Michael Lehmann released their teen black comedy "Heathers" into the theaters in 1989, they were likely hoping for critical and financial success, and a devoted fanbase for their work. What they likely weren't expecting was for others to find inspiration in their work and transform it into an off-broadway musical nearly 30 years later. While "Heathers: The Musical" (adapted by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy) shakes the story up through an incredible soundtrack, their adaptation also hides seemingly small revisions that brilliantly transforms the way their audience experiences the tragic tale of Veronica Sawyer. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, young adult author Kailey Bright walks us through the differences between editing and revising, how Heathers the Musical utilize both to improve upon the original cult classic film, and how aspiring authors (or screenwriters!) can use its example to perfect their own work. Links: Watch Heathers (1989) on Tubi [https://tubitv.com/movies/475898/heathers] Check o [http://gohavok.com/]ut The Un [http://nietz.com/] Series By Kailey Bright [https://www.kaileybright.com/unseries] Also available on Kindle Unlimited [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGSM75M5?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_cpsb_vgsr&storeType=ebooks] Sign up for Kailey Bright’s monthly newsletter [https://tr.ee/w7m5LfAQd0] Music by Stream Cafe [https://ko-fi.com/streamcafemusic]

Why Authors Need Newsletters - Bright & Ambitious Episode 13

With so many social media options, authors may be tempted on skipping out on a newsletter. But as it turns out, newsletters are actually one of the most important resources indie authors have. In this episode of Bright & Ambitious, Kailey Bright talks with Rachel A. Greco (author of The Firebird and The Gift of Dragons series) about how to make sure you release newletters consistently, get your audience engaged, and why newletters are one of the most important tools authors can utilize. Links: Read Greco’s Books or sign up for her newsletter [https://www.rachelagreco.com/] Check o [http://gohavok.com/]ut The Un [http://nietz.com/] Series By Kailey Bright [https://www.kaileybright.com/unseries] Also available on Kindle Unlimited [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGSM75M5?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_cpsb_vgsr&storeType=ebooks] Sign up for Kailey Bright’s monthly newsletter [https://tr.ee/w7m5LfAQd0] Music by Stream Cafe [https://ko-fi.com/streamcafemusic]