My Imaginary Friends With L. Penelope

THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: Virtual Balticon & Reddit Virtual Fantasy Con Every main character must be volatile: "By that, I don’t mean that they have to blow up yelling at people all the time. I mean that they have to have something unexpected inside them that gets ignited by the plot, and then that ignition turns the plot into a full-blown fire. They have to have some secret or some quality that causes them to react different than anyone else would to this situation. That’s volatility." -http://www.secretsofstory.com/2011/08/big-idea-part-7-every-main-character.html - Ultimate Story Checklist: http://www.secretsofstory.com/2011/08/ultimate-story-checklist.html - Writing Tips: How Character Flaws Shape Story With Will Storr on The Creative Penn podcast: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2020/05/25/character-flaws-will-storr/ - Will Storr videos - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ndTx9xbt7UYkxKkgLxydA - The calendar template I use for scheduling: https://www.blank-calendar.com/printable/2020/preview/month-in-

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: The Expanse (I finished Season 1!) * Author Alexis Daria - https://alexisdaria.com/ * RWA Vivian award - https://www.rwa.org/Online/News/2020/RWA_Announces_a_New_Award_for_a_New_Era.aspx * Jeffe Kennedy - The Fiery Crown: https://amzn.to/2Tstjhq * First Cup of Coffee podcast - https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/tag/podcast/   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.tw

THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: I started writing words for the new project!  #20kin5days - https://www.tashalharrison.com/20kin5days Dan Harmon plot embryo - (https://channel101.fandom.com/wiki/Story_Structure_104:_The_Juicy_Detail) Rachael Stephen on the plot embryo - (https://youtu.be/_pZ3ZZd1mms?t=3) Code 8 movie Harley Quinn on SyFy  Author Pascale Kavanaugh (https://www.pekavanagh.com/) Romancing the capital - POC Fantasy and UF authors - (https://youtu.be/f4Nf2qvCyYE?t=18) https://www.pocparanormalauthors.com/ Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai - https://amzn.to/3fXWHp7  The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morganthaler - https://amzn.to/2X9kdHl Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh - https://amzn.to/3fRDiGq   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show

This Week’s Best Thing: Barack Obama Virtual Commencement Honorable Mention: Primm’s Hood Cinema  K.M. Weiland writing books - https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/store/ Save the Cat by Blake Snyder  Kanban Boards - ClickUp: https://clickup.com/, Trello: https://trello.com/ https://onestopforwriters.com/ Upload on Amazon Prime Lessons from the Screenplay: Sunset Blvd & Parasite    The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.in

THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: Megan Thee Stallion - Savage Remix (feat. Beyoncé)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEIqjoO0-Bs   - Trigger Workouts - https://www.precisionnutrition.com/trigger-workouts   - The Red Hand Files - Do you need to be hurt or mentally ill to be a great artist? https://www.theredhandfiles.com/do-you-need-to-be-hurt-or-mentally-ill-to-be-a-great-artist/     - On Prayer: https://www.theredhandfiles.com/a-prayer-to-who/      - Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters - https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/   - #20kin5days starts May 15 - https://www.tashalharrison.com/20kin5days   - Learning the Tropes Podcast - https://learningthetropes.podbean.com/     The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and vi

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Finding good things in a tough week John Truby – The Anatomy of Story – https://amzn.to/2VheOOD Sarra Cannon - Heart Breathings Youtube Channel Dan Wells 7 Point Plot Structure - https://hunterswritings.com/2016/09/16/7-point-story-structure-resources/ Story Forge cards - http://www.storyforgecards.com/ Michael Haspil QFD podcast - http://qfdpodcast.libsyn.com/ Author Natasha Lane - https://www.instagram.com/natashadlanewrites/ IngramSpark has a coupon for free title setup and revisions until May 31, 2010 using code: INGRAMSPARK2020. - https://www.ingramspark.com/ Jennifer Lyn Barnes on Writing Your Id: Workshop $6:  - Red Sneaker Writers - Podcast episode (Interview starts at 13:58)   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subsc

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: My Birthday & Giveaway: Enter to win ARCs of CRY OF METAL & BONE by me & THE FIERY CROWN by Jeffe Kennedy - https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope/ The Cupid Guild - Complete Collection - available for purchase for a limited time on my website https://lpenelope.com/book/the-cupid-guild-the-complete-collection/ John Truby - The Anatomy of Story - https://amzn.to/2VheOOD Eye doctor mask & glasses advice  Christina C. Jones - I Think I Might Love You (Love Sisters book 1)  - https://amzn.to/2VzLcuM   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: Some Good News with Hamilton original cast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oilZ1hNZPRM MENTIONS: - The Cupid Guild covers - Canva.com - image editing - Binding Shadows by Jasmine Silvera - https://amzn.to/2xfcQW1 - Replay of my live reading from Whispers of Shadow & Flame plus Q&A - https://www.howwriterswrite.com/onlinereading/l-penelope-online-reading-replay/ - Giveaway: https://lpenelope.com/giveaway     The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: htt

Come to my live reading Thursday, April 9th @ 8pm ET!! https://www.howwriterswrite.com/onlinereading/ THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: I wrote the last scenes of REQUIEM OF SILENCE!!! MENTIONS: -The Hunger Games series - https://amzn.to/3bMb2lM -The Lumatere Chronicles series - https://amzn.to/3bLd1qz -The Tiger King on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/watch/81115994 -Entreat Me by Grace Draven - https://amzn.to/3aEIrP6 -Master of Crows by Grace Draven - https://amzn.to/349In7O -Tracey Livesay wig showcase: https://www.instagram.com/tracey.livesay/ -“Stop Trying to Be Productive” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/style/productivity-coronavirus.html -kt literary podcast - Gaming with Mike Haspil: https://kt-literary-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/gaming-with-mike-haspil The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, cre

Podcast Survey: http://lpenelope.com/survey THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Queen Sono on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/title/81035137 - Lexicon Valley podcast: https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley - Self Made on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80202462 - Washington Post mention of Earthsinger Chronicles: http://lpen.co/washpo-mar2020 - Stealing Hollywood by Alexandra Sokoloff: https://amzn.to/3bCKrHE - It's a Wonderful Life - https://www.amazon.com/Its-Wonderful-Life-James-Stewart/dp/B07JMZ4HVH - Story Grid Core Emotions - https://storygrid.com/discover-storys-core/   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends

PODCAST SURVEY! https://lpenelope.com/survey THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: Debbie Allen’s dance class on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9-f0CajrL3/ – Written in Melanin interview : https://youtu.be/ud9bMPceIEM – Written in Melanin – Spoiler Talk! https://youtu.be/K4BEXXTH6gw – Fiona Apple in The New Yorker – https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/23/fiona-apples-art-of-radical-sensitivity   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Hush of Storm & Sorrow releases March 16!  Podcast survey still going on! https://lpenelope.com/survey MENTIONS: - Jeffe Kennedy article on Writer's Block - https://sffseven.blogspot.com/2020/03/when-writers-block-means-to-dig-deeper.html - Don't Take the Monkey Pass by Kelly Robson - https://kellyrobson.com/dont-take-the-monkey-bypass/ - Clickup.com- Project Management - Smartsheet.com- More Project Management - Notion.so & Marie Poulin - https://mariepoulin.com/training/ - Hand cream (I recommend lavender) - http://www.beefolks.com/products/c2-handcream/   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imag

THIS WEEK’S BEST THING: Finished Act 2 of Requiem of Silence! *** Please complete my survey of podcast listeners: http://lpenelope.com/survey HB90 Bootcamp planning course for writers starts March 15 – http://lpen.co/bootcamp HUSH OF STORM & SORROW out March 16! – Sarah J. Maass on Smart Bitches podcast – https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/395-house-of-earth-and-blood-with-courts-of-thorns-a-conversation-with-sarah-j-maas/ Book Recommendation: – A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon – https://amzn.to/2TMCJUe Movies: – A Soldier’s Story – https://g.co/kgs/HynkpK – Destination Wedding – https://amzn.to/39z33bd – Trust – https://g.co/kgs/prKzs9   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelo

Comment on this episode: https://lpenelope.com/2020/02/podcast-anniversary-my-imaginary-friends-episode-57 It's the one year anniversary of the podcast! Celebrate with me! **** Podcast Survey - https://lpenelope.com/survey  THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: I started marketing HUSH OF STORM & SORROW - https://lpenelope.com/book/hush-of-storm-sorrow/ HUSH OF STORM & SORROW Book Blitz signup:  http://xpressobooktours.com/2020/02/27/blitz-sign-up-hush-of-storm-sorrow-by-l-penelope/ The National Academies Press - http://nap.edu - Free ebooks on the sciences, engineering, and medicine for research Charm City Books in Baltimore - https://charmcitybooks.com/   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: kt literary retreat in Austin, TX - kt literary agency - https://ktliterary.com/ - Pintip Dunn - http://www.pintipdunn.com/ - Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski - https://amzn.to/3a0WHB3 - Angelina M. Lopez - http://www.angelinamlopez.com/ - Notion software - https://www.notion.so/ - The Writer's Well podcast on cultivating boredom - https://shows.acast.com/thewriterswell/episodes/ep163    The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: https://www.lpenelope.com I

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: My first date-iversary! (Kind of like Valentine’s Day, but better!) - Me on the local news circa 2005 - https://youtu.be/wBd9a5ZjgkA - Stealing Hollywood by Alexandra Sokoloff - https://amzn.to/2Hx50IO - Earthsinger Chronicles Playlist - Lush Money by Angelina M. Lopez - https://amzn.to/2wnoAot The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at http://frolic.media/podcasts! Website: https://www.lpenelope.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelope Fa

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: Oscar Nominated Shorts - https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/ MENTIONS: Kickstarter for Where the Veil is Thin - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1982216861/where-the-veil-is-thin-anthology Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://amzn.to/3brkrQc Bustle article on the Doctor - https://www.bustle.com/p/14-books-to-read-in-honor-of-doctor-whos-first-black-doctor-21766593 #ReadingBlackout: 29 Books to Read This Black History Month - https://bookish.netgalley.com/must-reads/02/2020/readingblackout-black-history-month-books/ Awario.com   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imaginary Friends is part of the Frolic

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: My new tattoo & series finale of The Good Place MENTIONED: HUSH OF STORM & SORROW pre-order - use coupon code: FRIENDS to get it for $0.99! - My new tattoo is from Brett Burnham at Chapterhouse Tattoo, Baltimore, MD - onestopforwriters.com - Jeffe Kennedy's First Cup of Coffee podcast - Sanditon on PBS - Lizzie Bennet Diaries web series - http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries/ - Welcome to Sanditon web series - http://www.pemberleydigital.com/welcome-to-sanditon/story-wts/ - Smart Bitches Podcast - CIMRWA episode https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/388-rwa-one-month-later-c-chilove-laurel-cremant-diana-neal-the-officers-of-cimrwa/ - Writing Excuses with Patrick Rothfuss - https://writingexcuses.com/2020/01/26/15-04-revision-with-patrick-rothfuss/ - Conversation I discuss starts at 17:35 The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: ARCs for CRY OF METAL & BONE have arrived! MENTIONS: - The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin - New Yorker article on NK Jemisin  - Kenya Goree-Bell / Karis Bell - Facebook book club - Hamilton "I Wrote My Way Out" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zhR6d6LDzM - Then, Now, Always by Mona Shroff - onestopforwriters.com Worksheets & Thesauruses galor! - Earthsinger Chronicles: https://lpenelope.com/earthsinger-chronicles/ HUSH OF STORM & SORROW (book 2.5) REQUIEM OF SILENCE (book 4) - "Here's What Would Happen If Stephen King Were Treated Like a Latina Writer"    The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes My Imagi

THIS WEEK'S BEST THING: The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller - https://amzn.to/30J8CQI  MENTIONS: - Eating the Fantastic podcast- http://www.scottedelman.com/2020/01/10/l-penelope/ - CRY OF METAL & BONE cover - https://lpenelope.com/book/cry-of-metal-bone/ Other Great Recent Reads: - Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue - https://amzn.to/36fB7Xq - The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - https://amzn.to/377UXFe - The Meldling by Claire Ryan - https://amzn.to/30BJ2gb - The Beast of Bestwick by Amalie Howard - https://amzn.to/365Vsy5 - My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid - https://amzn.to/2G7KM7K Girls with Glasses newsletter by Alyssa Cole - https://alyssacolelit.substack.com/ The Creative Penn podcast: How to Be Indestractible - https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2020/01/13/how-to-focus-and-be-indistractable-with-nir-eyal/  Agendio.com - customizable planners   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and par