Episodes

Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
143 How to Write Great Beginnings with Sandra Gerth
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- The most common mistakes authors make with beginnings
- What you need to establish in the first act and first chapter
- How to handle prologues and flashbacks
- Hooks
- How to know when you have the right beginning
This week’s question is: It’s mid year. What one thing will you complete by the end of the year?
Recommendation of the week is: The Fantastical Transmogrifier: A Camp Enigma Novel by Patron Jennifer Roundell
***this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned are:
Sacha’s Sapphic Mailing List: Get 250+ sapphic YA book recommendations
Find out more about Sandra at:
Free cheat sheet with 20 dos and don'ts of writing great beginnings
Rebel of the Week is: Beth Cox
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Marian Sargent and Shannon Grogan. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE
Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
142 The Intuitive Writer with Becca Syme
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- The five types of intuition
- How to stop crushing your intuition
- Putting plotting vs pantsing to bed
- Shutting out input/influence sources
- Mistakes to avoid
This week’s question is: are you intuitive?
Recommendation of the week is: Happy Sexy Millionaire by Steven Bartlett
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Becca on:
Becca’s first interview episode 17
Visit the Better Faster Academy
Rebel of the Week is: Jackson Hollingsworth
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
4 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Megdalena, Herman Steuernagel, Claire Donnelly and Annie Lawrence. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
141 How to Write Active Settings with Mary Buckham
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- The difference between active and non active settings
- How to make your settings more active
- How characters should engage with settings
- Mistakes to avoid with active settings
- How to hook your readers
Find out more about Mary:

Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
140 Writing and Marketing Systems with Elana Johnson
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- How to assess your time
- Mistakes to avoid when trying to structure writing systems
- How to streamline your business
- Tiered launches
- How to assess your series success
This week’s question is: What do you want to learn more about?
Recommendation of the week is: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Elana:
Read her books for writers: Writing and Releasing Rapidly and Writing Killer Cover Copy
See all of Elana's books (including some she wrote under her pen name of Liz Isaacson)
Rebel of the Week is: Allison Carroll
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
No new patrons this week, but a big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
This Show is Sponsored by ProWritingAid
Get 20% off using Sacha’s link.

Wednesday May 25, 2022
139 How to Write Funny with Heide Goody and Iain Grant
Wednesday May 25, 2022
Wednesday May 25, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- How to collaborate effectively
- Mistakes to avoid in collaborations
- How to approach writing humour
- The format and structure of a joke
- Different types of humour
- Agents of chaos
This week’s question is: How do you self-sabotage?
Recommendation of the week is: Tinseltown Toils by Jay Renee Lawrence (Patron)
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Heide and Iain at:
Rebel of the Week is: Dharma Kelleher
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Karen Heenan. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE
Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.

Wednesday May 18, 2022
138 How to Write Erotica and Dark Romance with Golden Angel
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- Overview of the genre and subgenres
- What makes a good erotica novel
- Terminology and language
- How to write a good sex scene
- Common mistakes to avoid
This week’s question is: Tell me about something you’re proud of.
Recommendation of the week is: Dear Writer, Are You Intuitive? by Becca Syme
***this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned are:
Superbad Villains on The Writer's Mindset
Find out more about Golden Angel at:
Rebel of the Week is: Bair
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Karla Hailer and Vanessa Wells. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

Wednesday May 11, 2022
137 How to Write About Mental Health and Trauma with Iona Wayland
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- How to approach and research trauma and mental health
- Trigger words and content words
- How to write about trauma realistically
- Sensitivity reading
- So much science and psychology
This week’s question is: how are you looking after yourself?
Recommendation of the week is: The Bestseller Code by Matthew Jockers and Jodie Archer
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Iona at:
Author Website/Sensitivity Reading
Rebel of the Week is: Lena Johnson
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com.
2 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Valerie Ihsan and CJ Dainton. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

Wednesday May 04, 2022
136 How to Write a Scrappy First Draft with Donna Barker
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- Top tips and tricks to get through your draft
- Mistakes to avoid
- Mindset barriers for first drafts
- What to do when you get stuck
This week’s question is: who would you like to see on the show or what topics would you like covered?
Recommendation of the week is: Gallant by V.E. Schwab
***this show uses affiliate links
Find out more about Donna at:
Rebel of the Week is: Jackson Hollingsworth
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com or instagram me @sachablackauthor
3 new patrons this week, welcome and thank you to Darren Blake, Rebecca Adams and Kimberly Grymes. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
This Show is Sponsored by ProWritingAid
Get 20% off using Sacha’s link.
Check out The Witch's Revenge by ProWritingAid user S.W. Millar

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
135 6 Lessons from Three Years of Full-Time Writing
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- The income update
- Realising I’m not superhuman
- Refining and focusing on the money
- Being a better publisher
- Human connection
- Your uniqueness
This week’s question is: What's the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your journey so far?
Recommendation of the week is: Keepers by me!
***this show uses affiliate links
Links I mentioned are:
5 Lessons from Two Years of Writing Full-Time
10 Lessons from One Year of Writing Full-Time
Rebel of the Week is: Ian Worrall
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
A big thank you to returning patron Bair Klos and to current patron, H. B. Lyne, for upping her pledge. A big thank you to my existing patrons. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack

Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
134 How to Launch Your First Book with CM Newell, SW Millar and Scott Williamson
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Episode Show Notes
In this episode we cover:
- How they felt as first time authors in 2022
- How and why they chose their launch and marketing model
- What went well
- What mistakes they made and would do differently next time
- The hardest part about launching your first book
This week’s question is: How is your year going? Is it as productive as you wanted?
Find out more about SW Millar at:
Find out more about CM Newell at:
**Anyone who buys an ebook through CM's website store for rebel listeners, they can use the code Villains40 and receive a 40% discount through end of the year.
Find out more about Scott Williamson at:
Rebel of the Week is: Helen Rygh Pederson
If you’d like to be a Rebel of the week please do send in your story, it can be any kind of rebellion. You can email your rebel story to rebelauthorpodcast@gmail.com
1 new patron this week, welcome and thank you to Dharma Kelleher. A big thank you to my existing patrons as well. If you’d like to support the show, and get early access to all the episodes as well as bonus content you can from as little as $2 a month by visiting: www.patreon.com/sachablack
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY KOBO WRITING LIFE
Visit Kobo Writing Life here, read the Kobo Writing Life blog here, and listen to their podcast here.