Episode 252 – Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein

Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. 

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about:

When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in collegeHow Julia Cameron’s Book The Artist’s Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a bookBeing a “feel your way through” type of writerKnowing her characters really well, despite being a planstserHow Rona works through character sheetsThe importance of having a “what would they never, ever do?” element on a character sheetWhat Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authorsBecoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coachRona’s love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writerThe different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understandWhere and how Rona fits in her own writingContinuing to do the “Morning Pages” from the previously mentioned book by Julia CameronHow coaching and writing can help feed off one another for RonaThe Joan Didion quote: “I don’t know what I think until I write it down.”And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.

Links of Interest:

Rona Gofstein’s WebsiteBroad UniverseFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s Moon

Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0