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Working Writers

Pete Aldin & Bryan Chaffin

Practical conversations about writing, publishing, and building a career as a working writer.

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9 episodes
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Avg 39 min
English

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#8
Tuesday · 35 min
What Should You Write Next?
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore how writers can choose what to work on next when too many possibilities lead to analysis paralysis. They also discuss BookBub Featured Deals, what they can do for book sales, and Pete’s recent success with the platform. Chapters 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:26 What Should You Write Next? 00:03:25 Pete’s Writing Career So Far 00:07:47 Five Possible Writing Projects 00:15:37 Bryan Coaches Pete Through the Decision 00:23:14 Getting Past Analysis Paralysis 00:25:14 Does BookBub Actually Work? 00:30:31 Getting a BookBub Featured Deal 00:34:33 Outro Links from This Episode: Pete Aldin https://petealdin.com/ Pete Aldin's Library https://petealdin.com/library/ The Envoys Universe/Third Contact https://petealdin.com/the-cuset-dchc-universe/ Accidental Intelligence https://geektells.com/accidental-intelligence BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/ BookBub Featured Deal https://www.bookbub.com/partners/featured_deals BookBub Featured Deal Requirements https://www.bookbub.com/partners/featured_deal_requirements Kobo https://www.kobo.com/ Nick Snape https://www.nicksnape.com Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#7
October 6 · 37 min
Are Writing Competitions Worth It?
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore whether writing competitions are worth entering, from the benefits of awards and feedback to the realities of judging and rejection. They also discuss what writers can learn by becoming judges themselves—and why a strong opening matters when your book is competing for attention. Chapters 00:00 Introductions 00:22 Are Writing Competitions Worth It? 05:33 The Benefits of Entering Competitions 09:20 Winning, Placing, and the Value of Recognition 15:43 How Novel Competitions Are Judged 19:14 Why Your Opening Has to Be Strong 24:05 Subjectivity, Rejection, and Managing Expectations 29:29 Why Writers Should Become Judges 36:30 Outro Links from This Episode: 2026 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest https://readersfavorite.com/2026-award-contest-winners.htm#accidental-intelligence Self-Published Science Fiction Competition https://spsfc.space/ SPSFC Judging Application https://spsfc.space/application-forms/ Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off https://www.marklawrence.buzz/2018/06/the-official-self-published-fantasy.html Austalasian Shadows Awards https://australasianhorror.com/australian-shadows-awards/ Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#6
September 29 · 51 min
Make Your Characters More Interesting
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore how to make your characters more interesting, from finding unexpected flaws and contradictions to challenging your assumptions about who they are. They discuss techniques for pushing beyond obvious character choices, making protagonists as compelling as their supporting cast, avoiding stereotypes, and using real-world observations to create characters who feel distinctive and alive. Chapters: 00:00 Introductions 00:20 Are Great Characters Discovered or Designed? 01:20 Basing Characters on Real People 08:04 Designing vs. Discovering Characters 11:15 Exercises for Creating Better Characters 25:58 What Line Won’t Your Character Cross? 27:58 Playing Against the Mood of a Scene 32:25 When Side Characters Outshine Your Protagonist 41:12 Avoiding Stereotypes 51:20 Outro Links from This Episode: AJ Saxsma's Trauma as Engine Workbook (The Name that Bryan Couldn't Think of—mentioned at 25:58) https://andrewverse858.gumroad.com/l/wwkql Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/158297263X/ Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#5
September 22 · 43 min
Every Writer Needs Critique Partners
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin discuss why every writer needs good critique partners—and how to find them. They explore what makes a critique relationship work, why different partners bring different strengths, how to give and receive useful feedback, and why critiquing someone else’s work can make you a better writer. Plus, they look at how many outside readers a manuscript needs and the value of seeking perspectives beyond your usual circle. Chapters: 00:00 Introductions 00:20 What Is a Critique Partner? 04:47 Different Critique Partners, Different Strengths 11:20 How to Find Critique Partners 17:44 Building Your Critique Network 22:47 Why Critiquing Makes You a Better Writer 27:22 Critique Etiquette and Building Trust 32:34 How Many Critique Partners Do You Need? 39:25 Why Human Feedback Matters 40:09 Getting Perspectives Outside Your Bubble 42:47 Outro Links from This Episode: AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler https://absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#4
September 15 · 48 min
Scrivener vs. Word: Debating the Merits
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin present the writing Battle Royale: Scrivener vs. Word. They break down the relative merits of both apps, from drafting and organizing a novel to editing, collaboration, and publishing. Which tool does what better—and which one belongs in your writing workflow? Chapters: 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:14 Why Bryan Writes in Scrivener 00:10:24 Why Pete Switched to Word 00:15:07 Editing and Working with Feedback 00:17:32 Formatting and Publishing with Scrivener 00:29:54 Collaboration, Snapshots, and Workflow 00:37:34 Publishing and Final Thoughts 00:47:50 Outro Links from This Episode: Scrivener, by Literature & Latte https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview Word, by Microsoft https://word.cloud.microsoft/en-us/ Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#3
September 8 · 48 min
Why Every Author Needs a Writing Group
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin dig into writing and critique groups: why they matter, what writers can learn from critiquing other people’s work, and how the right group can make you a better writer. They also talk about online versus in-person groups, finding writers who share your level of commitment, recognizing when a group isn’t right for you, and more. Chapters: 00:00 Introductions 00:56 Why Writers Need Writing Groups 06:28 Learning by Critiquing Other Writers 11:58 What Different Writers Bring to a Group 15:32 The Online Writing Workshop 17:50 Online vs. In-Person Writing Groups 23:06 Writing Groups Might Come with Networking Opportunities 36:30 Writing Group Etiquette and Group Dynamics 44:53 How to Find Your Writing People 47:48 Outro Links from This Episode: Note: Some links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Critique.org https://critique.org/ Online Writing Workshop https://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/ Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingWritersShow
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#2
September 1 · 42 min
The Art of Not Explaining
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin talk about trusting your readers, revealing worldbuilding through your characters, and resisting the urge to explain everything you’ve created. They look at examples from science fiction and fantasy, discuss when backstory actually belongs on the page, and explain why it’s perfectly fine—even desirable—for readers not to understand everything right away. Chapters: 00:00 Introductions 01:10 Why Info Dumps Hurt Your Story 06:58 Trust Your Reader 11:10 Worldbuilding Without Explaining Everything 20:06 Write for Your Character, Not Your Reader 25:48 What to Do With All That Extra Worldbuilding 31:15 When Research Becomes an Info Dump 37:32 Beware the Prologue 41:40 Outro Links from This Episode: Note: Some links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Hyperion, by Dan Simmons https://www.amazon.com/Hyperion-Cantos-Book-1-ebook/dp/B004G60EHS/geektells-20 The Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Hyperion-Cantos-Book-ebook/dp/B004G60FWM/geektells-20 The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin https://www.amazon.com/Left-Hand-Darkness-Science-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00YBA7PGW/geektells-20 Dune, by Frank Herbert https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Frank-Herbert-ebook/dp/B00B7NPRY8/geektells-20 The Abominable, by Dan Simmons https://www.amazon.com/Abominable-Novel-Dan-Simmons-ebook/dp/B00AFGHJ1W/geektells-20 Follow Working Writers Working Margins Newsletter https://workingwriters.io/newsletter/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@workingwritersshow Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/workingwritersshow.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workingwritersshow/
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#1
August 25 · 48 min
Every Author Needs a Newsletter
In their inaugural episode, Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin talk about how important it is for every author to have their own newsletter and corresponding email list. They also talk about some of the resources available for managing your email list, how often to publish your newsletter, and ways to keep the content fresh and authentically in your voice.
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August 23 · 1 min
Working Writers: The Trailer
Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin introduce Working Writers, a podcast about the craft, tools, publishing, and business of writing.
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