Story Magic
Hey fiction writer! Want your readers to stay up until 2am, so engrossed in your story they just can’t put it down? Want to build a successful, fulfilling, and sustainable writing life that works for YOU? Story Magic is the place for you. Every week, professional book coaches and editors Emily and Rachel from Golden May dive into writing craft, community, and mindset tips, tricks, and advice so you can write and publish books you’re damn proud of, again and again. We cover craft topics like story structure, character development, worldbuilding and ‘show, don’t tell’; we dive into how to grow your writing community of readers and writing partners; and we’ll talk about all those mindset challenges from imposter syndrome and perfectionism to fear of the blank page. Story Magic has all the tools you need to become the author you’re meant to be. You’ve got this, let’s go!
Episodes
131 episodes
130 - How to write a believable romantic couple
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about writing believable romance.What you’ll learn from this episode:What makes characters romantically compatibleHow tropes play into compatibilityHow conflict feeds a believa...
129 - Finding writing flow
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about writing flow!What you’ll learn from this episode:What is flow stateHow to find flow stateExperimenting with your unique brain and bodyLetting go of shame surroun...
128 - Tips and tricks for staying organized while writing
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about organization!What you’ll learn from this episode: Emily and Rachel's personal processesDeciding on what your priorities are firstNot using "organization" as a procra...
127 - Using magic as a metaphor for mental health with Ruth McKell
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about magic as a metaphor for mental health with guest Ruth McKell.What you’ll learn from this episode:using writing as catharsisincorporating mental health themes into your magic<...
126 - Reclaiming the Lens: How Marginalized Writers Build Worlds for Their Own Communities with Tiffany Grimes
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about how marginalized writers build worlds for their own communities with guest Tiffany Grimes.What you’ll learn from this episode:What it means to "reclaim the lens" Why so many ...
125 - Digital Minimalism with Gauri Yardi
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about digital minimalism with guest Gauri Yardi!What you’ll learn from this episode:What is digital minimalism? Emily's and Gauri's experience How to incorporate digi...
124 - Commissioning artists
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about commissioning artists for book covers and artwork.What you’ll learn from this episode:when and why you might work with an artistwhere and how to find artistswhat the proc...
123 - Balancing the book of your heart with market decisions
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about writing what you want vs writing to market.What you’ll learn from this episode:staying true to writing what you loveconsidering market as a business toolnot letting this ...
122 - Writing good love triangles
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about love triangles!What you’ll learn from this episode: our personal preferencestying love triangles back to characteravoiding common pitfallsReady to make ...
121 - What is the romantasy genre?
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about romantasy!What you’ll learn from this episode:expectations of the genrenavigating the vibesdiscussing the genre's critiquereading within the genreRe...
120 - How do you know when you're done?
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about knowing when your draft/book is done.What you’ll learn from this episode:Being confident in your choiceAt what point should you get outside feedbackDifferent paths have d...
119 - To prologue or to not prologue
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about prologues!What you’ll learn from this episode:Subjectivity is part of this process and industry What makes prologues not workWhat makes prologues work<...
118 - Where and when to end a chapter
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about ending chapters!What you’ll learn from this episode:Scene vs chapterScene structureEnding in the middle?SCENE STRUCTURE BLOG:
117 - How to write in different POVs
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about writing in different POVs.What you’ll learn from this episode:Knowing your character well enough to see from their perspective1st person vs 3rd person perspectives T...
116 - The brain science behind writer's resistance with Monica Hay
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about the brain science behind resistance with special guest Monica Hay!What you’ll learn from this episode:What causes our brains to freeze up when we try to writeRetraining your amygd...
115 - Writing effective descriptions
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about descriptions!What you’ll learn from this episode:What makes a good description? How character perspective impacts what they see and describeHow character emotions co...
114 - Happy New Year! 2025 Wrap, 2026 Dreams
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about their 2025 years, and what they hope for 2026!Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs ...
113 - Writing unlikeable characters well
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about unlikeable characters.What you’ll learn from this episode [insert bullet points]What does ‘unlikable’ mean, and who decides?How to make unlikeable characters more likeable
112 - Diving into totally new projects
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about jumping into new projects.What you’ll learn from this episode:Moving onto new projects - like a totally new set of characters, new series, etc. It's scary!!What it’s like to start...
111 - Should you revise or rewrite messy scenes?
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about revising and/or rewriting messy scenes.What you’ll learn from this episode:How to know if you should rewrite or revise messy scenesWhat ‘rewriting’ can look like, depending on you...
110 - Dealing with post-book-release emotions
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about post-book-release emotions!What you’ll learn from this episode:what it's like to release a book into the worldmindset reframes practical steps for managing the ups a...
109 - Return from hiatus
Today, Emily & Rachel talk about what happened during the time we've been on hiatus!Ready to make readers so in love with your characters they can’t stop biting their nails in anticipation? Grab The Magic of Character Arcs<...
108 - Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Today, Emily & Rachel are back from hiatus to talk about dictation with guest Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer!What you’ll learn from this episode:Incorporating dictation into your writing processManaging mindset and perfe...