Welcome to the end of "Season 1"--what I'm calling my first 1.5 years of podcasting. This will be the last episode for a while, and I hope you'll listen in! I share my favorite episodes, books, and TV, whether or not I think my podcast was a success, and my big turning point. Cheers and happy writing! Show notes and newsletter at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast33.

*This draft is terrible**This draft is perfect!* Sound familiar? Listen in for five steps to get started revising that terrible/perfect draft. I share how I managed to revise my 120-page thesis in two weeks, plus my favorite way to tie a big project together (with highlighters! And lists!). Shownotes plus a free ebook all about revising at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast32

After a 2-month hiatus, I decided to share how I work as a writer, from idea to draft to what feels to me like "finished"--when my work goes out on submission. My process has changed significantly since I began working with my agent, but whether or not you work with an agent, you can find ways to make your writing process satisfying. I really believe in process; it's what's allowed me to keep going. Show notes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast31.

Last episode, I talked about how to interview for nonfiction writers. Luckily, the stakes are lower for fiction writers. There are a lot of fun ways you can use books and people's expertise to help write your story. In this episode, I share how unexpected resources (like self-published ebooks) have helped me create believable characters and plots. Listen in to hear how you can find help in surprising places. Find show notes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com

This episode kicks off a mini-series about research--this week, I share my best tips for interviewing for nonfiction articles, essays, and projects, and next episode, I'll share ways to research and interview for fiction. I gathered most of these tips from my journalist friends while in grad school, where I had to conduct my very first *real* interview, and I've used them in countless situations, from interviewing a restaurant owner for a newspaper article to talking to a faith healer for a book manuscript. If you've never interviewed someone before, but are dying to get your feet wet, this is the podcast for you. Plus! For this episode only, I made an extra-special in-depth worksheet (that even includes an email template you can fill in and send out to your interview-ees)! Find it at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast29

As the parent of a toddler, I have learned some ways to fit writing into my life over the past couple of years. We're in the middle of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a time when a lot of folks are tackling a big project--and with a kiddo, it can be hard. Here are my best practices for writing with a small (extremely small) child--I'm sharing them here in the hopes that they will help you or a friend. Show notes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast28.

There are loads of residencies and retreats for writers that are too competitive, expensive, or time-consuming for many folks to get into. Listen in to hear how you can still have a word-count-busting, perspective-shifting weekend, day, or afternoon on your own writing retreat. Show notes at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast27.

How do you divide your time between journaling and writing? How can you use personal reflection to help with non-personal writing? I share how journaling for the past six weeks has helped me complete a manuscript, as well as ways for you to use journaling to help you reflect and write. Whether you're working on something personal or not, journaling can be incredibly helpful in uncovering useful information to help you keep writing. Show notes are at aliciadelosreyes.com/podcast26.

This episode is a bit of a break from the usual format--no lesson, just a reflection on how finishing my latest draft feels good/bad/different from the last novel I wrote. I mull over what makes this celebration more complicated than the last (spoiler alert: I am not looking forward to revising!). Find show notes and more at aliciadelosreyes.com.

Author platform...social media...ahhhh! Instead of feeling guilty for not using social media, listen to this podcast about how I tried out Instagram for a month and had FUN. Instagram is a great platform for me for a variety of reasons (not as political as Twitter, more fun and flexible, and an easier place to make connections), and I share them all in this podcast, plus concrete ways for you to get started posting. I share how I use hashtags and participate in challenges. I'm not a big name on IG and I don't aim to be. I have a small but engaged following, and I make real connections on this platform.