Monthly Encouragement in your inbox:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2025/10/28/how-i-consistently-get-into-a-writing-flow/Join the Creative Wizard Community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizardOn this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by Frances Wong, children’s and middle-grade author, teacher, and indie publisher behind the Lexi Walker sci-fi adventure series and the holiday adventure Tasha’s Christmas Wish.We explore:- Her long road from discouraged young writer to confident indie author- Querying, self-publishing, and choosing the right publishing path- Why she edits with printed pages, pens, and a lot of Post-it notes- Using Save the Cat beats and flexible plotting for kidlit- Writing emotionally safe but high-stakes stories for children- Building resilience, agency, and relatability into young protagonists- How teaching shapes her storytelling and editing processFrances shares how a single image sparked the Lexi Walker series, why resilience is at the heart of all her stories, and how intentional storytelling can challenge young readers while still making them feel safe and supported.📚 Explore Frances Wong’s bookshttps://authorfranceswong.my.canva.site/home📸 Follow Frances Wong on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/author_frances_wong/✨ Enjoy these conversations? Subscribe for more author interviews, writing craft deep dives, and indie publishing perspectives.💡 Join the Creative Writing Wizard community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizard📖 Discover new indie book releases:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/11/18/indie-release-radarKeywordsFrances Wong, Lexi Walker, Children’s Sci-Fi, Middle Grade Author Interview, Indie Publishing, Save the Cat Writing, Plotting with Post-its, Writing for Kids, Resilience in Fiction, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, Glen Weatherhead

Monthly Encouragement in your inbox: https://creativewritingwizard.com/2025/10/28/how-i-consistently-get-into-a-writing-flow/ Join the Creative Wizard Community: https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizardOn this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by J.M. Testa. indie fantasy author of The Destined Road, book one of her trilogy rooted in classic, Tolkien-inspired storytelling with a modern heart.We explore:- How she went from nonprofit & corporate work to publishing epic fantasy- Her visual-first approach to building worlds- Creating new fantasy races- Developing an original Elven language (and how she built it)- Writing female-led fantasy without stereotypes- The freedom, and challenges, of the indie publishing path- Writer’s block, subconscious drafting, and trusting your brain to problem-solveJess shares her journey crafting a trilogy that blends classic fantasy vibes with modern themes of compassion, identity, and community, plus what she’s learned about writing in visual layers, discovering story mid-draft, and building languages that deepen world immersion.📚 Read The Destined Roadhttps://jtesta.com📸 Follow J.M. Testa on Instagramhttps://instagram.com/jmtesta✨ Enjoy these conversations? Subscribe for more author interviews, writing process deep dives, and indie fantasy spotlights.💡 Join the Creative Writing Wizard community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizard📖 Explore new indie book releases:https://creativewritingwizard.com/2024/11/18/indie-release-radarReferences & MentionsVulgarLang – language creation tool used for Elven structuresHarness Magazine interview with J.M. Testa - https://harnessmagazine.com/jess-testa/ @writermakesvideos - J.M. Testa on YouTubeKeywordsJ.M. Testa, The Destined Road, Indie Author Interview, Fantasy Trilogy, Worldbuilding, Elven Language, Map-Based Writing, Creative Writing, Indie Publishing, Classic Fantasy, Tolkien Inspired, Noblebright Fantasy, Women in Fantasy, Queer Fantasy, Writing Tips, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, Glen Weatherhead, BODY Novella

Voices Like These, StoryForge's First Anthology: https://storyforge.com/anthology Encouragement for Your Writing Journey: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1wt_ImXMFeZCjaHfykdZYN0nEVDdzH8dIn this episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast, I’m joined by Sabrina Rucker, CEO and founder of StoryForge, a new publishing platform built to empower writers through community, transparency, and modern publishing tools.We explore:- Sabrina’s early journey as a writer and her challenges in traditional publishing- How those experiences inspired the creation of StoryForge- What makes StoryForge different from other indie platforms- The upcoming StoryForge Anthology Project and its purpose- The platform’s stance on AI in publishing and ethical considerations- Why community feedback is vital to writer growth- Sabrina’s advice for aspiring authors t- Sabrina shares her insights on building a community-first model for publishing, what’s next for StoryForge, and how writers can take control of their creative futures.📚 Explore StoryForge & updates: https://storyforge.com🎥 Follow StoryForge on YouTube: @_storyforge ✨ Like this conversation? Subscribe for more!💡 Support the Creative Writing Wizard efforts & indie author community:https://www.patreon.com/c/CreativeWritingWizard📖 Discover more indie fantasy & creative writing content:https://creativewritingwizard.comChapters00:00 Introduction to StoryForgeand Sabrina Rucker01:29 Sabrina's Journey as a Writer04:58 The Birth of StoryForge06:54 How StoryForge Supports Writers09:37 The Anthology Project12:20 Future Publishing Paths with StoryForge15:15 Differentiating StoryForge from Traditional Publishing19:50 The Stance on AI in Publishing26:10 Advice for Aspiring Writers31:10:26 Future Developments and Closing Thoughts🎵 Intro & outro music written & recorded by Glen WeatherheadKeywordsStoryforge, Sabrina Rucker, Writing Community, Publishing, Indie Publishing, Writer Support, AI in Publishing, Anthology, Feedback, Creative Writing, Author Interview, Creative Writing Wizard Podcast