Path to Print is a fiction editing podcast hosted by romance developmental and line editor Kate Marope to showcase the many paths authors take to publishing. Writing is often a solitary process riddled with self-doubt, mental flailing, and frustration when the characters won't do what you want, so Kate created a podcast with big-nibling-who's-been-through-this energy to help authors feel less alone in their journey to print.
Whether it's improving accessibility via the shorter, informative "blogisodes" or diving deep into the process and meaning with guests, Path to Print has your back!
5 Ways You Can Handle an Age Gap Romance in Your Book
Sitting down to write an age gap romance can be a little intimidating, but the good news is that you don't have to go full throttle with your first AGR. Let's take a look at how you can approach the age gap component in a way that goes beyond the existence of the dynamic and really looks at the internal & external impact it has on your characters.
A transcript of this episode is also available as a blog post at theribbonmarker.com/2023/01/23/5-ways-you-can-handle-an-age-gap-romance-in-your-book/ (//theribbonmarker.com/2023/01/23/5-ways-you-can-handle-an-age-gap-romance-in-your-book/).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
4 Jun 2022
What is an Age Gap Anyway? | #MaropeTakeover Part 1
Come LOL and get all the food for thought in the first Marope Takeover, where my mother and aunt share their definition of "age gap" as well their complex feelings and concerns when it comes to age gap romance. Their initial thoughts? Hard pass. It's a trope that needs nuanced handling to avoid putting readers in all kinds of quandaries, so it gets interesting quick! I don't know if Mariana Zapata, Carian Cole & Akwaeke Emezi will change their minds...
Are you a fan of the trope? Have you read the books and already have strong feelings? Leave a voice message for the Maropes on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
A transcript of this episode will be available as a blog post by June 18, 2022.
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker. (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker.)
2 Apr 2022
Sample Pages Q&A | #ListenerQueries with Latoya C. Smith
Me and agent extraordinaire Latoya C. Smith answer your questions about sample pages, the submission or acquisition process, and give our best tips for writing and revising your setups! We also talk about trends and why comps are truly not your enemy.
A transcript of this episode is available as a blog post at https://bit.ly/3vbpu20 (https://bit.ly/3vbpu20).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
30 Mar 2022
The Value of an Opening Chapters Assessment
Wonder what an opening chapters assessment can do for you? In this blogisode, I delve into the five reasons I think it's worth paying a professional editor to take a look at the first 20k words of your manuscript! While it's not for everyone, a light edit/critique of your opening chapters can teach you a lot about your book, and you as a writer. It's an under-tapped tool for growth!
View a transcript of this episode at https://bit.ly/3INI7hb (https://bit.ly/3INI7hb).
Leave a voice message on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (https://ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
20 Mar 2022
Delivering on the Back Cover Copy | #MsMatched with Silvana Reyes
We all know that readers buy books based on 3 things—recommendations, covers, and that all-important back cover copy. Join me and Silvana Reyes (@thebookvoyagers) as we talk about Q1 books we bought based on BCC and whether they lived up to their hype. And if not, what other books are giving the right vibes, and living up to that marketing promise?
A transcript of this episode will be available April 3, 2022.
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
14 Mar 2022
The Epic Opener to Netflix’s Vincenzo
The opening to Netflix's Vincenzo is a case study in hooky setup that pulls the viewer through that inciting incident with great character work. Join me as I breakdown how the show uses the elements we've been discussing all quarter long to develop the character and plot in a way that makes it hard to stop watching. Did you stop watching after the first 15 minutes?
View a transcript of this episode at https://bit.ly/3w3LKNi (https://bit.ly/3w3LKNi).
Leave a voice message on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (https://ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
6 Mar 2022
Voice & the Self-Editing Process | #LessonsLearned with RM Virtues
Join me and RM Virtues as we talk about the lessons he's learned since he published his first book, Drag Me Up. We explore how important it is to understand your learning style, and to discover/create a self-editing process that empowers you. It's all about finding your voice (on and off-page) and seeing your losses as opportunities for learning and growth. Plus sneak peeks at what releases he's got in store for us this year!
A transcript of this episode is available as a blog post at https://bit.ly/3i3DwfS (https://theribbonmarker.com/?p=7104&preview=true&preview_id=7104).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message. (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message.)
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
3 Mar 2022
Matching the Premise of Your Book to its Setup
If you've ever received feedback like "Your setup doesn't match what you're selling in your query letter" or "the opening chapters of your book were telling a different story" then this episode is for you. Join me as we look at what acquiring editors mean when they say things like that and what you can do to better create accurate expectations for your manuscript.
View a transcript of this episode at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/03/03/matching-the-premise-of-your-book-to-its-setup/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/03/03/matching-the-premise-of-your-book-to-its-setup/).
Leave a voice message on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (https://ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
12 Feb 2022
Impactful & Memorable Setups | #EditorTalk with Ali Williams
This episode, me and fellow editor Ali Williams take a look at trends in the industry and discuss books that not only have standout setups but also really showcase what we're looking for in specific subgenres—all from the editor perspective. If MSWL and book reviews had a baby, this is it, so join us as we rave about books that have stuck with us!
A transcript of this episode is available as a blog post at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/14/impactful-memorable-setups-editortalk-with-ali-williams/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/14/impactful-memorable-setups-editortalk-with-ali-williams/).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
11 Feb 2022
Using a Character Sketch to Identify Character Moments
If you struggle with writing or revising those key character moments in your book, or you're not sure how to identify an opening character moment that really sets the tone for your protagonist's internal arc, then this episode is for you! Let's take a deeper look at how you can use a character sketch to create more three-dimensional characters with internal character arcs that make sense and feel real.
View a transcript of this episode at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/11/using-a-character-sketch-to-identify-character-moments/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/11/using-a-character-sketch-to-identify-character-moments/).
Leave a voice message on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (https://ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
2 Feb 2022
Unapologetic & Rooted Characters | #LifeLike with Jadesola James
Nobody writes African characters like my friend, Jadesola James. In this episode, we dive into what experiences she brings to her characters, and redefine what HEAs look like when your characters are unapologetically them. It's all about creating those experiences that call to a specific intended reader—if you know, you know.
A transcript of this episode is available as a blog post at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/02/unapologetic--rooted-characters--lifelike-with-jadesola-james/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/02/02/unapologetic--rooted-characters--lifelike-with-jadesola-james/).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
17 Jan 2022
Ways to Identify If & Why Your Setup Doesn't Hook
Don't know if and why your WIP's setup doesn't hook readers, editors, or agents? This episode is all about how you can use your readership, critique partners, and other submission materials to identify where your setup needs work and the things you should do more of going forward.
Don't know what setup is? Check out my YouTube video on Defining Setup at https://youtu.be/0lkixaJ9a4A (https://youtu.be/0lkixaJ9a4A).
A transcript of this episode is also available as a blog post at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/01/17/ways-to-identify-if-why-your-setup-doesnt-hook/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/?p=6525).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
15 Jan 2022
The Opening Character Moment | #ConvosOnCraft with Mary Calmes
It was super hard not to fangirl over THE Mary Calmes y'all! But we definitely went deep into her backlist, talking about nailing those opening character moments and the things you have to keep in mind when you're writing and revising them.
A transcript of this episode is also available as a blog post at https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/01/15/the-opening-character-moment--convosoncraft-with-mary-calmes/.
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message.
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker.
3 Jan 2022
2022 Q1 Anticipated Releases
Join Path to Print host Kate Marope as she talks about the top ten books (plus some honorable mentions) she’s excited for in the first quarter of 2022.
A transcript of this episode is also available as a blog post at theribbonmarker.com/2022/01/03/2022-q1-anticipated-releases/ (https://theribbonmarker.com/2022/01/03/2022-q1-anticipated-releases/).
Leave a voice message for Kate on Anchor at anchor.fm/kate-marope/message (//anchor.fm/kate-marope/message).
Interested in supporting Path to Print on Ko-Fi? You can donate at ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker (//ko-fi.com/theribbonmarker).
2 Jan 2022
Path to Print with Kate Marope
Join romance developmental and line editor and HEA enthusiast Kate Marope and her guests for conversations on craft, writing process, culture, and lessons learned in publishing books. It’s a wild journey, but so worth it in figuring out your path to print.
Contact Path to Print
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Path to Print?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
