Weaving Words into Stories for Genre Fiction Writers

About Weaving Words into Stories for Genre Fiction Writers

Interviews with genre fiction authors, fiction writing tips and thoughts on incorporating the wisdom of the tarot and magical musings into writing empowered genre fiction. empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Selina Shapland | empoweredwords.com.au

Category

education · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Jul 2025

Latest episode

20 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Jun 2026

   9 of Pentacles Reversed for Writers

   Unlock your writing potential with practical tips and insights! In this mini-episode of Weaving Words into Stories, Selina, a fiction book coach, paranormal romance writer and tarot reader, guide you through the journey of self-worth in writing. Discover how to value your creativity and overcome self-doubt as a writer. * Understand the importance of self-worth in your writing journey. * Learn how to separate your identity from your writing skills. * Embrace the learning process and seek feedback to improve. * Celebrate your achievements and progress as a writer. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:23 Importance of self-worth in writing 02:10 Overcoming self-doubt 04:17 The learning process in writing 06:00 Celebrating your achievements 10:20 Action steps for self-reflection What's your biggest challenge with self-worth in writing? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for regular insights on writing and creativity!empoweredwords.com.au Get full access to Weaving Words into Stories at empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Writing Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance & Horror with Danni Line

   On Episode 1, 2026, of Weaving Words into Stories for Genre Fiction Writers, Danni Line discusses her path to writing genre fiction, particularly in romance and horror. Together, we explore the influence of horror on romance writing, the importance of short stories, and the intricacies of building romantic tension. Danni shares insights on crafting powerful first kisses, the significance of world-building in her series, and the theme of redemption through romance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of balancing writing with family life and the importance of finding a supportive writing community. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Weaving Words into Stories 01:01 Introducing Danni Line 04:35 The Influence of Horror on Romance 07:20 Short Stories vs. Long Fiction 10:24 Building Romantic Tension 13:18 Crafting Powerful First Kisses 16:15 Exploring the Artemis Curse Series 19:30 The Trinket Bay Canine Mystery Series 26:32 Balancing Love and Duty 29:30 World Building in Paranormal Romance 33:33 Redemption Through Romance 37:08 Advice for Aspiring Writers 40:15 Finding Your Community 43:43 Writing Romantic Suspense 49:00 The Horror Genre and Emotional Depth 54:27 Sweet and Spicy Short Stories 57:48 Juggling Writing and Family Life 01:01:33 Where to Find Danni Line Get full access to Weaving Words into Stories at empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   30 Nov 2025

   Writing Romantic Magical Realism with Melinda Sorenson

   Melinda Sorensen: The Author Behind The Solstice Queen In this episode of Weaving Words Into Stories for Genre Fiction Writers, host Selina discusses the importance of balance in writing, inspired by the Temperance tarot card. She encourages writers to reflect on their inspirations, challenges, and the opportunities that arise from them. The conversation emphasises the need for a holistic approach to storytelling, allowing writers to fully express their imaginative visions on the page. In this episode, Selina with Melinda Sorensen about her debut novel, The Solstice Queen, which blends magical realism with themes of romance and climate change. Melinda shares insights into her writing process, character development, and the challenges of self-publishing. Melinda also reflects on her personal inspirations, the importance of community in writing, and her future projects. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Creative Writing Journey02:52 Inspiration and Challenges in Writing03:03 Interview with Melinda Sorensen and Her Debut NovelThe Heart of The Solstice QueenCharacter Development and InspirationsThe Role of Climate Change in the NarrativePersonal Interests and Their Influence on WritingExploring Magical RealismCrafting a Unique Magical SystemChallenges in World-BuildingThe Importance of Beta ReadersJourney into Romance WritingDeveloping the Love TriangleThemes and Control in Romance WritingCharacter Agency and DevelopmentExploring Tropes in StorytellingWriting Process and RitualsFeedback and Editing ProcessThe Role of an EditorTypes of Editing ServicesSelf-Publishing InsightsMarketing Strategies for AuthorsFuture Writing Projects Get full access to Weaving Words into Stories at empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   15 Nov 2025

   The Art of Romance Writing with Georgia Moore

   In this episode of 'Weaving Words into Stories', host Selina Shapland welcomes romance author Georgia Moore to discuss her writing journey, the inspiration behind her novel 'Four Night Stand', and the intricacies of writing romance. They explore the importance of character development, the balance between emotional depth and spicy scenes, and the editing process. Georgia shares her insights on social media strategies for authors, the significance of tropes, and her current project, a Christmas novella titled 'Checking You Twice'. This engaging conversation offers valuable tips for aspiring writers and highlights the joy of storytelling in the romance genre. Key takeaways- Trust your readers; they remember the story.- Balance emotional depth with spicy scenes.- Character development is key to relatability.- Use tropes to enhance storytelling.- Writing routines can boost productivity.- Engage with your audience on social media.- Short stories can help develop writing skills.- Writing should be fun and enjoyable.- Emotional wounds drive character growth.- Self-publishing requires learning and adaptation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Weaving Words into Stories 00:26 Exploring Genre Fiction and Creative Processes 00:48 Introduction to Georgia Moore 02:21 Exploring 'Four Nights Stand' and Its Inspiration 05:09 Tropes and Themes in Romance Writing 08:25 The Editing Process and Trusting Readers 10:07 Balancing Emotion and Spice in Romance 12:12 Character Development and Relatability 14:16 The Importance of Emotional Wounds 17:10 Favorite Tropes and Their Appeal 18:16 The Joy of Being a Romance Author 20:38 Writing Rituals and Routines 22:43 Transitioning from Fan Fiction to Original Works 25:48 Writing Spicy Scenes with Confidence 27:23 Exploring Spicy Scenes in Writing 32:54 The Impact of Intimacy on Character Development 38:30 Engaging with Readers through Social Media 45:50 Balancing Personal Insights and Professional Updates 48:12 Upcoming Works and Self-Publishing Journey 50:23 Inspiring Conversations with Georgia Moore 52:30 Empowering Writers and Building Community Get full access to Weaving Words into Stories at empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   15 Jul 2025

   Unburnt and The Tower Tarot Card

   The Tower Tarot Card for July 2025 Today, I’m going to explore the Tower tarot card and how it can help us writers with character conflict. Normally, when I pull the tower card, it comes with a warning that the rug may be about to be ripped out from under my feet and life may about to take a turn I wasn’t expecting. In fact, for a month before I found out that my job was to be made redundant in 2024, I kept pulling the tower card and wondering what was on the horizon. Then bam, the redundancy happened, which, in truth, I knew was coming but wasn’t ready to accept. What’s this got to do with writing, well, lots actually. The tower card is big disruptive energy and it can represent a major upheaval in our character’s life. And that’s a good thing because it brings about conflict in the character’s life and world, both the inner world and the external world, and they will be forced to respond to what cannot be controlled. I’ve put a photo of The Tower card by D.J. Conway and Lisa Hunt above. Take a moment to look at the tarot card. Before we get into what I think, I’d love for you to consider the card and what it might mean to you in relation to your character’s story… For those who are listening to me on audio, the card had a stone tower which has been struck by lightning. Two dragons wrap around it, mouths wide open and spewing flames. They’re falling from a place of comfort down to the ground. Down to an unfamiliar place where they will be forced to consider different perspectives and maybe even live a different way. Now, when it comes to characters, we want them to go through difficult experiences and see how they handle it. If your characters aren’t struggling with something. If they aren’t taking action, making decisions and struggling with the consequences of those decisions, then they are passive and that means… they can come across as boring. We don’t want boring because that means readers put the story down to do something else that’s more interesting instead. So, the tower tarot card is your friend when it comes to writing fiction. Take a moment to think about how the tower card energy might showing up in your story. * Are your characters too comfortable in their story world? What beliefs or ways of thinking do they need to have challenged so they can become who they need to be to achieve their story goals? * Do your characters need to let go of outdated ideas, approaches, or beliefs? If so, how does that affect their family, work, and friendships? Because when one person changes, it affects others, and that can lead to some juicy conflict. * As the writer, are you creating scenarios that become the catalyst for change in your characters? Are you making your characters work against obstacles to get what they want? Or is it a little too easy? A little too comfortable for them? If you said, ‘Yes,’ to too easy or too comfortable, then it’s time to rip that rug out from under your characters and be meaner to them. Go on, you can do it! * If something has happened in your story that is out of your protagonist’s control, how are they trying to control the uncontrollable? This could be the incident incident that throws them off their original path and they realise they have no choice but to respond to the situation, but then they do everything the wrong way, only making things worse for themselves, until eventually they realise that maybe… just maybe they are part of the problem and a deep internal change needs to happen. If you haven’t watched The Break-Up with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, I highly recommend doing so. Why? Because Vince’s character goes through the tower energy, doing everything the wrong way until he begins to realise the truth about how his actions are affecting the situation, and putting distance between himself and what he truly wants. I hope you’ve found this tarot card insightful and it’s got you thinking about conflict in your stories too. If you want to explore your characters and their goals, motivations and conflicts, you can book a tarot card reading with me via my Empowered Words website contact page. And, if you need support while writing your short story, your novella or your novel, I am here to help. Just contact me via my Empowered Words website, or you can DM here. Thanks for reading Weaving Words into Stories! This post is public so feel free to share it. Unburnt - a short paranormal horror story by S M Shapland I’m stoked to share with you that I have finally fully self-published my first short paranormal horror story. It’s called Unburnt, and you can find it on Amazon if you’re interested in checking it out. I’ve had a few people buy it (sending out a huge heartfelt thank you to you guys who’ve done that) and a few people have reviewed it. I’m so grateful for the reviews. All writers know that reviews help other readers find our stories, so they are vitally important for an author’s brand and book sales. And, if our stories are the best we can make them, then hopefully, they’ll fall into the kindle or into the hands of our ideal readers thanks to those reviews. I’ve placed an image of my short story, Unburnt, in this substack post for you to see. The cover is amazing and I got it from Louisa West at Covered Up Book Cover Design. It was a pre-made cover, but when I saw it, I knew it was the right one for my little paranormal horror story, so I purchased it. In my previous post, I wrote about the publishing process behind the scenes of my first experience of self-publishing. As it turns out there was a glitch and my story got stuck between ‘publishing’ and going ‘live’ on the platform. I waited days and days until I couldn’t wait any longer. My patience is pretty good but I couldn’t keep waiting, so I found a way to contact Amazon and they were so good at looking into the issue. Within about half an hour my story went from being stuck to live on their platform. It was so exciting to see my little short story finally out in the world with my name on the cover. I’ve written in the shadows for years, and after so much time learning and developing my ability to cope with feedback muscles, I finally felt ready to take the plunge into publishing my story. And, in doing this, I learned how lucky I am to have such amazingly strong network and community of writer friends and family who read. Everyone I know has been so kind and supportive. That has been one of the best things about writing for me. Community. Friendship. Writing buddies cheering me on. I am incredibly grateful for all of that support. Thank you for sharing my story. Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for reviewing my story. Okay, enough about me and onto other exciting news. Again, in my last post, I talked about the Bushland Castle Productions’ Otherworldly Emergence novella series call out (https://www.bushlandcastleproductions.com/emergence). Well, the closing date has been extended to 27th July 2025 if you’re keen to pitch an idea and can deliver a novella that aligns with their theme. It is time sensitive, so don’t wait. Thanks for reading Weaving Words into Stories! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Until next time, happy fiction writing! Get full access to Weaving Words into Stories at empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe (https://empoweredwordsfictioncoach.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.