Discover how award-winning author Leslye Penelope blends genres, harnesses inspiration from diverse sources, and organizes her writing process to craft compelling stories. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a seasoned creator, her insights on character development, world building, and staying motivated are invaluable.

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science in college and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents. Visit her online at https://www.lpenelope.com/.

Key topics

Leslye Penelope's author journey and her genre-blurring work in fantasy, romance, and paranormal fiction
How she approaches world building for different settings
The significance of empathy and human experience in writing amid advances in AI
Techniques for organizing story development
The role of character wounds and motivations in shaping story arcs
How to find inspiration in history, culture, and personal curiosity
Practical advice for new writers

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Leslye Penelope and her literary achievements
01:12 - Leslye's upcoming novel, The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglas
02:26 - Exploring Leslye’s process for world building in different settings
04:01 - Linking real-world industries to story settings and themes
05:48 - The importance of human connection and artistry in the age of AI
08:27 - How Leslye maintains creativity and sources inspiration from history and culture
10:53 - The intersection of disciplines: programming, filmmaking, and writing
12:40 - Leslye’s systematic approach to plotting and revision techniques
14:11 - Using plotting boards, story vision statements, and character arcs to stay organized
17:50 - Delving into character wounds and emotional depth for compelling storytelling
21:18 - The back-and-forth process of character, world, and plot development
22:43 - Utilizing multiple plotting frameworks and systems to troubleshoot and refine stories
24:01 - Leslye’s experience with scripting and fast drafting methods
25:39 - Upcoming novel project, a magical HBCU college murder mystery
26:39 - Leslye’s involvement in teaching and retreats for writers
28:44 - Resources for Leslye’s workshops and retreats
29:23 - Advice for new writers: protect your writing time and set achievable goals

Resources & Links

Leslye Penelope's website: https://lpenelope.com/
Ink and Magic Retreat: https://inkandmagicretreat.com/
Story Genius by Lisa Crohn: https://bookshop.org/a/111423/9781607748892
Save the Cat Plot Structure: https://bookshop.org/a/111423/9780399579745
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Pugilisi: https://writershelpingwriters.net/emotional-wounds-thesaurus/, https://bookshop.org/a/111423/9780989772594

Connect with Leslye Penelope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelope/
Join Leslye for her DC area book launch at Mahogany Books National Harbor on August 13th at 7:00 PM: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leslye-penelope-discusses-signs-the-inevitable-undoing-of-zahara-douglass-tickets-1992509801453?aff=oddtdtcreator&ml_sub_hash=m7o5&ml_sub=3060576863949687343