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Craft Chat Chronicles
Craft Chat Chronicles
From Aspiring Writer to Debut Author: Part Two of Rebecca Dazenbaker's Journey, YA Insights, and Balancing Career with Family
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Exclusive access to premium content!Embark on a heartwarming journey with us as we sit down with debut author Rebecca Dazenbaker, who opens up about her incredible path from aspiring writer to signing her first book deal. Rebecca shares the emotional rollercoaster of the querying process, the joyous moment she received "the call" from her agent, and the thrill of discovering her cover artist. Her story is a powerful testament to the belief that persistence and unwavering confidence in one's work can indeed transform dreams into reality.
We also explore the vibrant, often chaotic world of adolescence, delving into the unique challenges of teenage life that make YA literature so magnetic. With a spotlight on family dynamics, complex relationships, and pivotal career choices, this segment captures the essence of why young adult narratives resonate so deeply. We discuss the allure of morally complex villains, the impact of a captivating first line, and the enchantment of fast-paced yet poetic YA fiction. Aspiring writers and avid readers alike will find this discussion enlightening and inspiring.
Finally, we dive into the balancing act of author development and family life, offering insights into the Debut Authors Bootcamp and the intricacies of publishing contracts. Personal anecdotes about juggling career aspirations and family responsibilities bring a relatable touch to the conversation. We also share a poignant chat with JD Mayer, who, despite personal challenges like a house flood, demonstrates resilience and dedication. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration, practical advice, and heartfelt moments you won't want to miss.
Welcome to Craft Chat Chronicles, the go-to podcast for tips on crafting best-selling fiction. Here at Craft Chat Chronicles, we bring you expert interviews, insights and tips on writing, publishing and marketing. Join the conversation and embark on a new chapter in your writing journey. For workshops, show notes and more information, visit jdmayalcom. That's jdmayalcom.
Speaker 2:In part two of my interview with debut author Rebecca Dazenbaker. She talks publishing, she talks craft and writing advice and gives you a little more insight on who she is as an author and a person. So I hope you enjoy this fun chat with 2025 debut author, rebecca Dazenbaker.
Speaker 3:And yet none of it. I don't know Like always tell my kids. Even with my photography business, when I was building it up, I went to my husband when I wanted to take it full time because I was doing it on the side, and I was like I know this will happen. It's not a like I hope it will happen. I know this will happen. Like it's not a like I hope it will happen. Like I know this will happen. It's just a matter of getting there. And I told him the same thing when I started querying. I was like I know this book will get published, I just don't know when. And like I just felt that strongly, like that this story was meant to be told. I don't know how crazy or wackadoo I'm going to get in this conversation, but like part of my like psyche is like telling the story because it had to be told and that's like part of me is like thinks I didn't actually write it. It just kind of like came out of me Okay.
Speaker 4:This is weird. Sadiqa Johnson she's a New York Times bestselling author. She's also my mentor at Drexel. And I interviewed her recently and she said something very similar. She said she thinks that, basically, that novels are almost like little embryos that are waiting to be born, and she's like the universe is giving you the story, but if you don't write it, the universe will give it to somebody else.
Speaker 3:And you just gave me chills.
Speaker 4:She's like you'll read about somebody else doing your book that you didn't know. No connection.
Speaker 3:So that's how I felt this whole time and I guess part of it. I guess the surprising part is like getting on the other side of that and being like I was right, like I was right, like um, I mean literally like my website and like now, if you scroll to the very bottom of it, it says hashtag chase your dreams. Until I got the book deal, it was hashtag, it will happen, and that was my query tracker. Like username was it will happen. Because I was like I have to just keep telling myself like it's, like it's determined already, like this is going to happen. So just keep going through those rejections. Like don't give up. It's just it was really hard there for a while.
Speaker 3:Like I am definitely one of those people who was like I fell in love with these characters. They encompass a lot of not like my. I guess my main character isn't really self insert. My second book is but my, my first one. She's not that much like me, but her best friends are my best friends, like growing up, like. So I'm like how can people not love them? How can people not love this? Like journey? I don't know.
Speaker 3:So anyway, I think at the same time, like all of it has been a surprise. The call from my agent was a surprise. The call with the offer was a complete surprise. So there has been, like the call with the, or just finding out who my illustrator was, the cover artist is going to be like I was like what me? Like that's going to be my cover artist, holy cow, like what? Um?
Speaker 3:So there's been a lot. There's been a lot of like just shock and driving down the road and bursting into happy tears, like what, and you know, I don't know. Like it's just again, like I dream big. So I think forward, like someday this will be a movie and I'm going to be at a movie premiere and I'm going to think back and you know, yeah, there also would be times during the querying when I would just be driving down the road and I would just feel this sudden comfort and I would be like, okay, that was again sorry to get weird, but like this is my grandparents and my in-laws like people just being, like it's going to be okay, like this is all going to work out, like relax, you know, like just feel that sudden rush of like.
Speaker 4:Okay, you know, like I think it's going to be huge, so I think they're right of like.
Speaker 3:okay, you know like, and I think it's going to be huge. So I think they're right. I have I mean, even if it's not just again like just to hold it in my hands and be like I did this. Because you know like in your head you imagine people you've told about it talking about you behind your back, like, oh, she's so cute. You know, like how fun that she's trying to get a book deal. Like, did you read those first pages? We both know it's not going to happen, right, like. So I create these fake conversations that people probably aren't even having, because people are wrapped up in their own dramas not mine, you know, like, and and just to feel this like sort of vindication for something that's never happened. But you like imagine, like in my head like I imagine people like saying bad things that they probably aren't, but I'm just like, okay, I know I had people actually say those things who hadn't read my work relatives would be like she's going to get an MFA in what yeah?
Speaker 4:She can degree, she can use creative writing, what yeah?
Speaker 3:And so you're finally like, look what I did. I did it and even if you don't like, literally go to them, like just to feel that inside, like, oh my gosh, like a big five publisher wanted my book and gave me money for it and it's still not enough to pay the bills, but I have enough for swag and we're going to get a new washing machine.
Speaker 4:So it's getting your name out there and starting the journey. You know that less up front and that's more royalties, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3:I mean there's an always pay back those events, yeah, and there's always been that part of me that's. Like. You know, photography is a very physical job and like, is there going to be a time where I'm like I just physically and, you know, don't have the energy for this anymore? We're writing, you like, you can sit and write, you know, up until your last days you can be writing, like we've seen many other authors do so. Like all right, here's my retirement plan.
Speaker 3:So yeah, my husband's like where would you like to go live for six months and just write a novel? So we're already strategizing. We're like where can we go once we're empty nesters, you know? Um, so we're dreaming big. My plan is the beach, because I'm like, cause I love traveling, but if I travel like I don't sit and want to like sit at my laptop and write, you know like. So I'm like if I, if we go to the mountains or we go somewhere in Europe or something like, I'm going to want to be out every day, like with the culture, exploring, seeing things I haven't seen before. If we just go to some beach, I'm going to sit there, cause I don't even like to like sunbathe or anything. I just want to sit there on a porch in the shade and just listen to the ocean and like that and I can go nice drink and a snack beside you, yeah.
Speaker 3:Or a margarita. So there was a funny threads that I did recently because I was like, oh, I can't even think about it. I'm like, how did Stephen King write while he was drunk? Because I had one glass of wine and wrote this gem and it was like, oh, it was the silliest line. It was like, oh, I can't think of it now. Oh, I got four deer running through my backyard.
Speaker 4:I know. What do you think are the essential elements of a good YA romance, Like in your mind. What do you love to see in what you write and what you read?
Speaker 3:Yeah, for me it's all about the stakes Like you got to hold my interest with, like just these really wild. Like I want to know. Like I don't like predictability, I want to be surprised. So I love while I'm reading, like how are they going to get through this? There's no possible way Like this is set up for like to be impossible. It's an impossible goal. It's no possible way. Like this is set up for like to be impossible. It's an impossible goal. It's an impossible relationship. I love to see people overcome the impossible. Um, so that's always fun for me. I think, ah gosh, I feel like I'm I'm being very, um, very imposter syndrome right now talking about this. So let's see what else I mean. Yeah, I think for YA, you always like.
Speaker 3:For me, I think back to when I was a teenager and everything during that era still feels very vivid. The emotions are stronger than any I've experienced, like all the way up through my early twenties, where you're just so unsure and uncertain of where you're going to be, even within like a month. You know like everything changes so quickly in your teens and twenties and you see it like there's no you, there's no stop, like you can't stop the change, like you have to graduate high school, you have to go on to either a career or college or something, and there's no way to slow it down time. And it's one of those things where it's like wait, wait, wait, just I, your body's changing, like everything's changing at the same time. And I think that's the wonder about YA, and that's what I love, is that people are dealing with all of these crises at the same time. And Rome, first times, you know, everything's a first too, and it's like so there's so many built-in stakes, right, like you, there's so many things that can happen with family dynamics and relationships and school and career choices and college. And you know, just like there's so much there, there's so many stakes you can draw from.
Speaker 3:And it's not just and I don't want to talk bad about other genres, but I feel like in our adult lives we have ways of navigating around things that teenagers don't. You know, like we're pushing them through these changes, like you just gotta. You gotta decide, because you know, sorry, you can't just keep staying in high school, you can't just stay in college for six years, you know, or whatever. I mean you could, but you could just keep paying, but eventually, like you have to move towards these goals. You have to find your own footing and you have to become an adult. And once you're an adult you find ways to sit in. You know this career and then you know you can sit uncomfortably a long time as an adult before you finally initiate change. Where kids can't, you know they have to. We're forcing them into the discomfort, so I hope that makes sense.
Speaker 4:It does, and kids have less tools so they don't know what they're doing. Yeah, which creates all these?
Speaker 3:great like horrible decisions that you can write into novels too, Like that was one thing that my critique partner.
Speaker 3:That makes me furious. There was one novel I wrote and she's like I don't like that. He made this choice and I'm like he is not gonna like it either, but he has to make it. And so that was the one thing I didn't take, because I was like he's also just a teenager and he has this warped logic running through his head right now. So, yes, he's going to make this horrible decision. But then he made that was this is the midway point of the novel, and then the rest of the novel is you have to fix it, you know. So I'm like- and bad decisions.
Speaker 4:bad decisions make great novels, yeah exactly it's the right choices.
Speaker 3:You have nothing interesting to read yes, I just have to make sure, like we build up to it so that it makes sense that he's going to make that bad decision like in his head. He's justified, you know so. But yeah, I love putting them in that situation because, like, we all look back at things we did and thankfully we didn't have social media back then- but I'm like, I'm sorry my dog.
Speaker 3:So so yeah. So I feel like we we look back and we're like, oh, that was the worst decision, but you learned and grew from it. Right, you know, I won't do that again, because I learned how hurtful it was or how detrimental it was to my health or something like that.
Speaker 4:What makes a good villain or antagonist?
Speaker 3:That's a great question too. Yeah, this is so personal. But I love the villains that also think they're the good guy. You know, like I think everyone thinks they're the good guy, right, like they have their reasons for doing what they're doing and it may be warped judgment, like they're making the bad decision, um, but they think they can justify it right. They can justify their actions at least to themselves and maybe to a possible love interest. And until the very end, like I could see people being like she should have chosen this one. You know, like I could see people being like why did she choose the cinnamon roll? Why didn't she choose the morally gray guy? But, yeah, I love that. I love the villains that aren't just like the serial killers, like obviously bad right, like just that person just doesn't have the same, you know, feelings that the rest of humanity does. Um, I love, I love the villains that think they're good.
Speaker 4:Yeah, what makes a good novel opening?
Speaker 3:Ah, I love a good first line. I don't think my first line is the best. Maybe my agent or maybe my editor will make me change it. Um, my first line is right is right now. Uh, I am not a bad soul, so that's the first line of my novel which I think is okay um.
Speaker 4:I think it's good. Okay, thank you. It makes me wonder why she's saying that.
Speaker 3:Yeah right, so we, I, I don't love a lot of the um lyrical purple prose stuff like that, like I, and that's one of the reasons I'm drawn to ya, because I feel like it is much faster paced. Um, though I've read some really beautifully written YA right now I'm reading um Brittany Lewis this is the dark place right now and she's a beautiful writer Um, but it's also commercial, like it's fast, fast ish, you know medium paced Um, and so I don't gosh. I didn't answer your question. That was a non-answer. Uh, a good first line jumping right into the stakes. I'll leave it at that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, how do you avoid the middle?
Speaker 3:Um, I always have a pivot point right in the middle, um, and that is quite literal. With my third book that I wrote, like it's written book one, book two, book two, so, um, and there's pretty much a three act structure for both, um, where the end is kind of a cliffhanger and then it starts the second book, um, or second, whatever, second half. I always just try to find like some big pivot point, like a big decision. Um, you know, I I guess this is sort of the save the cat. I've read so many um craft books now that I've gotten a lot of the structures confused. But like things are going great, great, great, great, great, and with like some problems here and there, right, but then it's like everything starts to go terribly and so everything that you thought was going well, now that was actually the worst possible thing that could happen and things start to go horribly. And things start to go horribly. I wish I had gotten this. If I'd received this question earlier, I would have a very intelligent answer.
Speaker 4:That was a good answer. Though, that was a good answer. You said that's the part where everything basically goes to hell. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Things start to go to hell right there. Yeah, that's what.
Speaker 4:I feel like Love it, love it and what makes a good ending? Like, how do you, when you're reading or when you're writing, what makes a good ending to you, what makes a satisfying ending?
Speaker 3:I love a dual climax where you think the story is climax and you think it's over, and then something else happens. And I think I get that from like Marvel movies, stuff like that.
Speaker 3:They think the bad guy's gone, they won the fight, and then something else comes and it's even worse, right, like I love that. So I love the dual climax and then you get the nice resolution at the end. Um, I love the quick resolutions too, but I love to see the romance that we've been. I love a slow burn, so I love the romance that's been slow burning the whole time. Like, finally you get to see it like I just don't, um, I am, you know, obviously, like, as a author, I'm a fade to black author, but I still know what they're doing.
Speaker 3:Like there's no secret behind it. Like, um, and I, like you know, and I always say my, my novels upper, ya, they're 18 and actually one of them is 20, um, so, yeah, they're gonna be teenagers and we know, like I don't think we're in the early 2000s anymore, we're. You know, when they disappeared around the rock, what did they do? Um, like my, you know what my characters are doing. We just don't hear about body parts. Um, but I like to see that come to fruition. And then I get I like a little bit, like a few pages of just wrap up the world, like where is this going to take us and like, even though mine's a standalone, like you have that one sentence of discomfort at the very, very end. Like, yeah, well, this is real life still. Like everything came out great, but you know, all of our problems aren't resolved. We're still 18 and 20 and we don't know where things are going to go. So I hope that makes sense. I feel like again I'm like imposter syndrome is hitting me hard, like you sound like an idiot.
Speaker 4:Sound great. Imposter syndrome hits us all. Yeah, imposter syndrome hits us all. Yeah, I had wrote a note in one of my early drafts to my beta readers about, you know, the imposter syndrome and forgot to delete it and I almost died. I was so mortified but she was kind enough not to um, you know comment on your comment. Um what are you most looking forward to post-publication vacation?
Speaker 3:Um, my son graduates that same summer. So we're planning like a big trip for him for graduation and I think that'll just help him ground me a little bit. So, literally, graduate, uh, vacation, I think, coming off of you know, I think it'll end up being such a whirlwind there at the end with podcasts and and signings and stuff. And I know, just like you know, the day after Christmas or whatever, like you look forward to it for so long and then you get that little bit of like a crash at the end of like, oh, it's over. Um, I'm just I'm glad I have something to look forward to. So I'm looking forward to all of it, but then I'm looking forward to just like stepping back and enjoying life, you know, just living and exploring, Cause that's what I love doing. I love just getting out and exploring and seeing new things.
Speaker 4:So they have the debut authors bootcamp. Did you sign up for that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I did that already. Um, I think it was January. I did that one and that was super helpful. I have like pages and pages and pages of notes and I probably have forgotten most of it, so thankfully I did take notes. Um, yeah, she's wonderful, and did you do it yet?
Speaker 4:No, I'm doing it in June, Like what was um, what was it like? Is it like videos? Is it zooms?
Speaker 3:Yes, it's both Um. So there's videos that go up and if you get behind, like you can go back to the previous weeks and and watch them and I would speed them up, cause she does talk a little bit slowly. So just for my own ears, like I would, I would speed them up. So it was like one and a half times and then I would you know you can always rewind them if you miss something, and I was like taking notes furiously and then she would have weekly zoom calls. Maybe it was two a week. I think it was two a week, um, the first. I think.
Speaker 3:I only ended up joining three um over the like six weeks or eight weeks that it is Um and the first one that I was on. Two others were on with me and then the others. I don't know if it was one or two. I was the only one there and she's like no one's been coming. So definitely jump in, because that's where you can get a lot of like. Well, not only do you just get to talk with another author, which is amazing, but I was able to ask these questions that maybe I didn't want other people to hear you know like. So I had this question is this normal? You know, things like that, um, where you could just feel like you can ask those questions where you just want to hear from a seasoned author, right, like, is it worth it to do this? Is it worth it to do that? Like. So yeah, she was great, um, and she's a huge proponent for you know, author rights, standing up for yourself.
Speaker 3:She's like she never starts working on developmental edits until she gets paid, which I feel like I'm not brave enough to do yet. I'm like no, I just want to start.
Speaker 4:I don't want to hold up my you know deadline, I don't want to make waves, but her whole thing is like you're the talent, make waves, like you know, so Mindful on proposal, yeah, and so it took like seven months to get paid.
Speaker 3:Oh, I wrote the whole book while I was patiently waiting. I'm still waiting, I think my agent's supposed to deposit it next week. So how many months for you so far? Um, the the deal was finalized at the end of September. Um, the offer came end of August. The deal was was finalized end of September, and then I didn't sign my contract until early March, april. Yeah, it feels like it's been a month, um, since I signed it.
Speaker 4:So, yeah, payments coming well, seven months from the deal it was for me, yeah, so it wasn't like seven months from the signing contract yeah, at that, at that point it comes fast.
Speaker 3:But I mean at this point, like my next payment won't be far behind, right, so that's kind of nice.
Speaker 4:That's why I went ahead and like kept going, Cause I was like okay, maybe I can merge these into two. Get the acceptance.
Speaker 3:Yeah, which is nice, Like big lump sum. I mean what? What do you do outside of writing like for full time?
Speaker 4:um, right now I work at a library. Um, okay, I'm a freelance writer. I work at a library where I'm a little nerd. Um, and, like I told you, I do the stuff for Drexel. But the stuff I do for Drexel is it's free, it's a brand new program. I graduated like two years ago and um, really love and adore Nomi, the program director. We have a lot of interaction with the current students and the alumni.
Speaker 4:Mine is mostly through zoom, now that I'm in Georgia yeah but um, and we still, like I said, like we plan a lot of events at the Barnes and Noble and stuff. Jamie's always there physically, so if you do the event there, you can see her. She's always there physically. I'm usually by Zoom. My mom got sick so we left Philly and came down here, because you know she's still in health issues.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And then I'm a parent. I have four. My youngest two are 14 and they're on the spectrum. I have a 16 year old who's doing dual enrollment. So she's and then I have a 22 year old who's in college.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, wow, that's amazing. Yeah, we're just starting the whole. Like my son's a junior, so it's getting real now. Like he's starting to work on essays and he wants to pursue musical theater. Um, and that, yeah, he's incredibly talented. Um, I was a music teacher like in my former life, so before my corporate job, I was an elementary school music teacher, so I was like pushing music on my kids, both. Um, so he, he's decided that's the path he wants to pursue and I'm all about it, Cause, like I'm obsessed with musical theater, I'm like let's go, and he, I think he would be, like, I think he'd be successful at it. So, so, yeah, like that's a whole journey Cause you only you not only apply academically, you also have to apply artistically. There's separate essay questions for that and you have to submit videotapes of like, well, not videotapes, you have to submit videos. This is like my gen y self-talking I'm with you.
Speaker 3:I, I was here I so just send videos in of like his performances.
Speaker 1:So it's like a whole process.
Speaker 3:So that's like basically gonna be his summer, is like recording all of his audition materials and then next fall will be his actual auditions. So yeah, it's like it's about to be a whirlwind, but I'm excited for him. And then my daughter's a freshman, so she's just now like starting to think about all that, but I'm glad like they've had such a great year. It's been great, it's been a good year at school. So yeah, it was a good transition. Yeah.
Speaker 4:They get to be excited and proud of mom next year. I know they're so excited.
Speaker 3:Yeah, how about your kids? What did they do when you told them you have a book deal?
Speaker 4:They were excited. They were excited I am. I don't know if they're still as excited now because I put them to work. I'm not really like a tech girl at all, yeah, so like little social media posts that you see, like if I have a Drexel event, I have them designing flyers yeah, like come on honey can you get back on canva for mommy yeah I told my kids too.
Speaker 3:I was like you're gonna have to like be posting on social media about my book, so it's not like all me. Like you're gonna be my publicity team and like they have their own followers, right, um, my son it's funny, like my, because my son's into musical theater like they always do promos on their channel and they go viral every single time. Like they're getting hundreds of thousands of views with every single post and I'm like can I hire you guys to do my publicity? Can you start a channel for me and do it? Like how do you guys do this? But I think a lot of it is just being teenagers. You know like they, that's their thing. You know like they, that's their thing, you know. So that's their platform. It's for teenagers mostly. So it'll happen.
Speaker 4:It'll happen, yeah that's cool around the time of your launch. I want to do like um, either zooms or like a live or something with like a couple of people. Yeah, let's do it around the time of everybody's lunch.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4:I'm totally in.
Speaker 3:I've done a few like TikTok lives. I did one with Taylor Groth I think I'm saying that, right, she's amazing. And then, like with a few other authors, like indie authors on TikTok and they're so fun. Like with a few other authors like indie authors on TikTok and they're so fun, like just chatting with other authors. People pop on just to say hi. It's rare to get questions from people, at least when I've done them. But yeah, that's really fun. Like it's just like this, like it's just people talking, and if people want to listen in, that's great and you might get one new follower. And but maybe once we have like actual books we can hold up and be like people you know, like, yeah, there you go and you never know whose career is going to do.
Speaker 4:What we might be. You know you might be the one to blow up, or if it's not us, then it might be somebody else in the group, and then, yeah, we get more eyes on us for being on the team, exactly.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I think it's just nice, like because you're joining those two communities of followers too right. You're like leveraging both communities, Like I might get some of hers, you might get some of hers.
Speaker 4:So yeah, that's why I do my Drexel stuff too to be honest with you, because like I said, I don't get paid for that. I love the program. I felt like I benefited from it, so I like sharing about it. But then also, anytime I have any news or anything, I know I can shoot Nomi, the program director, an email and she'll forward it to all the students. So nice, yeah, wonderful Right, exactly Great talking to you and meeting you and all that good stuff. Is there anything you wanted to say in closing? Anything you wanted to add that we hadn't?
Speaker 3:Oh, I'm sure I've said plenty.
Speaker 4:How can people connect with you?
Speaker 3:Uh, through my website, there's a bunch of links to socials. Um, yeah, everything, all of my socials are Rebecca Danson Baker and then my website is Rebecca Danson Baker books. Um, just because my photography was already my name, um, but my books, social media, are all my full name, rebecca Danzenbaker, and that's it. I just kept it simple, cause it's already long enough. Um, yeah, I'm so grateful we have this network and then we can all just like, cheer each other on this journey together. You, you want to share things. Like I'll be reposting content on Instagram as much as I can to like, just to like, yeah, it's like it's free, right, it's free promotion. And like, get your name out there. It takes like literally a second to repost a story, so I'm trying to to just keep the goodwill going, right, you get in return what you give out, right? Something like that.
Speaker 4:I'm not saying it. As soon as you get your cover, send me your cover. Okay, all right, I will Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. It was really great meeting you, great talking to you. Yeah, have a good one. I popped your ear off, I'm sorry. No, it was me. And if you can see the chaos going on around me right now, no, you have a height burst and my house flooded so I almost canceled on you, but then I was like no, I don't want to cancel last minute, so I'm like sitting on this hard, uncomfortable floor. That's why I keep shifting the whole time stop it.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, sorry. Well, thank you. It looks like you're in this peaceful ocean view, though that wraps up today's craft chat Chronicles with JD Mayer.
Speaker 5:Thanks for joining us. If you liked the episode, please comment, subscribe and share. For show notes, writing workshops and tips, head to jdmayercom. That's jdmayercom. That's JDMyocom. While you're there, join JD's mailing list for updates, giveaways and more.