The Author Alchemist

Hey y’all, it’s KimBoo! Welcome back to The Author Alchemist! In this episode, I’m taking a quick break from getting ready for my presentation at Author Nation 2025 to talk about something every writer deals with sooner or later: decision fatigue.
This topic comes straight out of my book Out From Fanfic: How to Build Original Fiction from Fanfiction, where I look at how setting “guardrails” for your writing can actually give you more freedom, not less. Whether you’re a discovery writer, a plotter, or somewhere in the messy middle, a few well-placed boundaries can help you save energy and focus on the part that really matters—the storytelling.
I also talk a bit about how worldbuilding, character design, and even fan casting can make the writing process less overwhelming and a lot more fun. Writing shouldn’t feel like “bleeding on the page” all the time; sometimes, the best creativity happens when you’ve given yourself some parameters and permission to play.
💡 In this episode:• How writing fanfiction can sharpen your storytelling• Using structure to avoid decision fatigue• The balance between planning and discovery• Why limits can be the secret to creative joy
About The Author AlchemistI created The Author Alchemist as a place for writers who want to build sustainable, joyful writing lives. It’s where I mix writing craft, creative productivity, and a dash of fandom energy to help you find your own creative alchemy. Produced under my House of York Studio banner, the show exists at the intersection of resilience, hope, and imagination — because we could all use more of those.
 Learn More:• AuthorAlchemist.com• My blog, The Scriptorium

It's been a year! I feel it's been a whole year of "have a day!" every day. Which isn't to say good things haven't been happening. In this short update, I talk about what I'm working on, where I'm going (literally and figuratively!), and how much I love writing!
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For more tools for writers, including books on craft and previous podcast episodes, visit my website: https://www.authoralchemist.com

I'm back! KimBoo checks in from the wilds of 2025 to update you on what's going on, what to expect next, and (most importantly) how Keely is doing.

Hey ho! Hear me ramble about my super-goth look! Special limited edition! ;)
This is a short episode where I talk about how important it is to find joy in your writing practice, and what you can do if you feel like everything is drudge work!
--------------------------For more about me and my work, visit my studio, https://houseofyork.info

In this episode, I discuss balancing world-building details with reader imagination in fiction writing, sharing insights from social media posts I've seen on different approaches to world-building and the importance of leaving holes in the narrative. Using my own experiences to illustrate how details can enhance or hinder creativity, I explore techniques for creating immersion, such as using cultural references and varying language. The key message is that writers should focus on engaging readers' imaginations rather than including every fact, and should feel empowered to start writing without letting the rabbits lead us too deep down the research hole!

What is the true source of writing mastery? As the old joke goes: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!" In this episode I talk about what having a large goal like "writing 1 million words" can do for you, and why it is important!
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My website: https://houseofyork.info

Join me for updates on my own serials, the 1 Million Words Club, and advice on how to transition your idea/outline for a book series into a long-running serial! 
Links:My websiteSerials beats spreadsheetSubscriptions for Authors fb group 

My book "By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing" is out! I explain a bit of what it is about and why I wrote it, along with some updates of my fiction stories. 
For more about me and my work, visit my studio, https://houseofyork.info--------------------------
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery WritingMy new book all about discovery writing/pantsing!
"Writing for the Long Haul" at the ScriptoriumAn essay about the mindset of writing long-running stories.
1 Million Words ClubMembership community of writers supporting writers!
Survival Kit for Writers Who Don’t Write RightPatricia McLinn
The Pocket Guide to Pantsing [Full Audiobook]M.L. Ronn
Write Into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an OutlineDean Wesley Smith

A quick update on what I'm writing, what I'm working on, and what kind of money I am making. I talk about Kobo Plus, sales numbers, and the launch of Dragon's Grail!
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For more about me and my work, visit my studio, https://houseofyork.info

Back from a lovely writer's retreat held on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I'm thinking a lot about "what makes a writer" and the importance of creativity in our lives. There are a lot of definitions of what makes a "real writer" and most of them are about gatekeeping, so instead I propose that a real writer is someone who invests time and energy into their practice.
For those who feel overwhelmed by it all, I offer this simple goal: 1 million words. Maybe you'll hit that goal, maybe you won't, but you'll learn important lessons along the way!
This episode was inspired by my colleague and friend, Matt Posner! He is both an author and a teacher who asked me to record an episode roughly on this topic. Hope it fits!
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For more about me and my work, visit my studio, https://houseofyork.info