In this episode of Makin’ Stuff, Bryce Oakley joins us to share her journey from a book-loving kid to an MFA student to a successful sapphic romance author. We explore the importance of authenticity, representation, and humor in Bryce’s writing and life. She digs into the joys and challenges of balancing motherhood with creative work, as well as the value of self-publishing and staying true to one's voice. Bryce and I then get into what it means to lose a fandom that matters to you, how authors think about events, how they create community, and how to use our privilege and platforms for good. We dive deep into creativity, identity, and why community matters now more than ever.

We also give a couple of sapphic lit hot takes that prove exactly why I couldn’t find a way to start a fight with her.

I hope you enjoy this conversation, and Bryce, as much as I did! It’s a heartfelt banger of an episode.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bryce Oakley

02:38 The Journey to Writing Sapphic Fiction

05:11 The Impact of MFA Programs on Writing

07:42 The Legitimacy of Romance and Genre

10:38 The DIY Spirit of Queerness in Publishing

13:28 Authenticity in Writing and Representation

15:57 The Artist's Journey and Societal Expectations

18:47 The Value of Artistic Careers

21:29 Crafting Comedy in Romance

24:11 The Mechanics of Romantic Comedy

26:57 Exploring Dark Humor in Writing

29:36 The Unexpected Choices in Storytelling

32:55 The Art of Perspective in Storytelling

36:01 Crafting Humor Through Narrative Distance

39:29 Navigating Writing as a Parent

45:25 Balancing Identity and Creativity as a Parent

49:31 The Impact of Role Models on Parenting

53:05 Finding Inspiration in Music and Community

56:31 Betrayal of Trust in Art

01:05:20 Responsibility as an Artist

01:10:41 The Importance of Queer Representation

01:12:37 The Value of Happy Endings

01:14:44 Challenging Literary Tropes

01:18:02 Finding Joy in Storytelling

Find Bryce at her website, Instagram, or being the coolest person you know in the real world.

In this episode, JJ Arias shares her journey to becoming one of the most important and prolific sapphic romance novelists working today. We go deep into the craft of storytelling, the power and importance of writing internal journeys, and how JJ pushes her creative boundaries as part of her writing practice. We truly go full nerd mode in this one, dissecting the nuances of writing compelling characters, the importance of authenticity, and the power of queer stories.

I also go embarrassingly hard, far too hard, in picking a fight with JJ about Ice Queens.

I hope y’all have as much fun with this one as I did!

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing JJ Arias
• 02:00 The Journey of Becoming a Writer
• 04:39 The Influence of Reading on Writing
• 05:26 Nora Roberts, Reading Broadly, and Learning the Rhythm of Story
• 07:37 Understanding Craft and Storytelling
• 10:26 Exploring Themes in Writing
• 12:53 The Intersection of Horror and Romance
• 15:09 The Role of Fear in Storytelling
• 17:56 The Complexity of Horror and Survival
• 20:31 Queer Identity in Horror Literature
• 23:24 The Safe Space of Romance for Dark Themes
• 31:11 The Creative Process: Inspiration and Story Development
• 39:11 Crafting Internal Journeys: The Art of Emotional Storytelling
• 47:03 The Nuances of Writing Sex: Character and Vulnerability
• 50:37 The Art of Storytelling and Twists
• 53:15 The Craft of Writing: Challenges and Joys
• 55:50 Finding the Right Editor: A Personal Journey
• 59:29 The Importance of Human Touch in Editing
• 01:00:00 The Co-Writing Experience: Collaboration and Discovery
• 01:05:15 Writing Queer Stories: A Personal and Community Choice
• 01:09:02 The Power of Storytelling in Understanding Identity
• 01:11:24 The Evolution of Mobile Phones
• 01:12:47 Reflections on the Future
• 01:13:14 Ice Queens vs. Cinnamon Rolls
• 01:19:10 Understanding Character Archetypes
• 01:22:29 Closing Thoughts

You can find JJ on Instagram, and don’t forget to check out Yappin’!

In this, our first episode, Ana Hartnett shares her journey from hating writing to becoming my favorite romance novelist. She discusses the intersection of creativity and anxiety, the importance of community building, and how now, more than ever, authentic queer representation matters. She also talks about starting her first wine label, Family Room Wine, and how she wants to use it as a platform for helping lift up other small queer-owned businesses.

Ana lets us into her writing process, showing us how her unique approach creates intimate, authentic stories that will leave you hopeful and less alone.

I also pick a fight with her.

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Chapters

• 00:00 - Welcome and Introducing Ana Hartnett
• 03:09 - How Ana Realized She was an Artist
• 11:23 - The Relationship Between Anxiety and Creativity
• 14:45 - Being a Writer v. Being an Author and How to be Both
• 17:12 - Ana's Writing Practice
• 24:01 - How Ana Understands Inspiration
• 27:35 - How Ana Knows When a Story is Ready to be Told
• 31:35 - Why Ana Wanted to Start Family Room Wine
• 35:29 - Why Having an Explicitly Queer Brand as a Writer and Winemaker Matters
• 37:51 - The Importance of Representation
• 39:50 - Talking About Ana's New Book
• 46:06 - The Romance of Friendship
• 52:30 - Real, Messy People are Likable People
• 54:43 - Ana's Mom is Her (*second*) Biggest Fan
• 59:40 - I Pick a Fight With Ana

Links

Find Ana on Instagram, Threads, and her website

Check out Family Room Wine