It’s a craft special! We kick off with Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest (yes, the hairdresser, the church, the drugs—what is even happening), then dive into the good stuff: how to build believable, unforgettable characters using the Enneagram. Rachel walks us through types, wings, stress/safety arrows, and why intention > vibes, while Kayla talks “thisness,” denial as a human engine, and how appearance can serve plot (hi, Lani). We compare detailed character bibles vs. trusting your brain, debat...

In this solo mini-episode of Write Your Heart Out, host Kayla Ogden dives headfirst into the lyrical feud—or maybe flirtation?—between pop titans Taylor Swift and Charli XCX. With Taylor’s The Life of a Showgirl and Charli’s Brat still dominating playlists, Kayla unpacks the songs that set off a thousand think-pieces: “Actually Romantic” and “Sympathy Is a Knife.” She breaks down the verses, tone, and writing style of each, tracing the messy, fascinating overlap of art, ego, and emotional hon...

Kayla and Rachel host a reader-submitted showcase featuring three luminous poems by Blair Vischer—“Easy Dark,” “Halfway Heroes,” and “Salt”—plus Rachel’s one-hour continuation of her “Enemies to Lovers” work-in-progress, a moody, Poe-tinted short piece by Dave Richanbach that riffs on “more weight” and the Salem trials, and MJ’s aching new poem “Strangers,” a call-and-response to Scott Gibson’s piece from last week. Along the way, we talk rejection resilience (hi, Novelry shortlist), why hum...

This week we go full craft-nerd. Kayla shares how adding interiority (yes, telling!) is transforming Pillow Forts Down, and we break down the long-misunderstood “show, don’t tell” rule—from Chekhov to Hemingway’s iceberg theory—and land on a modern balance: show and tell. We walk through quick edit tools (for every scene: desire, fear, misbelief), why character expectations create delicious reversals, and how to build emotional dynamic change in scenes (with detours through Little Women adapt...

This week we’re back with a Storytime episode! Kayla shares a whirlwind night at a Mountain View writers group (hello, kindred spirits), then we dive into short pieces we wrote in under 2 hours. We’re also featuring two terrific listener pieces: “Fairytale in Bangkok” by Scott Gibson — a tender, whiskey-soaked poem about young love. Scott is currently working on a documentary where he interviews the longstanding, bona fide punk artists of Indonesia. “Elon” by MJ — a sharp, slam-poetry cr...

A Challenge to Listeners! We're going to spend two hours or less drafting something new. We want you to do it too! Send us your fast writing at Contact@writeyourheartoutpod.com with the subject line: Two Hour Story and we'll read it on the next storytime episode! That means you, David. These are the prompts (via Writer Threads) that can inspire your new work: Enemies to Lovers: 1. Bold of you to assume that I'd care. 2. You're hurt? Why are you always hurt? 3. Get behind me. Angry Confessio...

As promised, we take out our hoops and smear vaseline on our cheeks to battle. Kayla is pro ChatGPT in helping her. Rachel thinks it's cheating. Rachel is scared of ChatGPT. Kayla is scared of dolls coming to life and taunting her. Who will be victorious? (ChatGPT refused to help me with this description! Seriously. I think it's hurt. - Kayla) Trigger warnings: Suicide Also scary A.I. stories, tipsy banter and irreverence Please subscribe, rate and review! New episodes every Wednesday. E-m...

After a summer hiatus, Kayla and Rachel are back—and ready to get into a new writing flow. Rachel shares her progress on Dinner for Eight, including how she’s realizing her protagonist’s marriage needs more depth (or maybe more dysfunction). Kayla talks about experimenting with feeding her dystopian novel The Woman Tree into ChatGPT for a Save the Cat breakdown—only to discover some hilariously creepy “cry triggers” involving underwear drawers and divorce letters. The two dive into craft with...

After a little summer hiatus (camping, in-laws, a spiral-bound manuscript from FedEx…), Kayla and Rachel are back in the podcast saddle and diving deep into the storytelling structure that screenwriters love and novelists love to hate: Save the Cat. Rachel reveals she finished a whole-ass book (?!), and together they break down Blake Snyder’s iconic 15-beat “beat sheet” and genre system—using Dinner for Eight and The Woman Tree (working title) to show how the structure can help shape a novel ...

This week, we attend a virtual "lunch and learn" hosted by the Women’s National Book Association and featuring legendary San Francisco literary agent Andy Ross—and yes, we actually lunched. While the rest of the Zoom played it cool, we munched focaccia and dished about querying, rejection, and whether you can ever send your manuscript to another agent at the same agency (spoiler: the answer was… confusing). We share the best and weirdest advice from the talk (a query letter in Q&A format?...

Kayla and Rachel share juicy updates on their newest writing projects—Rachel’s twisty, spicy dinner party murder mystery (with a murder mystery game inside!) and Kayla’s speculative dystopian novel idea, recently submitted to The Novelry’s “Next Big Story” contest. They discuss the thrill and terror of writing fast, sending before revising, and navigating feedback while staying creatively uninhibited. You’ll also hear: A breakdown of Brandon Sanderson’s best story structure tips (and how Kayl...

Episode 7: Storytime – The Ones We Never Submitted This week on Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel read the stories they didn’t submit to the Reedsy contest—and wow, you’re in for a ride. Kayla's story, “The Muse,” features a moody writer, a mysterious muse, and an ex-fan with unsettling cinnamon energy. Rachel shares “An Extra Scoop of Revenge,” a tale of friendship and arson. Also in this jam-packed Storytime episode: – Our first-ever listener-submitted poem (thank you MJ!)  ...

Rejection Letters, Contest Drama, and the Return of the Muse In this episode of Write Your Heart Out, Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr unpack their experiences with the Reedsy Prompts Competition. Spoiler alert: neither of them submitted their stories to it! Why? Word count woes, shady contest terms, and a deeper conversation about protecting your creative work. They also talk through their first rejection letters—Rachel gets ghosted and rejected (double sting), while Kayla shares some querying win...

Episode 5: Story Time — 17 Cats, 2 Writers, and One Very Unwell Man In our first official Story Time episode, we (Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr) read aloud the short stories we wrote based on prompts from The Writer’s Toolbox—including the eerie first line “There were 17 cats living in Larry’s basement.” What follows is a shared descent into feline chaos, lonely hearts, and the kind of dark humor that sneaks up on you. We talk through the weirdly specific details we both managed to include, and ...

This week on Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel dig into the very beginning of storytelling—literally. They each bring the opening lines of two favorite books and analyze what makes a first paragraph sing (or fall flat). From the Southern charm of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood to the eerie minimalism of Vanishing World, the hosts explore voice, tone, and the power of starting strong. Kayla also reads an excerpt from her new short story, “#Vanlife,” featuring a possibly misund...

Louis CK & Mr. Beast are authors now? Posers... Episode 3 – Thoughts on ACOTAR, Sex Scenes, Ghost Stories, and Cancelled Comedians: Writing What Scares You In this spicy episode of Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel tackle everything from Louis C.K.’s surprise debut novel to the challenges of writing authentic (and not cringe) sex scenes. Rachel shares a scene from a ghost story based on true events—and the surprising workshop feedback that made her question if her character even like...

In this episode of Write Your Heart Out, Kayla and Rachel dive into the awkward, exhilarating world of submitting your writing for publication. Rachel is required to send out short stories for her creative writing class—easy, right? Except for the spiraling self-doubt, existential dread, and the creeping fear that someone you know might actually read your stuff. The two discuss pen names (are they for privacy, aesthetics, or just keeping grandma from reading your sex scenes?), the vulnerabili...

In this debut episode of Write Your Heart Out, co-hosts Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr open up about their writing journeys, imposter syndrome, and the magic of finally finishing something—be it a novel or a poem about a flamingo showdown in a zoo. Rachel shares her first public reading experience (and her fear of crying onstage), Kayla talks about querying her debut novel, and both reflect on the weird vulnerability of calling yourself a writer. Along the way: a haunted lasagna, a flamingo fight...

🎙️ Write Your Heart Out is the podcast for writers who crave real conversations about the writing life. Hosted by Bay Area emerging writers Kayla Ogden and Rachel Cyr, each episode dives into the messy, funny, and often vulnerable journey toward publishing — from plot twists to imposter syndrome to querying agents and everything in between. 📅 Trailer drops Wednesday, June 11 📢 New episodes every other Wednesday Write Your Heart Out will make you feel like you're part of a writing group — the...