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Artwork for Story Magic

Story Magic

Golden May
Writing Process
Character Development
Writing Community
Character Arcs
Self-Publishing
Writing
Hustle Culture
Publishing
Perfectionism
Writing Craft
Creative Writing
Creativity
Tenacious Writing
Mental Health
Hybrid Publishing
Book Coaching
Romance
Book Marketing
Story Structure
Storytelling

Hey fiction writer! Want your readers to stay up until 2am, so engrossed in your story they just can’t put it down? Want to build a successful, fulfilling, and sustainable writing life that works for YOU? Story Magic is the place for you. Every week, professional book coaches and editors Emily and Rachel from Golden May dive into writing craft, community, and mindset tips, tricks, and advice so yo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes135Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Story Magic

Latest Episodes

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about finding comp titles.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• What are comp titles? 

• How to encapsulate the vibes of your book

• Common pitfalls when choosing comp titles

• Where to start looking to find comp titles... more

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about narrative drive.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• What is narrative drive

• Why is it SO important for reader engagement

• How to identify if you have a narrative drive problem

• What to do to add more narrati... more

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about revising while integrating feedback with Sam Cameron!

The audio from this episode came from Emily's interview on The Truant Pen Substack. Check it out and subscribe here: truantpen.substack.com/

Ready to mak... more

Today, Emily & Rachel talk about scene transitions.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• grounding readers with context

• making time and space clear to the reader

• don't overthink this

TRANSITIONS BLOG: goldenmayediting.com/how-to-set-... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Ruth McKell
Author of Honey In Her Veins
Author
Episode: 127 - Using magic as a metaphor for mental health with Ruth McKell
Tiffany Grimes
Editor behind Virgin Design and Editorial; writer
Virgin Design and Editorial
Episode: 126 - Reclaiming the Lens: How Marginalized Writers Build Worlds for Their Own Communities with Tiffany Grimes
Gauri Yardi
Multidisciplinary creative, naturopath, creative well-being coach
Gauri Yardi (independent)
Episode: 125 - Digital Minimalism with Gauri Yardi
Monica Hay
Writing coach who specializes in overcoming writer's resistance using brain science
monicahay.com
Episode: 116 - The brain science behind writer's resistance with Monica Hay
Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Expert in dictation techniques for fiction writing.
Episode: 108 - Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Sam Cameron
Book coach, author, and developmental editor
Truant Pen, Substack
Episode: 107 - Book coaching behind the scenes with Sam Cameron
Thea Verdone
Author of MM Modern Gothic Romance, focuses on character arcs and atmospheric settings.
Episode: 104 - Atmosphere and setting with Thea Verdone
Jenn Vance
Marketing director for Books Forward, with extensive experience in book marketing and publicity.
Books Forward
Episode: 103 - Publicity and book marketing with Jenn Vance
Michael Dante DiMartino
Co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender, writer, and author
Episode: 102 - Tackling serious themes with Michael Dante DiMartino

Hosts

Rachel May
Co-host of Story Magic with a focus on writing craft, mindset, and community-building.
Emily Golden May
Co-host of Story Magic specializing in craft guidance and coaching for writers, with emphasis on actionable steps and community involvement.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 82 ratings
  • Story Magic is exactly what I need—every single week.

    It’s honestly wild how often the episodes line up perfectly with what I’m going through or what I’ve been thinking about as a writer. It feels like Rachel and Emily are in my head—in the best way.

    One of my favorite things about the show is how intentional they are about involving their community. They ask for topic suggestions and really listen, which makes the podcast feel like a conversation rather than a lecture. Their episodes always feel timely, grounded, and incredibly relevant.

    Plus, R... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve Eastlack
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Fun, informative, and perfectly pairs mindset with craft!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nikkikin
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this podcast!

    This podcast has been SO helpful to my writing process! Emily

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ABHjuli
    United Statesa year ago
  • Favourite podcast

    This is my favourite podcast. Not just favourite writing craft or fiction or book related podcast. Favourite podcast, period.

    There’s a nugget of wisdom in every episode and I always walk away feeling excited about writing and being an author. 100% recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blessedblood
    Australiaa year ago
  • Great resource for fiction writers

    This podcast is amazing! I love how Rachel and Emily breakdown hard to understand concepts about writing a story so they are easy to understand and implement. They take the theory of craft to the next level. All the talk about mindset shifts have made such a lasting impact on my writing life. Highly recommend!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tnbeaut
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show's practical craft guidance and mindset talk.
Hosts are relatable, down-to-earth, and consistently helpful for writers seeking real progress.
Community involvement and topic requests are highly valued by fans.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#230
United States/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

116 - The brain science behind writer's resistance with Monica Hay
Q: Could you please tell us a little bit about you and introduce yourself for our listeners?
Monica Hay explains she is a writing coach focused on helping writers overcome resistance using brain science, with a background in social work and English literature, and experience in publishing.
126 - Reclaiming the Lens: How Marginalized Writers Build Worlds for Their Own Communities with Tiffany Grimes
Q: Who is the audience you are writing to and how do you decide what to include or translate?
Visualize a single person in your life and tailor the language and details to what that person would understand; consider what needs to be learned and what can be assumed, and decide how much to translate or explain.
126 - Reclaiming the Lens: How Marginalized Writers Build Worlds for Their Own Communities with Tiffany Grimes
Q: What does for your own community actually look like on the page?
Write real, flawed human beings who happen to have a specific identity, rather than treating identity as a checklist; integrate other dimensions of their lives and let the identity influence but not dominate the narrative.
127 - Using magic as a metaphor for mental health with Ruth McKell
Q: What practical advice would you give for writers wanting to apply this metaphor approach in their own work?
A practical approach is to start with a character's wound and the coping mechanisms they still use, ensure external scenes are tied to internal themes, and let the metaphor reflect the character's body sensations and world connections to create an integrated arc.
127 - Using magic as a metaphor for mental health with Ruth McKell
Q: Why did you choose to frame mental health through magical elements in your storytelling?
She explains that magic creates a safe space to encounter difficult emotions, helps articulate internal experiences, and supports a healing arc that centers self-acceptance and relational love rather than eradication of the problem.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Story Magic

What is Story Magic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Fiction-writing-focused discussions with practical craft tips, mindset strategies, and community-building guidance. The show consistently covers character development, story structure, worldbuilding, and techniques to move from idea to publishable book, while also addressing practical aspects like marketing, editing, and building a supportive writing network. Guests are often seasoned authors, coaches, or editors who share actionable insights, making complex craft concepts accessible and directly applicable for writers at varying stages. A standout is the clear emphasis on mindset shifts—overcoming perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and burnout—paired with hands-on craft guidance, which makes the show particularly helpful for authors aiming ... more

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How many listeners does Story Magic get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Story Magic has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Story Magic are there?

Story Magic launched 3 years ago and published 135 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Story Magic?

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What guests have appeared on Story Magic?

Recent guests on Story Magic include:

1. Ruth McKell
2. Tiffany Grimes
3. Gauri Yardi
4. Monica Hay
5. Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
6. Sam Cameron
7. Thea Verdone
8. Jenn Vance

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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