It's the final Writing Coach podcast episode of 2016, and I speak with Shaunta Grimes.

Shaunta has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada. She is the author of two young adult distopian novels, and helps authors to excell via her Ninja Writers community.

During our conversation, Shaunta describes:

• How a NaNoWriMo win in 2004 launched her novel writing career;
• Her “tiny goal” writing techinque that has allowed her to write every day for years;
• Her special productivity tool known as F.R.E.D.;
• The heartbreaking experience she went through with traditional publishing;
• How helping writers to tell their story lights her up;
• And much more!