Write Your Heart Out

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 be...

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 breakdow...

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...

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 r...

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 t...

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 fro...

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 worksho...

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 yoursel...

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 ke...

🎙️ 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 Hea...