Ep 116: Beta Readers, Plot Twists, and Audiobook Magic with Nanda Reddy

Write the Damn Book Already

Write the Damn Book Already
Ep 116: Beta Readers, Plot Twists, and Audiobook Magic with Nanda Reddy
Mar 19, 2025
Elizabeth Lyons / Nanda Reddy

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This week, I had a really fun conversation with Nanda Reddy about her journey from "secret writer" to novelist (her debut novel, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl, just hit the USA Today bestseller list!). 

Inside this Episode: 

  • Writing without being "formally trained" (read: no MFA) and navigating the industry through persistence and determination
  • Evolving from a pure "pantser" to incorporating more structure while maintaining creative flexibility
  • The way many authors discover the perfect title organically after beta reader feedback
  • Suggestions for strategically working with beta readers  
  • Nanda's great suggestion (first time I've heard this one!) for navigating those "I'm stuck" moments we all encounter
  • Collaborating with an audiobook narrator when you need them to authentically represent characters from different backgrounds


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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

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