Skip to main content
Voices of Color

Voices of Color

By Tonja K. Johnson

A weekly podcast dedicated to all things writing—hosted by authors of color. Every week we crack open a new topic, be it craft or marketing, and discuss round table with a group of BIPOC authors who love this writing stuff.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Craft Talk: Showing vs Telling

Craft Talk: Showing vs Telling

The VoC crew has some quick tips this week to advance your craft. Showing and telling is pivotal to painting descriptions that leave your readers breathless.


***Tune In For New Episodes Every Sunday
May 16, 202114:51
The Craft: Flow w/ Kish Knight

The Craft: Flow w/ Kish Knight


Flow is one of the Craft elements that’s less about structure and more about intuition. In this episode we discuss how to manipulate flow to elevate your storytelling abilities. With examples from our own works, we take a deep-dive into our individualized processes on flow.

With Special Guest Kish Knight
Kish Knight, teen and new adult paranormal fantasy author, was born and raised in the US Virgin Islands. Seeking out the supernatural, she relocated to Savannah, Ga. for the ghosts, ghouls, and old-world charm. After reveling in the Southern ghosts, she took residence in the DC area and met a new set of city spooks.

***New Episodes Every Sunday
May 09, 202140:14
The Craft: Mood w/Stella Williams

The Craft: Mood w/Stella Williams

We are back with another Craft Talk with author Stella Williams. In this episode we discuss what exactly mood is and how to implement this pivotal craft in your writing.
Apr 25, 202138:54
The Craft: Basic World Building

The Craft: Basic World Building

World crafting is one of the most exciting aspects of writing for many. Voices of Color has a few tips on how to build your world and make it something that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Apr 18, 202132:23
The Craft: Dialogue

The Craft: Dialogue

Wooden dialogue can ruin a story fast. The balance between realism and effectiveness is thin and hard to perfect. Voices of Color has tips, tricks, and jokes to help writers find a comfortable rhythm when it comes to crafting dialogue.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Apr 11, 202138:54
The Craft: Pacing w/ Thaddeus Howze

The Craft: Pacing w/ Thaddeus Howze

Pacing is the tempo of the tale, the music dancing the backdrop pushing everything forward. The Voices of Color crew has some insight on how to create the right pacing for your story and how to make sure it is effective from scene to scene.

With Special Guest Thaddeus Howze
Thaddeus Howze is a prolific writer of speculative fiction, scientific, technical and cultural commentary from his office in Hayward, California. Thaddeus’ writing has appeared in various publications, anthologies and literary journals. He’s published two books, ‘Hayward’s Reach’ (2011) and ‘Broken Glass’ (2013) an urban fantasy novella starring his favorite paranormal investigator, Clifford Engram.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Apr 04, 202138:07
The Craft: Writing POC Characters

The Craft: Writing POC Characters

In this segment, the Voices of Color crew dropped a few gems on writing compelling characters of color. If you can write someone with goals and desires then you can write a successful PoC character.

***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Mar 28, 202115:26
The Craft: Description w/ Reese Copeland

The Craft: Description w/ Reese Copeland

Writing is a juggling act, trying and sometimes failing, to keep all your pieces in seamless rotation. Description is just one of the many cogs that need to continue turning in order to make your story impactful for readers. When writing description, you have to first know what it is you want your readers to visualize and experience. Once you know this, you can manipulate your prose to for the desired effect. The Voices of Color team is here to give insight on creating descriptions that will lift your readers from their seats and straight into the pages of your book.
With Special Guest Reese Copeland
Reese Copeland is an established ghostwriter, Co-Owner of The Writers Guide to Freedom, and wife to her college sweetheart. She’s dabbled in many genres but enjoys watching her characters find true love the most. An avid reader she devours three hundred and sixty-five books each year in between writing adventures for her characters to suffer through. Find out about her latest projects at The Heart Of Copeland: A Reese Copeland Reader Group.
Mar 21, 202132:06
The Craft: Characters

The Craft: Characters

What’s it about?
Characters are arguably the most important element of any story. They are the vehicles that drive plot and theme, creating a tale that will captivate. The Voices of Color team is back with some insight on how to create characters that will leap off the page and into your reader’s hearts.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Mar 14, 202136:24
The Craft: Story Structure

The Craft: Story Structure

What’s it about?
Everyone can benefit from a little structure in their lives. Even the most free-spirited of souls may find healthy routines and habits to be necessary components to their success. That’s never more true than when referring to writing fiction for publication. If you want to write and sell your fiction, it must be well-organized and things need to fall in their proper places. In this episode, the Voices of Color crew will break down their method and explain what is the most essential part of any story structure.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Mar 07, 202125:47
The Craft: Outlining vs Pantsing

The Craft: Outlining vs Pantsing

What’s it about?
Writers have argued about which way is the best way to write a novel for centuries, and the Voices of Color crew is here to tell you that there is no right or wrong way. The best way is the way that works for you. As you continue to write and grow you will find that your process changes and that’s okay. In fact, change is the only way you know you are improving. Join us in a lively discussion about the pros and cons of both methods to glean some insight about which way may be the best way for you.
***Tune in every Sunday for new episodes.
Feb 28, 202120:28
Bonus Episode: A Game of Thrones Story Breakdown

Bonus Episode: A Game of Thrones Story Breakdown

In our Story Breakdown, we digest iconic movies and television and boiling them down to craft. We pick apart the good, the bad, the ugly and give you a writer’s perspective on the story. In this episode, we talk about the end of an era, Game of Thrones.
Feb 14, 202101:16:54
Bonus Episode: Past Waves, Future Vibes

Bonus Episode: Past Waves, Future Vibes

Writers of color from the past who have shaped who we are as writers today.
Feb 09, 202118:36
Bonus Episode: Voices of the Future

Bonus Episode: Voices of the Future

A discussion on the struggles faced by writers of color.
Feb 09, 202120:18
Bonus Episodes: Writing for Young Adults

Bonus Episodes: Writing for Young Adults

The Voices of Color cast is back with their third promo episode and they are talking about all things YA. This is a humorous discussion on the do’s and don’ts of writing for young adults.
Feb 08, 202120:10