How to Write a Cozy, with Melissa N. Wright

Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show. Sometimes a whole novel begins with one sentence that refuses to leave you alone. That is exactly how Of Pies and Men, the cozy fall romance by Melissa N. Wright, began. Melissa had one line circling in her mind, so she wrote it down.  That sentence led to questions, the questions led to characters, and before long, she had created a story filled with baking, friendship, found family, kittens, and a love triangle. In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, Melissa and I talk about what makes a story feel cozy and how writers can create a fictional world that feels like home. For Melissa, coziness comes from familiarity and connection. It is the comfort of a small town, the predictability of seeing familiar faces, and the presence of friends who will tell you the truth and offer you a hug afterward. Baking also plays an important role in the novel. For Stewy, the main character, making pies gives her something to do with her hands when her anxiety takes over. We also talk about writing a story without a traditional villain. In Of Pies and Men, much of the conflict comes from within Stewy herself. She overthinks, second-guesses her choices, and worries about hurting the people around her. It is a struggle many writers and readers will recognize. Melissa shares how she completed her first draft in about a month, then spent several more months revising and editing it. We talk about her publishing journey, from researching agents through QueryTracker to choosing Rogue Wolf Publishing, an independent publisher that offered professional support while allowing her to keep creative control. She also offers an honest look at fitting writing around a full-time job and other responsibilities. Melissa writes during evenings and weekends, but she also accepts that some days she is simply too tired. When that happens, she saves ideas in her phone so they will be waiting when she is ready to return to the page. One of my favourite parts of our conversation is Melissa’s reminder to trust the reader. Writers do not need to explain every detail. Readers can notice clues, make connections, and understand more than we sometimes give them credit for. We also talk about the discomfort of promoting your own book and why believing in your work matters. If you love the characters, the setting, or the feeling your book creates, there is another reader out there who will love it too. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to create a cozy atmosphere in fiction Why internal conflict can be just as powerful as an external villain How Melissa balanced writing with a full-time job What she learned from choosing an independent publisher How to trust your readers without overexplaining How to talk about your book with greater confidence Listen now for a warm, honest conversation about cozy romance, the writing process, publishing, and believing in the story you have created.