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PLOT TWIST

PLOT TWIST

Soman Chainani and Victoria Aveyard 61 Episodes Oct 8, 2026

Hosted by bestselling authors Victoria Aveyard and Soman Chainani, PLOT TWIST takes listeners behind the scenes of their creative processes. Each week, they discuss their current projects, share hot takes on publishing and entertainment, answer mailbag questions, and pitch plot twists they'd like to see in real life. New episodes drop every Thursday.

Episodes

SEASON PREMIERE! Is There a Secret Plan to Get Rid of Authors?
SEASON PREMIERE! Is There a Secret Plan to Get Rid of Authors? Oct 8, 2026 55:40 Live from Kansas City! Soman and Victoria welcome a new season of the pod and lay out the new Patreon! They explore the AI’s companies not-so-secret plan to eliminate authors – and readers! – and how it ties to parasocial relationships that have been festering for a long time. They also answer questions about whether a fantasy author can successfully live in the real world and when a character’s t
Re-Read: Is Writing Actually a Sport?
Re-Read: Is Writing Actually a Sport? Oct 1, 2026 58:49 Soman and Victoria discuss the tricks of staying healthy as a professional artist. Also, they discuss celebrity ghostwriting and how not to fall out of love with your work mid-stream. Soman is launching a new coaching lab for teenagers, and Victoria wants to freeze time.Theme of the Week (03:31)Goals for the Week (12:58)Industry Nonsense (27:21) Reader Mailbag (47:59)Plot Twists in Real Life (53:0
SPECIAL EPISODE! What Did We Learn from the TEMPEST Release?
SPECIAL EPISODE! What Did We Learn from the TEMPEST Release? Sep 24, 2026 1:02:56 LIVE FROM ST. LOUIS! A special bonus episode, featuring Soman in conversation with Victoria during the TEMPEST book tour. Together, they explore what it took for TEMPEST to hit three bestseller lists and what Victoria has learned from the release so far. They also answer questions from the audience and reveal what they’ve been working on in the pod’s hiatus. Victoria has a deadline to hit for Temp
Re-Read: Should Authors Want To Make Money?
Re-Read: Should Authors Want To Make Money? Sep 17, 2026 48:09 This week on the podcast Victoria and Soman discuss the tension between the love of making art and the need to make money. Also they discuss questions about using sensitivity readers and whether they read other authors' books while writing. Finally, Soman opens up to Victoria about a plot twist he wished he could have seen coming. (Trigger warning: Pet loss.)Theme Of The Week02:33Goals Of The Week
Re-Read: Did We Ruin Fandom?
Re-Read: Did We Ruin Fandom? Sep 10, 2026 1:01:18 Soman and Victoria debate whether fandom is good for society or the sign of deeper decline. They also reveal what they talk about with readers at the signing table and how to manage multiple character POVs. Victoria’s closet got invaded, and Soman’s AI problems have him wanting to go back to the 90s again.Theme of the Week (06:12)Goals of the Week (12:54)Industry Nonsense (25:16) Reader Mailb
Re-Read: Is Your Idea Worth A Book - And A Book Deal?
Re-Read: Is Your Idea Worth A Book - And A Book Deal? Sep 3, 2026 58:21 Soman and Victoria debate the difference between a good idea and a great one that’s worth writing. They also sort through the different kinds of characters and ways to avoid clunky exposition. Soman is getting very wet recreating an iconic Taylor Swift photo, while Victoria wants her payout from the AI companies!Theme of the Week (03:13)Goals for the Week (12:55)Industry Nonsense (24:31) Read
Re-Read: When Does Fan Fiction Cross A Line?
Re-Read: When Does Fan Fiction Cross A Line? Aug 27, 2026 56:57 Soman and Victoria discuss when fan fiction crosses the line into grift. Also they answer questions about whether authors really need to be on social media and whether they like to plot out their stories or improvise as they go. Victoria has a big battle scene to rewrite, and Soman has a brand new addition to his family.Show notesTheme of the Week (04:50)Goals for the Week (13:13)Industry Nonsense
Re-Read: Can You Like The Book and Hate The Author?
Re-Read: Can You Like The Book and Hate The Author? Aug 20, 2026 47:42 Soman and Victoria discuss the paradox of loving the book -- and rejecting the author. Also they talk duologies vs. trilogies and the hazards of publishing under your legal name. Victoria is trying to power through her edits, and Soman thinks he should play Evita.Theme of the Week (02:46)Goals for the Week (12:33)Industry Nonsense (20:06) Reader Mailbag (35:05)Plot Twists in Real Life (4
What Happens if Kids Stop Reading?
What Happens if Kids Stop Reading? Aug 13, 2026 58:34 Today on the show, Soman is joined by guest co-host Veronica Roth to talk about their (optimistic!) take on the future of literacy.  Also they talk about what they do on days they don’t write, and their favorite fan interactions. Soman is enjoying a Miami swear, and Veronica wants people to use Booktok for good again!Theme of the Week (07:39)Goals of the Week (14:57)Industry Nonsense (23:12)&
What Is the Future of AI Publishing?
What Is the Future of AI Publishing? Aug 6, 2026 1:09:12 Soman and Victoria offer solutions to the generative AI crisis and how authors can prove their work is human made. They also talk about the writers whose careers they like to have and the best opening scenes for a book. This is Victoria’s last episode before her big tour hiatus and Soman is warding off pretenders to the throne. Theme of the Week (12:48)Goals of the Week (21:00)Industry Nonsen
Are Authors Lying About Using AI?
Are Authors Lying About Using AI? Jul 30, 2026 1:10:29 Soman and Victoria discuss the arms race between the authors who are using AI to write and the ones that still write honestly. They also cover the difference between marketing brain and writing brain and how to manage editor and reader feedback. Soman wants an author version of Big Brother and Victoria wants to vote some authors off the island.Theme of the Week (11:04)Goals of the Week (21:38)Indu
Are We In A Book Bubble?
Are We In A Book Bubble? Jul 23, 2026 1:09:38 Soman and Victoria assess whether the book market is perched atop a giant bubble waiting to crash. Also they discuss which books have impacted their writing the most and whether you can skip drafting and sell a book on proposal. Victoria has to work through her birthday this year, and Soman is about to enter a D1 college tennis tournament on a loophole.Theme of the Week (10:48)Goals of the Week (2

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