Helping Writers Become Authors provides writers help in summoning inspiration, crafting solid characters, outlining and structuring novels, and polishing prose. Learn how to write a book and edit it into a story agents will buy and readers will love. (Music intro by Kevin MacLeod.)
S16:E36: The Resolution (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12 of 12)
Discover the importance of the Resolution in storytelling. Learn how to bring closure to your story and leave readers with a final emotion.
10/14/2024 • 11 minutes, 49 seconds
Ep. 648: My Top Books of 2023
Check out some of my favorite books from 2023 in three categories: Fiction, Writing How-To, and General Non-Fiction.
12/18/2023 • 10 minutes, 56 seconds
Ep. 646: How to Market a Book: 6 Steps From a Full-Time Author
Knowing how to market a book starts with identifying your personal marketing ethos. After that, take these six steps to connect with readers.
12/11/2023 • 20 minutes, 13 seconds
Ep. 645: 14 Do's and Don'ts of Time Management for Writers (from a Recovering Over-Achiever)
Time management for writers starts with practical steps for aligning your daily schedule to your vision for your writing life.
11/27/2023 • 19 minutes, 47 seconds
Ep. 644: "There and Back Again": The Lord of the Rings and the Power of Despair in Fiction
To create fiction that offers life-changing hope, authors must be willing to also embrace the power of despair in fiction. Here are 5 tips.
10/30/2023 • 21 minutes, 26 seconds
Ep. 643: How to Use Archetypes in a Series
Consider the following four approaches to how to use archetypes in a series so you can determine which feels most resonant for your story.
10/9/2023 • 17 minutes, 47 seconds
Ep. 642: How Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story
Whether you're using a guided approach or just freewheeling, here are five ideas for how meditation can inspire your next story idea.
10/2/2023 • 17 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep. 641: Announcing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway)
Based on six transformational character arcs, these Archetypal Character Guided Meditations will help writers brainstorm even better stories.
9/25/2023 • 10 minutes, 10 seconds
Ep. 640: What Are Antagonistic Proxies? And How Can They Help Your Story?
Here are four tips for how to use antagonistic proxies to your advantage, depending on your story's needs, without complicating your story.
9/18/2023 • 18 minutes, 1 second
Ep. 639: Where Should You Start Plotting Your Story?
An overview of the main concerns when deciding where to start plotting a story, depending on where it makes the most sense for you.
9/11/2023 • 16 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 638: Hot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character
One of the best tricks for writing memorable character relationships is to think of each relationship as an entity of its own. Here's how.
8/28/2023 • 15 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep. 637: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing
What happens when you lose the joy? Learn how to rediscover the joy of writing you experienced way back at the beginning of your journey,
8/21/2023 • 23 minutes, 9 seconds
What Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious)
Learning how to identify plot devices and fully support them on every page of your story is a huge step toward writing cohesive and resonant fiction.
8/14/2023 • 17 minutes, 30 seconds
Ep. 635: How to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips
Six tips for how to write interesting happy scenes that will become some of your readers favorite moments in the story.
7/31/2023 • 17 minutes, 39 seconds
Ep. 634: 8 Different Types of Scenes
Understanding some of the main types of scenes can help you recognize which choice is right for your story at any particular moment.
7/24/2023 • 19 minutes
Ep. 633: How to Discover What Your Character Fears
Understanding what your character fears can offer significant insights into your story and its underlying themes.
7/10/2023 • 14 minutes, 55 seconds
Ep. 632: A New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes
Learn how the Lie the Character Believes is a gauge of the character's relationship with reality--and how to use it to upgrade character arcs.
7/3/2023 • 14 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep. 631: What Does Your Character Want? Desire vs. Plot Goal vs. Moral Intention vs. Need
Writers can find value and nuance by digging deeper into the functionality of these four terms in answering: "What does your character want?"
6/26/2023 • 16 minutes, 31 seconds
Ep. 630: What's the Difference? Your Character's Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness
All four terms--Ghost vs. wound vs. Lie vs. weakness--refer to a pain point for your character. Here's how to understand the nuances.
6/19/2023 • 16 minutes, 17 seconds
Ep. 629: The Daily Routine of a Full-Time Writer
Join me for a peek into my daily routine as a full-time writer!
6/12/2023 • 15 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 628: Imposter Syndrome for Writers Is a Real Thing (+ the Key to Slaying It)
How to transform imposter syndrome for writers from an enemy into a tool for growing yourself throughout the journey of the writing life.
6/5/2023 • 17 minutes, 20 seconds
Ep. 627: 5 Ways to Use Your Character's Shadows to Power Your Story
Here are five places in your story where you can use your character's shadows to create amazing complexity and thematic resonance.
5/29/2023 • 17 minutes, 54 seconds
Ep. 626: How to Create Insanely Complex Characters Using "Shadow Theory"
"Shadow theory" is one of the most intuitive tools a writer can use to identify the contrasting elements that create complex characters.
5/21/2023 • 17 minutes, 9 seconds
Ep. 625: Why There's No Such Thing as "Just a Story"
Four reasons why the dismissive statement "it's just a story" is not only erroneous, but one of humanity's most the dangerous lies.
5/15/2023 • 15 minutes, 18 seconds
Ep. 624: Tips on Hiring and Working with a Book Cover Designer (And New Cover Reveal for Dreamlander!)
Step-by-step guide to finding the right book cover designer, preparing for the design process, and achieving an effective collaboration.
5/8/2023 • 15 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 623: The Backstory Drip (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 3 of 3)
Discover the versatile and effective technique of the backstory drip by learning four techniques for revealing backstory in your story.
5/1/2023 • 18 minutes, 18 seconds
Ep. 622: Backstory-as-Story vs. Alternating Timelines (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 2 of 3)
Backstory techniques are crucial to the success of any story. Backstory-as-story and alternating timelines are two possible approaches.
4/24/2023 • 16 minutes, 18 seconds
Ep. 621: Prologues vs. Flashbacks (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 1 of 3)
Learn how to use four specific backstory techniques to share character histories with your audience, starting with prologues and flashbacks.
4/17/2023 • 17 minutes, 20 seconds
Ep. 620: How Archetypes Changed My Life and My Writing
When "good writing" strikes its steel upon the flint of archetypes, there is a sudden unity of truth between author and reader.
3/27/2023 • 18 minutes, 8 seconds
Ep. 619: Here Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes
Learn how organic themes arise from plot (and vice versa) and specifically how to recognize five important elements of an organic theme.
3/20/2023 • 20 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 618: Genre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction
Learning how to write literary fiction can be helpful not only in writing the genre itself, but in raising the vibration on any type of story.
3/6/2023 • 19 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 617: Genre Tips: How to Write Mystery
Learning how to write mystery stories involves the most impressive trick of all: outsmarting readers while still playing fair with the clues.
2/27/2023 • 17 minutes, 51 seconds
Ep. 616: Genre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction
Learning how to write historical fiction requires the skills to a well-drawn story, with the added responsibility of evoking times gone by.
2/20/2023 • 20 minutes, 16 seconds
Ep. 615: Genre Tips: How to Write Romance
Learning how to write romance requires both strong technique and the courage to write vulnerably about this integral part of life.
2/13/2023 • 18 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 614: Genre Tips: How to Write Fantasy
Fantasy combines imagination and innovation with deep roots in archetype and myth. Here are five tips for how to write fantasy.
2/6/2023 • 18 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 613: 5 Tips for How to Return to Writing After a Long Break
Making a return to writing after a long time away can feel overwhelming or even bewildering. Here are five tips to set you up for success.
1/30/2023 • 18 minutes, 7 seconds
Your Story Isn't Working? Here Are 6 Problems to Troubleshoot
If you currently feel your story isn't working, double-check you've ticked these six important boxes in writing a cohesive story that works.
1/23/2023 • 22 minutes, 42 seconds
6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer's Block
Long-term writer's block can be scary and confusing. Here are six important lessons to help you through the experience.
1/16/2023 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
Ep. 610: Looking Back on 2022: 5 Reflections on a Year of Healing
I share with you 5 gifts from a year of healing, in hopes you may also find them healing or inspiring in your own journey into the New Year.
1/2/2023 • 25 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 609: 15 of My Favorite Books in 2022
Check out some of my favorite books from 2022 in three categories: Fiction, Writing How-To, and General Non-Fiction.
12/12/2022 • 12 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 608: What Are the Best Places to Write? 15 Tips to Create the Perfect Writing Space
Discover important ingredients, ideas, and tools to help you tell your stories even in situations that may not be the best places to write.
12/5/2022 • 17 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 607: 8 Tips for Dealing With Negative Reviews of Your Book
Examines why negative reviews of your book may be impacting you and how to re-center your perspective afterwards.
11/7/2022 • 20 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 606: Top 14 Tips and Tools for Creating Unique Character Voices
Creating unique character voices is one of the great challenges of writing fiction. Here are nine considerations and five tips for creating yours.
10/31/2022 • 19 minutes, 48 seconds
Ep. 605: 9 Negative Character Arcs in the Enneagram
Explores nine negative character arcs in the Enneagram personality theory, including the thematic Truths the characters are missing.
10/17/2022 • 22 minutes, 22 seconds
Ep. 604: 9 Positive Character Arcs in the Enneagram
Explore nine positive character arcs in the Enneagram personality theory, including the Lie each character starts out believing.
10/10/2022 • 18 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 603: Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?
Do you need personal experience to write about something? Turns out there are four ways to "know" something, and experience is just one.
9/5/2022 • 15 minutes, 30 seconds
Ep. 602: 7 Tips for How to Add Complexity to Your Story
Here are seven tips for how to add complexity to your story without crossing the line into unwanted complications.
8/29/2022 • 18 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 601: Is Your Story Too Complicated? Here Are 9 Signs
You want your story to be complex, not complicated. Is your story too complicated? Here are nine important things to think about.
8/22/2022 • 15 minutes
Ep. 600: How to Write Emotional Scenes (Without Making Them Cringey)
One of the most important keys to creating good fiction is understanding how to write emotional scenes in a way that feels genuine.
8/15/2022 • 15 minutes, 51 seconds
Ep. 599: How Perfect Does Your Story's Structural Timing Have to Be?
A closer look at the mechanics of structural timing. What is it? Why is it important? And how precise does it have to be?
8/8/2022 • 17 minutes, 59 seconds
Ep. 598: 13 Rules to Be a Better Beta Reader
Not all beta readers are created equal. Just as you can learn to be a better writer, you can also learn to be a better beta reader.
8/1/2022 • 17 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 597: How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters?
How you structure a story with multiple main characters will depend on which type of plot you're working with.
7/25/2022 • 17 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 596: 7 Tips for Opening Your Story In Medias Res
Discover the pros and cons of opening your story in medias res (or "in the middle" of action) and use these tips to refine your use of it.
7/18/2022 • 19 minutes, 19 seconds
Ep. 595: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions About In Medias Res
Is opening your story in medias res compatible with the Three-Act Structure? The secret is in understanding how the First Act functions.
7/11/2022 • 16 minutes, 54 seconds
Ep. 594: 8 Ways to Avoid Cardboard Characters (and Plot Contrivances While You're At It)
If your story suffers from cardboard characters, it probably also suffers from plot contrivances. Good news: if you fix one, you fix both.
6/27/2022 • 17 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 593: Understanding the New Normal World of a Story's Resolution
In many ways, the New Normal World of a story's Resolution is what successfully completes the context of the entire story.
6/20/2022 • 15 minutes, 53 seconds
Ep. 592: Understanding the Underworld of a Story's Third Act
The Underworld of a Story's Third Act is symbolically important for creating powerful and realistic change with your characters and plot.
6/13/2022 • 15 minutes, 12 seconds
Ep. 591: Understanding the Adventure World of a Story's Second Act
Writers can use the metaphoric Adventure World of a story's Second Act to better understand this crucial part of story structure.
6/6/2022 • 14 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 590: Understanding the Normal World of a Story's First Act
Authors need to understand the four "worlds" represented within a story's structure, the first of which is the Normal World of the First Act.
5/30/2022 • 14 minutes, 37 seconds
Ep. 589: Deepening Your Story's Theme With the Thematic Square
If you want to deepen the complexity of your story's theme, one tool you can employ is Robert McKee's thematic square.
5/23/2022 • 18 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 588: 6 Ways to Find Your Best Ideas Before You Start Writing
Use these six ways to find your best ideas for writing your book, as you cultivate, channel, and honor your deeper inspiration.
5/16/2022 • 14 minutes, 53 seconds
Ep. 587: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 2 of 2
Examines the role of the antagonist in the second half of a story's structure--the Second Pinch Point through the Resolution.
5/9/2022 • 15 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 586: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 1 of 2
The major plot beats in a story are interwoven with the protagonist's journey. But what is the role of the antagonist in story structure?
5/2/2022 • 22 minutes, 14 seconds
Ep. 585: Do You Have to Write Every Day? 10 Pros and Cons
Should writers make it a habit to write every day? Here are five pros of writing every day, as well as five potential cons.
4/25/2022 • 18 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 584: The 6 Challenges of Writing a Second Novel
Writing a second novel can often be surprisingly harder than the first one. Check out six challenges sophomore writers often face.
4/18/2022 • 19 minutes, 16 seconds
Ep. 583: 14 Tips for Dealing With the Passage of Time in a Story
Ask these important questions to make sure the passage of time in a story is strengthening rather than weakening its narrative power.
4/11/2022 • 19 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 582: 6 Ways to Craft Spectacular Set-Piece Scenes
Here are six important considerations to keep in mind when amping up your story's most important scenes--its set-piece scenes.
3/28/2022 • 14 minutes, 8 seconds
Ep. 581: How to Know When You're a Successful Author?
The question of "how to know when you're a successful author?" offers some obvious answers--and yet the subject is far more complex.
3/14/2022 • 16 minutes, 4 seconds
Ep. 580: Should You Take a Break From Writing? 5 Red Flags
When should you take a break from writing? And once you've taken that step, what in heaven's name are you going to do with yourself?
2/28/2022 • 20 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 579: 9 Ways to Approach Relationship Dynamics in Fiction
Creating an amazing supporting cast that can offer important relationship dynamics in fiction will also help develop your protagonist.
2/21/2022 • 14 minutes, 48 seconds
Episode #578: Archetypes and Story Structure: How They're Connected
Learn how archetypes and story structure mirror each other in any individual book and can be used to further strengthen your story.
2/14/2022 • 25 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 577: Making Story Structure Your Own
Here are a five important questions you, as a writer of fiction, can ask yourself to help you in making story structure your own.
2/7/2022 • 14 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 576: Conflict in Fiction: What It Really Is and Why It's Important to Plot
There’s nothing incorrect in using confrontation to create conflict in fiction. But to understand conflict as only confrontation is too narrow a definition.
1/31/2022 • 11 minutes, 51 seconds
Ep. #575: The Writer's Inner Critic: 10 Ways to Tell if Yours Is Healthy
Learn how to increase the health and effectiveness of the writer's inner critic while diminishing toxic effects.
1/24/2022 • 18 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep. 574: A Writer's New Year Reflections: The 6 Gifts I Gave Myself in 2021
Here are this writer's New Year reflections, focusing on six "gifts" I gave myself and why I believe they were profoundly life-changing.
1/10/2022 • 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 573: The Two Halves of the Climactic Moment
The two halves of the Climactic Moment require the story's final sequence to offer two very specific beats: Sacrifice and Victory/Failure.
12/13/2021 • 15 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 572: The Two Halves of the Third Plot Point
The two halves of the Third Plot Point work together to create a scene arc that moves from the False Victory to the Low Moment.
12/6/2021 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 571: The Two Halves of the Midpoint
The halves of the Midpoint are unique in story structure in that they mark the dividing line between the two halves of the entire story arc.
11/29/2021 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 570: The Two Halves of the First Plot Point
The First Plot Point is often referred to as a threshold, a visual metaphor representing the native two-sidedness of all structural beats.
11/15/2021 • 15 minutes, 22 seconds
Ep. 569: The Two Halves of the Inciting Event
A series examining the two important "halves" in each of story structure's major beats, beginning with the Inciting Event in the First Act.
11/8/2021 • 17 minutes, 51 seconds
Ep. #568: 6 Questions to Help You Avoid Repetitive Scenes
Find out what defines repetitive scenes, as well as strategies for recognizing and avoiding them in your fiction.
10/25/2021 • 15 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 567: Archetypal Antagonists for the Mage Arc: Evil and the Weakness of Humankind
The archetypal antagonists for the Mage Arc often manifest subtly--not in obvious "evil," but in an ordinary person's weakness.
10/11/2021 • 15 minutes, 59 seconds
Ep. 566: Archetypal Antagonists for the Crone Arc: Death Blight and Tempter
The archetypal antagonists for the Crone Arc are represented as a Death Blight and as the subtle Tempter who would lure her from the Truth.
10/4/2021 • 14 minutes, 21 seconds
Ep. 565: Archetypal Antagonists for the King Arc: Cataclysm and Rebel
The archetypal antagonists for the King Arc are the Cataclysm and the Rebel, both of which challenge the King to culminate his rule.
9/27/2021 • 17 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 564: Archetypal Antagonists for the Queen Arc: Invader and Empty Throne
Usually the archetypal antagonists for a Queen Arc are represented by the Invader in the outer conflict and the Empty Throne in the inner conflict.
9/20/2021 • 14 minutes, 22 seconds
Ep. 563: Archetypal Antagonists for the Hero Arc: Dragon and Sick King
The antagonists for the Hero Arc can be seen archetypally as both the Dragon and the Sick King.
9/13/2021 • 15 minutes, 59 seconds
Ep. 562: Archetypal Antagonists for the Maiden Arc: Authority and Predator
The antagonists for the Maiden Arc can be seen archetypally as both her Authority Figures and a frightening Predator.
9/6/2021 • 16 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 561: Archetypal Antagonists for Each of the Six Archetypal Character Arcs
A series looking at the archetypal antagonists inherent within each of the six main archetypal "life arcs."
8/30/2021 • 15 minutes, 53 seconds
Ep. 560: The Main Reason Your Story's Premise Is Important
How can you tell what your story's premise is telling readers? Here are four questions you can ask about your story's premise.
8/23/2021 • 17 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 559: 3 Things to Know About the Ending of a Story
The tremendous (but sometimes misunderstood) significance of the Climactic Moment in the ending of a story.
8/9/2021 • 14 minutes, 49 seconds
Ep. 558: How the Antagonist Functions in Different Types of Character Arcs
The role of the antagonist varies depending on the nature of the protagonist's character arc.
8/2/2021 • 19 minutes, 39 seconds
Ep. 557: Should You Edit As You Go?
Should you edit as you go? The best choice has much to do with a writer's personality, strengths, weaknesses, and even lifestyle demands.
7/26/2021 • 15 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 556: Why Everyone Should Write (Even if You Think You Stink)
The world needs us all to be writers and creators. It needs the next Pulitzer winner, and it needs the scribbled poem forgotten on a napkin in a cafe.
7/19/2021 • 16 minutes, 28 seconds
Ep. 555: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 22: How to Use Archetypal Character Arcs in Your Stories
How can you apply archetypal character arcs in a practical way to your own stories? Here are five considerations for choosing archetypes.
7/5/2021 • 19 minutes, 56 seconds
Ep. 554: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 21: The Flat Archetype of the Mentor
The final Flat archetype of the Mentor is one of the most significant within human storytelling.
6/28/2021 • 15 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 553: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 20: The Flat Archetype of the Elder
The Flat archetype of the Elder provides crucial guidance for enacting important change in surrounding characters.
6/21/2021 • 18 minutes, 50 seconds
Ep. 552: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 19: The Flat Archetype of the Ruler
The Flat archetype of the Ruler represents the potential period in a person’s life in which he or she is in a position of leadership.
6/13/2021 • 14 minutes, 37 seconds
Ep. 551: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 18: The Flat Archetype of the Parent
We don’t often think of the Flat archetype of the Parent with the same enthusiasm as we do the Hero. And yet they are intrinsically linked.
6/7/2021 • 14 minutes, 59 seconds
Ep. 550: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 17: The Flat Archetype of the Lover
A deeply nuanced archetype that evolves with us for most of our lives, the Flat archetype of the Lover is inherent and integral.
5/31/2021 • 15 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep. 549: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 16: The Flat Archetype of the Child
The archetype of the Child is necessarily an archetype of deep vulnerability and surprisingly powerful impact upon other characters.
5/24/2021 • 15 minutes, 16 seconds
Ep. 548: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 15: Introduction to the 6 Flat Archetypes
Flat archetypes are often seen teaching other characters some of the same lessons they just learned in their own previously completed arcs.
5/17/2021 • 15 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 547: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Mage’s Shadow Archetypes
Will the character triumph--or succumb in the end to the powerful temptations of either of the Mage's shadow archetypes, the Miser or the Sorcerer?
5/10/2021 • 19 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 546: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Crone’s Shadow Archetypes
If the character cannot powerfully transition into the final act of life, the risk is that of sliding into the Crone's shadow archetypes.
5/3/2021 • 18 minutes, 47 seconds
Ep. 545: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The King’s Shadow Archetypes
Whether this powerful character brings life to the Kingdom depends on if he is in the grip of the King's shadow archetypes of Puppet and Tyrant.
4/26/2021 • 20 minutes, 50 seconds
Ep. 544: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Queen’s Shadow Archetypes
The Queen’s shadows have the potential to block her possibility for a positively transformative archetypal character arc.
4/19/2021 • 19 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 543: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Hero’s Shadow Archetypes
The Hero’s shadow archetypes of Coward and Bully are especially important (and cautionary) due to the pervasiveness of the Hero’s Journey.
4/12/2021 • 20 minutes, 13 seconds
Ep. 542: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The Maiden’s Shadow Archetypes
Out of fear and egoism, the Maiden's shadow archetypes would prevent her from embracing a new perspective and completing her journey.
4/5/2021 • 21 minutes, 4 seconds
Ep. 541: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 8: Introduction to the 12 Shadow Archetypes
Each positive character archetype inherently represents a struggle with related shadow archetypes--one passive and one aggressive.
3/29/2021 • 15 minutes, 22 seconds
Ep. 540: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The Mage Arc
The powerful and mysterious Mage Arc--the final archetypal character arc--turns its attention to questions of power and surrender.
3/22/2021 • 23 minutes, 57 seconds
Ep. 539: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Crone Arc
The Crone Arc begins the final act of the “life arcs” by presenting an inevitable and imperative Underworld Journey.
3/15/2021 • 31 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 538: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The King Arc
Although the plot in a King Arc can be absolutely epic, it is a fundamentally spiritual arc--more so than any that have preceded it.
3/8/2021 • 25 minutes, 45 seconds
Ep. 537: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 4: The Queen Arc
The majestic Queen Arc builds upon the lessons learned in the Hero's Journey to create an archetypal character arc that offers a worthy sequel.
3/1/2021 • 24 minutes, 21 seconds
Ep. 536: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Hero Arc
The Hero Arc is the story of the conquering champion--the ingenuous but perhaps immodest youth setting out to do a great deed.
2/21/2021 • 27 minutes, 23 seconds
Ep. 535: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc
As the "youngest" of the archetypal character arcs, the Maiden Arc represents the quintessential coming-of-age story.
2/15/2021 • 30 minutes, 32 seconds
Ep. 534: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 1: A New Series
For a writer, one of the most exciting explorations of archetype can be found within specific archetypal character arcs--or journeys.
2/8/2021 • 20 minutes, 34 seconds
Ep. 533: An Introduction to Archetypal Stories
Why are archetypal stories so important and what does this mean for you as a writer attempting to channel these deep patterns of existence?
2/1/2021 • 14 minutes, 39 seconds
Ep. 532: Story Theory and the Quest for Meaning
It is not too simplistic or idealistic a statement to say that storytelling--and therefore story theory--is a quest for meaning.
1/25/2021 • 11 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 531: 3 Character Arcs in the Karpman Drama Triangle
Pairing the Karpman Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle offers a fantastic tool for creating solid character arcs.
1/18/2021 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 530: 7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020
Seven writing lessons to inspire, ground, and encourage you in moving forward into the wide new frontier of 2021.
1/4/2021 • 16 minutes, 20 seconds
Ep. 529: What Is Dreamzoning? (7 Steps to Finding New Story Ideas)
Every writer knows about daydreaming. But what about dreamzoning? How can it help you cultivate inspiration for your storytelling?
11/29/2020 • 13 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 528: 7 Steps to Stop Overthinking Your Writing
The problem of overthinking your writing is really part of the larger challenge of learning how to live a truly creative lifestyle.
11/23/2020 • 17 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 527: 5 Questions About Scene Sequences
Scene sequences bring together a series of individual scenes into a distinct narrative section, united by focus, location, and/or theme.
11/16/2020 • 15 minutes, 17 seconds
Ep. 526: Are You Growing as a Writer? (Here's the Only Way to Tell)
Growing as a writer is not merely about mastering a skill, but also, and more pertinently, about our growth as human beings.
11/9/2020 • 14 minutes, 39 seconds
Ep. 525: The Power of Chiastic Story Structure (Especially in a Series)
An overview of chiastic story structure itself, along with four tips to employ this technique over the longer work of an entire series.
11/2/2020 • 15 minutes, 26 seconds
Ep. 524: The Midpoint as the Swivel Point of Your Story's Linked Structure
How can you keep your pacing tight and the story interesting over the long haul of the Second Act? The simplest answer: Mind the Midpoint.
10/26/2020 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 523: The Link Between Your Story's Pinch Points
Learn to identify and leverage several important story structure similarities between your story’s Pinch Points.
10/12/2020 • 20 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 522: The Link Between Your Story's First Plot Point and Third Plot Point
Deepen your understanding of story structure by examining the parallel functions of the First Plot Point and the Third Plot Point.
10/5/2020 • 17 minutes, 36 seconds
Ep. 521: The Link Between Your Story's Hook and Resolution
You can think of the link between your story’s Hook and Resolution in four different ways. Ask these questions to help in brainstorming.
9/28/2020 • 19 minutes, 4 seconds
Ep. 520: The Crucial Link Between Your Story's Inciting Event and Climactic Moment
Structurally speaking, the Inciting Event initiates the story's conflict, while the Climactic Moment fully resolves it.
9/14/2020 • 17 minutes, 49 seconds
Episode #519: 15 Steps to Self-Publish Your Book
Once you've decided in favor of the indie route, what are the actual steps to self-publish your book? Use this actionable list.
9/7/2020 • 19 minutes, 29 seconds
Episode #518: 7 Considerations for Your Antagonist's Motivations (Which Will Save You SOOO Much Trouble)
Your antagonist's motivations can make or break your story. If they are weak, unconvincing, or complicated, your story suffers in key areas.
8/31/2020 • 19 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 517: Afraid to Let Anyone Read Your Writing? 5 Steps to Move Past Fears
Once you understand why you are afraid to let anyone read your writing, you can come up with a successful plan to mitigate the fears.
8/24/2020 • 15 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 516: 5 Exercises for Honing Your Story Instincts
Your story instincts and your ability to tap into them clearly will define how much "talent" you may have as a writer.
8/17/2020 • 15 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 515: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Sequel Scenes That Grip Readers
Learning how to write sequel scenes is a specialized technique that will allow you to grip readers' attention on every page.
8/10/2020 • 17 minutes, 49 seconds
Ep. 514: 5 Ways to Help Writers During the Pandemic (+Giveaways to Get You Started)
Want to help writers during the pandemic? Here are five ideas--along with giveaways to help you get started in bolstering the writing community.
8/2/2020 • 14 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 513: 7 Misconceptions About Being a Writer
The more lightly we grab hold of certain misconceptions about being a writer, the more easily we can discard them when they're no longer of use to us.
7/26/2020 • 17 minutes, 5 seconds
Ep. 512: 4 Questions to Prevent Plot Holes
Whether you're outlining or editing, here are four questions you can ask to help identify, rectify, or prevent plot holes.
7/20/2020 • 18 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 511: How to Get Stuff Done as a Writer (or How This INTJ Leverages Her Te)
Sooner or later, procrastination is stumbling block for most of us. As an INTJ, here are my top four tips for how to get stuff done as a writer.
7/5/2020 • 17 minutes, 47 seconds
Ep. 510: The 3 Acts of a Writer's Life--Or How Your Age Affects Your Writing
Writing looks a little different in every stage of a writer's life. Here's a look at the way your age affects your writing in the Three Acts of your life.
6/29/2020 • 17 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 509: Using All Four Cognitive Functions as a Writer
How to better understand the four cognitive functions as a writer by consciously developing them--Intuition, Sensing, Thinking, and Feeling.
6/22/2020 • 18 minutes, 48 seconds
Ep. 508: 11 Exercises to Enhance Your Visual Thinking
To help you improve your writing and storytelling, here are eleven exercises you can use to consciously access your visual thinking and creativity.
6/1/2020 • 18 minutes, 10 seconds
Ep. 507: Editing Your Novel Q&A
Have questions about editing your novel? The best way to find good answers is to ask good questions. Here are eight excellent questions about editing.
5/24/2020 • 15 minutes, 40 seconds
Ep. 506: Creativity vs. Distraction: 13 Tips for Writers in the Age of the Internet
Controlling and cutting down on distraction is the first step in reclaiming our full creative capacity. Here are 13 tips to get started!
5/18/2020 • 21 minutes, 28 seconds
Ep. 505: 7 Possible Hooks for Your Opening Chapter
In order to grab readers, you'll need to consider several specific types of hooks for your opening chapter. You may want to use one--or all of them.
5/11/2020 • 16 minutes, 24 seconds
Ep. 505: 15 Productive Tasks You Can Still Do Even When You Don't Feel Like Writing
If you find you don't feel like writing right now, here's a list of 15 important writing tasks you may be more in the mood for.
4/27/2020 • 17 minutes, 23 seconds
Ep. 503: 4 Ways Writing Improves Your Relationship With Yourself
The more you learn to listen to the self that appears on the page, the more writing improves your relationship with yourself in an ever-deepening journey.
4/20/2020 • 16 minutes, 14 seconds
Ep. 502: How to Get Some Writing Done: Discipline vs. Enthusiasm
Sometimes the hardest part of getting some writing done is just... doing it. Here are 10 tips for cultivating discipline and renewing enthusiasm.
4/13/2020 • 21 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 501: 7 Ways Writing Saves Us When Life Is Hard
Writing and stories have the power to help all of us--but especially writers. Here are seven ways writing can help us keep going in times of uncertainty.
4/6/2020 • 18 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 500: 8 Challenges (and Solutions) When Writing From Home
If you're writing from home (or honestly, trying to accomplish just about anything from home), here are eight tips for maximizing your daily routine.
3/30/2020 • 20 minutes, 36 seconds
Ep. 499: The Power of Hopeful Stories in a Stressful Time
Want to put something good into the world right now? Here are five ways the power of hopeful stories can create change in a positive way.
3/22/2020 • 16 minutes, 50 seconds
Ep. 498: 5 Questions About How to Balance Multiple POVs in Your Story
Knowing your story's ending will help you know the right answer to almost any POV question. Let's look at 5 questions about using multiple POVs.
3/15/2020 • 17 minutes, 53 seconds
Ep. #497: Critique: 6 Tips for Introducing Characters
Your goal in introducing characters should be to do so with the least amount of info possible while still making the characters memorable. Here's how!
3/8/2020 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 496: Creativity vs. the Ego (Or, the Value of Unpublishable Stories)
When creativity becomes a servant of the ego, rather than the other way around--we can get confused about what we're doing and why.
3/1/2020 • 15 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep. 495: The Professional Writing Resources I Use for All Parts of the Writing and Publishing Processes
Here are fourteen professional writing resources to help with all parts of authorpreneurship: writing, editing, blogging/podcasting, book formatting, marketing.
2/23/2020 • 15 minutes, 3 seconds
Ep. 494: Thoughts on How to Be Critical of Stories in a Way That Makes a Difference
Learn how to be critical of stories in a way that turns the potential for negativity into a positive force that drives your own creativity.
2/17/2020 • 17 minutes, 23 seconds
Ep. 493: 6 Steps to Create Realistic (and Powerful) Scene Dilemmas
Of all the many aspects of scene structure, scene dilemmas are among the most powerful but also the most overlooked. Here are six steps to acing yours.
2/4/2020 • 16 minutes
Ep. 492: 2 Different Types of the Lie Your Character Believes
1/20/2020 • 18 minutes, 2 seconds
Ep. 491: 3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year
1/13/2020 • 23 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 490: My Top Books of 2019
1/6/2020 • 14 minutes, 28 seconds
Ep. 489: Critique: Supporting Characters and Theme: 6 Important Questions to Ask About Your Story
12/16/2019 • 14 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 488: Critique: 10 Ways to Write a Better First Chapter Using Specific Word Choices
12/9/2019 • 18 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 487: How to Choose the Right Antagonist for Any Type of Story
11/25/2019 • 16 minutes, 45 seconds
Ep. 486: How to Overcome Fear as a Writer and Embrace Your Profound Courage
11/18/2019 • 19 minutes, 36 seconds
Ep. 485: 23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office
11/4/2019 • 17 minutes, 33 seconds
Ep. 484: How to Know Which Parts of Your Story Readers Will Like Best
10/28/2019 • 17 minutes, 17 seconds
Ep. 483: A Writer's Guide to Understanding People
10/21/2019 • 15 minutes, 54 seconds
Ep. 482: This Is How to Transform Info Dumps Into Exciting Plot Reveals
10/14/2019 • 17 minutes, 28 seconds
Ep. 481: A Challenge to Write Life-Changing Fiction
10/7/2019 • 14 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 480: 5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Theme
9/30/2019 • 13 minutes, 32 seconds
Ep. 479: Are You Struggling to Be Creative? This Might Be Why
9/23/2019 • 17 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 478: Critique: 10 Ways to Write Excellent Dialogue
9/16/2019 • 18 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 477: Creating Your Character's Inner Conflict: Want vs. Need
9/2/2019 • 17 minutes, 45 seconds
Ep. 476: How to Use a Truth Chart to Figure Out Character Arc
8/26/2019 • 22 minutes, 22 seconds
Ep. 475: How to Tell if Your Story Has Too Much Plot, Not Enough Character
8/19/2019 • 19 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 474: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 2: The 3 Negative Arcs
8/5/2019 • 19 minutes, 51 seconds
Ep. 473: Learn 5 Types of Character Arc at a Glance, Pt. 1: The 2 Heroic Arcs
7/29/2019 • 18 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep. 472: How to Make Your Plot a Powerful Thematic Metaphor
7/22/2019 • 14 minutes, 28 seconds
Ep. 471: Taking Your Writing to the Next Level: Whole-Life Art
7/1/2019 • 16 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 470: Critique: 4 Ways to Write Gripping Internal Narrative
6/24/2019 • 15 minutes, 20 seconds
Ep. 469: 5 Ways to Earn Audience Loyalty
6/17/2019 • 21 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep. 468: 6 Requirements for Writing Better Character Goals
6/10/2019 • 16 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 467: How to Write Interesting Scenes
6/3/2019 • 18 minutes, 31 seconds
Ep. 466: 4 Challenges of Writing for a Modern Audience
5/27/2019 • 18 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 465: Helping Authors Become Artists
4/22/2019 • 18 minutes, 14 seconds
Ep. 464: How to Use Your Outline When Writing Your First Draft
4/15/2019 • 16 minutes, 29 seconds
Ep. 463: What Is the Relationship Between Plot and Theme?
4/8/2019 • 15 minutes, 56 seconds
Ep. 462: 5 Ways to Use Theme to Create Character Arc (and Vice Versa)
4/1/2019 • 18 minutes, 6 seconds
Ep. 461: 4 Pacing Tricks to Keep Readers' Attention
3/25/2019 • 18 minutes, 10 seconds
Ep. 460: How to Find Your Thematic Principle
3/18/2019 • 15 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 459: Plot, Character, and Theme: The Greatest Love Triangle in Fiction
3/11/2019 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 458: 7 Things to Try When Writing Is Hard
2/25/2019 • 16 minutes, 8 seconds
Ep. 457: How to Use Paragraph Breaks to Guide the Reading Experience
2/11/2019 • 15 minutes, 19 seconds
Ep. 456: 10 Advantages of Writing a Single-POV Story
2/4/2019 • 17 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 455: My 9 Writing Goals for the New Year
1/28/2019 • 19 minutes, 9 seconds
Ep. 454: How to Create the Perfect Writing Process for You
1/21/2019 • 18 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 453: My Top Books of 2018
12/17/2018 • 16 minutes, 21 seconds
Ep. 452: The 10-Step Checklist to Writing an Above-Average Novel
12/10/2018 • 19 minutes, 55 seconds
Ep. 451: The 10 Rules of Writing Large Casts of Characters
12/3/2018 • 18 minutes, 16 seconds
Ep. 450: How to Choose Your Story's Plot Points
11/19/2018 • 19 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 449: 5 Ways to Successfully Start a Book With a Dream
11/12/2018 • 21 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep. 448: When Writing, How Do You Know When Enough Is Enough?
11/5/2018 • 19 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 447: 5 Lessons From a Lost Novel
10/29/2018 • 21 minutes, 7 seconds
Ep. 446: Words Are Radical! (or, How to Cherish Language)
10/15/2018 • 14 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 445: Story Structure Q and A: 6 Outstanding Questions About Structure
10/1/2018 • 14 minutes, 35 seconds
Ep. 444: 3 Tips for Improving Show, Don't Tell
9/24/2018 • 16 minutes, 12 seconds
Ep. 443: Do You Have Sloppy Writing Habits? (And 4 Things to Do About It)
9/3/2018 • 15 minutes, 9 seconds
Ep. 442: 5 Ways to Use the Enneagram to Write Better Characters
8/27/2018 • 19 minutes, 30 seconds
Ep. 441: Writer's Envy--And 3 Thoughts on What to Do About It
8/20/2018 • 12 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 440: How to Market Your Book When You Hate Marketing
8/13/2018 • 14 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep. 439: 4 Ways to Choose a Better Theme for Your Book
8/6/2018 • 20 minutes, 49 seconds
Ep. 438: 4 Steps for How to Turn an Idea Into a Story That Rocks
7/23/2018 • 17 minutes, 2 seconds
Ep. 437: How to Write Unique Themes
7/16/2018 • 16 minutes, 34 seconds
Ep. 436: Never Let Anybody Tell You How to Write: 8 Tips for Learning Responsibly
Ep. 434: Writing as the Art of Thinking Clearly: 6 Steps
6/25/2018 • 17 minutes, 14 seconds
Ep. 433: How to Intertwine Plot, Character, and Theme in Every Scene
6/18/2018 • 18 minutes
Ep. 432: 5 Steps to Writing Great Character Chemistry
6/11/2018 • 14 minutes, 49 seconds
Ep. 431: 4 Ways to Write a Better Antagonist
6/4/2018 • 21 minutes, 17 seconds
Ep. 430: How the Truth Your Character Believes Defines Your Theme
5/28/2018 • 22 minutes
Ep. 429: How to Grow as a Writer: 5 Logical Steps
5/21/2018 • 15 minutes, 45 seconds
Ep. 428: 5 Lies Writers Believe That Are Holding Them Back
5/14/2018 • 13 minutes, 38 seconds
Ep. 427: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 64: POV Problems
5/7/2018 • 18 minutes, 41 seconds
What Should Your Characters Talk About?
4/30/2018 • 14 minutes, 28 seconds
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 3: Introducing the Story
4/23/2018 • 19 minutes, 50 seconds
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 2: Writing the Opening Chapter
4/16/2018 • 18 minutes, 5 seconds
Your Ultimate First Chapter Checklist, Pt. 1: Hooking Readers
4/9/2018 • 12 minutes, 41 seconds
How to Decide Between Plain Prose and Beautiful Prose
4/2/2018 • 16 minutes, 38 seconds
Learn 5 Ways to Take Risks With Your Writing
3/19/2018 • 16 minutes, 30 seconds
How to Spot and Avoid Self-Indulgent Writing
3/12/2018 • 18 minutes, 12 seconds
Don't Write Scenes--Write Images
2/26/2018 • 17 minutes, 18 seconds
Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance! Cohesion and Resonance!
2/12/2018 • 16 minutes, 38 seconds
4 Tips for Writing to the Right Audience
2/5/2018 • 16 minutes, 15 seconds
4 Ways for Writers to Become Better Readers
1/29/2018 • 12 minutes, 45 seconds
The Words That Changed Your Life: Discovering What Made You a Writer
1/22/2018 • 13 minutes, 26 seconds
4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write
1/15/2018 • 15 minutes, 12 seconds
The 5 Secrets of Good Storytelling (That Writers Forget All the Time)
1/8/2018 • 18 minutes, 13 seconds
4 Life-Changing New Year's Lessons for Writers
1/1/2018 • 16 minutes, 33 seconds
My Top Books of 2017
12/11/2017 • 11 minutes, 52 seconds
How to Write Funny
11/27/2017 • 19 minutes, 14 seconds
Tips for How to Choose the Right Sentences
11/20/2017 • 19 minutes, 7 seconds
5 (Not-So-Little) Additions to the Great Novel-Writing Checklist
11/13/2017 • 17 minutes, 24 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 63: Purple Prose
11/6/2017 • 13 minutes, 2 seconds
The Great Novel-Writing Checklist
10/30/2017 • 17 minutes, 52 seconds
4 Ways to Prevent Formulaic Story Structure
10/23/2017 • 16 minutes, 56 seconds
The Only Good Reason to Write
10/16/2017 • 17 minutes, 19 seconds
4 Reasons You're Confused About Scene Structure (With Examples)
10/9/2017 • 12 minutes, 21 seconds
6 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Protect Creativity
Life creates art, but life also devours art. Learn how important it is for committed artists to take steps to protect creativity.
9/25/2017 • 21 minutes, 9 seconds
5 Tips for Organizing Subplots
9/18/2017 • 18 minutes, 10 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 62: Head-Hopping POV
9/4/2017 • 11 minutes, 26 seconds
7 Ways to Write Thematically-Pertinent Antagonists
8/28/2017 • 20 minutes, 44 seconds
4 Questions You Should Never Ask About Your Book
8/21/2017 • 14 minutes
4 Ways to Write a Thought-Provoking Mentor Character
8/14/2017 • 17 minutes, 57 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 61: 5 Types of Clunky Dialogue
8/7/2017 • 14 minutes, 36 seconds
5 Tips for Writing a Likable "Righteous" Character
7/31/2017 • 19 minutes, 33 seconds
16 Ways to Make Your Setting a Character in Its Own Right
7/24/2017 • 16 minutes, 8 seconds
Writing Voice: 6 Things You Need to Know to Improve It
7/17/2017 • 14 minutes, 12 seconds
How to Ace the First Act in Your Sequel
7/10/2017 • 18 minutes, 46 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 60: Flat Plots
7/3/2017 • 16 minutes, 37 seconds
How to Calculate Your Book's Length Before Writing
6/26/2017 • 18 minutes, 1 second
Learn How to Make the Most of the 5 Stages of the Writing Process
6/19/2017 • 20 minutes, 9 seconds
5 Ways to Write a Perfect First Draft (or Nearly)
6/12/2017 • 16 minutes, 33 seconds
Are You a Writer or a Storyteller?
6/5/2017 • 17 minutes, 51 seconds
5 Misconceptions About Writing That I Used to Believe
5/22/2017 • 17 minutes, 36 seconds
When Does Writing Get Easier? The 4 Steps to Mastery
5/15/2017 • 17 minutes, 14 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 59: Overly Complex Plots
5/1/2017 • 16 minutes
3 Ways to Make Your Writing More Visual
4/24/2017 • 16 minutes, 47 seconds
3 Ways to Test Your Story's Emotional Stakes
4/17/2017 • 18 minutes, 20 seconds
How to Benefit From the Biggest Reason for Storytelling
4/10/2017 • 12 minutes, 39 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 58: Too Much Description
4/3/2017 • 20 minutes, 8 seconds
The 7 Stages of Being a Writer (How Many Have You Experienced?)
3/27/2017 • 17 minutes, 23 seconds
9 Tips for How to Write Opening and Closing Lines Readers Will Love to Quote
3/20/2017 • 16 minutes, 46 seconds
5 Rules for How to Write a Sequel to Your Book
3/13/2017 • 18 minutes, 43 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 57: Dead-End Relationships
3/6/2017 • 18 minutes, 15 seconds
The Lazy Author's 6-Question Guide to Writing an Original Book
2/27/2017 • 18 minutes, 33 seconds
Learn How to Pace Your Story (and Mind-Control Your Readers) in Just 8 Steps
2/20/2017 • 16 minutes, 23 seconds
8 Ways to Troubleshoot a Scene--and 5 Ways Make It Fabulous
2/13/2017 • 17 minutes, 46 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 56: Unfulfilled Foreshadowing
2/6/2017 • 15 minutes, 37 seconds
How to Find Exactly the Right Story Hook
1/30/2017 • 19 minutes, 6 seconds
How to Outline a Series of Bestselling Books
1/16/2017 • 16 minutes, 51 seconds
Top 10 Ways to Rivet Readers with Plot Reveals
1/9/2017 • 19 minutes, 58 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 55: Beginning Your Story Too Late
1/2/2017 • 17 minutes, 46 seconds
Deepen Your Story With Character Misdirection
12/26/2016 • 17 minutes, 25 seconds
The #1 Way to Write Intense Story Conflict
12/19/2016 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
A New Way to Think About Scene Structure
12/12/2016 • 11 minutes, 18 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 54: Story Events That Don't Move the Plot
12/5/2016 • 13 minutes, 57 seconds
How to Write a Scene Outline You Can Use (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 9)
11/28/2016 • 14 minutes, 36 seconds
Making the Most of Character Interviews (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 8)
11/21/2016 • 15 minutes, 41 seconds
How to Structure Your Story's Outline (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 7)
11/14/2016 • 17 minutes, 50 seconds
3 Tips for Weaving Together Your Story's Pieces (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 6)
11/7/2016 • 12 minutes, 54 seconds
4 Ways to Write Backstory That Matters (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 5)
10/31/2016 • 17 minutes, 19 seconds
How to Find and Fill All Your Plot Holes (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 4)
10/24/2016 • 14 minutes, 56 seconds
3 Steps to Find the Heart of Your Story (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 3)
10/17/2016 • 17 minutes, 22 seconds
Start Your Outline With These 4 Questions (How to Outline for NaNoWriMo, Pt. 2)
10/10/2016 • 20 minutes, 15 seconds
How to Outline for NaNoWriMo: Should You Outline Your Novel?
10/3/2016 • 15 minutes, 4 seconds
7 Questions You Have About Scenes vs. Chapters
9/26/2016 • 15 minutes, 59 seconds
The Secret to Writing Dynamic Characters: It's Always Their Fault
9/19/2016 • 17 minutes, 54 seconds
The Only 5 Ingredients You Need for Story Subtext
9/12/2016 • 21 minutes, 29 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 53: No Contractions in Dialogue
9/5/2016 • 11 minutes, 2 seconds
6 Reasons You Need to Make Way More Writing Mistakes
8/29/2016 • 15 minutes, 28 seconds
How to Find the Right Critique Partner: The 6-Step Checklist
8/15/2016 • 16 minutes, 45 seconds
15 More Reasons Writing Is Important (in Your Own Words)
8/8/2016 • 14 minutes, 12 seconds
How to Use Scrivener to Edit Your Novels
8/1/2016 • 17 minutes, 2 seconds
5 Reasons Writing Is Important to the World
7/25/2016 • 16 minutes, 17 seconds
4 Ways to Verify Your Story Concept Is Strong Enough
7/18/2016 • 13 minutes, 42 seconds
7 Reasons You Need Story Theory
7/11/2016 • 15 minutes, 46 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 52: Stagnant Story Conflict
7/4/2016 • 11 minutes, 59 seconds
5 Secrets of Complex Supporting Characters
6/27/2016 • 13 minutes, 13 seconds
How to Plot a Book: Start With the Antagonist
6/20/2016 • 17 minutes, 3 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 51: One-Dimensional Characters
6/13/2016 • 15 minutes, 12 seconds
6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel's Edits
5/29/2016 • 12 minutes, 2 seconds
How to Write Faster (and Why Maybe You Shouldn't)
5/15/2016 • 16 minutes, 8 seconds
Planning Your Story: What George Lucas Can Teach You (Not) to Do
5/8/2016 • 16 minutes, 37 seconds
6 Tips to Help You Finish Your Book
5/1/2016 • 19 minutes, 45 seconds
Do You Have a Writing Superpower? (And Why You Shouldn't)
4/24/2016 • 12 minutes, 25 seconds
Everything You Need to Know About Writing a 3rd-Person POV
4/17/2016 • 18 minutes, 47 seconds
Novel Research: 12 Ways to Ace Your Book
4/10/2016 • 18 minutes, 41 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 50: Info Dumps
4/3/2016 • 18 minutes, 53 seconds
How to Know When to Write The End
3/27/2016 • 11 minutes, 40 seconds
5 (More) Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 2 of 2
3/20/2016 • 11 minutes, 26 seconds
5 Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 1 of 2
3/14/2016 • 9 minutes, 35 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 49: Weak Conjunctions
3/7/2016 • 9 minutes, 54 seconds
How to Create Awesome Scene Arcs That Surprise Readers
2/28/2016 • 12 minutes, 40 seconds
5 Important Ways Storytelling Is Different in Books vs. Movies
2/15/2016 • 16 minutes, 33 seconds
The 4 Tweaks to Writing Truly Original Stories and Characters
2/1/2016 • 14 minutes, 18 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 48: No Conflict Between Characters
2/1/2016 • 7 minutes, 37 seconds
Your NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book
1/25/2016 • 15 minutes, 30 seconds
The Re-Readability Factor: Does Your Book Have It? 5 Ways to Make It Happen
1/11/2016 • 13 minutes, 21 seconds
Most Common Mistakes Series, Pt. 47: Ineffective Setting Descriptions
1/4/2016 • 10 minutes, 42 seconds
How to Study Plot and Character in Your Favorite Stories: 5 Easy Steps
12/28/2015 • 12 minutes, 18 seconds
Coincidences in Fiction: What You're Doing Wrong
12/21/2015 • 13 minutes
Not Feeling Creative? 4 Ways to Reignite the "Wonder" in Your Writing
12/14/2015 • 12 minutes, 34 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 46: Anticlimactic Endings
12/7/2015 • 12 minutes, 39 seconds
How to Choose the Right POV (What I Learned Writing Storming)
11/30/2015 • 15 minutes, 6 seconds
How to Write Multiple Antagonists (What I Learned Writing Storming)
11/23/2015 • 13 minutes, 12 seconds
How to Write Can't-Look-Away Chapter Breaks (What I Learned Writing Storming)
11/16/2015 • 15 minutes, 12 seconds
6 Steps to Create a Fantastic Narrative Voice (What I Learned Writing Storming)
11/9/2015 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 45: Avoiding "Said"
11/2/2015 • 9 minutes, 43 seconds
How to Win NaNo Using Totally Doable Daily and Weekly Writing Goals
10/26/2015 • 14 minutes, 29 seconds
7 Ways to Keep Writing During NaNo When You Only Want to Watch Football
10/19/2015 • 13 minutes, 59 seconds
6 Tasks You'll Love Yourself for Checking Off Your NaNo Pre-Writing List
10/12/2015 • 17 minutes, 22 seconds
7 Ways to Use NaNoWriMo to Make You a Better Writer All Year Long
10/5/2015 • 14 minutes
Your Fiction May Be Failing for One Simple Reason: You're Not Being Honest
9/28/2015 • 10 minutes, 52 seconds
How to Edit Fiction: Watch Me Correct My Own Story in Real Time
9/21/2015 • 15 minutes, 37 seconds
8 Paragraph Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making
9/14/2015 • 9 minutes, 22 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 44: Too Many Participle Phrases
9/7/2015 • 9 minutes, 44 seconds
How to Write a Sequel That's BETTER Than the First Book
8/31/2015 • 14 minutes, 10 seconds
Protagonist and Main Character- Same Person? The Answer May Transform Your Story!
8/24/2015 • 11 minutes, 55 seconds
New Story Ideas Distracting You From Your Book? Find Out What You Should Do
8/17/2015 • 14 minutes, 24 seconds
4 Methods to Invigorate Your Prose With Surprising Sentences
8/9/2015 • 9 minutes, 48 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 43: Too Many Exclamation Points!
8/2/2015 • 10 minutes, 9 seconds
4 Ways to Write a Likable Protagonist at the Start of His Character Arc
7/26/2015 • 12 minutes, 27 seconds
Whom Should You Be Writing For? Yourself or Your Readers?
7/19/2015 • 12 minutes, 24 seconds
The Hardest Part of Writing Good Character Arcs-and How You Can Make It Look Easy!
7/12/2015 • 12 minutes, 38 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 42: When Your Story Stakes Aren't High Enough
7/5/2015 • 9 minutes, 3 seconds
3 Ways to Make Writing Your Novel Easier
6/28/2015 • 12 minutes, 17 seconds
Ep. 266: What Every Writer Ought to Know About the Omniscient POV
What's the problem with omniscient POV? Why are so many authors confused about it? And why are so many editors delivering digital hand slaps because of it?
6/21/2015 • 15 minutes, 15 seconds
Ep. 255: Never Confuse the Key Event and the First Plot Point in Your Book Again!
Did you know a full understanding of the Key Event, its role in story structure, and its timing will help you write stronger First Plot Points?
6/14/2015 • 10 minutes, 30 seconds
Ep. 254: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters' Thoughts
Is your narrator killing subtext by inferring other characters' thoughts too accurately? Find out in this latest of the Most Common Writing Mistakes!
6/7/2015 • 10 minutes, 16 seconds
Ep. 256: A Reactive Protagonist Doesn't Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference
One of the stickiest questions any writer is likely to face is: What's the difference between a reactive protagonist and a passive protagonist?
5/31/2015 • 9 minutes, 29 seconds
Ep. 255: Stories That Matter: 5 Necessary Factors for Weighty Fiction
Can you identify the five most important factors in creating weight and substance in stories that matter?
5/24/2015 • 13 minutes, 48 seconds
Ep. 254: How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action
When your story's Midpoint properly facilitates the all-important shift in the middle of your story, your conflict is sure to progress in a powerful way.
5/17/2015 • 8 minutes, 53 seconds
Ep. 253: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 40: Unnecessary Scenes
Discover four types of unnecessary scenes that may be sinking your book - and three ways to find them and kill them.
5/3/2015 • 12 minutes, 33 seconds
Ep. 252: Find Out if Your Prologue Is Destroying Your Story’s Subtext
Take a look at how poor prologues sap stories, how no prologue can strengthen stories, and how to determine if your story is one of the exceptions.
4/26/2015 • 15 minutes, 34 seconds
Ep. 251: My Writing Process, Pt. 2 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Write My First Drafts
Here's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.
4/19/2015 • 10 minutes, 58 seconds
Ep. 250: My Writing Process, Pt. 1 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels
Today, I'm offering a sneak peek under the hood of my writing process when using Scrivener - and how you can use Scrivener to up your writing game.
4/12/2015 • 12 minutes, 33 seconds
Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment
The Climactic Moment is the reason your story is even being told in the first place. Needless to say, it's pretty important you get it right. Find out how!
4/5/2015 • 13 minutes, 50 seconds
Ep. 248: What Are Pinch Points? And How Can They Make Your Book Easier to Write?
What are pinch points? Of all the important moments in your story, they are most likely to be neglected. But they're crucial to your story structure.
3/29/2015 • 12 minutes, 23 seconds
Ep. 247: Your Book’s Inciting Event: It’s Not What You Think It Is
The trouble with identifying the Inciting Event is that the term is applied rather wildly to half a dozen different moments in the story. Which is right?
3/22/2015 • 16 minutes, 9 seconds
Ep. 246: Want to Know More About the Structure of Your Favorite Books and Movies? Announcing the Story Structure Database!
Today, I'm excited to put an end to the guessing about the "Big Secret" and unveil a new resource for authors. The official Story Structure Database.
3/15/2015 • 8 minutes, 41 seconds
Ep. 245: For Writers on the Verge of Writing Spectacularly Complex Characters
The ironic thing about about complex characters in fiction is that the essence of what makes them so wonderfully complicated is actually incredibly simple.
3/8/2015 • 8 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep. 244: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name
In the time it takes to write two words, you might distance readers from your narrative. Luckily, this one of our common writing mistakes is an easy fix.
3/1/2015 • 9 minutes, 55 seconds
Ep. 243: Do You Know the 6 Must-Have Elements of a "Wow" Story Premise?
Discover how a good story premise can help you eliminate structural weaknesses and create a valuable tool for outlining and pitching your novel.
2/22/2015 • 9 minutes, 25 seconds
Ep. 242: The Crucial Way to Figure Out How Much Time Your Story Should Cover
The length of the timeline is an important factor in any story. Take a moment to consider just how much time your story should cover.
2/15/2015 • 10 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 241: The 5 Secrets of Choosing the Right Setting for Your Story's Climax
What makes a great climactic setting? Consider five important techniques for making the most of the setting in your story's climax.
2/8/2015 • 10 minutes, 34 seconds
Ep. 240: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 38: Irrelevant Book Endings
One of the easiest writing mistakes to fall into in your book endings is actually one that has much to do with book beginnings--and, indeed, the entirety of your book.
2/1/2015 • 8 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep. 239: The Lazy Author's Way to Identify and Overcome Writing Weaknesses
Go beyond the vague sense that's something wrong with your story and use these five tips to figure out what your writing weaknesses are.
1/25/2015 • 11 minutes, 11 seconds
Ep. 238: Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once and For All
If you can identify on-the-nose dialogue and learn how to replace it with rich undercurrents of subtext, you're on your way to becoming a master author.
1/18/2015 • 11 minutes, 30 seconds
Ep. 273: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 37: Unnecessary Filler
As we continue to discuss the most common writing mistakes, we'd be remiss to leave out the all-too-prevalent faux pas of unnecessary filler or padding.
1/4/2015 • 7 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep. 275: How to Pitch Your Novel: What's the Difference Between Your Story's Hook and Your Story's Heart?
When figuring out how to pitch your novel, you may realize your story's hook and its heart might not be compatible within such a short description.
12/28/2014 • 12 minutes, 7 seconds
A Quick Guide to Beta Reader Etiquette
12/21/2014 • 14 minutes, 4 seconds
What's the Difference Between Your Story's Theme and Its Message?
12/14/2014 • 10 minutes, 14 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 36: Too Much Introspection, Not Enough Interaction
12/7/2014 • 8 minutes, 15 seconds
What Is the Role of Theme in a Story's Climax?
11/23/2014 • 8 minutes, 44 seconds
Want a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil's Advocate!
11/23/2014 • 8 minutes, 56 seconds
Don't Know Your Story's Theme? Take a Look at Your Character's Arc
11/16/2014 • 9 minutes, 5 seconds
How Much Realism Does Your Novel REALLY Need?
11/9/2014 • 9 minutes, 55 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 35: Random Story Elements
11/2/2014 • 13 minutes, 15 seconds
Why Your Character's Goal Needs to Be 1 of These 5 Things
10/26/2014 • 11 minutes
Story Concept and Story Premise: Do You Know the Crucial Difference?
10/19/2014 • 8 minutes, 56 seconds
FAQ: How to Write Character Arcs in a Series
10/12/2014 • 9 minutes, 30 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 34: Repetitive Dialogue
10/5/2014 • 8 minutes, 30 seconds
What if Your Story Has No Character Arc?
9/28/2014 • 8 minutes, 33 seconds
You've Been Writing Sentences Wrong All Your Life! Find Out Why
9/21/2014 • 7 minutes, 11 seconds
How to Use Rewards and Punishments to Get Your Character to Change
9/14/2014 • 8 minutes, 30 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 33: Telling Important Scenes, Instead of Showing
9/7/2014 • 6 minutes, 48 seconds
Should All Your Minor Characters Have Arcs?
8/31/2014 • 11 minutes, 2 seconds
The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One
8/24/2014 • 8 minutes, 5 seconds
Can a Character's Arc Be a Subplot?
8/17/2014 • 9 minutes, 7 seconds
How to Figure Out WHAT Your Character's Arc Should Be
8/10/2014 • 8 minutes, 50 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 32: Boring Opening Lines
8/3/2014 • 8 minutes, 5 seconds
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act
7/27/2014 • 21 minutes, 11 seconds
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act
7/20/2014 • 18 minutes, 21 seconds
How to Write a Negative Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act
7/13/2014 • 22 minutes, 46 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 31: One-Dimensional Conflict
7/6/2014 • 7 minutes, 7 seconds
Why Every Story You Write Is a Guaranteed Failure
6/29/2014 • 8 minutes, 15 seconds
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 3: The Third Act
6/22/2014 • 21 minutes, 2 seconds
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 2: The Second Act
6/15/2014 • 20 minutes, 32 seconds
How to Write a Flat Character Arc, Pt. 1: The First Act
6/8/2014 • 16 minutes, 35 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 30: Describing Character Movements
6/1/2014 • 7 minutes, 10 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 15: The Resolution
5/25/2014 • 12 minutes, 30 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 14: The Climax
5/18/2014 • 16 minutes, 26 seconds
Crafting Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Third Act
5/11/2014 • 16 minutes, 28 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 12: The Third Plot Point
5/4/2014 • 16 minutes, 7 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 11: The Second Half of the Second Act
4/27/2014 • 19 minutes, 38 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 10: The Midpoint
4/20/2014 • 14 minutes, 18 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The First Half of the Second Act
4/13/2014 • 15 minutes, 47 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 8: The First Plot Point
3/30/2014 • 14 minutes, 41 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The First Act
3/23/2014 • 14 minutes, 11 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Normal World
3/16/2014 • 14 minutes, 3 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The Characteristic Moment
3/9/2014 • 15 minutes, 29 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 4: Your Character's Ghost
3/2/2014 • 11 minutes, 3 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Thing Your Character Wants vs. The Thing Your Character Needs
2/23/2014 • 12 minutes, 14 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Lie Your Character Believes
2/16/2014 • 10 minutes, 37 seconds
Crafting Stunning Character Arcs, Pt. 1: Can You Structure Character?
2/9/2014 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Stories That Begin Too Early
2/2/2014 • 6 minutes, 31 seconds
Warning Signs! Your Character Is Acting Out of Character
1/26/2014 • 7 minutes, 16 seconds
How Minor Characters Help You Discover Theme
1/19/2014 • 7 minutes, 54 seconds
How to Successfully Kill a Character: The Checklist
1/12/2014 • 7 minutes, 31 seconds
Eight and a Half Character Archetypes You Should Be Writing
12/22/2013 • 12 minutes, 39 seconds
How the Antagonist Affects Character Arc
12/15/2013 • 6 minutes, 50 seconds
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice
12/1/2013 • 7 minutes, 36 seconds
How to Double Your Story's Conflict in Seconds
11/24/2013 • 5 minutes, 48 seconds
Top 25 Ways to Write an Awesome Book
11/17/2013 • 4 minutes, 59 seconds
7 Ways to Decide Which Story Idea You Should Write Next
11/10/2013 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
Most Common Mistakes: Under-Explaining
11/3/2013 • 7 minutes, 17 seconds
3 Signs You Should Give Up on Your Story
10/27/2013 • 9 minutes, 44 seconds
5 Signs You're Hiding Behind Your Writing - and 5 Ways to Use It as a Mirror Instead
10/20/2013 • 7 minutes, 40 seconds
Most Common Mistakes: Characters Who Lack Solid Story Goals
10/6/2013 • 7 minutes, 57 seconds
The Evolution of a Scene: From Outline to First Draft
9/29/2013 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
10 Ways to Make Readers Loathe Your Antagonist
9/22/2013 • 7 minutes, 29 seconds
How Not to Be a Writer: 15 Signs You're Doing It Wrong
9/15/2013 • 7 minutes, 57 seconds
Most Common Mistakes: Animate Body Parts
9/8/2013 • 6 minutes, 28 seconds
Have You Chosen the Wrong Tone for Your Story?
8/25/2013 • 6 minutes, 47 seconds
6 Must-Know Tricks for Getting to Know Your Characters
8/18/2013 • 10 minutes, 3 seconds
Is Your Prose Too Complex?
8/4/2013 • 6 minutes, 30 seconds
5 Ways to Write a Killer Plot Twist
7/28/2013 • 7 minutes, 1 second
When Your Scene Focuses on What Isn't Happening
7/7/2013 • 6 minutes, 22 seconds
8 Promises You're Making to Readers - and Then Breaking
6/30/2013 • 6 minutes, 55 seconds
Exclusive Dialogue: When Readers Don't Know What Your Characters Are Talking About
6/23/2013 • 7 minutes, 21 seconds
Are You Over-Thinking Your First Draft?
6/16/2013 • 8 minutes, 20 seconds
How I Self-Edit My Novels: 15 Steps From First Draft to Publication
6/9/2013 • 14 minutes, 24 seconds
A Surefire Sign You're Over-Explaining
6/2/2013 • 5 minutes, 46 seconds
What if Your Antagonist Isn't a Person?
5/26/2013 • 6 minutes, 57 seconds
5 Reasons You Should Stop Writing
5/19/2013 • 7 minutes, 40 seconds
17 Steps to a Reader-Grabbing Title
5/12/2013 • 9 minutes, 7 seconds
The Do's and Don'ts of Dialect
5/5/2013 • 9 minutes, 17 seconds
How to Use Foreshadowing
4/28/2013 • 8 minutes, 24 seconds
Be a Better Writer: Get Organized
4/21/2013 • 7 minutes, 10 seconds
Why "Suddenly" Is a Four-Letter Word
4/7/2013 • 6 minutes, 31 seconds
Why You Need to Be Excited About Every Single Thing You Write
3/31/2013 • 6 minutes, 56 seconds
Why the Reader Is Your Co-Writer
3/24/2013 • 6 minutes, 56 seconds
Top 10 Sentence Slip-Ups
3/17/2013 • 10 minutes, 8 seconds
Motivation-Reaction Units: Cracking the Code of Good Writing
3/10/2013 • 9 minutes
Incidents and Happenings: Scenes That Aren't Actually Scenes
3/3/2013 • 6 minutes, 50 seconds
Frequently Asked Questions About Scene Structure
2/24/2013 • 7 minutes, 3 seconds
Variations on the Sequel
2/17/2013 • 9 minutes, 25 seconds
Options for Decisions in a Sequel
2/10/2013 • 11 minutes, 11 seconds
Options for Dilemmas in a Sequel
2/3/2013 • 10 minutes, 55 seconds
Options for Reactions in a Sequel
1/27/2013 • 11 minutes, 52 seconds
The Three Building Blocks of the Sequel
1/20/2013 • 10 minutes, 31 seconds
Variations on the Scene
1/13/2013 • 10 minutes, 26 seconds
Options for Disasters in a Scene
1/6/2013 • 11 minutes, 54 seconds
Options for Conflict in a Scene
12/30/2012 • 11 minutes, 8 seconds
Options for Goals in a Scene
12/23/2012 • 11 minutes, 14 seconds
The Three Building Blocks of the Scene
12/16/2012 • 9 minutes, 38 seconds
Mastering the Two Different Types of Scene
12/9/2012 • 6 minutes, 14 seconds
6 Types of Courageous Characters
11/25/2012 • 8 minutes, 49 seconds
Why Non-Writers Give the Best Critiques
11/18/2012 • 7 minutes, 41 seconds
Why Writers Should Never Hit Delete
11/11/2012 • 6 minutes, 26 seconds
Your Must-Have Book Checklist: From Idea to Publication
11/4/2012 • 10 minutes, 32 seconds
10 Stories With (Brilliant) Loose Ends
10/28/2012 • 6 minutes, 57 seconds
How to Tell if Your Book Is a Success
10/21/2012 • 7 minutes, 35 seconds
What's Your Writing Personality?
10/14/2012 • 12 minutes, 22 seconds
Are You Skipping the Best Parts?
10/7/2012 • 6 minutes, 52 seconds
Professional Resources for Writers
9/30/2012 • 5 minutes, 45 seconds
Why Story Beginnings and Endings Must Be Linked
9/23/2012 • 6 minutes
Why Your Story's Conflict Isn't Working
9/16/2012 • 6 minutes, 19 seconds
10 Excuses for Not Writing - and How to Smash Them
9/9/2012 • 8 minutes, 48 seconds
Most Common Mistakes Series: Does Your Character Lack Purpose?
9/2/2012 • 5 minutes, 56 seconds
5 Ways You're Preventing Readers From Suspending Disbelief
8/26/2012 • 7 minutes, 8 seconds
Add Muscle to Your Fiction With Unity and Contrast
8/19/2012 • 6 minutes, 8 seconds
6 Ways to Pull off Dual Timelines in Your Novel
8/12/2012 • 6 minutes, 35 seconds
How You May Be Killing Your Story's Tension
8/5/2012 • 6 minutes, 38 seconds
5 Reasons to Write Your Scenes in Order (and 3 Not to)
7/29/2012 • 7 minutes, 9 seconds
What's the Purpose of Your Scene?
7/22/2012 • 6 minutes, 26 seconds
10 Questions Your Readers Shouldn't Have to Ask
7/15/2012 • 6 minutes, 11 seconds
Talent vs. Learning: Do You Have to Be Born a Writer?
7/8/2012 • 5 minutes, 33 seconds
Why Do Bad Books Get Published?
7/1/2012 • 7 minutes, 44 seconds
Are You Writing Your Novel Too Fast?
6/24/2012 • 7 minutes, 18 seconds
The Top 25 Ways to Blow a Book
6/17/2012 • 5 minutes, 26 seconds
How to Spot and Fix Non-Reactive and Over-Reactive Characters
6/10/2012 • 7 minutes, 14 seconds
The Two Conflict-Creating Needs of Every Character
6/3/2012 • 7 minutes, 30 seconds
How Routines Save (and Ruin) Your Writing
5/27/2012 • 9 minutes, 13 seconds
Why Self-Conscious Writers Are Doomed
5/20/2012 • 6 minutes, 17 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12: Your Questions Answered
5/13/2012 • 10 minutes, 47 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 11: The Resolution
5/6/2012 • 12 minutes, 43 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 10: The Climax
4/29/2012 • 10 minutes, 37 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 9: The Third Act
4/22/2012 • 11 minutes, 39 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 8: The Second Half of the Second Act
4/15/2012 • 10 minutes, 3 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7: The Midpoint
4/8/2012 • 10 minutes, 16 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 6: The First Half of the Second Act
4/1/2012 • 9 minutes, 8 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 5: The Inciting Event and the Key Event
3/25/2012 • 9 minutes, 50 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 4: The First Plot Point
3/18/2012 • 9 minutes, 48 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 3: The First Act
3/11/2012 • 9 minutes, 25 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 2: The Hook
3/4/2012 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
The Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 1: Why Should Authors Care?
2/26/2012 • 6 minutes, 31 seconds
A Wordplayer's Manifesto
2/19/2012 • 4 minutes, 40 seconds
The Writer's Guide to Punctuation
2/12/2012 • 7 minutes, 23 seconds
The Case of the Vanishing Setting
2/5/2012 • 7 minutes, 19 seconds
Don't Let Multiple-Character Scenes Run Away With You
1/22/2012 • 5 minutes, 37 seconds
How I Learned to Write - And How You Can Too
1/15/2012 • 7 minutes, 5 seconds
Don't Drown Your Readers in Explanations
1/8/2012 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
12 Writing Resolutions for the 12 Months of 2012
1/1/2012 • 6 minutes, 37 seconds
The Christmas Gifts I'm Most Thankful For This Year
12/25/2011 • 4 minutes, 34 seconds
How Do You Decide Which Story You Should Write?
12/18/2011 • 5 minutes, 27 seconds
25 "Under $25" Christmas Gifts for Writers
12/11/2011 • 2 minutes, 58 seconds
Are Your Flashbacks Flashy or Flabby?
12/4/2011 • 7 minutes, 6 seconds
Action/Reaction - The Pistons Powering Your Story
11/27/2011 • 5 minutes, 10 seconds
4 Reasons to Mimic the Masters - and 4 Reasons Not to
11/20/2011 • 6 minutes, 5 seconds
How Do You Know Which Rules to Break?
11/13/2011 • 5 minutes, 14 seconds
Do Readers See Your Characters the Way You Want Them To?
11/6/2011 • 6 minutes, 5 seconds
10 Fear Busters for Writers
10/30/2011 • 6 minutes, 51 seconds
5 Elements of a Resonant Closing Line
10/23/2011 • 8 minutes, 21 seconds
5 Fun and Easy Ways to Lengthen Your Word Count
10/16/2011 • 5 minutes, 46 seconds
The Dangers of Character Overload
10/2/2011 • 5 minutes, 51 seconds
What Elements Make a Good Book?
9/25/2011 • 4 minutes, 41 seconds
5 Elements of a Riveting First Line
9/18/2011 • 8 minutes, 7 seconds
Why Your Hero Absolutely Must Pet a Dog
9/11/2011 • 5 minutes, 45 seconds
Most Common Mistakes Series: Is Nothin' Happening in Your Scene?
9/4/2011 • 7 minutes, 4 seconds
Why Your Protagonist and Antagonist Should Be Stuck Like Glue
8/28/2011 • 5 minutes, 32 seconds
Captain America's 10-Step Guide to the Likable Hero
8/21/2011 • 8 minutes, 12 seconds
10 Stylistic Mistakes Sabotaging Your Story
8/14/2011 • 4 minutes, 11 seconds
7 Ways to Make Family and Pets Respect Your Writing Time
8/7/2011 • 6 minutes, 29 seconds
Why You Should Kick Your Story Aside and Write a Different One
7/31/2011 • 5 minutes, 9 seconds
What The Story Knows Best Really Means
7/24/2011 • 5 minutes, 11 seconds
Deus Ex Machina: Latin for Don't Do This in Your Story
7/17/2011 • 6 minutes
The Fast and Easy Guide to Writing Characters of the Opposite Gender
7/10/2011 • 5 minutes, 57 seconds
Is Your Opening Line Lying to Your Readers?
7/3/2011 • 5 minutes, 31 seconds
Why There's No Such Thing as a Writing Expert - And Why That's a Good Thing
6/26/2011 • 5 minutes, 42 seconds
Save Your Readers From Boredom: Five Fool-Proof Preventatives
6/19/2011 • 5 minutes, 24 seconds
4 Tricks for Picking the Perfect Word
6/12/2011 • 5 minutes, 24 seconds
Is Your First-Person Narrator Overpowering Your Story?
6/5/2011 • 5 minutes, 50 seconds
Are Happy Endings a Must?
5/29/2011 • 5 minutes, 57 seconds
The Kung Fu Panda Guide to Writing Action Scenes
5/22/2011 • 7 minutes, 41 seconds
The Secret Ingredient of Original Stories
5/15/2011 • 5 minutes, 12 seconds
Ideas for Constructing Your Own Writing Routine
5/8/2011 • 4 minutes, 49 seconds
Understanding - and Accepting - the Reasons You Write
5/1/2011 • 5 minutes, 1 second
What Is a 50-Page Edit... and Why Will It Rock Your Story?
4/24/2011 • 5 minutes, 16 seconds
How Not to Use Speaker Tags and Action Beats
4/17/2011 • 5 minutes, 36 seconds
3 Traits Your Hero and Villain Should Share
4/10/2011 • 6 minutes, 12 seconds
4 Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Writer's Solitude
4/3/2011 • 6 minutes, 44 seconds
Why Writers Should Take Their Own Advice
3/27/2011 • 5 minutes, 32 seconds
Why Vague Writing Is Weak Writing
3/20/2011 • 5 minutes, 18 seconds
Are You Asking These Important Questions About Your Fantasy Setting?
3/13/2011 • 6 minutes, 3 seconds
What I Love Lucy Can Teach You About Writing Tics
3/6/2011 • 6 minutes, 30 seconds
8 Signs Your Writing Is Stuck in a Rut - And Why You Should Care
2/13/2011 • 5 minutes, 37 seconds
Are You Confusing Readers With Poor Cause and Effect?
2/6/2011 • 6 minutes, 29 seconds
Why You Should Read the Type of Stories You Write
1/23/2011 • 4 minutes, 51 seconds
The Good News? Writing Never Gets Any Easier
1/23/2011 • 5 minutes, 53 seconds
10 Steps for Getting Past the "This Stinks" Blues
1/16/2011 • 5 minutes, 38 seconds
Are You Using "There" as a Crutch?
1/9/2011 • 4 minutes, 39 seconds
10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill
1/2/2011 • 6 minutes, 2 seconds
7 Reasons Weather Is a Writer's Friend
12/26/2010 • 5 minutes, 15 seconds
Are Your Verbs Showing or Telling?
12/19/2010 • 5 minutes, 8 seconds
8 Reasons to Let Your Story Ripen
12/12/2010 • 5 minutes, 26 seconds
What Kind of Writer Are You?
12/5/2010 • 5 minutes, 29 seconds
Description: Friend or Foe?
11/28/2010 • 5 minutes, 41 seconds
Why Are You Writing This Story?
11/14/2010 • 5 minutes, 9 seconds
Are You Dating Your Fiction?
11/7/2010 • 6 minutes, 11 seconds
Juxtaposition: The Power of the Unexpected in Fiction
10/31/2010 • 5 minutes, 26 seconds
Use Motion to Spice up Your Scenes
10/24/2010 • 5 minutes, 32 seconds
Love Your Characters - Or Else!
10/17/2010 • 5 minutes, 52 seconds
Is Your Dialogue Pulling Its Weight?
10/10/2010 • 7 minutes, 21 seconds
The Worst Writing Advice
10/3/2010 • 5 minutes, 29 seconds
The Best Writing Advice
9/26/2010 • 6 minutes, 17 seconds
Are You a Writer?
9/19/2010 • 6 minutes, 36 seconds
Research: When in Doubt, Make It Up
9/12/2010 • 7 minutes, 10 seconds
Is Your Story Mysterious Enough?
9/5/2010 • 6 minutes, 17 seconds
Should You Edit As You Go?
8/29/2010 • 5 minutes, 59 seconds
Are You Benefiting From the Intimacy of Pronouns?
8/15/2010 • 4 minutes, 52 seconds
5 Steps to Dazzling Minor Characters
8/8/2010 • 6 minutes, 4 seconds
Whap! Pow! Zing! - How Can You Tell if Your Story Has Emotional Resonance?
7/25/2010 • 6 minutes, 2 seconds
Why Your Character's Motive Matters
7/18/2010 • 5 minutes, 23 seconds
6 Reasons a Premise Sentence Strengthens Your Story
7/11/2010 • 6 minutes, 36 seconds
Is the Thesaurus Your Friend?
7/4/2010 • 4 minutes, 38 seconds
Should Stories Be Soapboxes?
6/27/2010 • 5 minutes, 9 seconds
Why No Writer Knows What He's Doing
6/20/2010 • 4 minutes, 39 seconds
Change is the Key to Powerful Character Arcs
6/13/2010 • 4 minutes, 29 seconds
Maximize Your Story's Inciting Event
6/6/2010 • 5 minutes, 9 seconds
8 Ways Writing Longhand Frees Your Muse
5/30/2010 • 5 minutes, 43 seconds
Generality Is the Death of the Novel
5/23/2010 • 5 minutes, 12 seconds
Creating a Functional Writing Station
5/16/2010 • 2 minutes, 36 seconds
Improve Yourself, Improve Your Writing
5/9/2010 • 4 minutes, 34 seconds
When Your Story Doesn't Turn Out Like You Planned
5/2/2010 • 4 minutes, 47 seconds
10 Ways to Write Skinny Sentences
4/25/2010 • 5 minutes, 31 seconds
Why Character Stereotypes Are a Good Thing
4/18/2010 • 5 minutes, 14 seconds
Daydream or Die!
4/11/2010 • 5 minutes, 3 seconds
Are You Using Too Many Settings?
4/4/2010 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
Does Your Story Have the Extraordinary Factor?
3/28/2010 • 4 minutes, 38 seconds
What a Mouse Can Teach You About Story Arc
3/22/2010 • 5 minutes, 24 seconds
Rewriting Made Easy
3/14/2010 • 5 minutes, 23 seconds
15 Lessons From the Masters
3/7/2010 • 5 minutes, 17 seconds
Three Words That Kill Writing Procrastination
2/28/2010 • 4 minutes, 44 seconds
Strengthen Your Story by Writing the Perfect Review
2/14/2010 • 4 minutes, 14 seconds
Plot vs. Character: Which Is More Important?
2/7/2010 • 5 minutes, 35 seconds
Are You Using Setting to Deepen Your Characters?
1/31/2010 • 5 minutes, 28 seconds
Embrace Your Internal Editor
1/24/2010 • 4 minutes, 52 seconds
Are You Called to Be a Writer?
1/17/2010 • 4 minutes, 12 seconds
Why Word Count Goals Can Be Destructive
1/10/2010 • 4 minutes, 31 seconds
10 Habits of Successful Authors
1/3/2010 • 5 minutes, 18 seconds
11 Killer Chapter Breaks
12/27/2009 • 5 minutes, 20 seconds
Are Your Characters Talking Heads?
12/20/2009 • 4 minutes, 15 seconds
How Music Will Make You a Better Writer
12/13/2009 • 5 minutes, 28 seconds
Why You Should Write More Than One Genre
12/6/2009 • 4 minutes, 35 seconds
4 Reasons I Quit Writing Exercises
11/29/2009 • 5 minutes, 29 seconds
How to Kill a Character - And Avoid Hate Mail
11/22/2009 • 5 minutes, 39 seconds
Top 7 Reasons Readers Stop Reading
11/15/2009 • 6 minutes, 22 seconds
6 Reasons Not to Listen to Your Critique Partner
11/8/2009 • 5 minutes, 11 seconds
11 Dichotomous Characters - And Why They Work
11/1/2009 • 6 minutes, 51 seconds
Emotional Connection: Punch Your Readers in the Gut!
10/25/2009 • 5 minutes, 6 seconds
Should You Outline Backwards?
10/18/2009 • 4 minutes, 34 seconds
Why You Should Be Writing Scared
10/11/2009 • 5 minutes, 9 seconds
Good Writers Are So Lazy, They Make Readers Do All the Work! by Jason Black
10/4/2009 • 4 minutes, 42 seconds
How You Can Take Advantage of Art's Subjectivity
9/27/2009 • 5 minutes, 36 seconds
Should You Write for a Specific Audience?
9/20/2009 • 6 minutes, 16 seconds
9 Ways to Strengthen Your Beginnings
9/13/2009 • 6 minutes, 24 seconds
Angst, Mental Illness, and Creativity by Carolyn Kaufman
