#200. Why Most Writers Give Up (And How to Finally Finish Your Novel)
Ever wonder why 97% of aspiring authors never finish their books? The answer might surprise you. If you've been dreaming about writing a novel but find yourself starting and stopping, getting stuck in the middle, or just staring at a blank page wondering where to even begin, you're not alone. Here's what I've noticed after working with hundreds of writers: the ones who actually finish their novels aren't more talented or creative than you. They've just learned to navigate around five specific...
1 Jul 15min
#199. Struggling With Flat Characters? These 5 Books Will Transform Your Writing
Master character development with these five must-read books that transform static characters from boring to brilliant. You've created characters with compelling backstories, but somehow, they still feel... flat. They move through your plot but don't feel like real people. Here's the thing: character development is what makes readers fall in love with your story, not just read it. But it's also one of the trickiest parts of fiction writing. That’s why today, I'm sharing five books that have c...
24 Jun 14min
#198. Book Reviews: Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Reader Feedback (With Emily Golden & Rachel May)
Learn how to handle book reviews without letting them crush your confidence or derail your writing dreams. Receiving your first book review can be both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Whether it's a glowing five-star love letter or a brutal one-star takedown, reader reviews can send even the most confident authors into an emotional tailspin. I recently sat down with book coaches Emily Golden and Rachel May of Golden May Editing to discuss the challenge of negative reviews. Between ...
17 Jun 48min
#197. How to Write a Novel That Hooks Readers Through Curiosity (Not Confusion)
Master the art of creating irresistible, page-turning curiosity without confusing or frustrating your readers. Have you ever written what you thought was a brilliantly mysterious scene, only to have readers say they were completely lost? Or maybe you've struggled with knowing how much information to reveal and when? Here's what most writers don't realize: there's a fine line between being mysterious and being vague. And the writers who master evoking curiosity without being vague or confusing...
10 Jun 15min
#196. The Pros and Cons of Writing A Novel With Multiple Points of View
Discover the pros and cons of writing a novel from multiple POVs—including how to avoid the #1 mistake that kills multi-POV novels. Are multiple point-of-view characters right for your story? Will they create the kind of depth that keeps readers hooked, or will they just leave you with a tangled mess of voices that never quite click together? Writing a multi-POV novel is one of the most challenging approaches to storytelling. When done well, it creates a rich, immersive experience that ...
3 Jun 18min
#195. How Deliberate Practice Can Improve Your Fiction Writing (With Tim Grahl)
Master the fundamental building block of fiction writing with this one exercise that's helped writers break through years of stalled progress in just weeks. Ever wonder why some writers seem to improve rapidly while others stay stuck for years, despite writing every single day? 🤔 The difference isn't talent or luck—it's deliberate practice. Most aspiring novelists think that accumulating word count is the path to improvement. But here's the truth: without targeted practice and expert feedback...
27 Mai 36min
#194. Self-Publishing Your Novel: A 10 Step Guide for First-Time Authors
Congratulations! You've finished writing your novel, and you've set your sights on self-publishing. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "Where do I start?" If you're feeling overwhelmed by the self-publishing process, you're not alone. Most first-time authors don't realize just how many decisions the self-publishing process involves. From choosing file formats and pricing strategies to designing covers and optimizing metadata—every choice you make directly impacts your...
20 Mai 35min
#193. How Dictation Can Help You Write Faster With Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Learn how dictation is your secret weapon for capturing story ideas, supporting overall health, and writing up to 3,000 words per hour. Are you curious about how dictation can improve your health and mobility, enhance your natural storytelling flow, and revolutionize your time management—even if you've tried and failed at it before? Well, then, you'll love this episode with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. Sarah is an author who's published 19 books—11 of which she wrote entirely through dictation. Sh...
13 Mai 37min
