287. Why Your Story Feels Overcrowded (And What to Cut)
Your story has several characters, multiple storylines, and probably some childhood flashbacks that keep sneaking in. And you can't quite answer the question every writer eventually has to face: what ...
4 Aug 20min
286. 3 Reasons You Want to Quit Mid-Draft (and Why You Shouldn't)
Ever thought about quitting your draft and starting something new? You're not alone - lots of writers do. But before you abandon your story, listen to this episode first. Most of the time, the urge t...
28 Jul 21min
285. What Overthinking Is Costing Your Novel
Whether you're staring at a blank page or halfway through a draft, overthinking can bring your novel to a standstill. Different symptoms, same root cause: both writers are trying to solve problems the...
21 Jul 17min
284. How to Double Your Writing Output Without Adding More Hours
For years I measured my work ethic by how many hours I put in at my desk. I'd arrive, coffee in hand at 7am, break around Noon for lunch, back at my desk till 6 or 7pm, sometimes later. I thought put...
14 Jul 15min
Encore Episode: How To Write Exposition Without Boring Your Reader
How much exposition is too much? Should you begin your story with exposition? And how do you write exposition in a way that isn’t excessive, awkward, or dull? In this encore episode, we'll talk about ...
7 Jul 19min
283. What's Making your Dialogue Read False (and What To Do About It)
Most writers know when their dialogue isn't working. What they don't know is why. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three mistakes that make dialogue read false, and what to do to turn it around....
30 Jun 14min
282: 5 Mindsets That Separate Writers Who Finish From Those Who Don't
If you've been writing your novel or memoir for months, maybe even years, and you still can't seem to cross the finish line, this episode is for you. Because the writers who finish their books don't h...
23 Jun 16min
#281. The Secret to Writing Unforgettable Secondary Characters
Every character in your story is living a full, invisible life - not just your protagonist. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three levels of character, why secondary characters so often fade int...
16 Jun 15min
