Writer Unleashed

Present tense or past tense? How do you decide? What are the advantages of present tense, and when is past tense a better option? In this episode, I’m going to explore the pros and cons of present tense. We'll explore techniques that are much easier to achieve with past tense. And if the present is your tense of choice, I'll outline 4 limitations to be aware of, so you can overcome them. Episode Website Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This ...

18 Apr 202327min

One of the most important decisions you’re going to make about your story is its point of view. Point of view is also one of the more complex story structures to master. How do you show what's in other characters' minds when writing in first person, or limited 3rd? And what about omniscience? In this episode, I'm going to give you a different understanding of point of view that you probably haven't heard before. You'll learn to control it more, and take advantage of th...

11 Apr 202325min

A common challenge many writers face is gaining clarity on the story they’re writing and conveying it to readers in a way that compels them to keep reading. Often, there are too many competing story-lines that don't feel integrated. Too many characters whose relevance isn't clear. And then there are random events that don't have a clear story connection. The story meanders without a point. This makes the story hard for a reader to follow. So, the challenge is to nail dow...

4 Apr 202322min

Does your story need a prologue? Will it hurt your story? Should you remove or rewrite the one you’ve already written? And how do you write a riveting prologue that gives just enough information so we can absorb the rest of your story? Some writers resist writing prologues. They think it's an industry no no. Other writers think it's a requirement. But a common mistake with prologues is writing one which has no substantial relationship to the global story. Which is why publishers dismi...

28 Mar 202333min

How do you write flashback without overwhelming or interrupting your forward moving story? Can you have too many flashbacks? Is it bad to write a flashback in the first chapter? How do you switch between flashback and present time? In this episode, I'm answering these questions and more. We'll talk about the difference between flashback and backstory. Then we'll talk about some do's and don'ts when writing effective, resonanting flashback. Episode Website Not sure if you...

21 Mar 202329min

How do you make your story’s dialogue more realistic without writing too much dialogue? Or extraneous pass the meat and potatoes dialogue? How do you avoid having the dialogue sound stiff or cliche? How do you write dialogue that sounds natural and riveting? Dialogue is one of the trickiest things to master. And it does take practice. So in today’s episode, I'm flagging 3 common missteps writers make with dialogue, with easy fixes for each. Episode Website Not sure if ...

14 Mar 202321min

There's an implicit, central dramatic question driving every compelling story. Will Santiago catch a fish? (The Old Man and The Sea) Will Clarice Starling catch Buffalo Bill? (Silence of the Lambs) Did Kya kill Chase? (Where The Crawdads Sing) The trick is drilling down to the essential question your story asks. Because that's what's urging your reader through to the end. In this episode, you'll answer 3 questions to help your drill down to your story's central dramatic question. So grab...

7 Mar 202317min

What should your first chapter do? What does it need to accomplish? And what are common ways writers get their first chapter wrong? In this episode, we'll talk about the primary aims of your first chapter, 5 common mistakes you may be making, and what to do instead. We'll cover: What to do with all that back fill;Surprising ways to bring more action into your first chapter while building intensity;How to avoid overloading your first chapter with insignificant detai...

28 Feb 202322min