#120: Writing In First Person: 5 Challenges And How To Conquer Them
For many writers, first-person narration comes naturally. And for memoir writers, it's the only choice. First-person has some advantages over third person. But it comes with unique challenges. In this episode, we'll cover the pros of first-person, 5 common challenges, and how to overcome them. So you can capture the full range available to you with first-person. We'll cover how to: Create a strong, distinct character voice that sustains your story;Avoid the overuse of I; I...
13 Des 202228min
#119: Your 6-Step Story Outline
In last week’s episode, we talked about 3 foundational elements to explore before you outline. And in this episode, we’re going to start building that outline. I’m going to walk you through six steps I learned from Philip Gerard. This method leaves plenty of room for invention and surprise. Think of it as a living outline, one you can adjust as you write and revise. And a great touch point whenever you're stuck. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, 118: Befo...
6 Des 202217min
#118: Before You Outline: 3 Core Foundations To Build First
When it comes to structuring your story, there's no one-size-fits-all. Some writers wing it all the way, others craft meticulous outlines before they write. Both can produce stunning results. But what's often missing in the I'll just wing it approach, and even in the most detailed outlines, are essential foundations that make a story work. In this episode, we'll explore 3 foundational elements to explore before you outline. If you're a panster, you'll love the exploratory nature of ...
29 Nov 202218min
#117: 3 Ways To Create Convincing Characters
How do we take our characters from their sketchy beginnings and make them come alive? How do we make them convincing? All writers struggle to make characters believable. But much of what readers come to know about a character isn’t stated explicitly. It's submerged in the way a character speaks, moves, thinks, and behaves. It's beneath the surface. The challenge is conveying all that's beneath the surface to your readers. In this episode, learn 3 ways to write convincing char...
22 Nov 202216min
#116: Story Triggers: How To Generate Powerful Fiction and Memoir
Great stories often start with a trigger. One persistent image, a childhood memory, a family story, or a phone conversation you overhear on the train ride to work. In this episode, we’ll explore story triggers: what they are, where they come, how to tap into your own triggers, and select which ones are worthy of expanding into a story. You'll learn about the triggers that gave rise to stories and novels by Hemingway, John Fowles, Joan Didion, and Joyce Carol Oates. And yo...
15 Nov 202216min
#115: How To Develop A Multi-Dimensional Story Setting
How do you bring a textured, multi-dimensional sense of place to your story? And why is it important? Well, just as plot isn't separate from character, neither is place. Place defines, reveals, and in many ways creates who we are. It's an extension of your characters, and can reflect your story's central conflict and theme. In this episode, we'll explore 5 questions to bring depth, texture, and a more vivid place for your readers to inhabit. And a powerful way to depict character....
8 Nov 202220min
#114: Third Person POV Simplified
Among all the POVs, 3rd person is arguably the most confusing. Let's say you're writing in limited third from your main character's POV, and there are points in the story where other characters do things your MC doesn't yet know, but need to be explained for the reader to understand what's happening. How do you do that in limited 3rd? Are you allowed to change POV in the same chapter? Is this 3rd person omniscient? Or is it head hopping? What's the difference between head hoppi...
1 Nov 202226min
#113: 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 today’s episode, we'll talk about how to write exposition in a way that doesn’t sound like exposition. We'll cover: What exposition is, and why it's essential;Why it's not necessary to begin your story with exposition;Two different types of exposition; andHow to slip exposition into the action so the reader isn't aware it's eve...
25 Okt 202219min
