Writer Unleashed

Why do readers read? Is it just for entertainment? To escape everyday life? Or is there a deeper need? What is it about story that keeps us captivated from beginning to end? It helps to understand why stories are so impactful and precisely what readers are hungry for when they turn to a book. In this episode we’re going to explore what your reader is actually responding to when he forgets about the real world and gets entranced by the world on the page. So you can use this i...

28 Jun 202217min

We're often instructed to hook readers in our opening paragraphs by enticing them with story questions. All good. But you can't really plant questions in the beginning without knowing how your story will ultimately end. There's a link between your story's beginning and its end. So the best way to hook your reader is to start with the end in mind. This creates two things readers crave: Curiosity and Suspense. But there's an art to it. A great opening both...

21 Jun 202218min

Lots of writers believe you can't deeply develop character until you know what happens on the plot level. But this is backwards. Ultimately, what moves your story forward is your protagonist's reactions, choices, and actions. Not the external events that activate those reactions. Your plot doesn't just need structural coherence. It needs emotional and psychological coherence. Simply put, before you develop your plot, before you write your opening scene, you need ...

14 Jun 202218min

Call it your hero. Or your MC. But all stories need one main protagonist. When we don’t know who your main character is, we have no one to root for. Why is picking one character to focus on a good idea? We need to know who we’re experiencing your story through. Your protagonist is the portal. It's how we hook into your story from the first page to the last. In this episode, you'll learn why focusing on one character creates a richer experience for the reader, ...

7 Jun 202217min

Writer Unleashed is coming up on its 2-Year Anniversary! So in the spirit of celebration, I'm giving you a 5-episode playlist to help you wherever you are in your writing process right now. Narrowing down the list to just five was not easy breezy. I sifted through nearly 100 episodes, and I poured everything I've got into creating each and every one of them for you. But I drilled down to the ones that tackle some of the most common challenges throwing writers off their game, and I...

31 Mai 202214min

What does it take to make major breakthroughs in your writing consistently? How do you put yourself into an optimal state of creativity every time you sit down to write? When it comes to mastering your story, you need to be in a flow state. When you’re in flow, your creativity, your output, the quality of your writing is turbo-charged. You make more progress in half the time. But flow isn't just something you just flow in and out of. You need to create the cond...

24 Mai 202228min

Still not grasping the art of show, don't tell? That's because it's never fully explained. So writers show too little, or too soon, or they show poorly. Often, they don't show at all. In this episode, you'll ll get clear on what showing is, what telling is, and 4 effective ways to show like a pro. Episode Website Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 69: How to Create Plot Continuity With Character Thought Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? T...

17 Mai 202230min

Plotters plot and pantsers wander. One approach isn't better than the other. They're just different impulses. But both are equally futile. Pantsers can wander aimlessly ad infinitum, and plotters often focus only on plot at the outset. Which is why they still get stuck in the messy middle. What both plotters and pantsers get wrong is how to bring story elements together to focus their material. In today's episode, we'll break down 3 story elements that work together in...

10 Mai 202220min