#182: 5 Ways To Nail Your First Chapter
Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading. There's a lot riding on your first chapter. So you want to get this right. Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous details, and your reader will grow bored, overwhelmed, and will stop reading. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 ways to nail your first chapter. We'll cover ...
19 Mars 202432min
181: Writing Emotions: 3 Ways To Move Readers
When a story moves us, it’s not because of beautiful writing, or a strong voice – it’s not because of a great plot. All these things are important, but those things on their own don’t move us. What makes a story unputdownable and unforgettable is that the reader goes on an emotional journey of his or her own. They don’t just feel for your characters, they feel with your characters. In this episode, I’m sharing 3 techniques to master emotions in your story. So you can move read...
12 Mars 202421min
#180: Show, Don't Tell: Your Top Questions Answered
Show, don't tell. How many times have you heard this advice? You may understand the concept, but it's still not sinking in. So, what's the difference between showing and telling? Should show don't tell be applied to every line and paragraph of a story? Are there times when it's better to tell? When do you show? When do you tell? And how do you write it? In this episode, I'm going to tease apart the difference between telling and showing, using examples that integrate both. Episode ...
5 Mars 202422min
#179: Writing Dialogue: 5 Do's and Don'ts
You want your characters' dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking. But what do you do when the dialogue just sounds mundane, forced, and dull? Writing dialogue requires practice. And there are some ways to think about dialogue to help you write it better. In this episode, learn 5 do's and don'ts of writing stronger, more absorbing dialogue. Episode Website Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Wr...
27 Feb 202419min
#178: How To Uncomplicate Your Plot
If I had to pick one thing that makes readers stop reading, it's the overcomplicated plot. Both novice and experienced writers fall into this trap. They include too many characters, too many events, storylines, and extraneous details that don’t feel connected or integrated. This makes it confusing and frustrating for you as you write and revise. And a slog for your readers to get through. When you overcomplicate your plot, your story lacks internal consistenc...
20 Feb 202414min
#177: 3 Ways To Deeper, More Fascinating Characters
You want to bring more depth and complexity to your characters so that readers are interested and invested in what happens to them. But how do you do that? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to create deeper, more fascinating characters. These are often things I see lacking in student manuscripts, especially those more focused on plot. Plot and character really can’t be separated. But before you plot, you need to know who your story is about, and what makes him or her tick. Episod...
13 Feb 202417min
#176: Beyond First and Third Person: 3 Tips For Writing Point Of View
There's a lot of confusion about the difference between who's telling the story (first or third person), and point of view. I'll see stories with no point of view, a watered down point of view, or a confused and unfocused point of view. Who's narrating your story is not the point of view. They're related. But they're separate elements that serve different purposes. So in this episode, I'm going to tease apart narration from point of view. And then I'll share 3 k...
6 Feb 202420min
#175: Charting Your Story's Major Plot Points
What are plot points? And why do you need them? In this episode, we’ll talk about 3 major plot points, the purpose of each, and where in your story to place them. In this episode, you'll learn: What a plot point isThe foundational elements you need before charting your plot pointsYour 3 Acts and what percentage of your story each act comprisesWhere each plot point happens in each of your three acts and how they move your story forwardEpisode Website Not sure if your idea has what it take...
30 Jan 202419min
