#200. Why Most Writers Give Up (And How to Finally Finish Your Novel)

In today's episode, we’re going to talk about how to mislead and surprise your readers using red herrings. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] A red herring is anything that distracts readers and/or your characters from an important truth. Red herrings can also lead readers and/or your character to mistakenly expect one particular outcome over another. [02:00] Red herrings are a type of foreshadowing. The term "foreshadowing:" encompasses all the different ways that an author can gi...

27 Okt 202014min

In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every performance story needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:30] Performance stories center around a character who wants to achieve something specific in order to prove their worth to the world. For example, they might want to win a certain award, climb Mount Everest, be the best in their field, or be famous. [02:25] Readers choose performance novels because ...

21 Okt 202014min

In today's episode, we’re going to talk about crafting a great inciting incident for your story. I'm also going to show you how the global inciting incident looks different across the content genres. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] The inciting incident is an event that occurs and upsets the balance of your protagonist’s life. Life can't continue on in the same way now. [02:00] The inciting incident is also what sets your story in motion and gives rise to your protagonist’s over...

6 Okt 202019min

In today's extra special bonus episode, I'm sharing my interview with Dr. Susan Hickman from the Conquering the Writing Blues Summit I took part in earlier this year. Here's a quick preview of what's included: [02:50] What does a developmental editor do? Plus how and why I became a developmental editor and book coach. [06:25] My take on plotting versus pantsing -- is one of them the “right way” to write? [10:00] What does a book coach do? Plus, why book coaching is having a “moment” wi...

1 Okt 202036min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the worldview genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Worldview stories focus on a period of the main character’s life where he or she is transitioning from one significant state to another. These stories show how the external events of the plot affect a character in such a way that he or she must grow, change,...

29 Sep 202022min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through ten steps to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Here's a preview of what's included: [03:40] Step 1: Choose one story idea to work on during NaNoWriMo. [04:40] Step 2: Test out (or flesh out) your story idea by writing a 1-2 sentence logline and a 250-word elevator pitch for your story. [00:00] Step #3: Choose your story's main genre so that you have a blueprint for writing a story that works. [07:40] Step #4: Uncover your story's theme so that you kno...

15 Sep 202024min

In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every romance novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Romance novels center around two individuals falling in love despite the odds, despite the risks, and despite the opposing forces in their life. These stories usually end in "happily ever after," or at the very least, "happily for now." [02:15] Readers choose romance novels because they want to expe...

8 Sep 202015min

In today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my five-step process for evaluating the conflict in your novel. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that gets harder and harder to deal with overtime. To learn more about writing good conflict, check out last week's episode (episode #21). [02:30] Step 1: Identify what your POV character wants and how they plan to get it. You’ll also want to have a good understanding of what your chara...

1 Sep 202017min