#244: 4 Strategies to Finally Finish the Story You Start

Do you ever feel like you're tying yourself up in knots with all the different points of view your story has? POV is one of the most misunderstood and often poorly taught story elements. It's also one of the most important story decisions you make. But there's so much confusion about POV. In today's episode, we'll untangle some of the confusion. You'll learn what point of view is (and what it's not) and the 3 main constructs that create point of view. And a writing exe...

15 Dec 202121min

You have your first draft. Or maybe you're stalled in your current work in progress. Now what? How do you finish what you started? Today, you'll learn how to move forward with your work in progress, or revise the draft you already have. This is part 1 of a 3 part mini series, Beyond the First Draft. This episode focuses on character development. You'll get clear on who your story is about, what your main character wants, how to build complexity into your characters, an...

8 Dec 202123min

There's a lot of writing advice floating around. But most of it shackles writers more than it helps, and sometimes leads to paint-by-number stories. In this episode, learn common traps when it comes to plot, action, backstory, show, don't tell, and point of view. You'll turn around misconceptions and learn what to do instead. Episode Website Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea i...

1 Dec 202120min

What does character thought have to do with plot? It's the connective tissue that brings continuity to your story, scene by scene. It helps fill in all those plot holes. And it keep your reader grounded in what's happening as your story advances. Character thought is part of the action. It's the connective tissue that accomplishes 3 things: reminds your reader what happened earlier, establishes desire and motive in the present, and creates suspense about what might happen ne...

17 Nov 202115min

How do you harness the depth and complexity of your story material? And orchestrate all those story threads so that they intensify your plot? By creating subplots. Learn two ways subplots work, plus three places your subplots may already be hiding out in your WIP waiting to be developed. NanciPanuccio.com/68 Links mentioned: FREE Character Questionnaire nancipanuccio.com/character/ Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will ...

10 Nov 202113min

What’s the most overlooked way to show how a character feels? The vowel scale - the poet's secret weapon. Just like musical notes, vowel sounds have frequencies that create vibrations in the reader's body, making them feel with your character. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the frequencies of these vowel sounds to reinforce the emotion, tone, images, and meaning of your story. Also Listen To: Episode 13: How to Write For Emotional Impact Not sure if your idea...

3 Nov 202113min

How do you create the kind of suspense that keeps readers riveted to your pages, hanging on every sentence? Suspense doesn't happen in the broad strokes - trouble, cliffhangers, sympathetic characters, etc. It's built sentence by sentence. And there are two simple techniques you can apply right now. In today's episode, you'll learn how to orchestrate details that bring tension and suspense right on the sentence level, creating insatiable readers. Go to the sh...

27 Okt 202121min

Readers crave novelty and surprise. They don't want the same cliched description of a sunset. Or the expected character response to betrayal. But coming up with original ideas, especially for ordinary things like sunsets, requires us to tap into our own creative reservoir. In today's episode, we'll explore 4 ways to keep your creative channels open. So you can access your original take on the world, and write stories that surprise and delight. Dismantle 6 faulty mindsets...

20 Okt 202117min