Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchEpisode 107 - The differences between literary and commercial fiction.
Should we categorize our novel as literary or commercial? What are the benefits and drawbacks of doing so? Also, we can improve our dialogue writin…
2 years, 6 months ago
Episode 106 - How to write a scene's sequel, and plotting the novel's middle.
Jack Bickham says that scenes should be followed by sequels. Here are thoughts on how to write a sequel. Also, the middle of a novel--sometimes cal…
2 years, 6 months ago
Episode 105 - A technique for plotting scene to scene, and my failed writing experiment.
What is the best way to plot our novel, plotting from scene to scene? Here is a discussion of the critical technique of avoiding a scene's set up an…
2 years, 6 months ago
Episode 104 - Let's get to work, and showing with dialogue.
What if we are stymied in our plotting, and can't think of enough story? Here are some thoughts on how we might get to work. Also; one of the best…
2 years, 6 months ago
Episode 103 - The joy of creating something out of nothing. And, is our new plot point a strong one?
We writers get to experience the joy of creating something--a character, a setting, an event--out of nothing. And, how can we tell if the new plot p…
2 years, 6 months ago
Episode 102 - Lovely sentence-by-sentence writing, and pumping up our creativity.
Most of us subscribe to the our-words-should-be-a-clear-window-to-the-story technique but some writers intentionally make their sentences beautiful s…
2 years, 7 months ago
Episode 101 - The phrases notebook, and avoiding our plot bogging down.
A phrases notebook is a remarkably useful tool for writers. Here's how to create one. Also, sometimes while writing we might get the feeling that o…
2 years, 7 months ago
Episode 100 - Getting into the flow, and the power of fiction.
Can we writers get into a mental state called the flow or the zone, then write 40 pages? Maybe. Here's how. And: our fiction might someday change …
2 years, 7 months ago
Episode 99 - Traps when writing character-driven stories.
Character-driven stories--which delve deeply into the hero's change and growth--can be moving and unforgettable for readers but there are traps that …
2 years, 7 months ago
Episode 98 - Counterintuitive techniques that new writers might resist.
At some point all writers are new writers. Here are some sure-fire fiction writing techniques that might not seem right, that are counterintuitive. …
2 years, 8 months ago