Podcast Episodes

Episode 34 - Why and how to practice writing, and more thoughts on thoughts.

Should we as writers practice our craft?  What are the benefits, and how should we do so?  And here are more ideas about making clear to readers what…

3 years, 6 months ago

Episode 33 - Danger signs our plot is dull.

Here are eight signs that our plot isn't as interesting as we'd like, which is to say; it's dull.  And how to fix it.  Also, how do we carve out the …

3 years, 6 months ago

Episode 32 - A formula for showing, and clear and spare writing.

We should show as opposed to tell most of the time.  But sometimes telling is fine.  Here is a formula for when to show and when to tell.   Also, we'…

3 years, 6 months ago

Episode 31 - Favorite novels and check-mark plotting.

Making a list of our favorite novels is fun and it can teach us something about writing, plus the strong technique of check-mark plotting.

Support the…

3 years, 7 months ago

Episode 30 - Plotting and the power struggle.

Plotting our story is so important that we return to it here.  How can we know what works and doesn't work in a story?  We'll talk about plotting tec…

3 years, 7 months ago

Episode 29 - The pattern of a novel.

Successful novels almost always follow a pattern, and we'll talk about the pattern in this episode.  Also, what put you in mind of writing fiction?  …

3 years, 7 months ago

Episode 28 - The enchanter quality, and weather and rudeness.

Vladimir Nabokov said a writer should have the enchanter quality.  Here are examples from H.P. Lovecraft.  And how does Nora Roberts work?  Also, sho…

3 years, 7 months ago

Episode 27 - The importance of genres and formulas. And thoughts about titles.

Formulas became formulas because they work.  Our genre will offer guidelines (formulas) for our plots.  And: titles are fun to think about but it's s…

3 years, 7 months ago

Episode 26 - Navel gazing and how to avoid it. And more on showing

Interior monologue and how to avoid it.  And more techniques regarding the critical skill of showing rather than telling.  And visits to John Steinbe…

3 years, 8 months ago

Episode 25: The magic of writing. Cause and effect. And thinking.

We writers may never know to whom our words will have a profound meaning.  Plus, the importance of cause and effect.  And the perils of interior mono…

3 years, 8 months ago