Podcast Episodes

Episode 40 - Creating villainous villains.

Here are techniques for creating fictional villains readers will love to loathe and fear.  We writers can make readers shudder when our scoundrels  a…

3 years, 8 months ago

Episode 39 - How to create characters readers love.

Readers want to fall in love with our characters.  Here are some techniques about how to create characters readers will be passionate about, and so w…

3 years, 8 months ago

Episode 38 - We shouldn't write these scenes, and strong techniqes for character description.

Some scenes are too much, and they may ruin a novel for readers.  What are they?  Plus, here are some good techniques for describing our characters, …

3 years, 9 months ago

Episode 37 - When to stop preparing and start writing.

How can we know when we've prepared enough?  Is it time to start chapter 1?  Here's a list of eight things we probably should have figured out before…

3 years, 9 months ago

Episode 36 - The most interesting to the least interesting aspects of a novel.

Some elements of a novel are more interesting than others, and some are less interesting.  Writers should give readers more of the involving and fasc…

3 years, 9 months ago

Episode 35 - A close look at scene structure, and avoiding mushy sentences.

Scene structure is an art hidden from the reader but critical for the success of a scene.  We'll talk about structure in this episode.  Also, here is…

3 years, 9 months ago

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, 10 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, 10 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, 10 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, 10 months ago