Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchEpisode 194 - How to invent a strong plot.
We want to write but we don't have our story fully figured out. What can we do? Here are thoughts on inventing plot, things we can do to shake loos…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 193 - Plotting: go big or go home.
Fiction's job is to entertain. A main way to entertain is to be bold with our plot. Here are thoughts on how to avoid the dull in our plot and how …
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 192 - Plotting: the importance of conflict, crisis, resolution.
In fiction in all genres only trouble is interesting. How do we writers use trouble in our story? Here are thoughts on how we can plot using confli…
5 months ago
Episode 191 - Do we know enough to write the first sentence?
When do we know enough writing techniques to start our novel? And when is the story ready to be written? I'll try to answer both questions. Also, …
5 months, 1 week ago
Episode 190 - The right way to leave red herrings.
Red herrings--false clues--are used in most all stories in all genres. Here are the right and wrong ways to insert red herrings into our stories. A…
5 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 189 - Start as close to the end as possible.
Kurt Vonnegut said we should "Start as close to the end as possible." What did he mean? How can we do so? Here are thoughts on this famous piece o…
5 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 188 - How to make our writing fun.
Is your writing time becoming a grind? If so, here are some things that may reduce the grind and maybe even make writing fun. Also, here are thoug…
6 months ago
Episode 187 - Giving readers what they want.
We writers should consider giving readers what they want. Well, what do they want? Here is a discussion of the five things readers want in a novel.…
6 months, 1 week ago
Episode 186 - Showing--not telling--what a character is thinking.
Thoughts are interior, in our minds. But there are ways to show--to give evidence--that reveal to the reader what our character is thinking. Also, …
6 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 185 - The keys to musical writing.
The three most important words in our fiction are, "Story, story, story." But we can also shoot for lovely, musical language that makes each sentenc…
6 months, 3 weeks ago