Scenes set up the structural pace of your story. Some scenes are more action driven, so they move at a faster clip. Other scenes are more reflective, and move slower. Some scenes have more intensity, some have less. Which is why you need different types of scenes. In this episode, we’ll explore 5 must-have scenes to include in your story. Episode W…

Do you write your first scene over and over, trying to get it just right? But you never feel like you're nailing it? Many writers spend way too much time on their opening scene without considering its role in the main character's entire arc of change. There's a relationship between your first scenes and last scenes. To take the reader on the journe…

Ever receive feedback on your writing that crushed you to the core? In this episode, learn 5 ways to make sure you not only survive, but get the most constructive feedback on your story, with more generative results. You'll learn how to take a more active role in the feedback process, so you can leave with a more energized, excited vision for your …

How do you create tension in your story that makes it impossible for readers to put it down? By placing your characters in some kind of danger, even if it's subtle. Danger can be as harrowing as a plane crash, or as nuanced as unrequited love. In this episode, we'll explore two types of danger to raise tension, and make your story unputdownable. Ep…

How much backstory does your story need? And how much backstory does your reader need? In this reprise episode from the deep in the vault, learn what backstory is important for you to know as the author, and what backstory belongs on the page. In this episode, we'll cover: The two things you need to get clear on when it comes to backstory The impor…

Often writers create antagonists who do bad, immoral, sometimes evil things. They might be abusive or neglectful parents. An enemy. Or an otherworldly foe. But when you're writing about your most trouble-rousing characters, you don't want to portray the givens. You want to surprise us. You want to create an antagonist who's unforgettable. The stock…

How do you make writing a priority when other commitments compete? When you have a full time career and family? We all know writing a book is a colossal commitment. And it's so easy to get off track, especially when so much is competing for our time and attention. In this episode, I’ll walk you through strategies to maximize your time, energy, and …

Struggling with confidence when it comes to writing your story? Maybe you swing from excitement to self-doubt. Or you worry that no one will care to read it. Maybe you lack enough confidence to even start. In this episode, learn 3 ways to boost your confidence. This is all about shifting your relationship to your work. We'll cover: How to stay focu…

What do you do when your novel or memoir doesn’t follow the typical plot structure? What if there’s no crime to be solved, tsunami to survive, or evil wizard to slay? What if your character’s only story problem is an internal one? In this episode we’ll explore 4 thresholds your character will walk through at key points throughout your 3 acts. So yo…

We can all agree that your opening scenes are your only chance to capture your reader's attention. It's what hooks them into the story. Your first scene and several scenes that follow are your story's setup. The setup is essential to master. You have to be concise, deliberate, and selective with what you reveal and withhold. You don't want to give …

Our stories can become so overrun with ideas, they run away from us. Each idea leads to another and another until you’re lost in the vortex. There are stories within stories. Endless possibilities. So many directions the story can go. And then writing your story feels like an insurmountable task. In this episode, I’m giving you 5 questions to explo…

Most writers know how their characters need to change. They know what happens on the plot level. They know their character's struggles. Often, though, the main character doesn't seem to change, even though the external events change dramatically. Other stories stay mainly in their character's interior without jumping into the fray of action. Either…

There’s no shortage of writing advice. Especially in the online space. Google is not the best gatekeeper. And some FB groups are doling out conflicting advice, canned advice, bad advice. Writers hear the same advice so often, a lot of them have come to regard them as the only way to craft a story. But these are often half baked ideas that are keepi…

Why do readers read? Is it just for entertainment? To escape everyday life? Or is there a deeper need? What is it about story that keeps us captivated from beginning to end? It helps to understand why stories are so impactful and precisely what readers are hungry for when they turn to a book. In this throwback episode from Season 3, we're going int…

Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading. There's a lot riding on your first chapter. So you want to get this right. Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous details, and your reader will grow…

When a story moves us, it’s not because of beautiful writing, or a strong voice – it’s not because of a great plot. All these things are important, but those things on their own don’t move us. What makes a story unputdownable and unforgettable is that the reader goes on an emotional journey of his or her own. They don’t just feel for your character…

Show, don't tell. How many times have you heard this advice? You may understand the concept, but it's still not sinking in. So, what's the difference between showing and telling? Should show don't tell be applied to every line and paragraph of a story? Are there times when it's better to tell? When do you show? When do you tell? And how do you writ…

You want your characters' dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking. But what do you do when the dialogue just sounds mundane, forced, and dull? Writing dialogue requires practice. And there are some ways to think about dialogue to help you write it better. In this episode, learn 5 do's and don'ts of writing stronger, more absorbing dialo…

If I had to pick one thing that makes readers stop reading, it's the overcomplicated plot. Both novice and experienced writers fall into this trap. They include too many characters, too many events, storylines, and extraneous details that don’t feel connected or integrated. This makes it confusing and frustrating for you as you write and revise. An…

You want to bring more depth and complexity to your characters so that readers are interested and invested in what happens to them. But how do you do that? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to create deeper, more fascinating characters. These are often things I see lacking in student manuscripts, especially those more focused on plot. Plot and ch…

There's a lot of confusion about the difference between who's telling the story (first or third person), and point of view. I'll see stories with no point of view, a watered down point of view, or a confused and unfocused point of view. Who's narrating your story is not the point of view. They're related. But they're separate elements that serve di…

What are plot points? And why do you need them? In this episode, we’ll talk about 3 major plot points, the purpose of each, and where in your story to place them. In this episode, you'll learn: What a plot point is The foundational elements you need before charting your plot points Your 3 Acts and what percentage of your story each act comprises Wh…

Ever wonder how to write your First Act? In this episode, learn 3 core elements to structure - and nail- Act One of your story. From your set-up, to your inciting incident, to your first plot point, you'll learn how these elements impact the rest of your story, and where to place each. We'll cover: How long your first act should be How to set up yo…

How do you write an opening scene that hooks your reader? An opening so captivating, it compels readers to keep turning the page. A great opening does multiple things to lure readers in. In this episode, we'll focus on crafting an opening hook that keeps them reading. We'll cover: A surefire technique for launching your story Provoking questions re…

New Year. Fresh start. Maybe you’ve resolved that 2024 is going to be the year you’re going to finish your novel or memoir once and for all. But what so often happens is 50 pages or 200 pages in, the writing gets hard and overwhelming. Writers look at their pages and think it's rubbish. So they abandon the whole project. Or start a new story. Only …

In this episode, we're going back to a beloved episode from 2022. Writing is solitary. And if you’re anything like me, you like to dip into some inspiration from time to time for a creative boost or deeper insight into the craft. So much of our progress depends on how we feel about the work. So in this episode, I’m pulling from some of my favorite …

In one of the most downloaded episodes of 2023, we're tackling the one thing stopping writers from bringing their story to the finish line. Fear. Maybe you fear visibility, and the expectations and judgements you’ll open yourself up to. Then there's fear of rejection. Even if you’re nowhere near ready to submit your story, it prevents you from fini…

What is scene? What is summary? In this episode, learn the crucial difference between them. We'll explore the common ways writers get scene and summary wrong. And you'll get guidelines on how to balance both to enhance the pace of your story. Episode Web Page Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts. Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleas…

Looking for original gift ideas for writers? Want to add some to your own holiday wish list? In this episode, I’m sharing 10 gifts ideas perfect for writers. Whether you want to find one or two of these under your Christmas tree, or want to gift your favorite writing buddy, you’re sure to find something special in this episode. You'll find all 10 g…

Overthinking your plot with beats and pinch points? Plot doesn't need to be complex or over-thought to capture your reader. In fact, when your plot is too complicated, it's likely to confuse and disengage your reader. In this episode, learn how to simplify your plot using 4 core elements. You'll learn: What plot is, and how it differs from structur…

How do you turn good writing into great writing? With stories that engage, thrill, and surprise your reader. That create drama right on the sentence level. How do you keep readers hooked moment by moment? In this episode, I’m giving 3 little known techniques to turn good writing into great writing. These are techniques I learned from my graduate wr…

What do you do when you want to write, but don't think you have anything to say? Or you do have something to say, but don't know how to say it. In this episode, I'll give you 3 powerful writing exercises to help you find your way into your story. These exercises will help unearth material you can open up and use in your fiction or memoir. Use them …

How do you keep writing when you don’t have the motivation to keep going? How do you recapture the excitement you had when you first started? In this episode, you'll get my 3 top strategies for getting your writing back on track with renewed motivation. You'll learn: The natural cycle of creativity Why the struggle is necessary How to take a rest f…

It’s November, also known as National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo can be a great jumpstart to a writing project, or to make progress on an existing project. It can help instill a regular writing routine, along with community and support. But too often writers will start something in NaNoWriMo and never finish. Because after the initial inspirati…

Having a large cast of characters can overwhelm your readers, especially if the characters are introduced all at once, too many characters crowd a scene, their roles are too similar or just not clear. Readers will struggle to keep track of who’s who, and who they should be paying attention to. This can hinder their engagement with your story. So yo…

How do you write stronger, more structured scenes that excite you and captivate your reader? Each scene is a microcosm of the whole story. It creates an emotional connection to your reader. But when scenes lack structure and focus, readers don't know what to pay attention to. And they're not much fun for you to write. It's all comes down to framing…

How do you balance character development with the advancement of your plot? How can you develop characters to even execute your plot, unless you first start out with a plot? The answer is, both character and plot are developed in tandem. Every story, whether it's a thriller, a fantasy, realistic, literary, mystery, or science fiction, is in some wa…

When we write about what happened, we’re tempted to be bound by what actually occurred. But our memories are not recordings that can be verified. Memory is a construct of the imagination. It’s not reliable. Memory is altered by the life we’ve lived since. By the life your character has lived since. What a character tells from memory is altered by t…

The interpersonal dynamics between characters are an essential part of character and plot development. Drama involves people who interact with and influence others, and who ultimately change as a result. In this episode, I’m going to give you 4 ways to think about your characters' relationships so they’re captivating and memorable. You'll also lear…

Dialogue is one of the trickiest elements to master. It’s not a complete rendering of the way humans really speak. It’s shaped, concise, sharp, and concentrated. It’s an approximation of real life conversation. We want it to sound real. But without all the boring, tedious, insignificant parts. In this episode, learn 5 writing exercises to help you …

How do you write first drafts? Do you outline first and then write the story following that outline? What if outlining just isn't your jam? In this episode, you'll learn a different approach to writing first drafts. And it doesn't require starting with an outline. We'll generate material first. Outline second. This method isn't just for first draft…

There are many ways these days to earn money writing. And if you enjoy tinkering with words, these 5 will help you earn cash while giving you the time freedom to devote to your novel, memoir, or story collection. All while sharpening your skills as a wordsmith. In this episode we'll cover: Copywriting Feature Writing Email Marketing Social Media Wr…

We want our readers to feel our character’s pain, their joy, and everything in between. But one of the quickest ways to sever the reader’s emotional connection is to be overly direct about how our character feels. In this encore episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll break down 4 ways to evoke an emotional response in readers. We'll explore The biology…

In this encore episode, we talk about common plot problems that plague first-time novelists, and how to solve or avoid them completely. You'll explore how to: Define the central problem driving your protagonist; Build and intensify the action; Move your plot logically from one event to the next; Up the ante on what's at stake, and; End your story i…

An image paints a picture for readers, giving them a sensory experience. Some images are just meant to be descriptive. They're not insignificant. Nothing in story is. But they don't carry any particular figurative meaning. Not every image needs to be symbolic. But some images carry more emotional weight. They represent the meaning of your story. Th…

You've just received your 10th agent rejection. Or the story that's so vivid in you mind just isn't translating onto the page. Maybe you're stuck in the murky middle and can't see your way out of it. How do you push through? In this episode, you'll reframe your relationship to failure, glean the lessons from setbacks, and ultimately, write a better…

Should you self publish? Or traditionally publish? In this episode, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both. So you can make an informed decision on which publishing path is right for you. We'll cover: What steps to expect as a traditional author How much time it takes to bring a self-published book vs. a traditionally published book Upfront costs se…

The mark of a great story is specificity. And to make your writing pop, you want to bring concrete details into the scene. In last week's episode, we talked about setting a scene in a particular place. And each particular place - whether it's a room, a yard, or an alley - will have objects. In this episode, we're going to talk about objects to give…

In story, setting is an essential yet often under-used element. Setting allows for the interaction between characters and their environment, weaving together a vivid world. In this episode, I’ll share 4 ways to bring vivid, multi-dimensional settings to your scenes. We’ll explore how setting influences character development and gives the reader an …

What undermines an otherwise compelling story? Poorly written scenes. So, how can you write more captivating, impactful and structured scenes? In this episode, you'll learn 5 essential elements that make a scene, along with an example to illustrate. We'll cover: What a scene is (and what it's not) The difference between scenes and chapters, and why…