Breaking Writer's Block (Rachel Bateman)
Explore every episode of Breaking Writer's Block
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Aug 2024 | You're Allowed to Have Fun | 00:05:09 | |
My dear writers, being serious about your writing doesn't mean you can't be playful with it. Allow yourself to have FUN with your writing, and you may find yourself writing your best work yet. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #69: What If You Don't Need to Do MORE? Let's Connect: | |||
| 28 Jul 2024 | A Reminder | 00:03:54 | |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Side Quest Security Blankets | 00:06:43 | |
When you're learning different elements of writing, it's common to find prompts and exercises to help with each specific element. But what tends to happen is that these exercises--these side quests--start to become a procrastination security blanket that keeps you from writing your actual book. What if, instead, you learned to write through writing the book you actually want to be writing? Happy writing! Related Episodes: #135: Learn to Write By Writing #138: You Know More Than You Think You Do Let's Connect: | |||
| 06 Apr 2024 | The Right Readers at the Right Time | 00:05:28 | |
Not everyone who reads your writing will fall in love with it--and that's okay! The readers who don't like your books are not the important readers; the ones who love your books are the readers who matter, and if you've not found those readers yet, don't worry--they are out there and it's just a matter of finding the right readers at the right time. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #37: The Secret to a Successful Author Career #44: Who Is Your Ideal Reader? Let's Connect: | |||
| 11 Apr 2024 | What You WANT To Write | 00:03:26 | |
| 03 Feb 2024 | Are You in the Dip? | 00:07:57 | |
It comes at some point in pretty much all creative projects--that moment when your initial rush of enthusiasm and motivation wanes and the work gets hard. You may find yourself disliking everything you write and questioning whether you should even continue with your project. My friend, you have not fallen off a cliff...you've hit the Dip! In today's episode, I explain what the Dip is and give you three simple tools to use to get yourself through the Dip and back to a place where you love your project again. Happy writing! Is Breaking Writer's Block helpful for you? Please take a quick moment to leave me a rating and review. This helps get the podcast in front of more listeners so we can help more writers follow their dreams! | |||
| 21 Mar 2024 | Everything Is Iterative | 00:08:57 | |
Finding a writing practice that works well for you can take a lot of time and effort, trial and error. But what happens when the practice that has worked in the past no longer serves you? Let's discuss in today's episode. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #23: The Practice is What's Important Let's Connect: | |||
| 21 Jun 2024 | Is it Legit or a Scam? | 00:09:03 | |
There's some author drama on the internet this week, friends, and with it comes a lot of questions about how to know if a writing/publishing course or service provider is legit or scamming you. Today, I want to review the red flags to watch for to help keep you safe. Happy writing! Related Episodes: Let's Connect: | |||
| 25 May 2024 | There Is Success in Failure | 00:06:56 | |
One of the least fun parts of being a writer is facing failure. But there is success in failure, and even your failed pieces are essential. Let's discuss. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #134: Is it Practicality or Is it Fear? #10: The One Thing ALL Successful Authors Have in Common Let's Connect: | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | The Gap and the Gain | 00:04:25 | |
Having big goals can be daunting, especially when you focus on how far you need to go to achieve them. That's where The Gap and the Gain comes in. Happy writing! Read The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Related Episodes: #24: The Practice is What's Important #51: You are NOT Aspiring. You Are a WRITER! #108: You Don't Need to Hustle Let's Connect: | |||
| 20 Jul 2024 | Your Circle of Support - RERUN | 00:07:59 | |
Hey friends! I'm on vacation this week, so rather than a brand new episode, I hope you enjoy this rerun of one of the most popular episodes of Breaking Writer's Block. Happy writing! Let's Connect: | |||
| 12 Apr 2024 | Writing Doesn't Always Look Like Writing | 00:05:40 | |
Sometimes writing looks like going on a walk. Or taking a bath. Or watching the birds. Writing doesn't always look like writing. Today's episode is all about the importance of ideation and thinking time. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #5: The Importance of Boredom for Boosting Creativity #14: Is it Time to Take a Nap? #23: The Practice is What's Important #37: The Secret to a Successful Creative Career Let's Connect: | |||
| 26 Jan 2024 | What Do You Expect? | 00:06:37 | |
So much of how we feel day to day is based on how closely our reality lines up with our expectations. By managing your expectations about your writing and author career, you can let yourself dream big while still protecting yourself from the devastation of not meeting your expectations. In today's episode, I discuss what that looks like and how to manage your expectations while still taking risks and chasing your dreams. Happy writing! | |||
| 09 Feb 2024 | Why Do You Procrastinate? | 00:08:56 | |
Why do you procrastinate writing even when you enjoy doing it? Procrastination is as much a part of writing for many people as developing characters and daydreaming plot ideas. There are myriad reasons for procrastination, but one of the most prevalent ones in writers is perfectionism. In today's episode, I break down what's happening in your brain when your perfectionism makes you procrastinate and give you the tools you need to combat this tendency and get back to your manuscript. Happy writing! | |||
| 26 Feb 2024 | How to Balance Writing with Your Other Work | 00:06:14 | |
Finding a balance between your writing and your other work, especially if you are not yet making money with your writing, can be incredibly difficult. In today's episode, I give you tips and tools to help you prioritize your writing, strike a balance in your life, and keep writing toward your dreams. Happy writing! Let's connect: | |||
| 13 Feb 2024 | Who Is Your Ideal Reader? | 00:06:41 | |
Knowing who you want to read your story can be hugely helpful as you plan and write your book. But who is that ideal reader? In today's episode I break down how to find your ideal reader...and the answer is much simpler than you might think. Happy writing! | |||
| 24 Jul 2024 | But What If I Suck? | 00:07:20 | |
"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." ~Stephen King "Sucking at something is the first step towards being sorta good at something." ~Jake the Dog Happy writing! Related Episodes: #49: Quantity Dictates Quality #10: The One Thing ALL Successful Authors Have in Common Let's Connect: | |||
| 29 Feb 2024 | Recovering from Creative Burnout | 00:09:37 | |
Creative Burnout can be absolutely devastating to your writing life. In today's episode, we chat about the root cause of burnout and go over how you can heal from your burnout and return to a joyful and fulfilling practice. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #59: How to Prevent Creative Burnout Let's connect: | |||
| 15 Feb 2024 | Grow a Thick Skin | 00:04:24 | |
| 12 Jul 2024 | My First Step to Writing a Book | 00:04:32 | |
I was recently asked what the first step I take in planning a new book or screenplay is. So let's discuss the power of a good logline! Happy writing! Related Episodes: #16: Nobody Knows What They Are Doing #83: Does Outlining Ruin the Discovery of Your First Draft? Let's Connect: | |||
| 10 May 2024 | Set the Table | 00:05:56 | |
“I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.” —Ernest Hemingway Remember to leave something in your writing well, friends. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #67: Create a Consistent Writing Practice in ONE Step Let's Connect: | |||
| 01 Sep 2024 | September Check-in | 00:08:30 | |
It's a new month, so it's time for another check-in on writing progress and goals. This month's goals changed at the last minute so I'm excited to dive in with this new plan. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #183: Mid-year Check-in: Five Questions to Ask Yourself #153: Setting Flexible Goals AKA June Check-in Let's Connect: | |||
| 21 Sep 2024 | How to Write Faster | 00:06:24 | |
| 28 Mar 2024 | Has the Relationship Run Its Course? | 00:07:09 | |
Just like a romantic relationship, the start of a new writing project can bring a rush of giddy excitement. But eventually, the honeymoon period wears off and the excitement wanes. For many writers, this marks the end of the project--whether they've finished or not. But should it? Let's discuss. Happy writing! Related Episodes: Let's Connect: | |||
| 11 Jan 2024 | Is Your Writing Goal GOOD ENOUGH? | 00:07:24 | |
Goals are amazing motivators and a great way to help us achieve our dreams...but what do you do when it turns out your goal is the thing that is stopping you from getting closer to what you want? In today's episode, I discuss setting Good Enough Goals that will help you avoid the Big Goal Overwhelm that freezes you and keeps you from chasing your dreams. Happy writing! | |||
| 30 Mar 2024 | A Permission Slip | 00:06:06 | |
Sometimes, like a multi-stage rocket, you need to let go of the things that got you to where you are in order to progress further. Today's episode is the permission slip you need to let go of older projects so you have freedom to move forward and write what you want to write NOW. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #10: The One Thing ALL Successful Authors Have in Common #37: The Secret to a Successful Author Career #41: How to Decide Which Book to Write Let's Connect: | |||
| 06 Oct 2024 | Boredom | 00:07:13 | |
| 18 Mar 2024 | Let It Be Easy | 00:05:54 | |
Writing can be incredibly difficult at times. But friends? It doesn't NEED to be. Sometimes you can let it be easy. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #2: My Journey With Writer's Block Let's Connect: | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | Accountant's Block | 00:05:29 | |
"Accountants don't get accounting block." Or do they? In today's tax day episode, I break down what we can learn as writers by how accountants efficiently work through any blocks they face. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #1: Busting Writer's Block's Biggest Myth #62: Writer's Block Isn't a Luxury #63: The Three Types of Writer's Block and How to Overcome Them Let's Connect: | |||
| 24 Apr 2024 | Build Up to It | 00:05:34 | |
You wouldn't run a marathon without training, so why are you trying to fast draft a novel without building up to that amount of work? Happy writing! Related Episodes: #11: Is Your Writing Goal GOOD ENOUGH? #17: You Need to Write Every Day...Right? #66: Stop Setting Word Count Goals Let's Connect: | |||
| 10 Mar 2024 | Writing Through the Murky Middle | 00:06:56 | |
Getting your characters from the beginning of your story to the end you have in sight can be a daunting task, especially if you're not sure how best to do it. It today's episode, let's chat about how to get your way through the murky middle in a way that will keep your readers turning pages, desperate for more. Happy writing! Related episodes: Let's connect: | |||
| 23 Jan 2024 | The Practice is What's Important | 00:04:51 | |
Discover the wisdom of John Steinbeck and explore the art of writing as a journey rather than a destination! In this episode, I discuss Steinbeck's advice to "Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish." It's time to embrace the practice of writing, savoring each step and finding joy in the surprises that unfold one page at a time. Happy writing! | |||
| 26 Aug 2024 | First Draft Diaries: Mulligan! | 00:08:49 | |
It's time for a first draft check-in...and things didn't go quite as expected! Let's discuss expectations vs reality and learning how you write best. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #225: First Draft Diaries: The Beginning #232: First Draft Diaries: Week One #83: Does Outlining Ruin the Discovery of Your First Draft? Let's Connect: | |||
| 09 Jun 2024 | Do You Need a Big Platform? | 00:04:51 | |
There's been a lot of chatter online about growing an author platform before querying agents, but how big does your platform really need to be. Let's discuss. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #12: The Problem With Writing Advice #45: Is the Advice Helpful or Harmful? #91: How to Keep Your Peace While Querying Let's Connect: | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | How to Avoid the Pressure of Hustle Culture as a Writer | 00:08:44 | |
Are you feeling the urgency and pressure to do everything at once? You're not alone! In this episode, I discuss the pressure created by toxic hustle culture--especially prevalent at the start of a new year--and give you tips to protect your writing routine and avoid giving into an urgency that will ultimately lead you to burnout. | |||
| 30 May 2024 | Plot Bunnies | 00:05:55 | |
Sometimes, it seems like story ideas are multiplying faster than rabbits and completely overwhelming you. Here's a quick tip to help you manage the deluge of plot bunnies. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #13: Why Do You Resist Writing? #29: How to Deal With Idea Overwhelm #121: You Don't Have a Craft Problem #149: What's the Worst That Can Happen? Let's Connect: | |||
| 13 May 2024 | Is It Practicality or Is It Fear? | 00:07:28 | |
“So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality....My father could have been a great comedian but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe jog as an accountant and when I was 12 years old he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father. Not the least of which was that: You can fail at what you don't want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” ~Jim Carrey Happy writing! Related Episodes: #37: The Secret to a Successful Creative Career #58: The Audacity to Chase Your Dreams Let's Connect: | |||
| 06 Mar 2024 | Stop Setting Word Count Goals | 00:08:30 | |
Word count goals are the standard in many writers' lives, but it's possible your word-count goal is actually damaging to your practice and productivity. In today's episode, I discuss why and give you an alternative to try out. Happy writing! (Please forgive the audio today, friends. I failed to double check my settings, and it seems a small child was having fun with my setup yesterday.... I cleaned up the audio as much as possible, but it still may be more harsh on your ears. Apologies!) Let's connect: | |||
| 02 Oct 2024 | Promise Yourself | 00:02:15 | |
| 10 Jan 2024 | The One Thing ALL Successful Authors Have in Common | 00:03:44 | |
All successful authors--all successful people in general--have one thing in common. In today's short episode, I'll let you in on the secret of what that is! | |||
| 13 Sep 2024 | Said She, "It's Time to Vent," She Said. | 00:05:10 | |
The current great debate in the writer world on Threads: When writing dialogue, should your tag be Character said or said Character? Let's discuss in today's somewhat ranty episode. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #12: The Problem With Writing Advice #45: Is the Advice Helpful or Harmful? Let's Connect: | |||
| 11 Mar 2024 | Trust Your Instincts | 00:05:28 | |
In the sea of writing advice out there in the world, it's easy to get lost, trying to implement all the contradictory advice into your practice. But you have instincts about how to tell a story, and it's time to start trusting them! Happy writing! Related Episodes: #12: The Problem With Writing Advice Let's Connect: | |||
| 11 Jul 2024 | Intentional Dream Building | 00:06:42 | |
When building a writing career, there are things that need to be done that have nothing to do with actually writing, and they can be exhausting. It's common to think of these things as necessary evils, but in today's episode I want to reframe how you approach this part of your career. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #25: YOU the Successful Author Let's Connect: | |||
| 18 Sep 2024 | Failure Is ALWAYS an Option | 00:07:01 | |
"Failure is not an option," is a phrase that gets tossed around a lot, but not only is failure always an option, it's a possibility you shouldn't shy away from. Embrace your failures and use them to get closer to your dreams. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #236: How to Navigate the Doom and Gloom #10: The One Thing ALL Successful Authors Have in Common Let's Connect: | |||
| 11 Jun 2024 | HOW Doesn't Matter | 00:04:52 | |
There's a lot of debate about the best way to write a book or screenplay, but the reality is HOW you do it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're writing in a way that works for you. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #12: The Problem With Writing Advice #23: The Practice is What's Important #45: Is the Advice Helpful or Harmful? Let's Connect: | |||
| 28 May 2024 | What's the Worst That Can Happen? | 00:07:11 | |
When you're feeling inadequate, facing resistance, or experiencing a fear a failure, there's one tool that works wonderfully to help you get past those feelings and back to writing. It's time to ask yourself, What's the worst that can happen? Happy writing! Related Episodes: #13: Why Do You Resist Writing? Let's Connect: | |||
| 09 Oct 2024 | Focus on YOU | 00:05:26 | |
| 01 Oct 2024 | October Check-in | 00:05:43 | |
| 12 Feb 2024 | Six Tips For Writing Effective Horror | 00:06:50 | |
I've got horror on my mind lately, so for today's episode I'm sharing my six biggest tips for writing horror. These tips will help you create a story for impact, one that will scare your readers and leave them craving more. Happy writing! | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | August Check-in | 00:07:06 | |
Happy August, writers! It's time for my monthly check-in to let you know how things are going for my practice and career as well as give you some advice and encouragement for your own goal setting. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #183: Mid-year Check-in: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself #178: Baste Your Story Together Let's Connect: | |||
| 09 Aug 2024 | Why You're Scared | 00:03:03 | |
I've got a short and sweet, but vitally important, episode for you today, friends. Let's chat about why you're scared to write and how that can actually be a superpower. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #13: Why Do You Resist Writing? #40: Why Do You Procrastinate? Let's Connect: | |||
| 26 Apr 2024 | When Are You Done Editing? | 00:07:17 | |
Editing...it's the bane of some writers' existence and the joy of others'. And it's a necessary part of the process for all of us. You know you need to edit your book, but how do you know you're DONE editing? Here's three tips to help you know when enough is enough. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #40: Why Do You Procrastinate? #99: Working WITH Your Inner Editor Let's Connect: | |||
| 07 Aug 2024 | Do You Need a Social Media Platform to Traditionally Publish? | 00:06:25 | |
Today we're tackling one of my most frequently asked questions: Do I need a big social media platform to be picked up my an agent or publisher. Happy writing! Check out Don Martin (whose social media handle is @headonfirePOD, not simply @headonfire, as I say in the episode) on Threads, Instagram, and TikTok. Related Episodes: #13: The Problem With Writing Advice Let's Connect: | |||
| 01 Jun 2024 | Setting Flexible Goals AKA June Check-in | 00:07:28 | |
It's the start of a new month, so it's time to check in and see how May goals went and chat about being flexible in goal setting so you can take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Happy writing! Related Episodes: Let's Connect: | |||
| 25 Jun 2024 | Should You Change Your Outline? | 00:05:58 | |
You've taken the time to plan out your book and create an outline...but now that you're writing your first draft, you find yourself veering off course. Should you force yourself to write to the outline, or should you stop writing to change your outline? Let's discuss. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #83: Does Outlining Ruin the Discovery of Your First Draft? #102: What You WANT to Write #116: Why Bother Outlining? Let's Connect: | |||
| 21 Jan 2024 | Motivation vs Dedication | 00:10:07 | |
How do you stay motivated long enough to write an entire book? In today's episode, I answer my most frequently asked question...by giving my most frequent (and possibly most frustrating) writing advice. Happy writing! | |||
| 31 May 2024 | How Long Should a Chapter Be? | 00:06:10 | |
One of the most frequently asked questions, especially by newer writers, is, "How long should a chapter be?" Well...how long is a string? Today, I talk about what a chapter actually is, the difference between a scene and a chapter, and why you should write your first drafts without chapters. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #12: The Problem With Writing Advice #45: Is the Advice Helpful or Harmful? Let's Connect: | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | You Don't Need to Hustle | 00:05:57 | |
Our society loves to praise the hustle, but you don't need to hustle to be productive. In fact, letting go of hustle culture may just be the key to unlocking a more abundant and productive writing practice. Happy writing! Related Episodes #3: How to Avoid the Pressure of Hustle Culture as a Writer #17: You Need to Write Every Day...Right? #59: How to Prevent Creative Burnout Let's Connect: | |||
| 26 Jul 2024 | Writing Your Spiky Ideas | 00:06:38 | |
Today's episode is all about embracing the mess as I chat about embracing your spiky ideas instead of smoothing them down. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #134: Is it Practicality or Is it Fear? Let's Connect: | |||
| 19 Aug 2024 | First Draft Diaries: Week One | 00:06:28 | |
It's time for a progress check as I write the first draft of my new book! This week, I wrote: TOTAL TIME: 3hr20min TOTAL WORDS: 5764 WORDS/MIN: 28.82 WORDS/HOUR: 1729.2 STIUTK CURRENT WORD COUNT: 5,762 (2 fewer words than what I wrote last week because that's how things shook out when I cleaned up previous days' writing before each new session) In this episode, I break down how writing went for the week as I wrote the start of a new book and discuss things like writing efficiency and the importance of showing up to build trust even when tired and unmotivated. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #225: First Draft Diaries: The Beginning #229: Consistency Doesn't Mean Every Day Let's Connect: | |||
| 25 Mar 2024 | How to Inform Your Writing | 00:05:32 | |
When tackling a major writing project, one of the best ways to keep yourself moving forward and making progress is to know your WHY. Today, I'm sharing a valuable lesson from Joany Kane, the screenwriter long credited with launching the Hallmark Christmas movie craze. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #58: The Audacity to Chase Your Dreams Let's Connect: | |||
| 15 Mar 2024 | How to Take Control of Your Social Media | 00:06:56 | |
It's time to stop letting social media control your days and instead take control of your social media so you can build the productive and successful writing practice you want. Today's episode tells you exactly how to do that. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #74 The One Thing Guaranteed to Boost Your Productivity Let's Connect: | |||
| 28 Feb 2024 | How to Prevent Creative Burnout | 00:08:38 | |
Creative Burnout can be absolutely devastating to your writing life. In today's episode, I give you the signs that you're nearing burnout and five tips you can implement into your writing practice to help protect you from burning out. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #17: You Need to Write Every Day...Right? Let's connect: | |||
| 24 Jan 2024 | A Quick Tip | 00:03:33 | |
How can you stay in the flow of a draft when you hit speed bumps in your writing? In today's episode, I give you a quick, practical tip to help keep you writing forward. Happy writing! | |||
| 20 Jan 2024 | The Importance of The End | 00:06:22 | |
One of the most important things a writer can do is learn how to finish a book. In today's episode, I talk about why this skill is so vital to jumpstarting your author career. Happy writing! | |||
| 05 Mar 2024 | An Overnight Success | 00:07:02 | |
People love an overnight success story! But they never see the whole story and all the time spend getting to that "overnight success." In today's episode, I chat about the truth behind overnight successes with the help of ten-year overnight success Rick Riordan. Happy writing! Read Rick's full blog post: https://rickriordan.com/2007/12/my-overnight-success/ Let's connect: | |||
| 25 Aug 2024 | Your Unique Magic | 00:04:12 | |
I have an incredibly important exercise for you to do today to help you find the unique magic that will bolster you and keep you going when things get hard. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #25: YOU the Successful Author Let's Connect: | |||
| 07 Sep 2024 | Tell Me What You Want (What You Really Really Want) | The Nutshell Technique Pt 4 | 00:07:41 | |
We're continuing our breakdown of Jill Chamberlain's The Nutshell Technique today by chatting about the Set-up Want, the Point of No Return, and the Catch. As a bonus, we're also discussing your character's journey from want to need. Happy writing! Learn more about Jill Chamberlain and get your own copy of her book, The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting on Jill's website. Related Episodes: #248: The Nutshell Technique in a Nutshell #249: (You Know How to Ball) I Know Aristotle | The Nutshell Technique Pt 2 #250: Main Character Energy | The Nutshell Technique Pt 3 Let's Connect: | |||
| 05 Oct 2024 | Keeping Your Peace While Querying | 00:07:37 | |
| 18 May 2024 | Write Like the Young | 00:08:53 | |
As children, we are incredibly creative. But as adults, many of us veer away from our most creative ideas because they feel too risky. Today, I have two questions to help you side step your aversion to risk to discover what you truly want to write. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #41: How to Decide Which Book to Write Let's Connect: | |||
| 23 Feb 2024 | Winning the Lottery | 00:06:14 | |
| 24 Mar 2024 | It's Not a Race | 00:05:26 | |
There are many ways to find success with writing and publishing...and today's episode covers one way to keep yourself from finding success. Don't do it, y'all. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #37: The Secret to a Successful Author Career #23: The Practice is What's Important #38: You Do NOT Have as Many Hours in a Day as Beyonce Let's Connect: | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Hidden Perfectionism | 00:07:51 | |
It's easy to think of perfectionism as simply having high standards, but that's not really what perfectionism is. You may be dealing with some hidden perfectionism that is keeping you from being the kind of writer you want to be, and because perfectionism can be quite insidious, you may not even realize that's what is at the core of your struggles. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #40: Why Do You Procrastinate? #13: Why Do You Resist Writing? #23: The Practice Is What's Important Let's Connect: | |||
| 17 Jan 2024 | You Need to Write Every Day...right? | 00:07:11 | |
It's the most prevalent writing advice out there: you need to write every day. You hear it all the time, from all kinds of writers. But is it actually true? In today's episode, I examine this advice and break down what it means for you and your writing practice. Happy writing! | |||
| 04 Jun 2024 | How to Manage Research | 00:06:16 | |
Research can be one of the most fun parts about writing, but it can also get in the way of writing your actual book. In today's episode, I share a couple tips for managing your research so you can both learn what you need to in order to write your book and avoid getting so caught up in the research phase that you never actually write the book. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #20: The Importance of The End #99: Working WITH Your Inner Editor Let's Connect: | |||
| 27 Jul 2024 | How to Commit to Your Writing | 00:06:42 | |
We're tackling a listener question today and chatting about what it means to commit to your writing. Spoiler alert: it's not as hard as it may seem. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #17: You Need to Write Every Day...Right? #67: Create a Consistent Writing Practice in ONE Step Let's Connect: | |||
| 23 Sep 2024 | What It Is to Be a Writer | 00:06:50 | |
I'm back with a voice! In this brand new episode of Breaking Writer's Block, let's chat about discouragement, wanting to give up, and what it means to be a writer. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #175: What's Your Fallback Job? #77: The Danger of Success Stories Let's Connect: | |||
| 04 Aug 2024 | Do You Need a Book Coach? | 00:06:24 | |
Have you considered hiring a book coach (or writing coach) but aren't quite sure if you need one? Today's episode answers the question, "Why do I need a writing coach?"...and the answer may surprise you. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #122: You Don't Have a Craft Problem Let's Connect: | |||
| 16 Jun 2024 | Writer's Block Is Not a Luxury - RERUN | 00:06:23 | |
Hey friends! I'm on vacation this weekend, so rather than a brand new episode, I hope you enjoy this rerun of one of my favorite episodes of Breaking Writer's Block. Happy writing! Let's Connect: | |||
| 19 Jun 2024 | Maintaining Boundaries for Your Writing Practice | 00:07:23 | |
Not everyone in your life will respect your time and your writing practice. Setting--and then maintaining--boundaries around your writing is one of the best things you can do to bring peace to your practice. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #57: How to Balance Writing with Your Other Work Let's Connect: | |||
| 07 Oct 2024 | Navigating Creative and Noncreative Careers | 00:06:16 | |
| 02 Jul 2024 | A Quick Trick to Break Your Block | 00:03:59 | |
Sometimes you find yourself staring at the page, unable to write more words because you're afraid you'll get it all wrong...my friend, I have a quick, simple trick to get you past these blocks whenever they pop up. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #13: Why Do You Resist Writing? #40: Why Do You Procrastinate? #55: Where Does Your Resistance Come From? Let's Connect: | |||
| 16 Mar 2024 | What to Do When You Miss a Writing Session | 00:09:59 | |
Despite your best intentions, sometimes you'll end up missing one of your planned writing sessions. In today's episode, I discuss how to handle when this happens so you can get back on track with your goals and practice. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #74: The One Thing Guaranteed to Boost Your Productivity Let's Connect: | |||
| 27 Feb 2024 | The Audacity to Chase Your Dreams | 00:03:45 | |
| 19 Feb 2024 | You Are NOT Aspiring. You Are a Writer! | 00:05:31 | |
| 24 Jun 2024 | What Time of Day Should You Write? | 00:05:11 | |
Should you be writing at the same time every day? What should your daily writing schedule look like? Let's discuss all things routine! Happy writing! Related Episodes: #17: You Need to Write Every Day...Right? #12: The Problem With Writing Advice #9: Finding Time to Write...When You Have No Time Let's Connect: | |||
| 25 Apr 2024 | Why Bother Outlining? | 00:06:27 | |
What should you do if you find yourself deviating from your outline as you write the first draft? And what's the point of outlining if you're just going to veer away from it anyway? Let's discuss in today's episode. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #83: Does Outlining Ruin the Discovery of Your First Draft? #71: Writing Through the Murky Middle #53: Why You're Not Finishing Your Book Let's Connect: | |||
| 15 Jun 2024 | Why Do You Resist Writing? - RERUN | 00:06:30 | |
Hey friends! I'm on vacation this weekend, so rather than a brand new episode, I hope you enjoy this rerun of one of my favorite episodes of Breaking Writer's Block. Happy writing! Let's Connect:
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| 12 Jun 2024 | Back to the Basics | 00:05:09 | |
No matter your skill level, sometimes the best way forward is to go back to the basics. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #18: Why is This Book Harder to Write Than the Last? #69: What if You Don't Need to Do MORE? Let's Connect: | |||
| 16 Feb 2024 | Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Writing Coach | 00:07:33 | |
Having a coach to help you throughout the writing and publishing process can be hugely beneficial, but not all coaches are good. Unfortunately, there are many grifters and scammers out there. In today's episode, I walk through the red flags to watch for when looking for a book coach and then share some green flags to help you know what kind of writing coach is best for you. Happy writing! Let's connect: | |||
| 27 Mar 2024 | Does My Romance Novel Need a Happy Ending? | 00:06:43 | |
There are very few rules when it comes to writing, but there is one hard and fast rule in publishing--a happily ever after ending in Romance novels. Let's discuss the difference between a romance storyline and a capital-R Romance novel and how you can get your love stories to the right readers. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #44: Who Is Your Ideal Reader? Let's Connect: | |||
| 09 Mar 2024 | What If You Don't Need to Do MORE? | 00:06:58 | |
| 28 Jan 2024 | Be Your Own Favorite | 00:05:05 | |
When you share your favorites, don't forget to include your own art on the list. Happy Writing! | |||
| 22 Jan 2024 | Three Simple Steps to Solve Any Writing Problem | 00:07:47 | |
Solve any problem that comes your way by remembering to POP! Whether it's a story-level problem or a big-picture author career problem, these steps will help you find your solution. Huge thanks to Susie Moore for this method of problem solving. Check her out at Susie-Moore.com and listen to her podcast, Let It Be Easy, every morning. It's a delightful podcast. Happy writing! | |||
| 04 May 2024 | Trust Your Readers | 00:06:26 | |
When you're writing a super complex story, it's easy to worry that readers won't be able to follow. But they are smart, savvy people--trust them! Happy writing! Related Episodes: #44: Who Is Your Ideal Reader? #39: How to Reveal Backstory Without Relying on Exposition Let's Connect: | |||
| 08 Sep 2024 | Catalyst vs Point of No Return | The Nutshell Technique Pt 5 | 00:07:15 | |
We're wrapping up our breakdown of Jill Chamberlain's The Nutshell Technique today with a discussion of catalyst/inciting incident vs the Point of No Return, with examples from Pitch Perfect and The Hunger Games. Happy writing! Learn more about Jill Chamberlain and get your copy of her book, The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting, on Jill's website. Related Episodes: #248: The Nutshell Technique in a Nutshell #249: (You Know How to Ball) I Know Aristotle | The Nutshell Technique Pt 2 #250: Main Character Energy | The Nutshell Technique Pt 3 #251: Tell Me What You Want (What You Really Really Want) | The Nutshell Technique Pt 4 Let's Connect: | |||
| 05 Aug 2024 | "Josh Hartnett is Back!" - Thoughts on Professional Envy | 00:06:07 | |
Today we're talking Josh Hartnett and professional envy and yes those two things are somehow related. I don't make the rules, y'all. I just share what I'm thinking to help you create the best writing life you can have. Happy writing!
Related Episodes:
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| 16 Jan 2024 | Nobody Knows What They Are Doing | 00:07:06 | |
Today, we answer the very first listener question on Breaking Writer's Block, and the answer might surprise you. Happy writing! | |||
| 14 Feb 2024 | Is the Advice Helpful or Harmful? | 00:05:40 | |
There is a lot of writing advice out there, but not all of it will be helpful for you. In today's episode, I discuss how to protect yourself from the advice (however well-meaning) that is more harmful for you than helpful. Happy writing! | |||
| 21 Apr 2024 | Courage vs Confidence | 00:07:07 | |
Struggling with your confidence as a writer? I have good news for you: you do NOT need confidence to write a book. Instead, tap into your courage. Happy writing! Related Episodes: #89: Should You Start With Short Stories? Let's Connect: | |||