Dive into the complete episode list for Writer Unleashed. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
08 Feb 2022
#78: Five Elements of a Riveting First Scene
00:31:29
Your first scene is crucial. It’s what sets your story in motion. It's where you keep your reader or lose em'. So you want to craft this scene with intention. In this episode, you'll learn 3 essential things your first scene must accomplish. And we'll explore 5 core elements that go into every successful first scene, with examples from Neil Gaiman's novel, American Gods, and Lucy Grealy's memoir, Autobiography of a Face.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
15 Feb 2022
#79: How to Write Spellbinding Scenes
00:26:29
Scenes are the building blocks of your story. But how do you craft scenes that draw us in every single time? That keep us turning the page? In this episode you'll learn how to craft spellbinding scenes from beginning to end.
In today's episode, we'll cover:
The difference between scene and summary.
Four essential things each scene should give your protagonist.
How to set each scene's intentions.
What it means to "advance your plot" and how to do it.
and how to structure your scenes from start to finish.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
08 Mar 2022
#80: Four Tips to Writing a Page Turner
00:33:29
What makes your story a page turner? What makes it so irresistible that readers devour every page? In today’s episode, we’re breaking down 4 tips to writing a page turner. Techniques that go beneath and beyond common structures like the Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, and the traditional 3-Act. So you can make your story stand out from the pile. And keep readers hooked scene by scene.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
22 Mar 2022
#82: How to Write Fiction That Feels True
00:23:20
What makes a piece of writing feel false? What makes it feel true? Why does it move us? Or fail to? How do we drop readers directly into a character’s experience so that they become the character and go on the journey with them? In this episode, you'll borrow 3 acting techniques for writing stories that feel more real, more believable, and more true.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
15 Mar 2022
#81: Story Details: What to Leave In, What to Leave Out
00:16:25
Details are the lifeblood of your story. And writing is all about the selection of those details. But how do you decide which details matter?
When we sit down to write, we’re often bombarded with too many details. We’re in this constant and brutal battle with the facts of our experience, the details of the world, and the needs of our story.
The question we must continually ask is, What do I leave in? What do I leave out?
But selecting the right story details is easier than you think. Because you already know how to do this. You select what's worthy of your attention moment by moment, whether you're conscious of it or not.
In this episode, we’ll explore what you already know about selecting details, and how to bring that instinct directly to your fiction or memoir.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
29 Mar 2022
#83: Four Ways to Open Your Story
00:29:22
Your story opening is your only chance to hook your reader. So you want to start strong. It doesn’t matter if the middle of your story is brilliant. Or your second chapter is fantastic. It doesn't matter if your story starts picking up speed 7 pages in.
Readers won’t wait for that.
In today’s episode, I’m going to break down 4 story openings to spark some ideas. So you can craft a story opening that keeps readers longing to read more.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
05 Apr 2022
#84: How to Keep Writing After Rejection
00:20:31
Rejection never feels good. And it can throw our entire identity as a writer into doubt.
The question is…
How do you get your confidence back? So that you can get back to work?
In this episode, you'll learn 4 strategies to get back on track. So you can stop identifying with the rejection and become a more resilient and skilled writer.
We'll also cover why even good books are rejected by publishers, and why you, as an unknown debut author, has an advantage.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
12 Apr 2022
#85: How to Get Back into the Writing Zone After a Really Long Break
00:25:50
Between careers, kids, and everything else life throws our way, sometimes we have to step back from our writing. Sometimes for months. Sometimes for years. So, how do you get back to your writing after a long hiatus? In today’s episode, I'm sharing strategies I’ve used to get back into the writing zone after an extended break. You'll also learn the secret to staying motivated, plus how to create an environment that supports your writing.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
19 Apr 2022
#86: Five Reasons You Have Writer's Block and How to Break Through It
00:23:03
We all hit a block at some point in the writing process, even the best of us. Accomplished writers know how to navigate that impasse, to notice when and why they're getting blocked, so that they can move through it. But so many writers get stuck there, and they can't move forward. In this episode, we'll explore five reasons you may be experiencing writer's block. And you'll learn some strategies to blast through it.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
26 Apr 2022
#87: Four Writing Myths Holding You Back
00:23:47
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 keeping you from moving forward. They’re taking you totally in the wrong direction. They’re myths.
Myths about plot and structure. Myths about how to create drama. And what it means to write beautiful sentences.
Myths that are taking you way off course. It’s either the wrong approach, or it just doesn’t go deep enough.
In this episode I’m debunking 4 common myths about story writing, and I’ll give you different approaches to apply to your pages.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
03 May 2022
#88: "Outline First" and Other Rules You Should Break
00:19:11
Many writers have fixed ideas about the best ways to write and finish a story. But they don’t work for every writer. And in many instances, they don’t even work for the writers who swear by them. So in this episode, I'm going to challenge 3 common rules I hear over and over, and give you a different perspective to try on.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
10 May 2022
#89: What Plotters and Pantsers Both Get Wrong About Story
00:20:20
Plotters plot and pantsers wander. One approach isn't better than the other. They're just different impulses. But both are equally futile.
Pantsers can wander aimlessly ad infinitum, and plotters often focus only on plot at the outset. Which is why they still get stuck in the messy middle.
What both plotters and pantsers get wrong is how to bring story elements together to focus their material.
In today's episode, we'll break down 3 story elements that work together in concert to create a story: Desire, Theme, and Plot.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
24 May 2022
#91: Four Simple Steps to Major Writing Breakthroughs
00:28:25
What does it take to make major breakthroughs in your writing consistently?
How do you put yourself into an optimal state of creativity every time you sit down to write?
When it comes to mastering your story, you need to be in a flow state. When you’re in flow, your creativity, your output, the quality of your writing is turbo-charged. You make more progress in half the time.
But flow isn't just something you just flow in and out of. You need to create the conditions for flow to happen.
Drawing on the latest research from Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, you'll learn the 4 triggers that drive flow, and how to maximize them to get more quality writing done, time after time.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
17 May 2022
#90: Four Ways to Master Show, Don't Tell
00:30:25
Still not grasping the art of show, don't tell? That's because it's never fully explained. So writers show too little, or too soon, or they show poorly. Often, they don't show at all. In this episode, you'll ll get clear on what showing is, what telling is, and 4 effective ways to show like a pro.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
31 May 2022
#92: Five Episodes to Elevate Your Writing
00:14:42
Writer Unleashed is coming up on its 2-Year Anniversary!
So in the spirit of celebration, I'm giving you a 5-episode playlist to help you wherever you are in your writing process right now.
Narrowing down the list to just five was not easy breezy. I sifted through nearly 100 episodes, andI poured everything I've got into creating each and every one of them for you. But I drilled down to the ones that tackle some of the most common challenges throwing writers off their game, and I'm excited to share them with you.
If you’ve already listened to these in the past, go listen again. Because as you know, practicing your craft over and over is how you truly master writing. There are so many valuable tips and techniques that will help you dial in on everything from integrating character with plot, to crafting believable dialogue, to handling backstory, to crafting a stellar opening scene.
So, if you missed any of these, listen to them now. Or listen again.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
07 Jun 2022
#93: Whose Story Is It?
00:17:22
Call it your hero. Or your MC.
But all stories need one main protagonist. When we don’t know who your main character is, we have no one to root for.
Why is picking one character to focus on a good idea?
We need to know who we’re experiencing your story through. Your protagonist is the portal. It's how we hook into your story from the first page to the last.
In this episode, you'll learn why focusing on one character creates a richer experience for the reader, and an easier writing experience for you.
You'll learn what to do when you have multiple character viewpoints, co-protagonists, and other characters who have a stake in the action.
And I'll give you 3 questions to help you nail the main star of your story.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
14 Jun 2022
#94: Three Simple Steps to Deeper Character Development
00:18:26
Lots of writers believe you can't deeply develop character until you know what happens on the plot level.
But this is backwards.
Ultimately, what moves your story forward is your protagonist's reactions, choices, and actions.
Not the external events that activate those reactions.
Your plot doesn't just need structural coherence.
It needs emotional and psychological coherence.
Simply put, before you develop your plot, before you write your opening scene, you need to know who it affects and why.
In today's episode, we're breaking down 3 simple steps to deeper character development.
You'll learn:
Two things driving your plot. Hint: It's not what happens.
How to drill down your protagonist's desire to the specific and concrete.
And how to unlock the unconscious drives that both fuel and thwart your protagonist.
Once you do these 3 steps, everything you include on the plot level will have meaning.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
28 Jun 2022
#96: What Readers Really Want From Your Story
00:17:25
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 episode we’re going to explore what your reader is actually responding to when he forgets about the real world and gets entranced by the world on the page.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
21 Jun 2022
#95: How to Start Your Story With the End in Mind
00:18:26
We're often instructed to hook readers in our opening paragraphs by enticing them with story questions.
All good.
But you can't really plant questions in the beginning without knowing how your story will ultimately end.
There's a link between your story's beginning and its end.
So the best way to hook your reader is to start with the end in mind.
This creates two things readers crave:
Curiosity and Suspense.
But there's an art to it. A great opening both reveals and withholds.
So, in today's episode, I'm breaking down 3 story openings crafted with the end in mind.
You'll see how the opening and ending are linked. Plus 3 techniques you can use to open your story.
Not sure sure how your story ends? No worries. I've got you covered there, too.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
05 Jul 2022
#97: How to Stop Hating Everything You Write
00:15:07
How do you tell the difference between genuinely bad writing and writing that's actually good... but you think it's bad because you're being over critical?
How do you manage not liking what you write because you know you can do better? And so you end up not writing anything.
What about when you want abandon your dreams of becoming an author because you re-read your work and you hate it all. And now you believe you're not good enough.
Well, that's the story you're telling yourself. And it ends today.
In this episode, I'm sharing how to evaluate your work with more objectivity and appreciation.
So you can get on with it.
You'll learn:
Why we’re the worst judges of our own work
Why perfection is the lowest standard there is
The necessary gap between your vision and where your story is now
The ship and learn approach to elevating your story
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
12 Jul 2022
#98: Should You Hire An Editor?
00:31:33
What does an editor do precisely? How do you choose an editor you can trust with your manuscript? How much do editors charge? And is hiring one worth the investment?
In this episode, I'm answering the most frequently asked questions I get about editors.
I'll demystify the editing process. So you can make an informed, prudent decision on whether to invest in an editor or not.
And you'll get an inside view on how to edit your own work.
We'll cover:
The 3 phases of editing every book goes through.
How much editors charge at each stage of the process.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
19 Jul 2022
#99: How to Nail Down Your Story In 3 Simple Sentences
00:21:24
If I asked you what your story was about, could you sum it up in a few sentences and tell me all I need to know to want more?
Maybe you have too many ideas swimming around your head, and your story is running away from you.
Either way, you have a hazy, rambling idea about what your story is all about.
That's every story in its early stages.
So, in this episode, I want to invite you to do a little exercise in nailing down your story idea in 3 sentences.
You'll zero in on:
Who your story's about, and what happens to set this person down a path she/he never saw coming;
The trouble and complications that follow; and
The payoff or promise the reader can expect by the end
Bottom line?
If you can drill your story down to a few clear, focused sentences, you can write a clear, focused story.
This 3-sentence framework will help you avoid bogging your story down with unnecessary digressions and clutter. You'll know what to keep in. And what to keep out.
This will make your first drafts easier to write. Your works in progress easier to revise. So you can build a story that's a great read.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
26 Jul 2022
#100: Five Common Plot Problems You Can Avoid
00:24:53
Ever feel like no matter how much time you spend on your plot, your story’s just not coming together?
Maybe you're generally happy with your structure, but when you go to break down those story beats, all you find are a lot of plot holes.
And now you’re overthinking everything, wondering how your characters and scenes work within your plot.
In this episode I’m sharing 5 common plot problems and what you can do to fix them, or avoid them completely. This will help you know what’s relevant in your story, what you can cut, and what you can develop more deeply.
We’ll explore:
How to define your central story problem from which every other event will spin;
How to build and intensify your plot;
The internal change your character is forced to make, and why she/him resists it;
The missing causal factor that moves your plot forward, and;
How to up the ante so that your ending feels simultaneously surprising and inevitable.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
02 Aug 2022
#101: A Four-Step Strategy For Self-Editing Your Story
00:28:21
Want to bring your manuscript closer to published, but don't want to drop thousands to hire an editor?
In this episode, you'll learn to edit your story yourself.
You'll get answers to common questions like:
Do I edit as I go? Or do I edit after the manuscript is done?
How do I edit for coherence and continuity?
Where do I begin?
In this episode, I’m going to give you a4-step strategy for self-editing your story.
We’re going step by step.
From the big picture all the way down to the sentence level.
This 4-step strategy works at every stage of the drafting process.
You can use it with a finished manuscript. Or a work in progress.
Because this process will keep your story focused and on track.
You'll learn to evaluate:
Story events as major actions, each with its own resolution;
Chapters as self-contained, complete narrative units;
Individual scenes and how they all fit in your overall story structure; and
How to look at paragraphs and sentences for power and progression.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
09 Aug 2022
#102: Five Secrets About Your Antagonist You Should Know
00:27:54
How do you write the bad guy?
The villain. The antagonist. The one who makes life difficult for your protagonist?
How do you make this person believable and fascinating? Not just a stock cartoon character nobody believes in or cares about?
One of the biggest pitfalls when writing villains -- aka, antagonists -- is over simplifying them.
But your most troublesome character is just as important to develop as your protagonist. So you've got to get to know him or her as intimately as you know your main character.
That means, you know your antagonist's deepest desires, fears, worldview, and motives.
You want to explore who this person is as a human being.
In this episode, we're exploring 5 secrets about your antagonist you should know.
So that you can bring more texture, complexity and humanity to him or her. And make even the most evil villain fascinating to your reader.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
23 Aug 2022
#104: Five Episodes to Sharpen Your Writer's Toolkit
00:15:27
As summer begins its exit, and Fall approaches, I curated 5 episodes to refresh your writing.
These are some of the most downloaded episodes. You'll get everything from plot and character development, show vs. tell, how to select story details, and how to stay motivated.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
16 Aug 2022
#103: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Creative Non-Fiction
00:22:13
What's the difference between biography, autobiography, memoir, the immersion story, and personal essay?
In this episode, you'll learn about the possibilities available to you in the creative non-fiction genre. You'll get clear on what makes these forms alike and different, and what elements you need to be aware of when writing one or the other.
You'll learn:
The similarities between creative non-fiction and fiction;
The difference between autobiography and memoir;
What literary journalism is, and how the author is the protagonist in the story;
The two voices essential to memoir; and
The distinction between memoir and personal essay.
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Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
30 Aug 2022
#105: Four Questions To Ask Before You Quit Writing
00:18:12
There comes a time when the story we're writing just isn't coming together as we envisioned. Writing's become too overwhelming and complicated. So, we're tempted to quit. Quit the story. Or quit writing altogether.
But just because you're coming up against obstacles and setbacks, even if they feel insurmountable, that's no reason to quit.
In fact, that's the worst time to quit.
In this episode, we'll talk about what to do when you hit what Seth Godin calls, the dip.
I'll give you 4 questions to ask yourself before you abandon ship. And I'll help you decide what you should quit so you can go on to write an exceptional story.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
06 Sep 2022
#106: How to Develop A Consistent Writing Practice
00:27:46
Now that summer's officially over and we're on the cusp of Fall, what better time to rekindle or start a consistent writing practice?
Call it a habit, routine, or ritual, but it's all about creating an ongoing and thriving relationship with your writing. The value of consistent practice is cumulative. You create space in your life to deepen your craft, expand your skills, and navigate challenges.
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
Harness your peak times to create and schedule focused time to write;
Start seeing opportunities instead of obstacles;
Manage expectations and honor the progress you're making; and
Find meaning and purpose in your writing practice so you can go the distance, even if you don't write every day.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
13 Sep 2022
#107: How to Write A Short Story In 3 Easy Steps
00:25:30
What makes short stories different from novels? Aside from the obvious difference in length?
And what can novelists learn from short stories?
In this episode, I'm breaking down 3 structural elements of short stories, along with an example of how it's done.
If you're writing short stories, you'll learn how to organize and shape your material.
And if you're writing a novel or memoir, you're going to get tons of value from this, too.
Because we'll be talking about how to articulate and build conflict as an organizing structure.
This will help you shape chapters and scenes. Most important, this episode will help you learn the economy of language. So you can write any story with more elegance, shape, and potency.
Whether you aspire to write short stories or novels, you'll learn how to use repetition and variation to amplify your story’s conflict and theme.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
20 Sep 2022
#108: 3 Things Published Authors Do Differently
00:21:11
What separates published authors from aspiring authors? Do they have more talent? More time?
Nope.
They just approach writing with a different mental construct.
In this episode, you'll learn 3 things published authors do differently.
We'll cover:
Why talent isn't enough, and what you need to cultivate instead;
3 mistakes aspiring writers make that eventually stop them in their tracks;
Why seeking qualified feedback is essential, and two ways to ensure you get the best feedback;
How to choose which feedback is relevant. Remember, it's your story, so you're the best arbiter of you're own work; and
How to set clear, achievable goals to bring your manuscript to the finish line.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
27 Sep 2022
#109: Your Top 5 Character Questions Answered
00:25:54
You asked, I answered.
In this episode, I’m answering 5 questions I hear over and over about character development.
Questions like:
What makes a strong, memorable character?
How do I give my character more depth?
How can I make readers care for my characters?
How do you decide whether or not to eliminate a character from a story?
What is the proper way to write my character's thoughts?
These are smart questions. Because character is the heartbeat of your story. It’s what drives your plot, and gives meaning to everything that’s happening. When you know your character inside and out, it makes all your other story decisions so much easier.
So, grab your pen and paper. And download this episode so you can easily access it.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
04 Oct 2022
#110: 3 Powerful Ways To Show Character Emotion
00:25:41
In story, you should always be building emotions.
But it’s challenging to get big emotions like grief, love, fear, and anger on the page. Many writers exaggerate character emotion, turn to cliches, or don't convey enough emotion.
The trick is not to tell us how your character feels, but to evoke emotion in your reader.
We want readers to feel with our characters.
But how do you do that?
In this episode, learn 3 powerful ways to show character emotion in a way that transmits directly to your reader. Because that's the whole point.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
11 Oct 2022
#111: How to Structure A Scene in 3 Acts
00:20:07
Each scene is your story in miniature, a story unto itself.
And each follows the same 3 - Act structure.
So, in this episode, you'll learn the story arc of a scene.
We'll explore:
⇒ What information to get into your scene 's Act 1 set up, and how previous scenes prepare the reader for what will unfold.
⇒ How to bring direct conflict and crisis into your scene's Act 2; and
⇒ How to land your scene with a resolution in Act 3.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
18 Oct 2022
112: 3 Tips For Writing Dynamic Dialogue
00:23:13
Dialogue between characters is one of those things writers struggle mightily with.
You want the dialogue to sound like real life, but when you try to make it sound like a real conversation, it just sounds boring and fake.
Maybe it's the back and forth, the quotation marks, or that it just doesn't sound right..... but dialogue can be exhausting and futile to write.
Is there an easy way to do it?
The answer is Yes.
In this episode I have 3 techniques to make your dialogue more realistic, dynamic, and compelling to read.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
25 Oct 2022
#113: How To Write Exposition Without Boring Your Reader
00:19:42
How much exposition is too much? Should you begin your story with exposition? And how do you write exposition in a way that isn’t excessive, awkward, or dull?
In today’s episode, we'll talk about how to write exposition in a way that doesn’t sound like exposition.
We'll cover:
What exposition is, and why it's essential;
Why it's not necessary to begin your story with exposition;
Two different types of exposition; and
How to slip exposition into the action so the reader isn't aware it's even there.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
01 Nov 2022
#114: Third Person POV Simplified
00:26:37
Among all the POVs, 3rd person is arguably the most confusing.
Let's say you're writing in limited third from your main character's POV, and there are points in the story where other characters do things your MC doesn't yet know, but need to be explained for the reader to understand what's happening. How do you do that in limited 3rd?
Are you allowed to change POV in the same chapter? Is this 3rd person omniscient? Or is it head hopping? What's the difference between head hopping and 3rd person omniscient?
In this episode, I'm answering these questions and more.
You'll learn:
The primary purpose of POV;
The difference between person and POV;
The 3 main categories of 3rd person and how to use them;
Common misconceptions about Omniscience, plus 4 tips to write it better; and
A simpler way to craft POV, whether writing in omniscient, limited, or objective 3rd person.
By the end of this episode, you'll know how to take fuller advantage of the range, depth, and angles of perception available to you in 3rd person .
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
08 Nov 2022
#115: How To Develop A Multi-Dimensional Story Setting
00:20:48
How do you bring a textured, multi-dimensional sense of place to your story?
And why is it important?
Well, just as plot isn't separate from character, neither is place.
Place defines, reveals, and in many ways creates who we are. It's an extension of your characters, and can reflect your story's central conflict and theme.
In this episode, we'll explore 5 questions to bring depth, texture, and a more vivid place for your readers to inhabit. And a powerful way to depict character.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
15 Nov 2022
#116: Story Triggers: How To Generate Powerful Fiction and Memoir
00:16:01
Great stories often start with a trigger. One persistent image, a childhood memory, a family story, or a phone conversation you overhear on the train ride to work.
In this episode, we’ll explore story triggers: what they are, where they come, how to tap into your own triggers, and select which ones are worthy of expanding into a story.
You'll learn about the triggers that gave rise to stories and novels by Hemingway, John Fowles, Joan Didion, and Joyce Carol Oates.
And you'll get exercises to help you spark your own powerful stories.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
22 Nov 2022
#117: 3 Ways To Create Convincing Characters
00:16:03
How do we take our characters from their sketchy beginnings and make them come alive?
How do we make them convincing?
All writers struggle to make characters believable.
But much of what readers come to know about a character isn’t stated explicitly. It's submerged in the way a character speaks, moves, thinks, and behaves.
It's beneath the surface.
The challenge is conveying all that's beneath the surface to your readers.
In this episode, learn 3 ways to write convincing characters.
We'll cover:
How to tap into your emotions to create believable characters;
Why you don't have to experience what your characters are experiencing in order to write about it;
How characters are revealed in relation to one another, and why creating situations that bring characters together is a more organic way to think about plot, and;
Why revision is essential to creating characters readers believe in.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
29 Nov 2022
#118: Before You Outline: 3 Core Foundations To Build First
00:18:43
When it comes to structuring your story, there's no one-size-fits-all. Some writers wing it all the way, others craft meticulous outlines before they write. Both can produce stunning results.
But what's often missing in the I'll just wing it approach, and even in the most detailed outlines, are essential foundations that make a story work.
In this episode, we'll explore 3 foundational elements to explore before you outline.
If you're a panster, you'll love the exploratory nature of these foundations. And if you're a plotter, you'll build a deeper, richer, stronger outline.
In this episode, you'll;
Focus and expand your story idea
Land your setting, and;
Get to know your main cast of characters' desires, beliefs, and fears.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
06 Dec 2022
#119: Your 6-Step Story Outline
00:17:52
In last week’s episode, we talked about 3 foundational elements to explore before you outline.
And in this episode, we’re going to start building that outline. I’m going to walk you through six steps I learned from Philip Gerard.
This method leaves plenty of room for invention and surprise.
Think of it as a living outline, one you can adjust as you write and revise. And a great touch point whenever you're stuck.
If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, 118: Before You Outline: 3 Core Foundations To Build First, go have a listen. Then come back here and go through the six steps I’m about to walk you through.
An outline is ultimately a tool to help guide you through the murky and overwhelming process of storytelling.
It’s a way of thinking your way through your story. It helps you stay on track, but it’s flexible.
This outline will help you do some careful thought about your story so you arrive at something that holds surprise, mystery, and beauty.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
13 Dec 2022
#120: Writing In First Person: 5 Challenges And How To Conquer Them
00:28:08
For many writers, first-person narration comes naturally. And for memoir writers, it's the only choice.
First-person has some advantages over third person.
But it comes with unique challenges.
In this episode, we'll cover the pros of first-person, 5 common challenges, and how to overcome them. So you can capture the full range available to you with first-person.
We'll cover how to:
Create a strong, distinct character voice that sustains your story;
Avoid the overuse of I; I saw, I heard, I smelled, I tasted, etc.
Go beyond the limitations of your first-person perspective;
Describe your first-person's appearance or home without being awkward, and;
Get out of your character's head and into the world of the real.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
20 Dec 2022
#121: 3 Varieties of First-Person Narration
00:17:00
First-person is a highly versatile point of view. And there's always an implied audience. In today's episode, we'll explore 3 varieties of first-person narration, with a focus on who the first-person character is addressing.
We'll cover:
Interior Monologue;
Dramatic Monologue, and;
Subjective First-Person
We’ll also cover what makes a first-person narrator more unreliable than third-person, and why unreliable narrators are irresistible to readers.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
10 Jan 2023
#122: How To Stick To Your Writing Goals
00:22:07
It's a new year. Fresh start. Clean slate.
So, let's talk about promises we make to ourselves.
Write more consistently. Finish the book. Publish the book. Sell x amount of copies.
Maybe you just want to start writing the story that's been in your head for the longest time.
But how do we keep the fire burning so we achieve those goals, or even surpass them?
In this episode, we'll talk about why most resolutions fizzle out within a couple of months, what's missing from most goals, and a three-pronged approach to making goals stick.
We'll also cover:
Why focusing on the outcome may be holding you back, and what to focus on instead;
Underlying fears that can sabotage writers and how to move past them, and;
How to make both internal and external changes that keep your writing moving forward for the long term.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
17 Jan 2023
#123: A 2-Step Process To Start, Write, And Develop Your Story
00:30:12
How do you take an idea from its nebulous beginnings and turn it into a story?
You may have a feeling about what you want to write, but you don't know where to start. Or, you've already started writing something, but you can't keep it going. Maybe you have an outline, but you're having a hard time getting the words initially on the page.
In this episode, learn a 2-step process for generating and developing writing that's meaningful to you. We'll talk about how to take your raw material, and start to find the focus and structure within it. So you can eventually see the shape of your story, and produce a finished, powerful piece of writing.
This method is ideal for writers who want to write, but don't know how or where to begin. It's for writers who have a constant flow of ideas, but who have trouble harnessing those ideas into a focused, finished story. It's also for writers who want to breathe fresh life into their outline or work-in-progress.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
24 Jan 2023
#124: How To Hook Readers In Your Opening Paragraph
00:27:58
How do you write a great introduction for your story? An opening that draws a reader in, establishes the voice of your main character, and whets your reader’s appetite for more?
Whether it’s an agent, publisher, or the person browsing Barnes and Noble, readers will likely make the decision to keep reading based on your opening paragraph.
So, you want to make that initial introduction as enticing as possible.Something the reader hooks into that refuses to let him or her go.
In this episode, learn 4 types of story openings that capture readers' attention and have them wanting more.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
31 Jan 2023
#125: How To Write Conflict Into Every Scene
00:26:50
Every story since the beginning of time has involved conflict.
Somebody wants something, goes out to get it, and has trouble getting it. That’s what story is in a nutshell.
Conflict is essential because it creates narrative tension that keeps your readers invested.
But conflict is not just on the plot level.
Every scene is a reconstruction of the main conflict. Each scene will contain some adversarial relationship as your character goes after the thing he or she wants.
So, to keep readers engaged, you'll want to bring some element of conflict to each scene.
But it doesn't have to be epic or high drama. Conflict is not always a fight or a battle.
Even an ordinary exchange can contain conflict. It can be subtle, complex, big or small.
In this episode, learn how to bring conflict to every scene in your story.
We'll cover:
What we mean by conflict and why high drama does not equal dramatic;
3 common mistakes writers make with conflict;
5 different types of antagonists, and;
How to mine story conflict, both big and small, from your everyday life.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
07 Feb 2023
#126: Writing Memoir: 5 Tips To Avoid Getting Sued
00:23:43
When it comes to writing memoir, or even autobiographical fiction, writers often stay awake at night worrying about the possibility of being sued.
Writing about facts and events of our own lives will inevitably require writing about the private lives of others who were part of our journey. These are often stories about addiction, abuse, homelessness, or just plain dysfunction. And real people are intertwined with that story. But writers often feel restricted in writing the truth about their story when it involves other people because, what if they sue?
In this episode, we'll go over 2 main legal issues to be aware of, and 5 things you can do to avoid litigation.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
28 May 2024
Rewind: How Much Backstory Does Your Reader Really Need to Know?
00:14:40
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 importance of crafting backstory that adapts to your story
The actor's technique to developing character through backstory
How to decide what backstory is significant to your storyline and to your readers
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
14 Feb 2023
#127: Remix: Big Writing Takeaways From 6 Writer Unleashed Episodes
00:24:54
In this episode, I'm sharing takeaway ideas on the writing craft from 6 Writer Unleashed episodes.
I'll share:
how to inject conflict and surprise in your opening sentence;
the difference between plot and story, and how to integrate both;
why desire is the engine of your plot;
show vs. tell, and what to show;
what backstory you need to know vs. what your reader needs to know, and;
how to connect emotionally with your main character.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
21 Feb 2023
#128: 3 Mindset Shifts To Make Your Writing Dream A Reality
00:20:09
What's 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 the fear of rejection. Even if you’re nowhere near ready to submit your story, it weighs on your mind and prevents you from finishing.
The idea that after doing all that work, you might face rejection, is stifling. How do you get past that?
Maybe you're afraid of putting your book out there. You just keep wanting to do one read-through after another. It's never good enough.
Maybe your greatest fear is that you'll let yourself down.
In today's episode, we're breaking down 4 common fears that may be keeping you stuck. Then we'll replace those fears with mindset shifts to get you unstuck. So you can shift your writing from dream to reality.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
28 Feb 2023
#129: 5 First Chapter Mistakes You Can Avoid
00:22:28
What should your first chapter do? What does it need to accomplish? And what are common ways writers get their first chapter wrong?
In this episode, we'll talk about the primary aims of your first chapter, 5 common mistakes you may be making, and what to do instead.
We'll cover:
What to do with all that back fill;
Surprising ways to bring more action into your first chapter while building intensity;
How to avoid overloading your first chapter with insignificant details;
How to establish a strong, identifiable point of view, and;
Why giving away too much of your plot is deflating the readers' urge to know more, and how to keep them curious.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
07 Mar 2023
#130: Drilling Down To Your Story's Central Dramatic Question
00:17:43
There's an implicit, central dramatic question driving every compelling story.
Will Santiago catch a fish? (The Old Man and The Sea) Will Clarice Starling catch Buffalo Bill? (Silence of the Lambs) Did Kya kill Chase? (Where The Crawdads Sing)
The trick is drilling down to the essential question your story asks. Because that's what's urging your reader through to the end.
In this episode, you'll answer 3 questions to help your drill down to your story's central dramatic question. So grab a pen and paper, and let's do this together.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
14 Mar 2023
#131: 3 Easy Ways To Write Better Dialogue
00:21:21
How do you make your story’s dialogue more realistic without writing too much dialogue? Or extraneous pass the meat and potatoes dialogue?
How do you avoid having the dialogue sound stiff or cliche? How do you write dialogue that sounds natural and riveting?
Dialogue is one of the trickiest things to master. And it does take practice.
So in today’s episode, I'm flagging 3 common missteps writers make with dialogue, with easy fixes for each.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
21 Mar 2023
#132: Do's and Don'ts Of Writing Flashback
00:29:02
How do you write flashback without overwhelming or interrupting your forward moving story?
Can you have too many flashbacks?
Is it bad to write a flashback in the first chapter?
How do you switch between flashback and present time?
In this episode, I'm answering these questions and more.
We'll talk about the difference between flashback and backstory. Then we'll talk about some do's and don'ts when writing effective, resonanting flashback.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
28 Mar 2023
#133: Should You Write A Prologue?
00:33:33
Does your story need a prologue? Will it hurt your story? Should you remove or rewrite the one you’ve already written?
And how do you write a riveting prologue that gives just enough information so we can absorb the rest of your story?
Some writers resist writing prologues. They think it's an industry no no.
Other writers think it's a requirement.
But a common mistake with prologues is writing one which has no substantial relationship to the global story.
Which is why publishers dismiss the manuscript without turning the page. That's what makes a prologue a no no. Not the prologue, but the execution of it.
Hate them or love them, prologues are sometimes necessary to help readers navigate and enjoy your novel.
This episode will help you decide if your story could benefit from a prologue. You'll learn 4 types of prologues and what makes them work. And then you'll get tips for writing a winning prologue.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
04 Apr 2023
#134: A 5-Step Framework For Writing A Clear Compelling Story
00:22:01
A common challenge many writers face is gaining clarity on the story they’re writing and conveying it to readers in a way that compels them to keep reading.
Often, there are too many competing story-lines that don't feel integrated. Too many characters whose relevance isn't clear. And then there are random events that don't have a clear story connection.
The story meanders without a point.
This makes the story hard for a reader to follow.
So, the challenge is to nail down who your story's about, what problem your character is trying to solve, what incident catapults him or her into action, and how he or she goes about solving their story problem.
It's a pretty straightforward framework. And there are 5 parts to it, which we'll break down in today's episode.
So, if you're having trouble finishing your story, if you're getting stalled in the middle, or overwhelmed and lost in your own material, this episode is for you.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
11 Apr 2023
#135: The Secret To Mastering Your Story's Point Of View
00:24:58
One of the most important decisions you’re going to make about your story is its point of view.
Point of view is also one of the more complex story structures to master. How do you show what's in other characters' minds when writing in first person, or limited 3rd?
And what about omniscience?
In this episode, I'm going to give you a different understanding of point of view that you probably haven't heard before. You'll learn to control it more, and take advantage of the range available to you whether you're writing in first person, third person limited, or third person omniscient.
You'll learn:
the primary purpose of point of view;
why focusing on which person you write in is limiting your story's point of view, and what to focus on instead;
what we mean by omniscience (and why it's not the sole province of third person narrators) and;
how to bring a third person narrator more deeply into the mind of your characters
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
18 Apr 2023
#136: Present Tense Vs. Past Tense: The Pros and Cons
00:27:07
Present tense or past tense? How do you decide?
What are the advantages of present tense, and when is past tense a better option?
In this episode, I’m going to explore the pros and cons of present tense. We'll explore techniques that are much easier to achieve with past tense.
And if the present is your tense of choice, I'll outline 4 limitations to be aware of, so you can overcome them.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
25 Apr 2023
#137: The Inciting Incident: How To Launch Your Story's Action
00:22:21
What's an inciting incident, and why does your story need one?
In this episode, learn what an inciting incident is, and two types that set your story in motion.
We’ll also talk about where in your story to place it, and how to craft your inciting incident to hook your reader.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
02 May 2023
#138: What Kind Of Editor Do You Need?
00:19:56
Whatever stage of the writing process you're in, whether you have a finished first draft, or a work in progress... you may be thinking of hiring an editor.
But what does an editor actually do?
And at what stage do you hire one?
In today's episode, I'm breaking down 3 different types of editors to help you decide what's best for you at whatever stage of development you're at.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
16 May 2023
#140: Scene Vs. Summary: When To Write Which
00:19:04
Writers often think they're writing in scene when they're actually writing in summary. So, what is summary? What is scene? And when do you write in one vs. the other?
In this episode, I'll break down the crucial difference between scene and summary.
You'll learn what moments to reserve for scene and how to blend in summary to enhance your story.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
09 May 2023
#139: Mothers Who Write: How To Find The Time, Energy, and Support
00:26:09
How do mothers balance writing with parenthood? Whether you're a mom of young children, or a single parent holding down a full time job and a full brood, carving out space to write can feel challenging, if not impossible.
This episode is a love note to mothers. I'll share my story, along with what I've learned along the way about how to honor the urge to create while being totally present for our kids.
We'll cover how to make time, set the conditions to make your writing happen, and how to ask for support.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
23 May 2023
#141: Four Guidelines For Writing Dazzling Description
00:21:35
Description can enrich your story with layers of atmosphere and authenticity that drops the reader inside the world of your story.
But sometimes writers assume that in order to create a world for the reader to inhabit, they must pile on loads of details.
You may be writing fantasy, or historical fiction, where the setting is unfamiliar or foreign to the reader. So, description is necessary. But how much description is the right amount?
When does it become overwhelming to the reader?
Too much description, especially when it's wasteful, can bog readers down and make them confused about what what they should pay attention to, and what's mere ornamentation.
If you don't select what goes into your description, it will strike the reader as arbitrary or gratuitous.
So, the question is...
What goes into your descriptions? And what stays out?
What's the criteria?
In this episode, I'm going to give you four criteria to help you write dazzling descriptions that create vivid, lasting impressions on readers.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
30 May 2023
#142: Your Summer Writing Playlist
00:22:40
Now that summer's officially here, and with Writer Unleashed reaching it's 3rd year of being on the airwaves, I've done a retrospective of past episodes.
And I've curated 7 of the most popular episodes from the past year - everything from how to express character emotion, to how to avoid common plot problems, to story structure, to how to approach your craft like a published author.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
06 Jun 2023
143: How To Get Better Feedback From Beta Readers
00:26:37
You’ve just finished the first draft of your novel, memoir or short story, and now you're seeking beta readers.
A beta reader is a test reader or a group of test readers of your unpublished work. Ideally, your beta reader gives feedback from the point of view of an average reader.
But how do you go about finding them? What should you look for? What should you avoid? And what are some tips to get the most valuable feedback from your test audience?
In this episode, I'm answering all your questions about beta readers.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
13 Jun 2023
#144: Four Ways To Give Your Voice Presence And Purpose
00:31:27
What exactly is writer's voice?
How do you access yours, and how do you express it on the page?
In this episode, I'll give you 4 ways to give your voice more presence and purpose in your stories.
We'll talk about:
What we mean by writer's voice
The difference between character voice and writer's voice
Common ways writers struggle with and silence their voice, and
4 tips, along with exercises to help your voice emerge and deepen
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
20 Jun 2023
#145: Four Levels To Deeper Character Development
00:24:27
In this episode, you're going to go beneath the surface of your characters. We'll go 4 levels deep, starting on the surface, and moving a level deeper until we get to your character's truest self. The self he's trying so hard to hide, suppress, and protect.
This will bring multi-dimension, complexity, and believability to your characters. Even if your reader doesn't relate to your character's external situation, or their particular plot problems, they will connect in every way to their human dilemma.
This is especially valuable for your protagonist. But it's equally valuable for your antagonist, and other main characters.
These are emotional layers your characters are constantly negotiating as they move through your plot.
And you, as author, need to know your characters more than they know themselves.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
27 Jun 2023
#146: 5 Ways To Fine Tune Character Voice
00:22:55
How do you give your characters a distinct, unmistakable voice?
What people say and how they say it is a big part of character development. And each character has a unique way of speaking, thinking, and interacting.
In this episode, we'll go over 5 ways to bring your characters' voices to life. To make them distinct, magnetic, believable, and memorable.
These elements help bring authenticity and depth to your characters by reflecting their cultural backgrounds, age, experiences, and the places in which they live.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
04 Jul 2023
#147: How Uncertainty During The Writing Process Helps You Write Better Stories
00:17:37
Paralyzed by uncertainty during the writing process? In this episode, learn why uncertainty is every great writer's secret weapon. You'll learn why uncertainty is vital to the creative process, and how to court, even intensify uncertainty to write your most riveting work.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
11 Jul 2023
#148: 3 Guidelines For Writing Riveting Dialogue
00:19:34
How do you write dialogue that doesn’t feel artificial, cliche or dull?
How do you use dialogue to create character depth, subtlety and originality? Conversation that’s not over the top dramatic or overly direct, and yet absolutely riveting.
In today’s episode, we’ll go over 3 questions to guide you in writing dialogue that has readers hanging on every word.
We'll cover:
Why using dialogue to advance your plot is the wrong approach
Why what'snot being said is just as important as what is being said
The secret to creating tension and suspense through dialogue
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
18 Jul 2023
#149: 5 Essential Elements To Make A Scene
00:29:16
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 I recommend writing in scenes first
Different types of action that give a scene immediacy
How setting each scene's intention will create tension and raise the stakes
The withhold and reveal technique to keeping your reader anticipating each and every scene
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
25 Jul 2023
#150: How To Build Multi-Dimensional Story Settings
00:24:16
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 immersive experience. So that the setting doesn’t serve as mere backdrop, but transports readers into the world of your story.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
01 Aug 2023
#151: How Objects Create Stronger Storytelling
00:23:11
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 your story more muscularity and vividness.
We'll explore 3 different types of objects and the various purposes each play in a scene, and in the story as a whole. And I'll give you examples of each.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
08 Aug 2023
#152: Should You Self Publish Or Go The Traditional Route?
00:21:58
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 self publishers shouldn't ignore
Royalties (and why marketing and distribution are key to sales)
A side by side comparison of income potential for traditional and self published authors
So, whether you're on the fence, just curious, or you've already decided which path to take and want some tips and pointers, you won't want to miss this episode.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
15 Aug 2023
#153: How Failure Can Lead To Your Best Writing
00:15:09
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 story.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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22 Aug 2023
#154: How A Central Image Can Amplify Your Story’s Meaning
00:21:09
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. They're woven into the fabric of your story, and remind your reader what your story's about.
In this episode, we'll talk about how to locate a central image and create a pattern with it throughout your story, allowing it to gather meaning and emotional weight with each repetition.
This can amplify your story's theme and meaning. And even help you organize and shape your material. Episode Website
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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29 Aug 2023
#155: 5 Common Plot Problems And How To Fix Them
00:24:25
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 in a way that's emotionally satisfying to your reader.
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Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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12 Sep 2023
#157: 5 Ways To Earn Money Writing
00:23:32
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.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
05 Sep 2023
#156: 4 Ways To Show Character Emotion
00:14:39
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 of emotion.
How to blast through the reader’s intellect to his most primitive emotions.
How to avoid emotional cliches.
The power of juxtaposition.
The Think Large, Write Small approach to writing for emotional impact.
How to recreate your character’s experience to transfer emotion directly to your reader.
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Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
19 Sep 2023
#158: A Different Approach To Writing First Drafts
00:28:54
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 drafts. It works at any stage of the drafting process.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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26 Sep 2023
#159: 5 Writing Exercises To Help You Master Dialogue
00:34:37
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 master dialogue.
Download your free worksheet with all 5 dialogue exercises by clicking here.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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03 Oct 2023
#160: How To Build Captivating Character Relationships
00:20:49
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 learn how to introduce multiple characters and make minor characters more relevant.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
10 Oct 2023
#161: Looking Back On The Past: A Guide To Writing Retrospective Narrators
00:29:12
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 the present.
In this episode, you’ll get a guide to writing retrospective narrators. We’ll talk about the two voices to bring to your retrospective story, and 4 questions to help you shape your character’s depth of view.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
17 Oct 2023
#162: 5 Checkpoints For Developing Character And Plot
00:19:57
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 way about the private inner life of characters. So there's going to be some central, evolving concern, or problem that your character must deal with. And the story is about is the actions, the suffering, the pain, the missteps, and the victories of the characters.
In other words, character and plot are bound together. You can't really work on them separately.
So in this episode, I'll give you 5 checkpoints to help you develop both character and plot.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
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24 Oct 2023
#163: 5 Tips For Writing Stronger, More Structured Scenes
00:24:40
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 each scene.
In this episode, learn 5 ways to craft stronger, more structured scenes that guide readers seamlessly through your story.
These will make your scenes easier and more fun to write, and exciting to read.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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31 Oct 2023
#164: How To Give Each Character A Story Purpose
00:25:24
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 you want to carefully consider the necessity of each character.
Not every character needs the same amount of depth and range. But you want to make sure that every character, no matter how minor, contributes to the overall narrative in a meaningful way.
In this episode, I’m breaking down three types of characters you’ll likely have in your story: major characters, minor characters, and functional characters. You'll learn how to give each of these characters a clear story purpose.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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07 Nov 2023
#165: How To Get The Most Out Of NaNoWriMo (Or Any New Writing Project)
00:18:57
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 inspiration fades, they lose momentum and drive.
In this episode, I’ll give you some guidelines to get the most out of your work in progress. And if you’re participating in NaNoWriMo, I’ll tell you how to get the most progress in the next 24 days and beyond.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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14 Nov 2023
#166: How To Recharge Your Motivation To Write
00:17:06
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 from the work without taking a rest from your commitment to your work
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
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21 Nov 2023
#167: 3 Powerful Writing Exercises When You Don't Know What To Write
00:20:03
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 to start a story, warm up, or get unstuck.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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28 Nov 2023
#168: 3 Simple Techniques To Turn Good Writing Into Great
00:19:58
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 toturn good writing into great writing.
These are techniques I learned from my graduate writing teachers - techniques you likely haven't heard of...
Until now.
This episode will transform the way you write, and will give your story an edge.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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05 Dec 2023
#169: Plot Simplified Into 4 Core Elements
00:23:32
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 structure
5 common ways plots go off the rails
How to translate character desire into a tangible goal
What meaningful conflict is and how to let it escalate
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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19 Dec 2023
#171: Scene and Summary: A Guide To Writing Both
00:20:29
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.
Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.
Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
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12 Dec 2023
#170: 10 Great Gifts For Writers
00:16:05
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 gifts, along with links to purchase by clicking here on the episode's show notes.
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26 Dec 2023
Rewind: 3 Mindset Shifts To Make Your Writing Dream A Reality
00:20:09
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 finishing.
Maybe you're afraid of putting your book out there. You just keep wanting to do one read-through after another. It's never good enough.
Maybe your greatest fear is that you'll let yourself down.
In this episode, we're breaking down 4 common fears that may be keeping you stuck. Then we'll replace those fears with mindset shifts to get you unstuck. So you can shift your writing from dream to reality.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
02 Jan 2024
Rewind: Writing Inspiration From The Masters
00:18:52
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 quotes and unwrapping them for the wisdom and creative fuel they offer on writing technique and the writing life.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
09 Jan 2024
#172: How To Stick To Your Writing This Year
00:18:32
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 to start the cycle all over again.
So, in this episode, I’m going to give you 4 tips to keep yourself invested in your story for the long game.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
16 Jan 2024
#173: How To Write A Captivating Opening Hook
00:23:17
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 readers crave the answer to, and when to reveal the answers
How to make an instant emotional connection between character and reader
Using contradiction to create mystery and surprise
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
06 Feb 2024
#176: Beyond First and Third Person: 3 Tips For Writing Point Of View
00:20:11
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 different purposes.
So in this episode, I'm going to tease apart narration from point of view. And then I'll share 3 key points to craft a strong point of view.
Not sure where to begin writing? Need a way in to your story? Or a way through? Click here to download your FREE 9 Story Starters.
Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
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