Explore every episode of the podcast Writer Unleashed

Got a story idea but don't know where to begin? You're not alone. Many writers either freeze at "Chapter One" or spend months planning without ever drafting. In this episode, I walk you through the essential things you need to know before you write your first scene. So you can stop overthinking and start writing today.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Suspense isn't just for thrillers—it's what makes readers unable to put down any story, from memoir to fantasy to romance. In this episode, you'll learn three proven techniques to create page-turning tension in any genre. No car chases or explosions required.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Most story ideas that excite you at 2 AM seem paper-thin by Thursday afternoon. Here's the truth: your idea probably isn't too small, you just haven't learned how to dig deeper. While other writers chase the next shiny concept, successful authors know how to mine the gold that's already there.

In this episode, discover the specific questions that reveal whether your story has legs, plus the proven techniques for expanding any concept into a full narrative that writes itself. Stop second-guessing your ideas and start building stories with real staying power.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Show Notes

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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.

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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.

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

 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.

Episode Web Page

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

There are many ways these days to earn money writing.  And if you enjoy tinkering with words, these 5 will help you earn cash while giving you the time freedom to devote to your novel, memoir, or story collection.  All while sharpening your skills as a wordsmith.

In this episode we'll cover:

• Copywriting
• Feature Writing
• Email Marketing
• Social Media 
• Writing Contests

Episode Webpage

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

 
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Do you have a folder full of half-finished drafts? You’re not alone. Almost every writer has started a story with excitement, only to abandon it when the magic fades.

In this episode, I’ll share why this happens, the mindset shifts that help you stay the course, and four practical strategies to keep you moving forward even when the middle gets messy.

You’ll learn how to stop chasing new ideas, stay connected to the story you’ve already begun, and use writing not just to finish, but to deepen your process.

If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of starting and abandoning stories, this episode will give you the clarity and encouragement you need to finally reach “The End.”

Episode Web Page

Ask ChatGPT

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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



 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Website

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Website

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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 

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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's not being said is just as important as what is being said
• The secret to creating tension and suspense through dialogue
• How to find the story in each piece of dialogue

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Every writer wrestles with doubt from time to time. But if you don’t know how to handle it, that doubt can stall your story for months or even years. In this episode, I’m dismantling three of the most common myths that keep writers stuck and replacing them with truths you can lean on. So you can keep showing up for your story with a sense of wonder and unshakeable confidence. 

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

And I'll help you get specific feedback from your beta readers with a free, brand new checklist: Is It Done? A Must-Have Revision Checklist. 

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Think of this as your summer writing playlist.

Episode 100: 5 Common Plot Problems You Can Avoid

Episode 107: How To Write A Short Story In 3 Easy Steps

Episode 108: 3 Things Published Authors Do Differently

Episode 110: 3 Powerful Ways To Show Character Emotion

Episode 118: Before You Outline: 3 Core Foundations To Build First

Episode124:  How To Hook Readers In Your Opening Paragraph

Episode 128: 3 Mindset Shifts To Make Your Writing Dream A Reality

 
Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Backstory often gets blamed for slowing a story down. Writers are told to cut it, sprinkle it lightly, or avoid it altogether.

But here’s the truth: the wrong backstory, delivered the wrong way, at the wrong time is the problem.

Used with intention, backstory can reveal the wounds and desires that drive your character, raise the stakes, and transform an ordinary scene into one that lingers with readers.

In this episode, I’ll share:

• 3 powerful ways to use backstory so it deepens, rather than derails, your story
• How to spot when your backstory is drowning out the narrative
• A simple technique to keep time jumps clear and seamless for your reader

Whether your draft is overloaded with flashbacks or you’re struggling to weave in your character’s past, this episode will help you use backstory as the tool it’s meant to be.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Also Listen To:

Episode 108: 3 Things Published Authors Do Differently

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Quick Links to Episodes:

Episode 73: Beyond The First Draft: 5  Storytelling Techniques For Better Structure

Episode 87: Four Writing Myths Holding You Back

Episode 90: Four Ways to Master Show, Don’t Tell

Episode 50: How Much Backstory Does Your Reader Really Need To Know?

Episode 89: What Plotters and Pansters Both Get Wrong About Story

Episode 109: Your Top 5 Character Questions Answered

Episode Website

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Also listen to:
Episode 112: 3 Tips For Writing Dynamic Dialogue

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

Your opening line is your reader’s first invitation into your story, so it has to do more than just start the book. It has to hook.  In this episode, I'm sharing 3 powerful strategies to craft a first sentence that grabs your readers' attention and keeps them wanting more.  

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

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. 

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

 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.

Episode Web Page

Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.   Grab your FREE Worksheet here.