Teaching Myself to Write Novels

Opening up with a deep discussion on next steps with Lisa of Heart Ally Books (my lovely mother-in-law). She is also deeply involved with Margie Lawson's Writers Academy. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   MLWA: https://www.margielawson.com/lawson-writers-academy  Heary Ally Books: https://heartallybooks.com  Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetec...

Some things I keep in mind when as plotting out my novels (and what I've learned from Story Grid). Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Today I talk about my lull before I begin the editing process on my first ever novel. I've been spending time working on my book series I plan to write next! (There’s a spoiler) Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Draft "Zero" is complete! Where am I going next? Here's what's new (and old) on this journey of mine. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

How to kick social media (ahem Facebook) in the butt. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Spoiler alert: you might not like the answer.  Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music:  Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Talking more here about representation since it's all I can think about these days. The test I mention is called the Latif Test but there are a couple others as well. Let's make sure our writing is fully inclusive! Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://c...

Get ready for an Avatar the airbender episode & go start watching if you've never seen the series before! *There are spoilers!* I also talk about representation & tokenism in the media. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/license...

Today I talk about podcasting, free books for self-promotion, and the "light at the end of the first draft tunnel." Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Today I dive into the specificity of the writing craft, discuss suggestions on leveling up, and ways to draw your reader into your character perspectives. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

This episode is my session with the Story Grid editor, Randy Surles! I had to cut a lot out so it’s a little disjointed but I hope you get the gist of how helpful he was! Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Scene-session episodes to come soon! Here I talk about how zooming out helps me understand the arcs and structure of my novels. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

Finding my way back to my own "new normal," I decided to book a scene-breakdown session with a Story-Grid editor, Randy Surles. My next episode(s) will show how it went! Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 

I had to take a break from writing and podcasting but I'm back. I talk a bit about how world events have affected me and I also get into world building on a second project of mine. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Today I try to work out how to make my wimpy protagonist as cool as my villainous, conflicted secondary character. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Slogging in the middle of my story, today I talk about giving yourself credit for all the things that add up to your novel (not just word count). I have a 6-minute bonus about using dialogue as a crutch at the end. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecom...

Pt 2: I'm getting close to a full time workload. The sudden shift has made me reflective and I've learned a lot with just observing my patterns. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Quarantine madness is getting to me. Today I rant a lot as I try to navigate this writing journey and reincorporate my old life while staying sane. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Today I mention The Sand Sea, which can be accessed before June here: storygrid.com/the-sand-sea The YouTube lectures I mention are by Brandon Sanderson and can be found here: youtu.be/-6HOdHEeosc Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Today I talk about Goal, Motivation, Conflict, story structure, mentor figures, and more with Shirley Jump. Notes: For updates from Shirley, visit  ShirleyJump.com and for more on her classes, visit MargieLawson.com If you'd like one of the tools we mentioned from Shirley, email shirley@shirleyjump.com and she'll send you one free worksheet! Sign up for my book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b...

Today is a follow up on Ep. 5: I share my revelations and I'm excited about my progress. Maybe a little too excited. (What comes up, you know...) Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Today I talk about the fluidity of my writing journey and how it's sometimes ok to go backwards. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

I had a rough few days! Today I decided to document my process of getting "unstuck." Sign up for book updates: http://eepurl.com/g1Zj6b  Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Today I discuss how social "career writing" can really be. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

In this episode, I discuss Story Grid and finding ways to work theme into your story. Sign up for book updates: eepurl.com/g1Zj6b   Opening Music: Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod  Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge  License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/