Writer Unleashed

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...

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...

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 op...

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. Episode Website Download your FREE Chara...

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 leav...

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. Episode Webs...

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 scen...

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 Go...

There’s no one size fits all way to write. Still, there’s no shortage of advice on how to do it.  But some advice can derail you for months, maybe years. Advice like reaching a certain word count per day. Or crafting your story with an ideal reader in mind. Or outlining before you’ve felt  your way into your story.  So, today I’m going to counter some of the most common advice I hear over and over...

 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 going to pull some of my favorite  quotes and unwrap them for the wisdom and creative fuel they offer on  writing technique and  the writing life.

Have you ever thought, Writing should be easier for me than this?  I sure did. I didn't know there was a craft to writing a novel. I thought talent and sheer  passion would see me through. And then I became a professional competitive dancer and learned that desire and talent were just starter fuel. The truth is, writing is no easier than mastering any other art form. Talent is not enough. Tec...

How do you keep a consistent writing routine when you're life is hectic as all hell?  How do you find time to write and   fulfill life's never-ending hamster wheel of responsibilities?  And where do you find the energy?  In this episode, you'll hear the strategies I've been using for years to let writing co-exist with a crazy busy, but beautiful  life as a single working mom. Y...

How can you be more efficient with structuring your story? How do you balance structure while keeping the story fresh and surprising? In this episode we're going to talk about 5 essential storytelling techniques that will help you structure your story into a riveting experience for your readers. You'll also learn how to hook your reader in your opening sentences instantly using one simpl...

Do you ever feel like you're tying yourself up in knots with all the different points of view your story has?  POV is one of the most misunderstood and often poorly taught story elements. It's also one of the most important story decisions you make.  But there's so much confusion about POV. In today's episode, we'll untangle some of the confusion. You'll learn what po...

You have your first draft. Or maybe you're stalled in your current work in progress. Now what?  How do you finish what you started? Today, you'll learn how to move forward with your work in progress, or revise the  draft you already have.  This is part  1 of a 3 part mini series, Beyond the First Draft. This episode focuses on character development. You'll get clear on who your stor...

There's a lot of writing advice floating around. But most of it shackles writers more than it helps, and sometimes leads to paint-by-number stories.  In this episode, learn common traps when it comes to plot, action, backstory, show, don't tell, and point of view. You'll turn around misconceptions and learn what to do instead. Episode Website

What does character thought have to do with plot? It's the connective tissue that brings continuity to your story, scene by scene. It helps fill in all those plot holes. And it keep your reader grounded in what's happening as your story advances.  Character thought is part of the action. It's the connective tissue that accomplishes 3 things: reminds your reader what happened earlier...

How do you harness the depth and complexity of your story material? And orchestrate all those story threads so that they intensify your plot?  By creating subplots. Learn two ways subplots work,  plus three places your subplots may already be hiding out in your WIP waiting to be developed. NanciPanuccio.com/68 Links mentioned: FREE Character Questionnaire nancipanuccio.com/character/

What’s the most overlooked way to show how a character feels? The vowel scale - the poet's secret weapon.  Just like musical notes, vowel sounds have frequencies that create vibrations in the reader's body, making them feel with your character. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the frequencies of these vowel sounds to reinforce the emotion, tone, images, and meaning o...

 How do you create the kind of suspense that keeps readers riveted to your pages, hanging on every sentence?  Suspense doesn't happen in the broad strokes - trouble, cliffhangers, sympathetic characters, etc. It's built sentence by sentence. And there are two simple techniques you can apply right now.  In today's episode, you'll learn how to orchestrate details that  bring tens...

Readers crave novelty and surprise. They don't want the same cliched description of a sunset. Or the expected character response to betrayal.  But coming up with original ideas, especially  for ordinary things like sunsets, requires us to tap into our own creative reservoir. In today's episode, we'll explore 4 ways to keep your creative channels open. So you can access your original...

How do you keep writing when you're paralyzed by self doubt? By reprogramming faulty thought patterns. In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll re-frame common misconceptions about writing, and even misconceptions about your own abilities that are sabotaging you.  We'll explore: What's really at the core of writer's block 3 Common thoughts that derail writers The...

Style can be the downfall of an otherwise stunning story. That's because the writing calls  too much attention to itself and upstages the characters. It fights against your story and keeps your reader from getting fully engrossed. Worse, it keeps you from getting deeply involved with your own story. In today's episode, we'll talk about the elements that make up your writing style, a...

What's one of the quickest way to get your manuscript in the reject pile? Too many adjectives and adverbs.  Writers often think adjectives and adverbs describe vividly. But nothing could be farther from the truth.  Instead, they bloat your story with empty filler.  And bore your reader. In today's episode, you'll learn how to eliminate or minimize adjectives and adverbs and replace...

Don't  think or write chronologically? No worries. Stories bend to their own laws of time. In today's episode, we'll look at 4 ways to manipulate time in your story. These will give you more range as the author,  and more tension and suspense for your reader. We'll explore: Using  flashbacks to frame your story Using the figure 8 structure around an image or event Creating susp...