Writer Unleashed

Getting results in our writing is great. But a result-oriented mindset can hinder creativity and authenticity. In this episode, you'll learn how to evaluate your work based on 2 important qualities: presence and truth. This is all about your emotional connection and belief in your story. It's a more transformational approach that values the ongoing journey, and the evolving relationship...

How much backstory do you really need? How much is too much? Most first-time authors tend to overuse backstory, which can detract from the main story. In this episode, I'll share 3 common mistakes writers make, and I'll give you 3 new ways to think about backstory , so that it doesn't dominate your story, but enhances and deepens it.   Episode Website Not sure how to structure your...

One of the biggest impediments to our writing is time, and we all have unfinished drafts to prove it. It always takes much longer than we think, and this can be dispiriting, not to mention stressful. Writing a book is a huge undertaking, and when time is sparse, it can leave us believing we don’t have what it takes. In this episode, I'll challenge you to think differently about time, so you c...

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 they can quickly move through it. But so many writers get stuck there and can't move forward. In this reprise episode from the 2022 vault, I'll give you a pep talk. We'll explore five reasons you...

How do you show, don't tell? What's the difference? Are you telling when you think you're showing? Or showing the wrong things? Is there ever a good time to tell?  Show, don't tell is one of the trickiest things to understand, let alone master. You need both showing and telling. It's just a matter of when and how. So in this episode, I'll show you the difference betwe...

Writers often feel overwhelmed when it comes to editing. But there's a lot of editing you can do quickly, regardless of where in the process you are. In this episode, you'll get 5 quick and easy edits you can do on your own to make your story tighter, stronger, and more engaging to readers. As and added boon, it will make the story less overwhelming when it's time for you to revise....

What do you do when writing starts feeling heavy and overwhelming?  When it stops being fun? In this episode, we'll unwrap what causes these feelings, and 3 ways to make it joyful again. We'll cover:  The number one thought process that's holding you back, and how it shows up in your writing How to reconnect with your personal purpose for writing your story Staying present in your w...

How do you flesh out your characters? How do you go deeper? Just as we can't know a person in one glance, we can't know the people in our stories fully in our early drafts. We come to know our characters more and more deeply as we continue to write and revise. In this episode, we'll explore 4 overlooked ways to deepen your characters - common elements most writers miss.  Episode Web...

Writing a book is not a solo endeavor. Writers rely on beta readers to help them fine-tune their manuscript and ensure its success with agents, editors, and ultimately, their ideal audience. But where do you find beta readers? At what stage of the process do you bring them in? What do you look for? And how do you work with them? In this episode, we'll cover:  What beta readers are, and why as...

Plot twists are one of the most effective and exciting ways to bring intrigue and suspense to your story, and make it unforgettable.  But when not executed or timed right, a plot twist can backfire. In this episode, learn 3 techniques for writing a great plot twist , plus common pitfalls to avoid. You'll learn: What a plot twist is, along with examples to illustrate 3 techniques that all grea...

Often what gets in the way of an otherwise great scene is a lack of compelling character goals. Without a goal in each scene, a story lacks two vital things: tension and momentum. In this episode, we’ll explore why you need a goal in every scene, and 3 types of goals that urge characters through the plot. Episode Web Page

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 from the 2023 vault, you'll learn 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 st...

Scenes set up the structural pace of your story. Some scenes are more action driven, so they move at a faster clip. Other scenes are more reflective, and move slower. Some scenes have more intensity, some have less. Which is why you need different types of scenes.  In this episode, we’ll explore  5 must-have scenes to include in your story.  Episode Web Page Not sure how to structure your story? S...

Do you write your first scene over and over, trying to get it just right? But you never feel like you're nailing it? Many writers spend way too much time on their opening scene without considering its role in the main character's entire arc of change.  There's a relationship between your first scenes and last scenes. To take the reader on the journey along with your character,  you...

Ever receive feedback on your writing that crushed you to the core?  In this episode, learn 5 ways to make sure you not only survive, but get the most constructive feedback on your story, with more generative results.  You'll learn how to take a more active role in the feedback process, so you can leave with a more energized, excited vision for your story.   Episode Web Page

How do you create tension in your story that makes it impossible for readers to put it down? By placing your characters in some kind of danger, even if it's subtle. Danger can be as harrowing as a plane crash, or as nuanced as unrequited love.  In this episode, we'll explore two types of danger to raise tension, and make your story unputdownable. Episode Web Page Not sure how to structur...

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 y...

Often writers create antagonists who do bad, immoral, sometimes evil things.  They might be abusive or neglectful parents. An enemy. Or an otherworldly foe. But when you're writing about your most trouble-rousing characters, you don't want to portray the givens. You want to surprise us.  You want to create an antagonist who's unforgettable.  The stock villain gives the reader a stoc...

How do you make writing a priority when other commitments compete?  When you have a full time career and family?  We all know writing a book is a colossal commitment. And it's so easy to get off track, especially when so much is competing for our time and attention. In this episode, I’ll walk you through strategies to maximize your time, energy, and focus . So you can write without stress and...

Struggling with confidence when it comes to writing your story? Maybe you swing from excitement to self-doubt. Or you worry that no one will care to read it. Maybe you lack enough confidence to even start.  In this episode,  learn 3 ways to boost your confidence .  This is all about shifting your relationship to your work. We'll cover: How to stay focused on the process, not just the end resu...

What do you do when your novel or memoir doesn’t follow the typical plot structure? What if there’s no crime to be solved, tsunami to survive, or evil wizard to slay? What if your character’s only story problem is an internal one? In this episode we’ll explore  4 thresholds your character will walk through at key points throughout your 3 acts.  So you can plot your character-driven  story, and kee...

We can all agree that your opening scenes are your only chance to capture your reader's attention. It's what hooks them into the story.  Your first scene and several scenes that follow are your story's setup.  The setup is essential to master. You have to be concise, deliberate, and selective with what you reveal and withhold. You don't want to give too much away too soon.  You...

Our stories can become so overrun with ideas, they run away from us. Each idea leads to another and another until you’re lost in the vortex. There are stories within stories. Endless possibilities. So many directions the story can go. And then writing your story feels like an insurmountable task. In this episode, I’m giving you 5 questions to explore, so you can rein your ideas in with more clarit...

Most writers know how their characters need to change.  They know what happens on the plot level. They know their character's struggles.  Often, though, the main character doesn't seem to change, even though the external events change dramatically.  Other stories stay mainly in their character's interior without jumping into the fray of action.  Either way, the story can be static. ...

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...