Writer Unleashed

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 throwback episode from  Season 3 , we're going into the mind of your reader, and what they w...

Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading. There's a lot riding on your first chapter.  So you want to get this right. Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous  details, and your reader will grow bored, overwhelmed, and will sto...

When a story moves us, it’s not because of beautiful writing, or a strong voice – it’s not because of a great plot. All these things are important, but those things on their own don’t move us. What makes a story unputdownable and unforgettable is that the reader goes on an emotional journey of his or her own. They don’t just feel for your characters, they feel with your characters.  In this episod...

Show, don't tell. How many times have you heard this advice? You may understand the concept, but it's still not sinking in. So, what's the difference between showing and telling? Should show don't tell be applied to every line and paragraph of a story? Are there times when it's better to tell? When do you show? When do you tell? And how do you write it? In this episode, I&...

You want your characters' dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking.  But what do you do when the dialogue just sounds mundane, forced, and dull?  Writing dialogue requires practice. And there are some ways to think about dialogue to help you write it better.  In this episode, learn 5 do's and don'ts of writing stronger, more absorbing dialogue. Episode Website

If I had to pick one thing that makes readers stop reading, it's the overcomplicated plot.  Both  novice and experienced writers fall into this trap. They include too many characters, too many events, storylines,  and extraneous details that don’t feel connected or integrated. This makes it confusing  and frustrating for you as you write and revise. And a slog for your readers to get through....

You want to bring more depth and complexity to your characters so that readers are interested and invested in what happens to them. But how do you do that? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to create deeper, more fascinating characters. These are often things I see lacking in student manuscripts, especially those more focused on plot.  Plot and character really can’t be separated. But before you...

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...

What are plot points? And why do you need them? In this episode, we’ll talk about 3 major plot points , the purpose of each, and where in your story to place them. In this episode, you'll learn: What a plot point is The foundational elements you need before charting your plot points Your 3 Acts and what percentage of your story each act comprises Where each plot point happens in each of your...

Ever wonder how to write your First Act? In this episode, learn 3 core elements to structure - and nail-  Act One of your story. From your set-up, to your inciting incident, to your first plot point, you'll learn how these elements impact the rest of your story, and where to place each. We'll cover: How long your first act should be How to set up your story so we know who and what your s...

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 r...

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 th...

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...

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 pu...

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.   Episode Web Page Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.   Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease conside...

Looking for original gift ideas for writers? Want to add some to your own holiday  wish list?  In this episode, I’m sharing 1 0 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 clic...

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...

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 to turn good writing into great writing.    These are techniques I learned from my graduate writing teachers - techniques you likely haven&ap...

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 ge...

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 f...

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 e...

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...

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,...

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 characte...

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 t...