John Helps You Write Better

A quick note about TikTok 25.04.2024 8:37 ↓

In today's episode, I want to ask you a question about what's next.

Give your characters some goals to help the reader feel like things matter 24.04.2024 10:39 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why your characters need goals and what that looks like for your story.

Listen to this if you want help describing things in writing 23.04.2024 1:09:01 ↓

In this week's Writers Chat, we should talk about description. How to write it, what the point is, how to make it work.

Don't change your art to "what sells" 23.04.2024 9:46 ↓

In today's episode, I want to remind you why you shouldn't keep changing your art to be whatever's selling well at the moment.

There are two boxes you can fill with your attention. 22.04.2024 7:18 ↓

In today's episode, I want to tell you about the choice you face every minute of every day about what you can and what you can't control.

Join you character in the moment to help your show/tell problems. 18.04.2024 11:40 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how feelings hit the page.

The value in being yourself when you market your work 17.04.2024 9:32 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your marketing. And your you-ness.

Gambits for your narrative 16.04.2024 11:31 ↓

In today's episode I want to talk to you about how you can draw the reader in only to reveal Bruce Willis is dead the whole time.

Plot, plot, plot, plot 15.04.2024 1:16:33 ↓

In this week's stream (on a Monday?!) I want to talk to you about building, developing, and fixing your plot.

Your narrative and your feet 15.04.2024 8:37 ↓

In today's episode I want to talk you about how stories are like dancing.

The episode with the mud puddle story 11.04.2024 10:30 ↓

In today's episode, I want to tell you about some people and a mud puddle.

Does that (fill-in-the-blank) really help me? 10.04.2024 8:42 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about my inbox and what it can teach us both about how we approach our creative lives.

5 Elements Of A Scene 09.04.2024 1:54:27 ↓

In this week's Chat, I want to talk to you about 5 components of what you're writing. WARNING: this one is information dense. You'll want to take some notes.

Are you paying attention, part 2 09.04.2024 9:28 ↓

In today's episode I ask you a follow-up question about what else you might be paying attention to.

Are you paying attention? 08.04.2024 8:36 ↓

In today's episode I ask you a simple question - are you paying attention?

You're good enough to do better. 04.04.2024 9:52 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about those breaks you've been taking and the things you've been afraid of.

There isn't a wrong way to outline 03.04.2024 8:24 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk you about your outline and about what it needs to do.

6 more writing exercises for you 02.04.2024 1:55:24 ↓

In today's Writers Chat, I've got six more exercises and things to think about when it comes to helping your story gain better plots, characters, and worlds.

A quick note to writers on TikTok looking for advice 02.04.2024 13:27 ↓

In today's episode, I want to address writers on TikTok who are still writing their books while also taking shots of advice to the face from all corners.

How do you know when you have enough detail? 01.04.2024 8:12 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how you're describing things and when enough's enough.

INTERVIEW WITH AN AUTHOR!! Erin Lodes has a book, you should read it 28.03.2024 1:15:47 ↓

In today's very special episode, I talk to an author who I've known for years about her process and her debut novel, out later this week. For more details about Erin, head to http://linktr.ee/erinwritesthings

A writing exercise about stakes 27.03.2024 11:15 ↓

Following up on the previous discussion of stakes, here's an exercise to help you sort out your stakes.

Your Guide to Stakes 26.03.2024 1:32:11 ↓

In this week's Writers Chat I thought we should talk about stakes - what they are and aren't, how to use them, and why they matter.

I've got some vulnerability exercises for you today. 26.03.2024 11:34 ↓

In today's episode, I challenge you to take a look at yourself and write about what you see.

This is an episode where I encourage you to be vulnerable. 25.03.2024 10:51 ↓

In today's episode I'm going to ask you to bravely take a look at yourself and use what you see to fuel your writing.