John Helps You Write Better

Opening 2024 with a delightful Writers Chat 02.01.2024 1:12:41 ↓

In today's Writer Chat I talk about growth curves, meet-cutes, meet-sads, revision, and how editors make deadlines. It was great to be back to Chat.

A great episode to start 2024 with 02.01.2024 12:28 ↓

Hey look, it's a new year. Let's talk about writing.

Get ready for 2024 with this episode 28.12.2023 8:16 ↓

Here we are at the end of 2023. How are your sleeves?

How are your expectations doing? 27.12.2023 9:28 ↓

In today's episode, we need to talk about your expectations.

Having a voice and using it 26.12.2023 7:15 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your voice.

The pre-end-of-year housekeeping episode 25.12.2023 4:59 ↓

In today's episode, I tell you what to expect.

What to do when something you believed about yourself isn't true 21.12.2023 26:06 ↓

In today's episode, I want to tell you about how a discovery I made is changing about 99% of what I planned for 2024.

How to build threat and make characters work a little 20.12.2023 11:31 ↓

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about threats and challenges but talking to you about a chicken.

The action-packed final Writers Chat of 2023 (see you in 2024) 19.12.2023 1:51:17 ↓

In today's Chat, the last of the year, I answer some great questions about popular books, writing dialogue, making RPGs, word count, and being better than not-good-enough. This is the final Writers Chat of 2023, the Chat will be back in 2024.

Setting goals that you'll actually accomplish 19.12.2023 11:09 ↓

How do we run marathons? One step at a time.

Here are 2 things I'd like you to stop doing at the end of the year 18.12.2023 10:02 ↓

At the end of every year, writers congregate for two performative exercises. Here's why you shouldn't do either of them.

Why does it matter how fast you're going? 14.12.2023 17:05 ↓

And now, a few words for the "it's taking too long to do this" crowd.

BONUS EPISODE!! Give this to writers who are struggling with traditional publishing 14.12.2023 18:11 ↓

Hey, if you're a writer dealing with traditional publishing and you're having a hard time, this one is for you. And when you want some help (FOR FREE) come check out johnhelpsyouwritebetter.com

How to set some goals that aren't ridiculous 13.12.2023 13:58 ↓

Let's take a few minutes today to talk about how you're setting yourself up to succeed or fail.

A packed full of thought Writers Chat for 12.12 12.12.2023 1:43:37 ↓

In today's Chat I talked about being in your own way, how to build cyberpunk, how to revise, and why Emily Mortimer is kind of a trope.

Work on yourself to work on your goals 12.12.2023 11:09 ↓

In today's episode, I want to bring up the idea of you being more than your goals.

Amazon is a company town 11.12.2023 16:00 ↓

Hey, have you thought about the big giant publisher everyone insists on using?

Listen to this one if you're worried what people will say about what you're writing 07.12.2023 22:28 ↓

Hi. Can we talk for a second about those people how always seem to have an opinion about you and what you're doing?

Two editorial philosophies 06.12.2023 17:05 ↓

In today's episode, I want to tell about two of the ways editors think about whatever a writer is writing. These aren't the only ways, they're just two common ones.

A technically imperiled Writers Chat for 12.5 05.12.2023 1:35:46 ↓

Okay so this is version 1 (there are 3 versions recorded now) of the Writers Chat for 12.5. If this version sounds terrible, let me know, and I'll put up a different version. So many technical errors plagued today's stream. Hopefully this works.

No, you STILL don't want AI involved 05.12.2023 17:46 ↓

In today's episode I want to again point out some reasons why AI is the worst idea possible for your creative effort.

The trouble with reviews and hostages 04.12.2023 17:59 ↓

In today's episode I want to talk a little about one-star reviews, the dipsticks who leave them, and what they mean to you as a writer.

The problem with publisher nonsense, part 2 30.11.2023 14:55 ↓

In today's episode, let's continue our conversation about what happens when everyone accepts a lower bar than they should.

The problem with unacceptable publisher nonsense, part 1 29.11.2023 12:19 ↓

In today's episode I want to talk a little bit about the cycle of production and the tolerance for poor effort.

The one question Chat from 11.28 28.11.2023 1:05:31 ↓

Oh boy was this audio a pain to get out. Technical issues abound, but here's some audio for you. I hope you like it.