Show, don't Tell Writing with Suzy Vadori

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy interviews Story Grid Editor Joanne Haines about the Story Grid evaluation process. They discuss how it addresses the 5 commandments of story and how you can apply them to scenes and your overall story. They also discuss how Story Grid approaches the writing advice of "show, don't tell" in a unique way.  Connect with Joanne on her website at ht...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy interviews fellow book coach, Monica Cox about the revision process. They dive deep and explore ideas about how to get yourself in the proper 'reader mindset' and share practical tips for tackling, arguably the most difficult part of the process of writing a book.  🌟 Grab your spot in Suzy's Inner Circle at www.suzyvadori.com/innercircle Sign...

Send us Fan Mail Depending on where you are on your writing journey, you may be finding out that writing your book is just the beginning of your journey as a writer. Finishing a book is a huge accomplishment, requiring significant time, energy, focus, and love. Job number one in a writer’s life is getting that darned book finished, polished, and then out into the world. But the reality in today’s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Suzy chats with career author, Janet Fox, about her experiences writing "kidlit" or literature for children. They discuss how the kidlit publishing landscape has changed in the years since Janet's debut, and how to sustain a long career in writing for children and teens.  You can find more about Janet on her website at: www.janetsfox.com 🌟 Grab your...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy sits down with fellow book coach, Kerry Savage to discuss how writers can use project management strategies to reach their writing goals. It's more than just a to-do list! They talk technology, SMART goals, and how to put it together with a strategy.  Resources Mentioned in the Episode:  5 ChatGPT Prompts To Stop Playing Small And 10x Your Reality Writin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Suzy speaks with Author and book coach Liisa Kovala about her journey and her books, but also what she's seeing as she collates stories of women writers in her podcast, Women Writing.  What are our unique challenges and opportunities as women when we're young, when we're middle aged and aging? Lisa and I are going to have a frank discussion about the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy conducts a live page review for Jordan Bloomfield’s young adult novel, Party Boys . Originally written as a screenplay, Party Boys is Jordan’s first novel, following a group of 16-year-olds navigating friendships, football, and risky social situations. Suzy shares insights on adapting a screenplay into a novel, emphasizing how to i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy approaches goal setting in a strategic and measured way for writers. She tackles the different myths about writing that you may be telling yourself that are getting in the way of achieving your writing goals, and then lays out a step by step plan for setting goals for 2025. Mentioned in the Episode: Suzy's Video about Writer's Block 🌟 Grab your spo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy dives into one of the most critical yet often mishandled aspects of writing: dialogue. She shares her top tips for crafting dialogue that grabs your reader's attention, reveals character, and propels your story forward. Whether you struggle with punctuation, pacing, or making conversations feel authentic yet engaging, this episode will transform how you...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show, don’t Tell Writing , Suzy chats with Allyson McCollum, author of the newly released paranormal fantasy novel Mors Obliviscens . Allyson shares her writing journey, from joining Suzy’s Wicked Good Fiction Boot Camp in 2021 to publishing her debut novel in 2024. Together, they discuss the intricacies of crafting a dark and layered afterlife, developing compl...

Send us Fan Mail In this special year-end episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy reflects on her incredible journey throughout 2024. From hosting virtual retreats and launching new courses to supporting thousands of writers through coaching and editing, Suzy shares the highlights of her year and the valuable lessons learned along the way, and how you can plan your own writing goals for next year...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show, don’t Tell Writing , Suzy breaks down the top five mistakes she frequently sees in fiction manuscripts—and how to fix them. No matter where you are in the writing process, this practical advice will help you avoid the pitfalls that can derail your book's success. From poorly chosen endings to bloated word counts, Suzy explains how addressing these iss...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show, don’t Tell Writing, Suzy offers live feedback on the opening page of Lisa Tisor’s fantasy novel. Lisa, a librarian and aspiring author from Eastern Oregon revisits a story she began as a short piece over 20 years ago. Suzy provides actionable advice on showing vs. telling, grounding the reader in the story’s setting, and pacing as Lisa’s protagonist stumbl...

Send us Fan Mail In this Q&A episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy tackles timely questions about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the writing industry, how to start building an author platform, and how to know if your writing is ready for readers. Resources Shared This Episode: ProwritingAid Autocrit Grammarly QUIZ: Is Your Writing Re...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy provides live coaching for Muhammad’s action-adventure story, The Well . Muhammad, a Nigerian writer, shares his vision for crafting a story that reflects African culture and folklore with a larger-than-life protagonist. Suzy offers actionable advice on enhancing worldbuilding, developing character motivations, and grounding the re...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy walks listeners through the process of self-editing, offering practical strategies for writers to refine their manuscripts before seeking professional help. Suzy emphasizes the importance of editing as a way to ensure that the story you envision reaches your readers as clearly as possible. ➡️ Have Suzy Vadori's Book Ready Sel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Suzy goes beyond the basics to discover how to get your query letter noticed.  Topics include, the competitive nature of querying, statistics on the number of queries agents receive, and the small percentage that result in representation. She highlights the importance of grabbing an agent's attention quickly. Suzy emphasizes that simply following the rules is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy answers questions from participants at the two-day writing retreat held at the end of September. She provides valuable insights on various writing topics including, dealing with stalled projects, incorporating backstory, introducing a large cast of characters, and keeping multiple projects on track. Show, don't Tell in Memoir i...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy provides live feedback on a page from Susan McKelvey’s memoir. Susan shares the heart-wrenching story of losing her husband and grappling with her new role as the matriarch of her family while coping with hereditary disease in her children and grandchildren. Suzy helps Susan refine her page, offering insights on how to tra...

Send us Fan Mail " And so the biggest thing that an agent is going to be looking for, or a reader, anybody, to catch them, to hook them right on that first page, which is really important, is why should I care about your character and what is it that they want?  If you can answer those things really fast and just incorporate the worldbuilding into it. We don't want to stop the story and...

Send us Fan Mail "And so your opening page is really a contract with your reader, right? And so you want to give them a taste of what it is that they're going to read."- Suzy In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy Vadori provides live coaching and feedback on the opening page of Bobbi Jo Beaver’s women’s fiction novel. Bobbi Jo, a professional photographer from Omaha, Neb...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy sits down with Tanasha Martin, a talented writer working on her first young adult fantasy novel. Tanasha shares her journey from writing poetry and short stories to embarking on a complex multi-POV fantasy series. She talks about overcoming challenges, staying disciplined, and how a strong writing community helped her stay motivate...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing , Suzy interviews Felicity George, author of the Gentlemen of London series. Felicity shares her journey from writing her first practice novel to landing a five-book deal with Hachette's Orion imprint. They discuss the intricacies of Regency Romance, the importance of genre expectations, and the process of traditional publishing. Fel...

Send us Fan Mail "Every story has already been written. It's just never been written by you. And the way that you do it is going to be different." - Suzy In this episode, originally recorded during the Day of Inspiration Summit in July, Suzy fields questions from writers at all stages of the writing process, giving insights based on her own publishing journey, writing knowledge, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Show, don't Tell Writing, host Suzy Vadori sits down with author Sheri T. Joseph to delve into the intricacies of hybrid publishing. Sheri shares her unique journey in the publishing world, discussing why she chose a hybrid model for her books and how this decision has shaped her career as an author. Key Topics explored include, What is Hybrid P...