Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss the process of outlining. There is more to talk about than we might first think. Why is outlining useful? How should we go about it to make sure it's a time saver and not a time waster? Does it help to outline more than once in the writing process? Outlining (or storyboarding) is a great way to assess the story you're writi...

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida has Paula Sheridan of the Page Turner Awards joining me at the Round Table to discuss contests. We talk the reasons for entering contests, what judges look for, and getting your manuscript in shape before placing it in judge’s hands. I’m especially excited about today’s show, because Paula founded the Page Turner Awards. She and her husband, Ken, are...

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about traits: Make your character traits significant to your story...and here's why and how. A new session of Fiction Group Coaching begins in May. Got a novel in a drawer? Stuck in the middle of a project? Want to improve your craft while fixing a project in a small group of select peers with a mentor? Set up a discovery call today: www.wordessential.com...

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Kathryn turns the table on Alida. We talk "things we say," all those bits and bobbles of craft speak that get tossed around but not always defined. What does it mean to be tightly plotted? Does every character need a lie or core wound, and are those the same thing? I have a new session of fiction group coaching beginning soon. This is a special opportunity...

This week, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, Craft & Conscience, all about writing that is concerned with social issues. And really, what writing isn't in one way or another getting at the aspects of being human and being human together that could use some work? This conversation is equally beneficial for fiction and nonfiction wr...

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about openings. You need to pack a lot into your opening, just don't throw in the kitchen sink! If you enjoyed this craft tip, please give it a thumbs up, share, and say hello. I love hearing from you!     Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, called Craft & Conscience, all about writing that is concerned with social issues. And really, what writing isn't in one way or another getting at the aspects of being human and being human together that could use some work? This conversation is equally be...

Get Alida's musings on life, writing, and the writing life in A Room Full of Books & Pencils and stay up to date on book launches, special offers, and more at booksandpencils.substack.com   Are you ready to get more out of your writing, grow your writing skills, and get that book written? Do you want community, feedback, and the mentoring of an expert story craft coach? Check out group co...

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn mention unmentionables. We have a clean conversation about the craft of writing our characters' intimate moments. How much should go on the page? What guidelines can help us decide when to show more or less of the skin in the game? What are the qualities of a good sex scene and how do we know we got it right? Creative writing workshops at...

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about supporting characters' relationships. Use them to give a boost to your protagonist's arc! If you enjoyed this craft tip, please give it a thumbs up, share, and say hello. I love hearing from you! Creative writing workshops at www. StoryWorksFiction.com .  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about ending chapters so that readers can't wait to "jump the gap" and get on with the next one. What kind of end-hooks work and how? Do we instinctively know where to place our chapter breaks? Is there a formula to follow? Or maybe the story guides us? When not to use an epigraph before your chapters, and more! Creative writing workshops at www. StoryWorksFiction...

We have a special gift for you this holiday season! We’ll be spending extra time with our families this holiday season, but will be back with all new podcast episodes in January 2023. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a single one. Listen to this short message for your special gift. Happy Holidays and happy writing from Story Works Round Table! Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call to...

This episode previously aired as 061.   This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert character motivation. It’s crucial to every element of your story and you’ll do yourself a favor by having a handle on it in the prewriting stages. We talk about the protagonist, the reader, and you, the writer. Also, how motivation relates to flaws and conflicts, and how a series di...

This week on the Story Works Round Table: conversations about craft, Kathryn and Alida discuss writing backstory. It’s been coming up for both of us lately, including in Alida's fiction coaching group. What is the one critical element to getting it right? How do you successfully transition your narrative into and out of backstory? Want a great example of a great author deftly handling backstory? W...

This week on the Story Works Writing Tip, Alida talks twists. Plot twists aren't all about the plot, they're really about... Show notes and more at www.storyworkspodcast.com Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss what to do with your villain in act II. As we know, they aren't usually black-hat-evil-doers, but we still need an escalation of stakes for our protagonist. How do we keep act II moving along at a good pace, whether our villain is a bad person or a force or situation in our character's lifethat causes challenges? We look at mult...

In this week's Story Works Writing Tip, Alida defines agency and describes active and passive protagonists. Agency is about character as much as plot. If you enjoyed this craft tip, please give it a thumbs up, share, and say hello. I love hearing from you! Creative writing workshops at www. StoryWorksFiction.com .  Show notes, links, & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com. Visit WordEssenti...

If Halloween inspired you get your Boo! on, this episode of the Story Works Round Table is for you. Alida and Kathryn talk the craft of scaring the pants off your readers. But this isn’t just a skill for horror writers. We all need to write scenes from time to time full of dramatic suspense, an eerie mood, or dark twists. Loaded with examples and how-to, you’re sure to be ready to write scary! Let...

This week on the Story Works Writing Tip, Alida talks about writing natural sounding dialogue without falling into the trap of writing like we speak. Show notes, links, & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss character agency. In this, Robert's final episode as a co-host, he brought us the question of what to do with a character who is kept "on the back foot"? How do you write a protagonist with agency when the hero is in a position that seemingly rules out taking charge? This episode will be linked in the show notes to all...

This week on Story Works Writing Tips, Alida talks backstory. There are 3 primary ways to introduce backstory into your now-story. Use them all for variety and according to the demands of the specific scenes within your story. Creative writing workshops at www. StoryWorksFiction.com .  Show notes, links, & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery ca...

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Rober answer a listener's question about writing humor into our stories. Is comedy just a special gift some writers have and the rest of us don't? Or are there things we can craft to make our story moments funny?  Join us as we explore the topic and let us know your favorite funny authors as well as how you handle comedic mo...

In this week's Story Works Writing Tip, Alida discusses trouble and it's role in your story's arc. Story Works Writing Tips are bite-sized lessons ready to improve your story craft today. Listen. Digest. Write! The Story Works Round Table and Story Works Writing Tips alternate weeks to make sure you're never without conversations about craft. Show notes, links, & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast...

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss all the ways reading widely benefits you as a writer. There is so much more to be gained from reading as a writer than reading as a reader. Kathryn attests that her story craft has improved by reading beyond her favorite genre. How has reading improved your storytelling? What are the pitfalls to avoid when shopping for...

This week I am excited to bring you something all new. As you know, the Story Works Round Table is bi-weekly, but I’d hate for you to miss a healthy dose of story craft in those in-between weeks, so I’ve got short, sweet writing tips for you alternating with the Round Table podcast. This week, I talk about plot and the short story. Enjoy! www.storyworkspodcast.com Want to work with a writing coach...