The Dialogue Doctor Podcast

Writers want readers to care the first time two important characters meet. But the problem is that first meeting scenes can easily become functional. Characters exchange information, explain the plot, describe the setting, and move the story forward, but the reader does not yet feel the chemistry, tension, suspicion, or possibility between them. In this episode, Jeff Elkins works with author Glady...

Authors want to write great books, launch them well, grow their readership, and make smart business decisions. But the problem is that indie publishing never feels simple. Launches are stressful even after dozens of books. Ads can look profitable one month and shaky the next. TikTok can sell books but demand more visibility than some authors want. NetGalley can bring reviews, but only if the right...

Writers want group conversations that feel natural, reveal the story world, and move multiple relationships forward at once. But when several characters begin talking, the POV character can quietly disappear. The dialogue may communicate important information, but the reader loses their emotional guide. Tension fades, exposition takes over, and the scene stops feeling like it belongs to the protag...

Writers want opening chapters that showcase their voice, introduce an unforgettable character, and make readers desperate to continue. But a strong voice can become self-indulgent. The narrator may entertain the reader without moving the story forward, explaining too much, repeating the same joke, or delaying the moment when something actually happens. In a writing competition, where judges are ac...

Writers want to create stories with unforgettable endings, powerful dialogue, and characters readers genuinely care about. But the problem is that we often spend most of our energy on the external plot: solving the murder, winning the trial, defeating the villain, or uncovering the truth. Those events create pressure, but they are not necessarily what makes the audience feel satisfied when the sto...

Writers want sharp dialogue, compelling conflict, and characters with enough tension to keep readers turning pages. But the problem is that conflict can easily get stuck. Characters snipe at each other, trade sarcasm, or argue at the same emotional level for too long. The scene has energy, but it does not move. The relationship does not shift. The reader starts to feel like the conversation is cir...

Writers want to spend more time writing books and less time drowning in admin, ads, social media, and publishing decisions. But the problem is that the author business is messy. Ads may or may not be working. TikTok can feel confusing. Pen names complicate branding. AI tools raise questions about ethics, workflow, and usefulness. And while all of that is happening, the book still has to get writte...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Tom Hollbrook. They cover a wide range of topics, from the logistical frustrations of indie publishing to deep dives into narrative craft and the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry. They talk about alternative distribution methods, service gaps, releasing a minimal vialable product, the evolving role of AI, and having the courage to examine your...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Carol Painter to talk about the end of her book. Jeff and Carol talk about using repeated scenes, showing character change through voice modulation, maintaining character agency at the end of the story, building the emotional saturation, how a book works on an author, and writing a satisfying ending for your reader.  For more on the craft of editing, go...

In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm sits down with author Aaron Betts to talk about writing a teenage voice. They discuss "turning the volume up to 10" on the protagonist's emotions, swapping adult logic for more egocentric needs, breaking large paragraphs into back-and-forth exchanges, using inner thoughts or vocalizations to clarify body language, mapping relational change, and dee...

In this episode, Jeff is joined by author JP Rindfleisch IX for a Joint with JP. They dive into the Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur. Jeff and JP walk through the classic entrepreneurial tool, "The Business Model Canvas" as authors. They talk about how each of the 9 boxes work, and how they view them as authors. They dive deep into risks and assumptions and how a...

In this episode, Jeff is joined by V.E. Griffith to brainstorm the plot and character arcs for the second book in Griffith's urban fantasy series. The session focuses on using character growth to drive the plot, a method Jeff advocates as the most effective way to build a story. They explore the growth arcs of two characters and then use the emotional beats of change to outline the plot of the boo...

"Write Wrong Repeat" is a monthly conversation between authors Crys Cain, Holly Lyne, Jeff Elkins, JP Rindfleisch IX, and Tom Holbrook about their lives as authors and what they are trying to write and sell their books. 

In this episode, Jeff sits down to talk about her new book, Masterful Microtension. They discuss what microtension is, how to effectively use tools like metaphors and white space, how repetition works, character change, and lots more.  For more on the craft of writing, check out DialogueDoctor.com

In this episode, Jeff sits down with film maker and author Ron Newcomb. They talk about business and financing strategies, using validation tools, the Brain Trust model, the four keys to conversion, and the impact and use of AI. They cover the path to production, being a multi-hyphenate write, and focusing on hope.  For more on the craft of writing, check out DialogueDoctor.com.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Pa Theriot to talk about their work in progress. They discuss how Pa writes neurodivergent stories from a neurodivergent perspective, what to do when you are adding a POV to a full story, and how to find a wound for the POV that will allow for the themes you are looking for in your story.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedocto...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with members of the Dialogue Doctor community to analyze the Coen brothers' movie The Big Lebowski. In the episode, they discuss writing character's who don't change, how anchors work, using symbolic parallels, and juggling multiple conversations at one time.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Author Beth Biss to talk about the emotional texture of her work in progress. They talk about the difference between plot and growth arcs, how conflicts should resolve in the piece, the alignment vs misalignment of the character and the reader, the reader's expectations, managing the reader's altitude of a scene, and using triggers in a character's emotional jo...

In this episode, Jeff meets with author John Krause to talk about John's work in progress. Jeff talks about increasing the emotional saturation of the story through emotional vocalizations, building the tension oft he story, and maturing a character without a doing a montage of training. Also, they invent the phrase, "Castle Punk."  For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.co...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Emma Jane Heaton to talk about her writing and what she's been working on. They discuss the difference between writing screenplays and writing a novel and talk about what they've learned doing both.  Find Emma Jane's film work here: https://www.youtube.com/@EmHeatonFilm For more on the craft of writing, check out: https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Joan Lightning. Jeff and Joan talk about her fantasy novel in progress. They look at an action scene with four cast members that is filled with action and complicated relationships.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In episode 318 of the Dialogue Doctor Podcast, Jeff and Tom talk about stories that work and stories that don't. They discuss new stats on authors using AI to write and publish. And they talk about the state of their own careers and endeavors.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/  

In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm works with Denis Kurlas on his work in progress. They talk about writing child voices in adult literature, and writing dreams, plus much more.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/the-podcast/

In this episode, we talk about the Coen Brother's classic movie, Raising Arizona. We analyze the cast of the movie focusing on the main characters and how their growth arcs shape the story.  For more on the craft of writing, check out DialogueDoctor.com

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Dialogue Doctor Coach and author JP Rindfliesch IX to talk about The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. They discuss the impact the book had on their lives and why they disagree with.  For more on the craft of writing, check out DialogueDoctor.com