The Write Note

In this episode we reveal our list of the Top 10 Greatest American Authors to celebrate America 250. Highlights: 01:58 Preamble Ramble 06:20 Character is King: All-American Edition 11:40 Top-10 Greatest American Authors Kick-off 14:03 He defined the American Detective genre 16:16 I don’t write science fiction…I write fantasy 22:18 Architect of the modern short story 28:31 Meaning in the silences 3...

In this episode we look at the two sides of love through the lyrics of songs filled with joy, desperation and despair in Volume 7 of our Lyrically Speaking series. Highlights: 01:34 Nothing inspires like love 04:50 Character is King: Love Song Edition 10:31 Big drama out of nothing at all 14:44 It’s electrifying 18:11 She’s not wishing him well 22:44 The saddest song in the world 26:07 This love i...

In this episode action speaks louder than words as we share writing tips to craft awesome action scenes that elevate the impact of your story and lock in reader engagement. Highlights: 01:12 The pivotal action scene 02:12 Character is King: Action Editon 08:10 Make the action mean something 11:33 Keep up the pace 13:50 The 3 pitfalls of writing action 18:25 Add sensory 21:35 Add personality 24:05...

In this episode we share key elements you need to develop to create a custom-made world for your story. Highlights: 01:24 Why worldbuilding is essential 03:33 Character is King: World Builder Edition 07:00 Your story’s foundation (6 key elements) 07:31 Geography – Real world, New world, Authenticity 11:23 Make significant settings memorable (examples) 12:45 Physics – Rules of Nature, Magic, Techno...

In this episode we hail The Bard himself, William Shakespeare, and celebrate the enduring impact his writing has had on Western literature and entertainment for over 400 years. Highlights: 01:30 The Titan of Western Literature 04:45 Character is King: Shakespeare Edition 12:03 Shakespeare in Led Zeppelin - Merchant of Venice (Act 2, Scene 7) 14:28 Shakespeare in Wonka - Romeo and Juliet (Act 2, Sc...

In this episode we share a creative writing exercise that teaches authors how to avoid the predictable and unleash the vivid. Episode Highlights: 01:27 The Goldberg Prompt 02:42 Setting up the exercise 03:30 An example run-through 04:23 Resulting verb-driven sentences

In this episode we take on writer’s block and share tried & true strategies to break through the wall and get those words flowing again. Episode Highlights: 01:44 Character is King: Communication Problem Edition 08:45 The 4 types of Writer’s Block 12:42 Level 1 Treatment: Overcoming the variants 18:45 Level 2 Treatment: Manage the writing process 24:00 Set a clear intent for your writing sessi...

It's our annual Christmas Special! Join us as we unwrap a Yuletide edition of our Lyrically Speaking series to discuss the lyrics of classic Christmas songs and the stories behind the music. Highlights: 01:38   What is the oldest Christmas Song? 05:35   Character is King: Yuletide Tradition Edition 11:40   Somewhere in My Memory 16:09   The Man with the Bag...

In this episode we examine the key elements that make up a great short story, and we share a collection of classic tales to illustrate the power of the format. Episode Highlights: 01:30  What a short story does best 03:27  Character is King: Short Story Edition 10:08  Six key literary elements of the short story 17:44  A training ground for the writer’s “long game” 22:10 ...

In this episode we expose weird and whacky conspiracy theories from the literary, film, and music worlds and reveal the secrets “they” don’t want you to know. Episode Highlights: 02:55   “Paul is Dead” catches fire 06:47   Character is King: Conspiratorial Edition 12:45   Theory 1 - She doesn’t exist 15:12   Theory 2 - Witches Boo 18:10   Theory 3...

In this episode we present a new collection of classic idioms and share the histories and origins that made them timeless expressions of speech. Episode highlights: 03:00              Coffee badging and three sheets 06:15               Character is King: Idiom...

In this episode we break down the elements and genres that make up a great beach read novel, and we share our Top 5 list of titles that pair perfect with sun and sand. Episode highlights: 01:40               Choose your Beach Read wisely 02:10               Ch...

In this episode we take a close look at taglines. From big business to blockbusters to books we discuss how these brief blurbs of exposition just might be the most valuable marketing tool ever devised and share key tips to on how to craft an effective tagline for your novel. Episode highlights: 02:08             What is a tagline? 04...

In this episode we roll out Volume 5 of our Lyrically Speaking series and celebrate the musical. Join us as we explore the lyrics of classic showtunes from Broadway and beyond in this fun retrospective. Episode highlights: 02:56              What makes a musical? 07:22          &...

In this episode we examine the MacGuffin, its history, popularization, and use in modern storytelling. We also share our Top 5 list of all-time great MacGuffins. Episode highlights: 01:29               What is a MacGuffin? 08:27              Character is King:...

In this episode YA fantasy author Carrie Anne Noble joins us to discuss folklore, fairy tales, and how she finds new stories to tell. Carrie reveals behind-the-book details about her new novel THE SPRINGBORN, and shares the impact that her debut novel, THE MERMAID’s SISTER, had on her life. And for a little bonus content, Keira and I discuss the path she took to get her novel KEEPER OF THE LI...

In this episode Christian author Taylor S Newport joins us to discuss her debut into the thriller genre, the perfect balance of action and integrity, and the potential to be prolific. Episode highlights: 02:56               Astounding accomplishments of youth 04:25          &nbsp...

In this episode we ring in the New Year with a Top 5 list of resolutions for writers to engage and improve their craft in 2025.  Episode highlights: 02:41               Who originated the idea of New Year’s Resolutions? 05:58              Character is Kin...

In this episode we bask in the glow of the holiday season and explore the lyrics of a collection of classic Christmas songs and share the untold stories behind the music. Episode highlights: 02:00              How many Christmas songs are there? 05:27              ...

In this episode Amazon Bestselling author Diana Rubino joins us to discuss how a love for history has inspired her to write nearly 20 historical romance and biographical novels. Episode highlights: 01:17               Past is more than prologue 04:41              C...

In this special episode Keira shares big news about her writing career.   Episode highlights: 01:19   Keira’s big news 02:51   A Smyth’s Quill – The story that landed a contract 04:24   Oliver-Heber Books: The Terms 07:05   Writing under a deadline 08:30   The best part of OHB (so far)  

In this episode author and graphic artist Dineen Miller joins us to discuss creating the perfect book cover and shares the allure of writing romantic comedies. Episode highlights: 01:10               Judging a book by the cover 05:57             Character is King:...

In this episode we examine the most controversial story-ending trope ever devised. It was all a dream…or was it?  We look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of employing this trope and play a game of “Neat” or “Cheat” with some famous dreamy endings.   Episode highlights: 01:35               Nailing the end of a story...

In this episode we celebrate Summerween with a creepy collection of songs and the stories that made them scary. From the Stones to the X-files. From a gypsy to a howling crooner, we cover some spooky, cooky, ground. Episode highlights: 01:25 Keira Returns! 01:55 What is Summerween? 06:00 Character is King: Summerween Edition 10:55 From a certain perspective 14:18 A gypsy, a potion, and a cop 16:33...

In this episode we welcome author and poet Kara Quinn to discuss the long and winding path she took to find a literary agent. Kara also shares the challenges she faced when she took on the all-consuming task of writing a psychological thriller. Highlights: 01:35               Kara’s Poem 03:02      ...