Writer Syndrome

So you've completed a first draft of your manuscript. Now what? The real work begins. Writing is re-writing and the second draft is a heavy lift of fixing those major character and plot issues that creep in during that first vomit draft. This episode Russ and Tim talk about the trials and tribulations of the second draft and how important it is when shaping your story.

The first draft, often called the "vomit draft," is one of the most important parts of the writing process. Once you type "the end," you can truly begin. In this episode, Russ and Tim revisit their first drafts and discuss the improvements they've made for their upcoming projects.

The battle is on! Pens vs swords! In this episode, we explore the variations of the classic idiom "the pen is mightier than the sword." We discuss its fascinating history, discover who made it what it is today, and why pens shouldn't turn into laser swords.

Research is a key part of the writing process. Without proper research, building credible worlds, intriguing plots, and relatable characters is impossible. But how much is too much? In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss how their research methods have evolved from their first manuscripts to their new ones.

A replay of an earlier episode on Themes in storytelling. It's a timely topic for us as we're exploring themes in our new projects. A good theme can provide the heart and glue that binds your story together. Characters, dialogue, setting, and symbolism are important in conveying your theme to the reader. In this episode, Russ and Tim dive into the common themes and how they used them in their writ...

Nothing slows a story like an Act II info dump or an author cramming all their research during the climax. Deliberate pacing is an essential tool in the writer's toolbox to keep readers engaged. Dialogue, description, and even white space on the page can significantly affect your pacing. In this episode, Russ and Tim dissect pacing in their works and share what they've learned to keep pages turnin...

Every good story is built on conflict. Sometimes, that conflict can culminate in scenes of violence. But when is that violence too much or not enough? In this episode, Russ and Tim explore violence in writing and the many factors that impact readers' expectations and enjoyment.

Our idiom series continues with "the writing on the wall." In this episode, we dive into the classic religious story that involved too much partying and impending doom. Get the popcorn.

Generally, stories don't cover every waking moment of a character's life. Stories move through time, skipping the dull parts and getting to the key moments that impact a character's arc. In this episode, Russ and Tim get into the how, when, and why of time jumps and their impact on writing a cohesive narrative.

Life has a way of getting in the way. It can take our best intentions, writing or otherwise, and throw them into the void, never to be seen again. It happens to everyone, so how do you get back into it and meet your goals? In this episode, Russ and Tim suggest methods to regain focus so you can get back into writing like you were never away.

What is tension? What is suspense? These key ingredients keep readers turning your pages and wondering what will happen next. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss tension and suspense and explore how these tools can work together to create a compelling narrative.

Every story will have at least one coincidence to kick off the plot. After that, as a writer, you're asking your audience to continue to suspend disbelief to move the story along at the cost of losing them. In this episode, Russ and Tim talk about coincidences, how many are too many (spoilers: more than one), and get into Deus Ex Machina, and Tim voraciously defends Lord of the Rings.

We're getting the ball rolling...on a new year! It's our first episode of 2025, and we're diving into idioms. We'll be "tackling" them throughout the year, exploring their history, usage, and how they could be used in writing.

Goodbye 2024! In this episode, Russ and Tim look back at their respective writing goals for the year and grade how they did. Spoilers: everyone got an A+, even if they didn't deserve it. Happy New Year, everyone, and thank you for listening.

Book swap! In this episode, Russ and Tim trade books from their favorite genres and give a review. Russ read Nick Cutter's The Troop while Tim read Lee Child's The Killing Floor.

Is that an adverb? Ditch it. Overly verbose exposition? Delete. Detailed descriptions of everyday objects? Get rid of it! In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss killing their darlings and reflect on what they left in their novels and why.

Epilogues—who needs them? Isn't your story already over? In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss how epilogues are used, why they exist, and whether or not you should use one.

To prologue or not to prologue? That is the question. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss the ins and outs of prologues, what makes a good one, and why people don't like them.

Have you ever made a mistake that kept you up at night? Or maybe you set an expectation that you couldn't quite meet? In this episode, Russ and Tim explore their own writing mistakes and expectations, how they recovered from them (if they did), and how they adjusted to maintain writing productivity.

Who or what influences you and your writing? Influences can come from anywhere and are important in shaping the stories we tell. This episode Russ and Tim get into the authors, movies, art, music, and even family, that influenced their stories.

We're not fans of novels getting censored, but what happens when you're the one doing the censoring? There is a fine line between being true to the vision of your story and being shocking or sultry just for the sake of it. In this episode, Russ and Tim talk about how they self-censored their own work based on genre, reader expectations, and what they learned through the process.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Title your book wrong, and you may lose out on potential readers. Is your title intriguing enough? Is it too similar to others? Does it fit within your genre? In this episode, Russ and Tim tackle these questions and explain why they named their first novels and what they did.

Pop culture references are a fun way to build on a character, setting, and world within your story. Yet too many references can ruin your reader's suspension of disbelief. So, where's the line? How much is too much? In this episode, Russ and Tim reflect on how they used pop culture references in their first works and the lessons they've learned.

What's in a name? Character names can allow readers to peer into and gather insight into what makes them tick. Does your protagonist need an epic name? How about your villains or secondary characters? Russ and Tim get into naming characters in this episode and dive into their own naming experiences and missteps in early drafts.

Symbolism is yet another tool in the author's toolkit for enhancing a story. Whether it be big-picture themes, character behaviors, or a setting, symbolism is a great way to enrich a reader's experience. In this episode, Russ and Tim chat about how they applied symbolism to their stories and lessons learned.