Writer Unleashed

If your first sentence is a dud, chances are readers won't give you a second chance. In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 elements that will hook your readers from the get-go and keep them wanting more. We'll peek under the hood of some great hook sentences from the masters, and unpack what makes each one irresistible. We'll explore how to: Withhold to c...

Is your plot broken?  First, what is a broken plot?  It's when you start out with one conflict but lose confidence in your ability to move that conflict forward through a series of actions. So you shift to another conflict or even a third. And pretty soon, readers are disoriented because they don't know where to focus. That's because there's more than one story happening. In to...

Just because you're basing characters on real people doesn't make them believable or interesting. It's far more important for your story to work than it is for it to be true. And even when people are portrayed realistically, they still might read as stereotypes. In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll go over 5 techniques to transform real people into fascinating cha...

Are you a memoir writer? Or a fiction writer? A novelist? Or short story writer? Lots of people have a story to tell. But some are still flying blind after years, even decades of trying to nail down their story and elevate it to a publishable caliber. If that sounds like you,  you may be focusing on the content of your story rather than its form.  And form drives content. On today's episode o...

In the theater of our mind, our story is a multi-dimensional, techno-color, high-def world teeming with life. But inevitably, in our early attempts to transfer that vision onto the page, that world disintegrates. It’s where a lot of writers get lost.  Or stop writing altogether. In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore how writers like Ann Patchett and Ta-Nehisi Coates get p...

It’s a scientific fact: body language speaks volumes about what’s truly in our hearts and minds. And the same is true of your characters.  Facial expressions, mannerisms, gestures, eye movements — non-visual cues, no matter how subtle, divulge what a person may be feeling in any given moment.  It’s one of the best ways to show, don’t tell.  In today’s episode of Writer unleashed, we’ll explore: Ho...

We're all tired of being introduced to characters like the young man in his twenties with jet black hair,  emerald green eyes, and a chiseled jaw. Even if a character looks like that, there are ways to make him more surprising and unforgettable. In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll break down 3 techniques to write descriptions that bring characters to life. Want to connect...

How do you create characters readers care about? So that the reader can't help but keep reading?  In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, I'll explore  5 common character mistakes and how to avoid them to create characters readers care about.   We'll explore how to: Avoid the stock character Choose one compelling protagonist Complicate your character's desire Raise the sta...

What questions should you ask before you plot your story? Whether you outline every chapter, or write from the hip, on today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, I’ll break down 3 questions you should explore before you outline your plot. We'll explore: What story is Horizontal plots and vertical plots and how they intersect Character Viewpoint - who your story is about Desire and Resistance and ho...

Whether you're a football fan, or not, the Superbowl ads are often storytelling works of art. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll unwrap 3 storytelling techniques you can swipe from your favorite Superbowl ads and apply to your story right away. We'll explore: The reverse engineering approach to story structure.  How to dramatize conflict early on. How to use a shot s...

 What does it take to become a successful writer?  On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, author and media consultant Simona David and  I unpack the journey and the process.   We explore:  My exploratory approach to early drafts What it means to write what you know What revision can tell us about what our story’s trying to become How to work with and through uncertainty How to draw readers i...

How much backstory is too much? Backstory is one of the trickiest things to get effectively onto the page. Too much of it and your reader loses track, forgets, or even stops caring about what’s happening in your story's present.  In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore the 3 most common missteps writers make about backstory, plus 3 tips to help you write backstory with...

There's a delicate balance between bringing a scene to the dramatic brim, and spilling over the top into melodrama.  On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, I'll share 3 techniques for avoiding melodrama,  plus a writing exercise to bring it all home. We'll explore: The power of restraint  The near-death experience approach to tragedy in story How to  use objects to carry chara...

How do you avoid writing the stock villain?  How do you move beyond the cliche to create a bad guy that surprises us? That goes against the status quo?  On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore 5 ways to create a villain that defies stereotype. We'll discuss: What readers really want from your villain How to explore what's underneath your character's bad acts Better que...

Of all the things I see tripping writers  up, point of view is the most common and persistent. It's one of the most misunderstood elements of writing. It's also one of the most essential things to get right. On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore: 3 common missteps writers make about point of view What point of view is…and what it isn’t.  Why first, second, and third-perso...

97% of writers never finish their book.  And out of that 3% who do finish their books, only 1 to 2 percent of them ever publish.  On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll break down some of the most common barriers to bringing your story to the finish line,  and how to use brain science to become part of that 3% who finishes the book. 2021, here we come. We'll explore: Why talent is...

Some days you're on fire. Other days, you feel like a dried up spec of dust. With no soul. You’ve lost motivation and may even have stopped writing altogether. So how do you get your mojo back so you can bring your work in progress to the finish line? On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 reasons our motivation fizzles out and how to turn it around. We'll talk...

How do we create atmosphere in story in a way that evokes mood, and simultaneously reveals the inner life of your character?  Well, you already know how to do this.   On  today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll talk about what you instinctively know about creating mood and atmosphere, and how to use your instincts to create it on the page.  And we’re going to do a writing exercise at the end of...

You’ve spent months, maybe years writing your story.  So you finally get the courage to send it out into the world - to an agent, a literary magazine, a publisher, or your writer’s group. And then you get a form rejection letter (the worst kind), or feedback from your peers that makes you want to give up the writing life altogether.   How do you bounce back?  On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed...

You can change a character's hair color, geography, age, or gender, but often what inhibits our voice is a concern that we'll offend someone we know. A parent.  A sibling.  A school mate.  So, what do we do?  We whitewash the truth. Or we avoid writing our story altogether.  On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore: 3 reasons you need to tell your story Why secrets...

Your voice is your most fundamental creative asset. But how do you access it? How do you let it flourish on the page?  On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore why your voice matters to you --and to your readers. I’ll also give you a writing prompt to invite your voice to come out and play... so have your pen and paper ready. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll exp...

You have captivating characters, a page-turning plot, gorgeous imagery. But as soon as your characters start speaking, does your story falls flat? Here's the thing. You already know how to write crisp, compelling dialogue. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 things to pay attention to in the conversations around you. This is all instruction for your story dialogu...

What's the number  1 mindset that separates great writers from the novice?  A willingness to embrace uncertainty.  And to not only embrace it but to create, cultivate and dance with it.  On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore: How avoiding uncertainty is straitjacketing your writing Why  beneath chaos lies order and harmony The difference between convergent and diverg...

How do we create characters readers believe in? How do we write  beyond stereotype?   On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore 3  ways to create multi-dimensional characters. We'll explore:  Plot-driven versus character-driven stories. The difference between empathy and sympathy. What really drives a reader's connection to your character. How to tap into your own impulses to...

How do we craft an ending that lands with the reader? How do we avoid what author David Jauss calls "the literary equivalent of a faked orgasm?" On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 ways to avoid an ending that's too tidy, predictable, or lame.  We'll talk about: Interesting character change over time Why  a change in your reader is more important t...