Writer Unleashed

How do you create tension in your story that makes it impossible for readers to put it down? By placing your characters in some kind of danger, even if it's subtle. Danger can be as harrowing as a plane crash, or as nuanced as unrequited love.  In this episode, we'll explore two types of danger to raise tension, and make your story unputdownable. Episode Web Page Not sure how to structur...

How much backstory does your story need? And how much backstory does your reader need? In this reprise episode from the deep in the vault , learn what backstory is important for you to know as the author, and what backstory belongs on the page. In this episode, we'll cover: The two things you need to get clear on when it comes to backstory The importance of crafting backstory that adapts to y...

Often writers create antagonists who do bad, immoral, sometimes evil things.  They might be abusive or neglectful parents. An enemy. Or an otherworldly foe. But when you're writing about your most trouble-rousing characters, you don't want to portray the givens. You want to surprise us.  You want to create an antagonist who's unforgettable.  The stock villain gives the reader a stoc...

How do you make writing a priority when other commitments compete?  When you have a full time career and family?  We all know writing a book is a colossal commitment. And it's so easy to get off track, especially when so much is competing for our time and attention. In this episode, I’ll walk you through strategies to maximize your time, energy, and focus . So you can write without stress and...

Struggling with confidence when it comes to writing your story? Maybe you swing from excitement to self-doubt. Or you worry that no one will care to read it. Maybe you lack enough confidence to even start.  In this episode,  learn 3 ways to boost your confidence .  This is all about shifting your relationship to your work. We'll cover: How to stay focused on the process, not just the end resu...

What do you do when your novel or memoir doesn’t follow the typical plot structure? What if there’s no crime to be solved, tsunami to survive, or evil wizard to slay? What if your character’s only story problem is an internal one? In this episode we’ll explore  4 thresholds your character will walk through at key points throughout your 3 acts.  So you can plot your character-driven  story, and kee...

We can all agree that your opening scenes are your only chance to capture your reader's attention. It's what hooks them into the story.  Your first scene and several scenes that follow are your story's setup.  The setup is essential to master. You have to be concise, deliberate, and selective with what you reveal and withhold. You don't want to give too much away too soon.  You...

Our stories can become so overrun with ideas, they run away from us. Each idea leads to another and another until you’re lost in the vortex. There are stories within stories. Endless possibilities. So many directions the story can go. And then writing your story feels like an insurmountable task. In this episode, I’m giving you 5 questions to explore, so you can rein your ideas in with more clarit...

Most writers know how their characters need to change.  They know what happens on the plot level. They know their character's struggles.  Often, though, the main character doesn't seem to change, even though the external events change dramatically.  Other stories stay mainly in their character's interior without jumping into the fray of action.  Either way, the story can be static. ...

There’s no shortage of writing advice.  Especially in the online space. Google is not the best gatekeeper. And some FB groups  are doling out conflicting advice, canned advice,  bad advice. Writers hear the same advice so often, a lot of them have come to regard them as the only way to craft a story.  But these are often half baked ideas that are keeping you from moving forward. They’re taking you...

Why do readers read?  Is it just for entertainment? To escape everyday life? Or is there a deeper need? What is it about story that keeps us captivated from beginning to end? It helps to understand why stories are so impactful and precisely what readers are hungry for when they turn to a book. In this throwback episode from  Season 3 , we're going into the mind of your reader, and what they w...

Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading. There's a lot riding on your first chapter.  So you want to get this right. Bore them with too much exposition, long forays into backstory, too many characters and superfluous  details, and your reader will grow bored, overwhelmed, and will sto...

When a story moves us, it’s not because of beautiful writing, or a strong voice – it’s not because of a great plot. All these things are important, but those things on their own don’t move us. What makes a story unputdownable and unforgettable is that the reader goes on an emotional journey of his or her own. They don’t just feel for your characters, they feel with your characters.  In this episod...

Show, don't tell. How many times have you heard this advice? You may understand the concept, but it's still not sinking in. So, what's the difference between showing and telling? Should show don't tell be applied to every line and paragraph of a story? Are there times when it's better to tell? When do you show? When do you tell? And how do you write it? In this episode, I&...

You want your characters' dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking.  But what do you do when the dialogue just sounds mundane, forced, and dull?  Writing dialogue requires practice. And there are some ways to think about dialogue to help you write it better.  In this episode, learn 5 do's and don'ts of writing stronger, more absorbing dialogue. Episode Website

If I had to pick one thing that makes readers stop reading, it's the overcomplicated plot.  Both  novice and experienced writers fall into this trap. They include too many characters, too many events, storylines,  and extraneous details that don’t feel connected or integrated. This makes it confusing  and frustrating for you as you write and revise. And a slog for your readers to get through....

You want to bring more depth and complexity to your characters so that readers are interested and invested in what happens to them. But how do you do that? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to create deeper, more fascinating characters. These are often things I see lacking in student manuscripts, especially those more focused on plot.  Plot and character really can’t be separated. But before you...

There's a lot of confusion about the difference between who's telling the story  (first or third person), and point of view. I'll see stories with no point of view,  a watered down point of view, or a confused and unfocused point of view.   Who's narrating your story is not the point of view. They're related. But they're separate elements that serve different purposes...

What are plot points? And why do you need them? In this episode, we’ll talk about 3 major plot points , the purpose of each, and where in your story to place them. In this episode, you'll learn: What a plot point is The foundational elements you need before charting your plot points Your 3 Acts and what percentage of your story each act comprises Where each plot point happens in each of your...

Ever wonder how to write your First Act? In this episode, learn 3 core elements to structure - and nail-  Act One of your story. From your set-up, to your inciting incident, to your first plot point, you'll learn how these elements impact the rest of your story, and where to place each. We'll cover: How long your first act should be How to set up your story so we know who and what your s...

How do you write an opening scene that hooks your reader? An opening so captivating, it compels readers to keep turning the page. A great opening does multiple things to lure readers in. In this episode, we'll focus on crafting an opening hook that keeps them reading. We'll cover: A surefire technique for launching your story Provoking questions readers crave the answer to, and when to r...

New Year. Fresh start. Maybe you’ve resolved that 2024 is going to be the year you’re going to  finish your novel or memoir once and for all. But what so often happens is 50 pages or 200 pages in, the writing gets hard and overwhelming. Writers look at their pages and think it's rubbish. So they abandon the whole project. Or start a new story. Only to start the cycle all over again. So, in th...

In this episode, we're going back to a beloved episode from 2022. Writing is solitary.  And if you’re anything like me, you like to dip into some inspiration from time to time for a creative boost or deeper insight into the craft. So much of our progress depends on how we feel about the work . So in this episode, I’m pulling from  some of my favorite  quotes and unwrapping them for the wisdom...

In one of the most downloaded episodes of 2023, we're tackling the one thing stopping writers from bringing their story to the finish line. Fear. Maybe you fear visibility, and the expectations and judgements you’ll open yourself up to.   Then there's fear of rejection. Even if you’re nowhere near ready to submit your story, it  prevents you from finishing. Maybe you're afraid of pu...

What is scene? What is summary? In this episode, learn the crucial difference between them. We'll explore the common ways writers get scene and summary wrong.  And you'll get guidelines on how to balance both to enhance the pace of your story.   Episode Web Page Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.   Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease conside...