Writer Unleashed

We're often instructed to hook readers in our opening paragraphs by enticing them with story questions.  All good.  But you can't really plant questions in the beginning without knowing how your story will ultimately end.  There's a link between your story's beginning and its end.  So the best way to hook your reader is to start with the end in mind.  This creates two things re...

Lots of writers believe you can't deeply develop character until you know what happens on the plot level.  But this is backwards.  Ultimately, what moves your story forward is your protagonist's reactions, choices, and actions.  Not the external events that activate those reactions.  Your plot doesn't just need structural coherence.  It needs emotional and psychological coherence. S...

Call it your hero.  Or your MC.  But all stories need one main protagonist.  When we don’t know who your main character is, we have no one to root for.  Why is picking one character to focus on a good idea? We need to know who we’re experiencing your story through. Your protagonist is the portal.  It's how we hook into your story from the first page to the last. In this episode, you'll l...

Writer Unleashed is coming up on its 2-Year Anniversary! So in the spirit of celebration,  I'm giving you a 5-episode playlist to help you wherever you are in your writing process right now.  N arrowing down the list to just five was not easy breezy. I sifted through nearly 100 episodes, and I poured everything I've got into creating each and every one of them for you. But I drilled down...

What does it take to make major breakthroughs in your writing consistently?  How do you put yourself into an optimal state of creativity every time you sit down to write? When it comes to mastering your story, you need to be in a flow state. When you’re in flow, your creativity,  your output, the quality of your writing is turbo-charged.  You make more progress in half the time.  But flow isn&apos...

Still not grasping the art of show, don't tell? That's because it's never fully explained.  So writers show too little, or too soon, or they show poorly. Often, they don't show at all. In this episode, you'll ll get clear on what showing is, what telling is, and 4 effective ways to show like a pro.  Episode Website Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 69: How to Create...

Plotters plot and pantsers wander.  One approach isn't better than the other. They're just different impulses. But both are equally futile. Pantsers  can wander aimlessly ad infinitum, and plotters often focus only on plot at the outset. Which is why they still get stuck in the messy middle. What both plotters and pantsers get wrong  is how to bring story elements together to focus their...

Many writers have fixed ideas about the best ways to write and finish a story. But they don’t work for every writer.  And in many instances, they don’t even work for the writers who swear by them.  So in this episode, I'm going to challenge 3 common rules I hear over and over, and give you a different perspective to try on. Episode Website Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 11: How to M...

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...

We all hit a block at some point in the writing process, even the best of us. Accomplished writers know how to navigate that impasse, to notice when and why they're getting blocked, so that they can move through it. But so many writers get stuck there, and they can't move forward. In this episode, we'll explore five reasons you may be experiencing writer's block. And you'l...

Between careers, kids, and everything else life throws our way, sometimes we have to step back from our writing. Sometimes for months. Sometimes for years. So, how do you get back to your writing after a long hiatus? In today’s episode, I'm sharing  strategies I’ve used to get back into the writing zone after an extended break. You'll also learn the secret to staying motivated, plus how...

Rejection never feels good. And it can throw our entire identity as a writer into doubt.  The question is… How do you get your confidence back? So that you can get back to work? In this episode, you'll learn 4 strategies to get back on track. So you can stop identifying with the rejection and become a more resilient and skilled writer. We'll also cover why even good books are rejected by...

Your story opening is your only chance to hook your reader.  So you want to start strong. It doesn’t matter if the middle of your story is brilliant. Or your second chapter is fantastic. It doesn't matter if your story starts picking up speed 7 pages in.  Readers won’t wait for that.  In today’s episode, I’m going to break down 4 story openings to spark some ideas. So you can craft a story op...

What makes a piece of writing feel false? What makes it feel true?  Why does it move us? Or fail to? How do we drop readers directly into a character’s experience so that they become the character and go on the journey with them? In this episode, you'll borrow 3 acting techniques for writing stories  that feel more real, more believable, and more true. Episode Website Download your FREE Chara...

Details are the lifeblood of your story.  And writing is all about the selection of those details. But how do you decide which details matter?  When we sit down to write, we’re often bombarded with too many details. We’re in this constant and brutal battle with the facts of our experience, the details of the world, and the needs of our story. The question we must continually ask is, What do I leav...

What makes your story a page turner? What makes it so irresistible that readers devour every page? In today’s episode, we’re breaking down 4 tips to writing a page turner. Techniques that go beneath and beyond common structures like the Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, and the traditional 3-Act.  So you can make your story stand out from the pile.  And keep readers hooked scene by scene. Episode Webs...

Scenes are the building blocks of your story.  But how do you craft scenes that draw us in every single time? That keep us turning the page?  In this episode you'll learn how to craft spellbinding scenes from beginning to end. In today's episode, we'll cover: The difference between scene and summary. Four essential things each scene should give your protagonist. How to set each scen...

Your first scene is crucial. It’s what sets your story in motion. It's where you keep your reader or lose em'.  So you want to craft this scene with intention.  In this episode, you'll learn 3 essential things your first scene must accomplish.  And we'll explore 5  core elements that go into every successful first scene, with examples from Neil Gaiman's  novel, American Go...

There’s no one size fits all way to write. Still, there’s no shortage of advice on how to do it.  But some advice can derail you for months, maybe years. Advice like reaching a certain word count per day. Or crafting your story with an ideal reader in mind. Or outlining before you’ve felt  your way into your story.  So, today I’m going to counter some of the most common advice I hear over and over...

 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 going to pull some of my favorite  quotes and unwrap them for the wisdom and creative fuel they offer on  writing technique and  the writing life.

Have you ever thought, Writing should be easier for me than this?  I sure did. I didn't know there was a craft to writing a novel. I thought talent and sheer  passion would see me through. And then I became a professional competitive dancer and learned that desire and talent were just starter fuel. The truth is, writing is no easier than mastering any other art form. Talent is not enough. Tec...

How do you keep a consistent writing routine when you're life is hectic as all hell?  How do you find time to write and   fulfill life's never-ending hamster wheel of responsibilities?  And where do you find the energy?  In this episode, you'll hear the strategies I've been using for years to let writing co-exist with a crazy busy, but beautiful  life as a single working mom. Y...

How can you be more efficient with structuring your story? How do you balance structure while keeping the story fresh and surprising? In this episode we're going to talk about 5 essential storytelling techniques that will help you structure your story into a riveting experience for your readers. You'll also learn how to hook your reader in your opening sentences instantly using one simpl...

Do you ever feel like you're tying yourself up in knots with all the different points of view your story has?  POV is one of the most misunderstood and often poorly taught story elements. It's also one of the most important story decisions you make.  But there's so much confusion about POV. In today's episode, we'll untangle some of the confusion. You'll learn what po...

You have your first draft. Or maybe you're stalled in your current work in progress. Now what?  How do you finish what you started? Today, you'll learn how to move forward with your work in progress, or revise the  draft you already have.  This is part  1 of a 3 part mini series, Beyond the First Draft. This episode focuses on character development. You'll get clear on who your stor...