School of Plot
Writing Club by School of Plot
Fun, practical writing tips for anyone writing their dream novel. Especially if it's fantasy. I do love fantasy.
Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: schoolofplot.com
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Episodes
How to Avoid Cheesy Writing 14.02.2025 56:31
Is your writing cheesy? I asked a professional editor about how to spot cheesiness in your own writing as well as how to fix it. Free writing resources: https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads Find me here: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofplot Find Shay here:
Fantasy Worldbuilding Checklist 31.01.2025 31:29
Niche aspects to keep in mind when you’re worldbuilding. I had fun! Free writing resources ➡️ Fantasy world building workbook ➡️
What Makes Readers Abandon a Novel 17.01.2025 31:27
I asked you guys on IG (@schoolofplot) what makes you abandon a novel. Here are the top responses as well as some fixes to avoid these features in your own writing. (Although a few of them were pretty subjective). Here are the free downloads / plot template I talked about:
How to Write a Bestselling Blurb 10.01.2025 54:25
What’s the formula all great blurbs have? How can you make your book sound exciting? Which POV should you write in? Jessie from Book Blurb Magic gives us a 1 hour master class answering your blurb FAQs and workshopping a real example. If you couldn’t take notes, here’s a blog post with some key insights from today’s chat: https://schoolofplot.com/blogs/writing-guides/ultimate-guide-to-blurb-writin...
Guilty Pleasure Fantasy Tropes 02.01.2025 38:21
A fun one. I asked you guys on Instagram (@schoolofplot) what your guilty pleasure fantasy tropes are. In this episode I discuss the top answers as well as share some of my own with Shay from Vine and Parchment. And as always, you can get free resources and whatnot here ⬇️ https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
New Years Resolutions For Writers 27.12.2024 21:59
I always set myself some writing goals at the start of the year (and I usually only complete them in December). And as always, you can get free resources and whatnot here ⬇️ https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
Words to Delete From Your Novel 06.12.2024 19:48
As I’m going through the drafting process, I’m keeping an eye on which words and phrases I want to cut from my manuscript. Here’s the list! And as always, you can get free resources and whatnot here ⬇️ https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
How to Write Funny Dialogue 29.11.2024 23:32
…without it sounding cringe. Some writing advice for novelists who want to avoid the “Marvel movie dialogue” criticism. Resources mentioned: • Character Workbook https://schoolofplot.com/products/character-workbook • Writing Newsletter
How to Write a Standout First Page 22.11.2024 24:41
I read 200 first pages as a writing contest judge. I made notes on which techniques grabbed my attention as well as common tropes and mistakes I noticed. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
How Should Your Story End? 15.11.2024 21:34
Circular endings, twists, cliffhangers and some exercises to help you workshop an ending that leaves readers feeling satisfied. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
Writing Contest Tips 26.09.2024 46:45
Insider tips from a writing contest organiser and judge. We talk about what judges look out for, entry red flags, and common cliches judges are used to seeing in manuscripts. November Brown of @writesofnovember joins me for a lovely, productive chat! Enter November’s writing contest here: https://www.writesofnovember.com/first-page-frenzy Get the Character Workbook here: https://schoolofplot.com/c...
How to Write a Page-Turner 20.09.2024 48:25
Captivating first lines and 3 types of hooks with fantasy editor Shay from Vine and Parchment! FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
How to Beat Writer’s Block 11.09.2024 21:09
Practical tips for when you can’t seem to write anything half-decent (or even sit down to write at all). FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
Trying Stephen King’s Writing Routine 29.08.2024 17:48
From 6AM starts to Mambo #5, I pieced together King’s routine from various interviews and tried it out. Parts of it worked great! Others not so much. I’ve documented it all for you. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
How to Find Readers (For Free) As a New Writer 16.07.2024 1:19:58
I found my amazing beta readers on Instagram. Today, Tina Marshall (@bookedtildawn) joins me to show you how to use social media to find beta readers, critique partners, ARC readers and people who are willing to buy your novel when it finally comes out. She also tells me what a shadow daddy is, so let's thank her for her service. Get writer freebies here: https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-do...
How to Write a Movie 29.04.2024 1:08:35
Screenwriter and director Eva Wikke takes your questions about script writing, getting your scripts funded and produced, why book adaptations are always so inaccurate, and more. 📜 FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads 📖 WRITING WORKBOOKS : https://schoolofplot.com/collections/workbooks 💻 WRITING BLOG: https://schoolofplot.com/blogs/writing-guides
Writing Advice I Hate 16.04.2024 32:20
There’s a lot of writing advice on the internet, and I disagree with some popular tips. In this episode, I explain why. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads And you can find me at all these other places too: ➡️ INSTA: (My main place of posting) https://www.instagram.com/schoolofplot/ ➡️ PINTEREST: (Also quite active, longer-form writing guides) https://www.p...
Fixing Dialogue Cliches (with Shay, editor from Vine & Parchment) 08.04.2024 1:05:39
You sent me your most hated dialogue cliches, and I got a professional editor to give you alternatives. Shay from Vine and Parchment joined this episode for a funny, productive chat. Full disclaimer, the start is quite jarring because I had to cut around a sound issue, but it gets very good very quickly! FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
From Indie to Major Book Deal (with Analeigh Sbrana) 25.03.2024 51:54
Lore of the Wilds author Analeigh Sbrana chats with me about her unique path to an incredibly impressive book deal. We also discuss fantasy food, book boxes, diversity in fantasy, and the difference between indie and trad publishing. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads
From Vibes to Plot 22.03.2024 25:22
In this episode we take a virtually incoherent story idea that I jotted down at 3AM, and we turn it into a half-decent story idea. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads And you can find me at all these other places too: ➡️ INSTA: (My main place of posting) https://www.instagram.com/schoolofplot/ ➡️ PINTEREST: (Also quite active, longer-form writing guides) [h...
Wrote a Fantasy Book (Q+A) 18.03.2024 35:29
I wrote a dark, comedic fantasy book. I answer your questions about outlining, timeframe, characters and more! I'll be regularly(-ish) posting about my self-publishing journey so we'll both learn exactly how it works. FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads And you can find me at all these other places too: ➡️ INSTA: (My main place of posting) https://w...
Ranking Fantasy Writing Cliches 25.02.2024 49:29
Handsome fairies, evil advisors, rebellious princesses who are bad at embroidery...and 45 other fantasy cliches. I tier rank them on a scale from cold lumpy porridge to hot buttery pie. Also I want to change my opinion on “name day” as a fantasy cliche. I’ve since learned that they’re a pretty normal thing in some cultures. That would be such a cool thing to explore in fantasy (as opposed to just...
Writing Trick: Endless Story Ideas 17.02.2024 12:49
Hey writer! Welcome to the shoddy beginnings of my podcast. Here's a (very very) simple trick if you need an idea for a story: apply the 5 Ws to any painting. In this video, I walk you through an example. Here are the resources I mentioned in the video: FREE PLOT OUTLINE TEMPLATE: 📜 https://schoolofplot.com/pages/free-downloads CORNISH MYTH RESOURCE (I just think it's cool!) 🧚 https://ww...
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