Writing with Friends

Show Notes: Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is focus timers– a way to easily silence those distractions to give yourself quiet time to focus on your writing! Picks of the Week: BJ: Seveneves by Neal Stephenson  H: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert...

We’ll be talking about writing secondary characters, including some fundamentals of fiction writing to help with character planning and development. Picks of the Week: BJ: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain H: Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz Mentioned in the Episode: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. The tool we’ll be talking about is incorporating music into your writing practice! Having trouble getting into flow during your writing sessions? Or maybe you're really struggling to nail down your character's emotional arc over the course of your nove...

We’ll be talking about the “point of no return” at the beginning of your novel, also known as the “stasis=death” moment. Are you unsure of how to frame the stakes at the beginning of your novel? Do you have a sense of where you want your story to go, but you're not quite sure how to jumpstart your protagonist's motivation to get there? The framework of the stasis = death moment can help! P...

We're taking a tool deep dive by highlighting the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. We’ll be talking about social media including Instagram and Twitter. Picks of the Week: BJ: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb H: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maa s Mentioned in the Episode: Common writing/literary hashtags include: #amwriting, #amq...

We’ll be talking about how to incorporate feedback when editing. If you’re in the editing process with feedback from friends, editors, beta readers, or writing partners, keep listening for tips and guidance. Picks of the Week: BJ: Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School? by Cary Siegel   H: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. The tool we’ll be talking about today is voice memos. Picks of the Week: BJ: Bloodmarked by Tracey Deonn H: The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris Mentioned in the Episode: The index card method in Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Season 2 Episode 15: Boredom Season...

Do you wonder how other writers draw inspiration from images and objects to render their settings and characters more vivid on the page? An inspiration board might be just what you need! Picks of the Week: Story Genius by Lisa Cron Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Mentioned in the Episode: "Abraham Verghese on the Whiteboard: Its Iterations and Complications" by Abraham Verghese “Ruta Sepetys:...

Today, we’ll be talking to TV writer Ritza Bloom, who’s written for ABC’s Grownish as well as Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Tune in to hear about what a TV writer’s room actually feels like, where Ritza draws her inspiration from, and some of her advice for aspiring writers. We’re currently taking a bit of time off to enjoy the summer between our second and third seasons a...

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is boredom. How is boredom a tool, you ask? Well, at the heart of boredom lies…our creativity! Picks of the Week: The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley Mentioned in...

Today on Season 2 Episode 14, we’ll be talking about how to improve dialogue in our writing to make it both effective and nuanced. Picks of the Week: Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer Mort by Terry Pratchett Mentioned in the Episode: Writing With Friends Season 1 Episode 2: How Often to Use Adverbs and the Writing Sprint

We’ll be talking about the midpoint beat. So you’ve written the beginning of your story. You have an idea for a mind-blowing finale. But hmm… what’s supposed to happen in the middle again? Fear not! We’re here to help. Picks of the Week Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell Mentioned in the Episode: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by...

Today, we’ll be talking about reading widely across genres. If you’re writing regularly, how important is it that you find time to read, too? We’ll be uncovering why reading can be so helpful for writers, especially intentionally reading books outside of our comfort zones. Picks of the Week: Momo by Michael Ende Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

We'll be talking about the artist date: a method for cultivating inspiration in your creative life. Do you sometimes sit down to write and find that your inspiration has mysteriously dried up? Taking yourself on an artist date could help! Picks of the Week: BJ: The Magician King by Lev Grossman H: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong  Mentioned in the Episode: Julia Cameron's Des...

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is online archives– and more specifically, how to use online archives to engage in high quality research for your current novel project! Picks of the Week: How to Do Nothing by Jenny O’Dell Momo by Michael Ende Mention...

We'll be talking about filtering words. Do you want to create scenes and descriptions that feel vivid to your reader? Removing filtering words can help. Picks of the Week:   Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevan The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

We’ll be talking about conquering the middle build. Sometimes you have those high level ideas for your story, but can’t quite connect it all. Don’t worry, because today we’ll discuss how to keep things moving through the middle of your writing project. Picks of the Week: BJ: The Puzzle Palace by James Bamford H: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny

We'll be talking about using all five senses to describe and develop your characters. By using a 5 senses character development exercise, you can create a multi-dimensional, nuanced description of your characters’ physical traits in just a few minutes. Picks of the Week: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Author), Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Translator) I Am Number Four by Jame...

We’ll be talking about the 15-minute daily writing practice. This writing craft gives you a feeling of satisfaction, accomplishment, and progress while continuing to work on a larger task. Picks of the Week: The High Druid’s Blade by Terry Brooks  Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris Mentioned in the Episode: Don’t Break the Chain app

Welcome to a tool deep dive episode, where we highlight the features and the challenges of a tool we think you’ll find helpful as a writer. And the tool we’ll be talking about today is notebooks! In contrast to our helpful episode on OneNote, a digital notebook, which you can hear more about in Season 1, Episode 8, today’s focus is on the physical notebook. Picks of the Week: Through the Looking-G...

We’ll be talking about the three-act structure. This classic model for narrative fiction can help you break down your writing into more manageable pieces. It can also help you consider the pacing and progression of your story. Picks of the Week: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer Mentioned in the Episode: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwritin g by...

We’ll be talking about the Strange vs. the Familiar, a helpful framework for thinking strategically about whether to take a more traditional or a more innovative approach to your draft. Picks of the Week: Armada by Ernest Cline Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Mentioned in the Episode: Brandon Sanderson's Lecture on "Blending the Familiar & Strange" The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley Lady N...

We’ll be talking about writing fan fiction. We want to discuss a fun creative writing avenue that might scare some due to copyright laws, but we think taking some of your favorite worlds and putting your own spin on it can be a truly rewarding pursuit. Picks of the Week: Children of Dune by Frank Herbert Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun Mentioned in the Episode: Fanfiction.net Wattpad.com

We’ll be talking about genre grid breakdowns. Have you ever eeked out a first draft of a manuscript and felt like something was missing? If so, story grid genre breakdowns can really shed some light on how to approach your draft! Picks of the Week: The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe by Zig Zag Claybourne Mentioned in the Episode: The Sto...

We’ll be talking about flash fiction and doing a mini-writing workshop live as we read our own flash fiction to each other. Not sure if you’re ready to commit to a story idea? Looking to infuse your writing life with some inspiration in a low-key way? The short, get-in, get-out format of flash fiction might be perfect for you. Picks of the Week: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypot...