Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
Hosted by James Thayer, the podcast is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft a novel. It presents a set of tools for large issues such as story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted') and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine. The New York Times Book Review has said Thayer's "writing is smooth and clear. it wastes no words, and it has a rhythm only confident stylists achieve.
Fri, April 11, 2025
Episode 160 - Should our story have a theme?
Best-selling writers disagree on the importance of a theme in stories. Here are thoughts on whether we should present a theme in our novel or short story. And famous authors on their writing discipline. Plus, mixing genres when telling an agent or publisher about our novel. Support the show
Fri, April 04, 2025
Episode 159 - A surefire way to generate plot, the sidekick.
Putting a sidekick into our story adds many benefits, a main one being that readers love sidekicks. Here are some techniques for creating a sidekick for our novel or short story. Also, a list of catchy, memorable novel titles. And a big question: how do bad novels get published? Support the show
Fri, March 28, 2025
Episode 158 - A lifetime's writing advice reduced to one minute.
Were a young writer to ask me for advice, and only had one minute to listen, here is what I'd say. Plus: how Louisa May Alcott worked. And, avoiding the blahs and self-doubts when writing. Support the show
Fri, March 21, 2025
Episode 157 - How we writers can create a world.
Remember the fabulous worlds that fantasy, sci fi, and historical writers create for us readers? How do they do that? What works so well? I'll talk about world-building, not just for those novels but for all genres. And also: more on the critical craft of character description. Support the show
Fri, March 14, 2025
Episode 156 - How to write the fast start.
Many readers only give a story ten or twenty pages before putting it aside to look for something more interesting. A fast start is the best way to maintain the reader's interest. Here's how to write the fast start. Also, how Alice Munro worked, and Richard Ford's rules of writing. Support the show
Fri, March 07, 2025
Episode 155 - The single most important ingredient in an unforgetable story.
Manon in Paris asked, "Why do some novels move us more than others?" Here is the single best way to make our story unforgettable, a story that moves the reader. Also, have we heard the advice, "Write what you know?" It's bad advice, and here are thoughts on it. Support the show
Fri, February 28, 2025
Episode 154 - Learning from the masterful writer Edna Ferber.
Edna Ferber was a master of character description. Here are a few of her characters, and maybe we can pick up some of her skill. Also, how many words a day do famous writers write, and how many words a day should we write? And showing pain, as opposed to telling about pain. Support the show
Fri, February 21, 2025
Episode 153 - A legendary novelist's lesson for us writers.
Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre is a classic of western literature, a novel that endures and still hugely entertains because . . . it's so great. (How that for being profound?) Charlotte Bronte offers an important lesson for today's writers, and I'll talk about her lesson in this episode. Plus, the trouble with prologues. Support the show
Fri, February 14, 2025
Episode 152 - How the masters create their settings.
Why are some novels so good? One of the reasons is that the author is a master at setting descriptions. How did Charlotte Bronte and Edna Ferber make their settings magical? We'll talk about their techniques here. Also, strong verbs versus weak verbs: how and why to choose the stronger action word. Support the show
Fri, February 07, 2025
Episode 151 - Mad Magazine, and techniques for riveting dialogue.
My first encounter with Mad Magazine, a life changer. And dialogue techniques that can help make our characters' conversations fascinating. Support the show
Fri, January 31, 2025
Episode 150 - How to deliver a surprise in the story.
Good stories are filled with surprises for the reader. There are right and wrong ways for us writers to deliver surprises, and I'll talk about them here. Also, the importance of a tie-up-later list. Support the show
Fri, January 24, 2025
Episode 149 - How masterful writers use details.
What do George Orwell, Sara Gruen, Jean Shepherd, and John Steinbeck have in common? Many things but foremost among them is their expert use of details that take readers away, that lift us readers out of our chairs and transport us to their places and times. Here are thoughts on their use of details. Also, we should avoid cliches like the plague. Support the show
Fri, January 17, 2025
Episode 148: A magical way to end one scene and begin another.
Here is a magical way to end a scene and to begin another without worrying about travel and time between scenes. Also: avoiding dangling modifiers. And how Bernard Malamud worked, and Helen Dunmore's rules of writing. Support the show
Fri, January 10, 2025
Episode 147 - Make sure it's important and make it short.
What should we do if we must--absolutely must--have an element in our story that might not be fully entertaining and engaging? 1) Make sure it's important and 2) make it short. Here are thoughts about this critical technique. Also, details in our descriptions are important, but which should we use and which should we leave out? Support the show
Fri, January 03, 2025
Episode 146 - How to make our character unforgettable.
We writers can use lovely phrases and perceptive observations when describing our character in our story, and yet the reader may still quickly forget the character. Here's how to make a character stick in the reader's mind. Also, are you a born writer? Maybe so. Here's why you might be. Support the show
Fri, December 27, 2024
Episode 145 - Bringing our settings to life.
We can show (as opposed to tell) as we create a setting for our story. Showing will make our settings vivid, and will allow the setting description to do double duty: describe the place and suggest a mood. Also, reasons to avoid meetings in our story. Support the show
Fri, December 20, 2024
Episode 144 - One sentence can bring our character to life.
We'll build our character as we write along, adding descriptions and actions and dialogue. But there is a way with only one or two sentences to reveal something powerful and memorable about the character--in just a few words--and I'll talk about the technique here. Also, Joyce Carol Oates's rules of writing. And punctuating dialogue, with important techniques about our character's spoken sentences so that our dialogue is a clear window to the story. Support the show
Fri, December 13, 2024
Episode 143 - The three most important sentences when writing a scene.
Jack Bickham's three sentences on scene construction are the best I've found regarding how to write a scene. Here are why these sentences are important for us writers. Also: Sarah Ann Waters' terrific ten rules of writing. And avoiding the word "not." Support the show
Fri, December 06, 2024
Episode 142 - A big technique for literary writing.
Many listeners are writing literary novels and stories. Here is an important technique regarding construction of a literary story, and it also applies to commercial novels. Support the show
Fri, November 29, 2024
Episode 141 - How to begin and end scenes.
The easiest thing for a reader to do is to quit reading our story. Here are ways to begin and end scenes that'll prevent that from happening. Our scenes' beginnings and endings will propel the reader farther into the story. Support the show
Fri, November 22, 2024
Episode 140 - Tips from Stephen King on writing dialogue.
Stephen King is a powerful storyteller, of course, and he is also a highly-skilled sentence-by-sentence writer. Here are his tips on writing dialogue, plus thoughts from me about making our characters' dialogue riveting. Support the show
Fri, November 15, 2024
Episode 139 - Writing in the first person.
Readers love first person novels, where the hero talks directly to the reader. Here are some techniques for first person writing. Also, famous novelists reveal the books that made them want to be writers. Support the show
Fri, November 08, 2024
Episode 138 - How to live a writer's life.
Usually I talk about writing techniques but here are some living techniques for us writers. And some famous writers' favorite writers and novels. Plus: what Ernest Hemingway did when he was stuck. Also: the magic of avoiding dialogue tag modifiers. And Snoopy. Support the show
Fri, November 01, 2024
Episode 137 - Twenty-one rules of writing.
How can an injury be good for us writers? It was for Roald Dahl. And here are Strunk and White's twenty-one rules of writing. Also, Stephen King on descriptions. And several famous setting descriptions, settings so good they are magical. Plus, Toni Morrison reveals how she works. Support the show
Fri, October 25, 2024
Episode 136 - Benefits of a character's otherness.
A strong way to make a character likeable, and to have the reader root for her, is to have the character experience "otherness." She's out of place. She doesn't fit. Here are techniques on how to do so. Also, how F. Scott Fitzgerald worked. And, no whining. Support the show
Fri, October 18, 2024
Episode 135 - Maybe the strongest writing tool - contrast.
Contrast is among the strongest tools we writers can use. It's magic. Here is a discussion of how and where to use contrast. Also, Henry Miller's rules of writing and how John Grisham works. Support the show
Fri, October 11, 2024
Episode 134 - A stong technique for describing a character's personality.
We can show (as opposed to tell) about a character's personality by describing the character's face and body, so that our physical description does double duty. Jonathan Franzen's ten rules of writing. And techniques to add atmosphere to our scenes. Support the show
Fri, October 04, 2024
Episode 133 - In our plot what should we save for a sequel?
In our novel should we leave plot questions unanswered so we have compelling questions for a sequel? Here are thoughts on how we can approach it. Also, Hilary Mantel's ten rules of writing, how Anne Rice worked, and techniques for writing in the active voice. Support the show
Fri, September 27, 2024
Episode 132 - How to avoid the main reason readers stop reading a novel.
Why do readers put down a novel for good before they reach the last page? Here is a reason, maybe the main reason, and how we writers can avoid it. Also, examples of failed showing, as opposed to telling. And Margaret Atwood's rules of writing. Support the show
Fri, September 20, 2024
Episode 131 - A review of the ten strongest writing techniques.
Here is a list of the top ten writing techniques in order of their importance, as best I can figure them out. Also, good comments from a book coach. And Zadie Smith's rules of writing. Support the show
Fri, September 13, 2024
Episode 130 - Kurt Vonnegut's rules of writing, and powerful character descriptioins.
Here are Kurt Vonnegut's eight rules of writing. Also, why reading an Andy Weir novel is such a good writing lesson. And; character descriptions should do double duty. Here is how, with examples from legendary writers. Support the show
Fri, September 06, 2024
Episode 129 - A scene with too many mistakes. Can we spot them?
Here is a scene with a strong plot point important to our story. It should be powerful but it isn't because of technical mistakes in the writing. Can we spot the mistakes? Also, George Orwell's six rules of writing. And a review of how and why to avoid filters. Support the show
Fri, August 30, 2024
Episode 128 - Should we be afraid our plot has been done before?
What if we get the sense that our story is a trope, that the plot is a cliche, that it's been done before? Here are thoughts on cliched stories. Also, Christopher Vogler's twelve steps for plotting our story. Support the show
Fri, August 23, 2024
Episode 127 - Go big or go home plotting.
Classic novelists knew the strong technique regarding plotting and it's a terrific lesson for us: go big or go home. And what if we want to ignore a proven technique? And: thoughts on a character's stream of consciousness thinking. Also, how to avoid overthinking our writing project. Support the show
Fri, August 16, 2024
Episode 126 - Should we hire a book coach?
When can a book coach help us and when can a coach not help us? Here are thoughts on book coaches. Also, the master George Orwell on describing a character. Plus, improving our sentence-by-sentence writing by 1) showing, 2) offering details, and 3) avoiding summary words: three big techniques in one. Support the show
Fri, August 09, 2024
Episode 125 - When to avoid the proven writing technique.
Sometimes we don't need to use the standard and strong writing technique, and we can deviate from the proven technique. When? We'll talk about it here. And here are some fun writing quotes. Also, an example of how interior monologue deadens a scene, and how to change it to a scene that will engage and entertain the reader. Support the show
Fri, August 02, 2024
Episode 124 - Save the cat plotting.
Blake Snyder's famous Save the Cat plotting--where he describes fifteen beats a movie screenplay should have--is useful for us novelists. And wonderful setting descriptions from Willa Cather. Also, what's wrong with this sentence: He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion? And Neil Gaiman's eight rules of writing. Support the show
Fri, July 26, 2024
Episode 123 - The beauty of a professional submission.
How can we submit a manuscript that meets the industry's format expectations and so avoids an amateurish look? Here's how to do it. Also, how the best-selling novelist Elin Hilderbrand live and work? And a few comments on pumping up our creativity. Support the show
Fri, July 19, 2024
Episode 122 - Getting inside a villain's mind.
We aren't villains, and we likely don't have the background and personality of a villain. How can we get inside the mind of a villain for our story, so the villain engages the reader? Here are techniques to do so. Also, big and small things in a novel should be foreshadowed. I'll mention why and how to use foreshadowing to give clues and red herrings to the reader, focusing on small things we might otherwise forget to tie up. Also, here are my favorite funny titles of novels. Support the show
Fri, July 12, 2024
Episode 121 - The biggest mistakes new writers make.
Sometimes new writers have a strong plot idea and they begin writing without learning much about fiction writing. Here are the ten most common mistakes new writers make, mistakes that are often prospect killers. Also, how does Kristen Hannah work? And: maybe the best way to learn how to write a novel. Support the show
Fri, July 05, 2024
Episode 120 - The most important element in fiction.
We learn many techniques to improve our fiction writing. Is there one big thing we should think about first, the most important element? Yes, and we talk about it here. Also, avoiding mixing up the grammatical person and the point of view. How William Faulkner worked. And; making a direct connection between our hero and the reader by showing kindness. Support the show
Fri, June 28, 2024
Episode 119 - Making our sentences instantly stronger.
Here is a technique--it's magical--to make our sentence-by-sentence writing instantly stronger; avoiding qualifiers. And how to use good dialogue tags so the reader hears the dialogue rather than the clunky tags. And important tips regarding back-story. Support the show
Fri, June 21, 2024
Episode 118 - Naming characters and the framing device.
Naming our story's characters is fun but there is a big technique involved, which we talk about in this episode. Also; the iceberg theory of writing, and the story framing device. Plus, examples of showing rather than telling about characters' moods. Support the show
Fri, June 14, 2024
Episode 117 - Making multiple submissions, and a strong dialogue technique.
It's critical for us writers to make multiple simultaneous submissions. Here are some thoughts on why it's so important. And I mention a wonderful but counterintuitive technique that makes our dialogue smoother. Also: the importance of a scene playing out minute-by-minute, without time skips. Support the show
Fri, June 07, 2024
Episode 116 - Advice from your lifestyle counselor, and mistakes when describing our setting.
Where can we turn when wondering about whether we should continue reading a novel? Right here, for some thoughts on reading. Also, here is a discussion on big mistakes we might make when creating our story's setting, and how to avoid them. Support the show
Fri, May 31, 2024
Episode 115 - Downer titles and words that echo poorly.
Some novels--even novels that are great literature--have titles that are downers: titles that are sour and pessimistic. Here are thoughts on why we might not want to give our novels downer titles. Also, why we should avoid words that when too close together echo poorly, creating a distracting dissonance. And how we writers can practice. Support the show
Fri, May 24, 2024
Episode 114 - A critical technique to make our story engaging.
Details are proofs, evidence offered to the reader about our story. Details will make our fiction engaging and will allow the story to grab readers. But there are right and wrong ways to use details, and we'll talk about the difference. Also, how should we handle back-story, politics, and society in our story? And a goofy pop quiz. Support the show
Fri, May 17, 2024
Episode 113 - The clear window technique.
For most of us our sentence-by-sentence writing should be a clear window to our story rather than a barrier to seeing the story. Here are thoughts on the clear window. Also, how George Orwell worked. Support the show
Fri, May 10, 2024
Episode 112 - Writing in the past or present tense, and making submissions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in the present tense? And the past tense? Also, a reminder about the importance of setting. And I get on my high horse about writers needing persistence regarding submissions. Support the show
Fri, May 03, 2024
Episode 111 - If we have to have a big meeting, show rather than tell.
It's hard to make a big meeting scene interesting. Much of the time meeting scenes should be avoided. But if we must have a meeting, showing rather than telling will make it more interesting. Plus, how Carson McCullers worked. And some comments from feuding writers. Also, an interview with Maeve Binchy. Support the show
Fri, April 26, 2024
Episode 110 - Book cover design, and regaining enthusiasm.
Good advice about designing your own book cover; don't. If you self-publish your novel don't ruin it with a do-it-yourself book cover. Here are thoughts on why you should hire a pro designer. Also: why have we lost some enthusiasm for writing our novel, and how can we get it back? And some of the loveliest sentences in literature. Support the show
Fri, April 19, 2024
Episode 109 - How we can stop stalling and get going.
Some of us have a hard time beginning the writing of our novels or short stories. Here are the reasons why and things we might do to overcome them. Also, the best first sentences in literature. And now novelist John Cheever worked. Support the show
Fri, April 12, 2024
Episode 108 - Every description should do double duty.
We can avoid inert paragraphs by having our descriptions do more than one thing at once. Descriptions of our characters, settings, and action and our dialogue can do double duty--two things at the same time--which will engage the reader and enliven our story. Here's how . Support the show
Fri, April 05, 2024
Episode 107 - The differences between literary and commercial fiction.
Should we categorize our novel as literary or commercial? What are the benefits and drawbacks of doing so? Also, we can improve our dialogue writing by reading great crime fiction. And: the importance of avoiding filters. Support the show
Fri, March 29, 2024
Episode 106 - How to write a scene's sequel, and plotting the novel's middle.
Jack Bickham says that scenes should be followed by sequels. Here are thoughts on how to write a sequel. Also, the middle of a novel--sometimes called the Great Swampy Middle--can be hard to plot. We'll discuss techniques on bulking up the middle of our story. Support the show
Fri, March 22, 2024
Episode 105 - A technique for plotting scene to scene, and my failed writing experiment.
What is the best way to plot our novel, plotting from scene to scene? Here is a discussion of the critical technique of avoiding a scene's set up and wind down. Also, I took part in a writing experiment and spectacularly failed, and here is an account of it. I still wince when I recall it. Also, a strong writing technique is avoiding "was" and "were." We'll discuss why and how to do so. Support the show
Fri, March 15, 2024
Episode 104 - Let's get to work, and showing with dialogue.
What if we are stymied in our plotting, and can't think of enough story? Here are some thoughts on how we might get to work. Also; one of the best ways we can reveal our characters to readers is with the characters' own words, with their dialogue. Here are some thoughts on showing--as opposed to telling--with dialogue. Also, this episode contains the words "oaf," "poltroon," and "knucklehead," such words being like salt; they make anything better. Support the show
Fri, March 08, 2024
Episode 103 - The joy of creating something out of nothing. And, is our new plot point a strong one?
We writers get to experience the joy of creating something--a character, a setting, an event--out of nothing. And, how can we tell if the new plot point we've come up with is any good? Are there questions we can ask ourselves to test our new plot point? Also: who are the most memorable villains in fiction? Here is Stephen King's list. And here is something technical; how to paragraph dialogue. Support the show
Fri, March 01, 2024
Episode 102 - Lovely sentence-by-sentence writing, and pumping up our creativity.
Most of us subscribe to the our-words-should-be-a-clear-window-to-the-story technique but some writers intentionally make their sentences beautiful so that we think about the words on the page. Here are some thoughts on writing beautiful sentences. Also, how can we pump up our creativity so as to get us off the dime regarding our plotting? And Edna Ferber's striking character descriptions. Support the show
Fri, February 23, 2024
Episode 101 - The phrases notebook, and avoiding our plot bogging down.
A phrases notebook is a remarkably useful tool for writers. Here's how to create one. Also, sometimes while writing we might get the feeling that our plot is becoming aimless and that it is bogging down. We'll list questions we can ask ourselves to determine if it's true, and how to fix the problem. Support the show
Fri, February 16, 2024
Episode 100 - Getting into the flow, and the power of fiction.
Can we writers get into a mental state called the flow or the zone, then write 40 pages? Maybe. Here's how. And: our fiction might someday change people's lives. Also, showing--as opposed to telling--negative emotions such as disgust. And a monkey in Thailand. Support the show
Fri, February 09, 2024
Episode 99 - Traps when writing character-driven stories.
Character-driven stories--which delve deeply into the hero's change and growth--can be moving and unforgettable for readers but there are traps that we can fall into when writing them. Here they are, and how to avoid them. Also, Kurt Vonnegut's technique of making a character want something right away. And how Joyce Carol Oates works. Also, the enduring appeal of Anne of Green Gables. Support the show
Fri, February 02, 2024
Episode 98 - Counterintuitive techniques that new writers might resist.
At some point all writers are new writers. Here are some sure-fire fiction writing techniques that might not seem right, that are counterintuitive. These are big techniques new writers often get wrong because at first glance they don't make sense. Here's a list of these methods, and how to avoid getting them wrong. Support the show
Fri, January 26, 2024
Episode 97 - Clothing our characters. Also, how to end a scene.
How we dress our character will show--that is, to reveal--much about our characters to the reader. Clothing is evidence of our character's personality, and a strong tool for us writers. Also, Jack Bickham has solid advice on how to end our chapters. Support the show
Fri, January 19, 2024
Episode 96 - How to create emotions in our characters and readers.
Huge rewards for fiction readers are a character's emotions; love, fear, gratitude, respect, loathing, and many others. Here are techniques on how to create emotions in our characters that will be intensely rewarding for readers. Also: an example of the rule of exceptions regarding likeable characters.. Support the show
Fri, January 12, 2024
Episode 95 - More strong dialogue techniques.
In the last episode we talked about major dialogue techniques. Here are smaller ones--but still important techniques--that'll make our dialogue shine. And: how does the best-selling novelist Jonathan Franzen work? We'll find out. Support the show
Fri, January 05, 2024
Episode 94 - Seven big dialogue writing techniques.
Dialogue in fiction is fun to write and fun to read. Here are seven techniques that'll help make our dialogue shine. Also, why should we create a character readers hate? Because those characters can be riveting, and are a strong element in the story. Here are some famous examples from novels, not main villains, but rather secondary characters who make readers groan when they appear on the page. Support the show
Fri, December 29, 2023
Episode 93 - Can we avoid stupid writing?
Let's talk about stupid writing, And: how to get our story going without over-explanation and back-story. How John Updike and Frank Baum wrote. And an encounter with Aphrodite in English 101. Support the show
Fri, December 22, 2023
Episode 92 - Fourteen scene mistakes and how to avoid them.
Here is a list of the fourteen biggest mistakes we can make when creating our scene, and how to avoid them. Also, we'll talk about how to avoid the dull tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock metronome beat when writing sentences. And: showing rather than telling about a character's personality. Support the show
Fri, December 15, 2023
Episode 91 - The benefits of a buddy, and Willa Cather and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Adding a close friend for our story's protagonist offers many benefits. Here are some thoughts on buddies. And: how did novelists Willa Cather and Nathaniel Hawthorne work? Plus, techniques for avoiding interior monologue when our character is alone in the scene. And: should we write the story that's loudest in our head or should we aim for the market? Support the show
Fri, December 08, 2023
Episode 90 - Techniques for creating riveting settings.
Bland settings works against the story, and riveting settings propel the story forward. Here are techniques for creating powerful settings that will engage the reader. Also, the Wall Street Journal's interview of best-selling Ken Follett is fascinating, and here is some of it. Support the show
Fri, December 01, 2023
Episode 89 - Avoiding the biggest mistakes before we begin to write.
Here are thoughts on how to avoid early mistakes in our writing, those blunders we might make before we write the first sentence of our story. Also, a couple of wonderful quotation about writing. And: new technology tools to help us writers. Support the show
Fri, November 24, 2023
Episode 88 - Writing the fight scene.
Action is the most interesting element in most novels, and a fight is action. Here are some techniques for writing a fight scene. Also, here's an almost sure-fire way to prime the pump of our plotting, a way to invent more plot for our story. And: thoughts about naming our characters. Support the show
Fri, November 17, 2023
Episode 87 - How to write a fabulous first sentence.
The first sentence of our story should suggest to the reader, "Come on in and listen." A good first sentence propels the reader into the story, and here are some ways to write them. Also: Stephen King's twenty important techniques for writing. Support the show
Fri, November 10, 2023
Episode 86 - The importance of a tie-up later list. Also: sequels.
Why should we keep a tie-up later list? How to create one and their importance are mentioned. And Angelou, King, and Tolstoy. Also: should we plan a sequel? Support the show
Fri, November 03, 2023
Episode 85 - Dialogue's three most important techniques.
Listening to characters speak is a great pleasure for readers. It's as if the reader is a character in the scene, listening in, eavesdropping. Here are the three most important dialogue writing techniques I can think of. Also; how can we make our third-person narrator as intimate with the reader as a first-person narrator? Some thoughts are offered on how to get the reader close to the third-person character. And: Mark Twain's daily writing habits. Support the show
Fri, October 27, 2023
Episode 84 - Why we should create a funny character, and how to do so.
Humorous characters are fun to read about and fun to write about. Here are some thoughts on why funny characters are important in our stories, and some techniques for creating funny characters. Also: Charles Dickens' daily work schedule. Support the show
Fri, October 20, 2023
Episode 83 - How to show our character's thoughts to avoid interior monologue.
Here are ways to show with action and dialogue what our character is thinking so we can avoid visiting the character's mind for interior monologue, usually the least interesting element of a story. And we visit Somerset Maugham, Truman Capote, and Herman Melville. Support the show
Fri, October 13, 2023
Episode 82 - Finding the courage to write, and describing our first-person hero.
Do we need courage to write our first novel? If so, where do we find it? Also, writing the physical description of our hero in a first-person novel can be tricky. Here are thoughts on how we might do so. Support the show
Fri, October 06, 2023
Episode 81 - The top ten fiction writing techniques.
Here's a list of the most important techniques we should think about when plotting and writing our novel or short story. Also, more on making our settings work for our story. And, how we can show rather than tell about love. Support the show
Fri, September 29, 2023
Episode 80 - Maybe we are writing magic, and strong versus weak words.
Did soon-to-be famous writers know as they drafted their novels that they were creating magic for readers? Maybe. Maybe not. And how can we choose the strong word instead the the weak, so that our sentence shines? Also, here are thoughts on how long our chapters should be, and how to make sure they are not too long and not too short. Support the show
Fri, September 22, 2023
Episode 79 - Tips for writing YA fiction. Also: adding detail to our scenes.
Young adult fiction is a vast market, and many wonderful writers create YA novels. Here are some thoughts on YA, some techniques we might keep in mind as we put together a story meant for teenagers. Also, what is the balance between not enough detail and too much detail in our scenes? I'll set out a formula. Support the show
Fri, September 15, 2023
Episode 78 - Developing a distinctive voice, and flashbacks.
A distinctive voice can add a charming or compelling aspect to a story. What is voice? And do we need a distinctive voice? Maybe not, maybe so. Here are thoughts about a voice for our stories. Also mentioned are ideas and techniques regarding flashbacks. Support the show
Fri, September 08, 2023
Episode 77 - Eleven techniques for writing strong sentences.
The words on our page should be a clear window to our story. How can we do that? Here are eleven techniques to make our sentences forceful and clear. Also, some comments on the story arc. What is a story arc? Is the concept useful? Support the show
Fri, September 01, 2023
Episode 76 - Writing our synopsis, and avoiding filters.
A literary agent or a publisher may ask for a synopsis of our novel, a three to five-page summary. Here are techniques on how to write one. Also, can artificial intelligence write fiction? We'll find out. Plus, ridding our sentences of filters to get the reader closer to the scene. Support the show
Fri, August 25, 2023
Episode 75 - The magical difference between scene and summary.
New writers tend to put too much summary into their stories. I'll talk about how to avoid that mistake, making sure that most of our novels are scenes. Why is this so important? Scenes are much more engaging for the reader than are summaries. Also, here's how to show--rather than tell--about our characters' aches and pains. And here's a list of the twelve best novels of all time. Support the show
Fri, August 18, 2023
Episode 74 - How to describe our villainous villain, and how to get unstuck.
A great pleasure in our fiction reading is coming across a dastardly villain, someone so bad and so well-described we will never forget him or her. Hannibal Lecter. Nurse Ratched. Huckleberry Finn's father Pap. How can writers create such a villain? Here are techniques, in particular regarding the physical description of the villain. Also discussed is how we can get unstuck in our plotting or writing. Support the show
Fri, August 11, 2023
Episode 73 - How to make settings work for our story, and how writers get to work each day.
Here are two errors we might make when describing our setting. First, using a dull setting. And, second, making the setting inert, that is, not having the setting contribute to the story. Here are techniques to avoid both mistakes. Plus, we'll look at how other novelists get to work each day, how they manage to sit themselves down and start writing. Support the show
Fri, August 04, 2023
Episode 72 - Finding an agent, and writing a query.
Once we have completed our novel, it may be time to obtain the services of a literary agent. Here are thoughts on how to find good ones, and how to write a query asking them to look at your manuscript Support the show
Fri, July 28, 2023
Episode 71 - Using the critical tool of contrast. And writing vivid character descriptions.
Blue is bluer when placed next to yellow. Here are techniques on the use of contrast to make our scenes and characters more vivid. Also, we can learn how to describe characters--and we can be inspired--by reading how the masters create their characters. Support the show
Fri, July 21, 2023
Episode 70 - Writing a story in the first-person.
Here are some thoughts about how we can write our story in the first-person, some techniques that will capture the reader. Also, usually the fewer the adverbs and adjectives, the stronger the writing. Here's how we can reduce the number of modifiers in our fiction. And here's a list of the six funniest novels of all time. Support the show
Fri, July 14, 2023
Episode 69 - Learning character and setting descriptions from the masters.
One of the best ways to learn the craft of fiction is to read the works of great writers, those novelists who know how to offer the reader unforgettable images of new places and new people. Here are examples of character and setting descriptions from skilled writers. Listening to them, we'll be inspired to create vivid and enchanting descriptions Support the show
Fri, July 07, 2023
Episode 68 - Do we have an idea or a plot? Also: how to write joyful dialogue.
What's the difference between an idea and plot? It's important to know as we begin writing. Also, readers love joyous dialogue. Here are thoughts on how to write it. Support the show
Fri, June 30, 2023
Episode 67 - Lighting the writing fuse, and showing rather than telling about the setting.
What in our lives made us want to write? Here's a discussion about lighting that fuse. Also: here are techniques for showing rather than telling about our story's setting. And discussed also is a wonderful way to learn to write that takes little extra time or effort. Finally, how to write dialogue when the characters are afraid. Support the show
Fri, June 23, 2023
Episode 66 - Creating characters readers love. Also; techniques for writing sad dialogue.
A main reason readers put a novel on their all-time top-ten favorites list is because they fall in love with a character. Here's how we can create characters readers will love. Also discussed are techniques for writing sad dialogue. And also: how to get unstuck when writing or novel or short story. Support the show
Fri, June 16, 2023
Episode 65 - A writer's thoughts on ChatGPT. And the benefits of identifying our genre.
I've been checking out the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, and here are some impressions of its use for writers. And: what are the benefits of identifying our novel as being in a genre? Also, more on those pesky dialogue tag modifiers. Support the show
Fri, June 09, 2023
Episode 64 - How to get started writing, and tips on romantic and angry dialogue.
How can we get off the dime and start writing our novel or short story? Here are some thoughts. Also, readers love emotional dialogue; techniques to write romantic dialogue and angry dialogue are discussed. Support the show
Fri, June 02, 2023
Episode 63 - How to bring our settings to life, and writing the romantic scene.
Here is a strong technique for immersing readers in our settings. Readers will think they are right there with our characters. Also, almost all stories should have a romance, and keys to writing romance scenes are reviewed. Support the show
Fri, May 26, 2023
Episode 62 - A technique for bringing our characters to life, and writing the action scene.
Here is a strong technique to make our characters vivid and memorable for the reader. And also: most novels should have action scenes. The craft of writing a powerful action scene is reviewed. Support the show
Fri, May 19, 2023
Episode 61 - How to detect and fix a sloppy scene. Also: how to unleash story ideas.
Sometimes a scene we've written just doesn't feel right. Something is amiss but we can't put our fingers on it. Here's a method to figure out what might be wrong and how to fix it. Also: we can get stuck in our thinking about the plot. Where should the story go next? What should we add? Here are ideas on inventing plot points. Support the show
Fri, May 12, 2023
Episode 60 - Fabulous sentences of fiction, font fiddling, and slow motion.
A terrific way for writers to find inspiration is to hear legendary sentences from famous novels. Here are a few. Should we fiddle with fonts in our manuscript? And slow motion is a powerful tool for our scenes. Support the show
Fri, May 05, 2023
Episode 59 - Plotting with a spreadsheet. And the unreliable narrator. Also, fiddling with the flow of time.
Can we use a spreadsheet to plot our novels? Some authors do. Here are thoughts about using Excel for outlining a story. Also, most main characters in a novel tell the truth to the reader. But some don't. Sometimes an unreliable narrator is a strong tool for plotting. Plus, should authors fiddle with the speed of time in our novels? Hurrying time and skipping time? Here are some techniques regarding the flow of time in our stories. Support the show
Fri, April 28, 2023
Episode 58 - Making writing less daunting, and some techniques to avoid weak sentences.
How can we handle the dispiriting feeling that writing our novel is a huge, endless, and hard chore with completion far in the future, if ever? Here are some thoughts about facing our big writing project. Also mentioned are some sentence-by-sentence writing mistakes that are easy to avoid. And this episode presents some specific words we can delete from our manuscript, and our story will magically be better. Support the show
Sun, April 23, 2023
Episode 57 - An important tool, the timeline. Also, authorial distance.
Creating a timeline can help us keep things straight as we plot and write. Also, here's a discussion of authorial distance, which is the closeness or distance the reader feels from the scene's subjects. And a list of ways to avoid sentence-by-sentence weak writing. Support the show
Fri, April 14, 2023
Episode 56 - How many characters are too many? And he wore his guilt like a harness.
For each scene, the perfect number of characters exists. We'll talk about that number. Too few, and we don't have a scene. Too many, and the scene is like a subway at rush hour. Also, here are some techniques regarding metaphors and similes, a skill that can make our writing more lyrical and engaging. Please note: I will be out of the office next week, and so won't upload a new episode next Friday, but will return for a new episode the following Friday. Support the show
Fri, April 07, 2023
Episode 55 - How many words should we write a day? And the use of contrast.
How many words a day? Too fast, and our story might be sloppy. Too slow, and we'll never finish. Here are some thoughts about our pace of writing. And also; contrast is a critical tool for us writers. How can we use it? Support the show
Fri, March 31, 2023
Episode 54 - Fear of failure, author photos, and the use of humor.
Here are thoughts on how we might handle doubts about our writing abilities, the fear of failure. Plus, more tips on facing the camera. And: humor is a wonderful tool for writers. Add some laughs to our stories. Support the show
Fri, March 24, 2023
Episode 53 - Embarrassing stuff, and the middle of the novel.
We shouldn't write about embarrassing stuff, and here's a list. Also, here are techniques to rev up the middle of the novel, often the hardest part to write. Support the show
Fri, March 17, 2023
Episode 52 - Making our sentences more lively, and avoiding reader disbelief.
Here's a strong way to make our sentences pop, to make our writing lively and energetic. Also: how to keep the reader engaged by reducing disbelief and so making our story more real. Support the show
Fri, March 10, 2023
Episode 51 - The wonder factor.
Let's apply the wonder factor to our stories, giving readers elements that will make them shake their heads and smile, and so remember our writing. And here also are techniques to avoid inertia in our writing. Support the show
Fri, March 03, 2023
Episode 50 - The right kind of surprise ending, and wonderful character descriptions.
The ending of our novel should be a surprise but not a complete surprise. Here are techniques for crafting that balance. And famous character descriptions can inspire us to create our own fascinating character portraits. Support the show
Fri, February 24, 2023
Episode 49 - Avoiding the biggest mistake, and keeping the POV tight.
If we are going to spend a year or two writing a novel, shouldn't we avoid a mistake in our very first chapter that ruins the novel's chances with agents and publishers? Here's the mistake and how to avoid it. Also mentioned are techniques on keeping the point of view tight. Support the show
Fri, February 17, 2023
Episode 48 - Writing strong dialogue, and Ray Bradbury on plotting.
Dialogue is fun to write and fun to read. What's the best way to mix dialogue with action? How can we make sure dialogue and action work together to propel the story forward? And how science fiction legend Ray Bradbury came up with his plots. Support the show
Fri, February 10, 2023
Episode 47 - A strong plotting technique, and leeches.
Sometimes when plotting we run out of ideas. Here's a good way to prime the plotting pump. And more on qualifiers, the leeches that infest the pond of prose. Support the show
Fri, January 06, 2023
Episode 46 - What if no one comes to our book signing? And crafting our narrative voice.
No one in line to buy an autographed copy of your novel? You are not alone. The Wall Street Journal tells of famous authors who have suffered empty bookstores. And techniques for fitting our narrative voice to our genre Support the show
Fri, December 30, 2022
Episode 45 - Techniques to make our dialogue riveting.
Dialogue is fun to write and fun to read. Here is a strong technique to make our dialogue fascinating for readers. Also, novel writing's rule of exceptions. Support the show
Fri, December 23, 2022
Episode 44 - How to avoid another prospect-killing mistake.
We'll talk in this episode about another big mistake, one that will cause agents and editors to put aside our manuscripts after four or five pages. Also, some dialogue is better than other dialogue, and so here are tips on writing fascinating dialogue. Support the show
Fri, December 16, 2022
Episode 43 - Dialogue should do double duty. Here's how.
Dialogue that does only one thing might be inert. Talk between our characters should do double duty, and here are techniques about how to write double-duty dialogue. Also, how to avoid the as-you-know syndrome in dialogue. Support the show
Fri, December 09, 2022
Episode 42 - The single most important writing technique.
What's the one most important writing technique for novelists? If we get it wrong it sinks our publishing chances. We'll talk about how to get it right. Also, how to add the charming or funny or odd trait to our character that will make him or her stick in the reader's mind. Support the show
Fri, December 02, 2022
Episode 41 - How can we know if we have the talent to write?
Can we know in advance if we have the talent to write a novel, before we spend the time and effort to write it? Here are some thoughts. Also, we can get better at close observing and phrase- making, and some techniques are discussed. Support the show
Fri, November 25, 2022
Episode 40 - Creating villainous villains.
Here are techniques for creating fictional villains readers will love to loathe and fear. We writers can make readers shudder when our scoundrels appear. Support the show
Fri, November 18, 2022
Episode 39 - How to create characters readers love.
Readers want to fall in love with our characters. Here are some techniques about how to create characters readers will be passionate about, and so will dislike seeing the novel end. Also, some advice on handling minor characters. Support the show
Fri, November 11, 2022
Episode 38 - We shouldn't write these scenes, and strong techniqes for character description.
Some scenes are too much, and they may ruin a novel for readers. What are they? Plus, here are some good techniques for describing our characters, having our descriptions do double duty. And don't forget the quirks. Support the show
Fri, November 04, 2022
Episode 37 - When to stop preparing and start writing.
How can we know when we've prepared enough? Is it time to start chapter 1? Here's a list of eight things we probably should have figured out before we start our first chapter. Also, how to show rather than tell about emotions and reactions. Support the show
Fri, October 28, 2022
Episode 36 - The most interesting to the least interesting aspects of a novel.
Some elements of a novel are more interesting than others, and some are less interesting. Writers should give readers more of the involving and fascinating aspects, and here is a ranked list of those elements. Also, a look at how three great writers describe their characters, and what we can learn from them. Support the show
Fri, October 21, 2022
Episode 35 - A close look at scene structure, and avoiding mushy sentences.
Scene structure is an art hidden from the reader but critical for the success of a scene. We'll talk about structure in this episode. Also, here is one of the best ways to avoid mushy, colorless sentences that don't grip the reader. Support the show
Fri, October 14, 2022
Episode 34 - Why and how to practice writing, and more thoughts on thoughts.
Should we as writers practice our craft? What are the benefits, and how should we do so? And here are more ideas about making clear to readers what our character is thinking. Also, here are some laughably bad sentences. Support the show
Fri, October 07, 2022
Episode 33 - Danger signs our plot is dull.
Here are eight signs that our plot isn't as interesting as we'd like, which is to say; it's dull. And how to fix it. Also, how do we carve out the time to write in our busy lives? A good author reveals how she did it. Support the show
Fri, September 30, 2022
Episode 32 - A formula for showing, and clear and spare writing.
We should show as opposed to tell most of the time. But sometimes telling is fine. Here is a formula for when to show and when to tell. Also, we'll talk about techniques for clear and spare writing. And the reason Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is my favorite novel. And a wonderfully funny sentence from Lee Child. Support the show
Fri, September 23, 2022
Episode 31 - Favorite novels and check-mark plotting.
Making a list of our favorite novels is fun and it can teach us something about writing, plus the strong technique of check-mark plotting. Support the show
Fri, September 16, 2022
Episode 30 - Plotting and the power struggle.
Plotting our story is so important that we return to it here. How can we know what works and doesn't work in a story? We'll talk about plotting techniques including good advice from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Support the show
Fri, September 09, 2022
Episode 29 - The pattern of a novel.
Successful novels almost always follow a pattern, and we'll talk about the pattern in this episode. Also, what put you in mind of writing fiction? I'd like to hear from you about it. And several more odd book titles. Support the show
Fri, September 02, 2022
Episode 28 - The enchanter quality, and weather and rudeness.
Vladimir Nabokov said a writer should have the enchanter quality. Here are examples from H.P. Lovecraft. And how does Nora Roberts work? Also, showing rather than telling about the weather and personality. And some John Lennon. Support the show
Fri, August 26, 2022
Episode 27 - The importance of genres and formulas. And thoughts about titles.
Formulas became formulas because they work. Our genre will offer guidelines (formulas) for our plots. And: titles are fun to think about but it's sometimes hard to invent a good one. Here are some thoughts about coming up with a good title. Support the show
Fri, August 19, 2022
Episode 26 - Navel gazing and how to avoid it. And more on showing
Interior monologue and how to avoid it. And more techniques regarding the critical skill of showing rather than telling. And visits to John Steinbeck and Willa Cather. Support the show
Fri, August 12, 2022
Episode 25: The magic of writing. Cause and effect. And thinking.
We writers may never know to whom our words will have a profound meaning. Plus, the importance of cause and effect. And the perils of interior monologue. Support the show
Fri, August 05, 2022
Episode 24 - Showing others our work. And strong sentence-by-sentence writing techniques.
Should we show friends and family our manuscripts as we compose them? Good reasons for and against exist. The key to vivid writing: be specific, definite, and concrete. Plus, famous romantic lines, avoiding useless analogies, and a technique for vivid writing: using verbs rather than verb objects. Support the show
Fri, July 29, 2022
Episode 23: Editing our own manuscript
What should we look for when editing our own manuscript? How do famous authors do it? What should we look for as we edit? This episode discusses the editing process, the good and bad of it. Support the show
Fri, July 22, 2022
Episode 22: A summary of earlier episodes, and techniques for musical writing.
Topics of earlier episodes are boiled down to sixteen points, and we'll talk about them briefly. Also, here are some things we can do to make our sentence-by-sentence writing more pleasing to readers' eyes and ears. Support the show
Fri, July 15, 2022
Episode 21: Creativity and how to get it.
How can we shake loose from our brains plots for our novels? Here's my favorite way. Plus, benefits and perils of writing with a partner. More on accents. And avoiding adverbs, which are not a writer's friend. Support the show
Thu, July 07, 2022
Episode 20 - Reasons we fail to start.
Why don't we begin our novel? Here's a reason, and a way to avoid it. Plus, we'll talk about qualifiers and intensifiers, the leeches of language. And some thoughts on profanity and slang. And why age benefits novelists. Support the show
Mon, June 06, 2022
Episode 19 - More on modifiers, including the useless and the dangling. And clunky reach words.
Many adjective and adverb s do nothing but pad a sentence, making the sentence rickety. Here are some techniques on avoiding these useless or unintentionally funny modifiers. Plus, some words are just too much. We'll avoid these, too. Support the show
Sat, June 04, 2022
Episode 18 - Lots of things to avoid: the negative, cliches, and too many modifiers.
In this episode we focus on sentence-by-sentence writing. How can we make our sentences vivid and powerful? Some strong techniques are discussed, such as avoiding cliches like the plague. Support the show
Sun, May 29, 2022
Episode 17 - Keep it simple but not too simple, and metaphors.
Our writing should be a clear window to the story, and a technique is to, in Einstein's phrase, keep it simple but not too simple. Here are some techniques for doing that, along with a discussion of metaphors and similes. Support the show
Sat, May 21, 2022
Episode 16: Theme, odd questions, more on conflict, and vivid writing.
As writers, should we be concerned with a themes for our stories? And a critical question: are writers allowed to be weird? We'll also return to the need for early conflict in our stories, and then go on to discuss vivid writing. Support the show
Mon, May 16, 2022
Episode 15 - Techniques for writing about settings.
Our setting -- the place and time of the scene -- anchor our characters the the ground. Here are techniques for writing our settings to get the most from them, so that they play a strong role in the story. Support the show
Wed, May 11, 2022
Episode14: The fourth wall, the ending, and some bad writing.
Our topics this episode are how to avoid breaking the fourth wall, onomatopoeia (clunk, thud, kersplat), and techniques on ending the novel. We'll also talk about some bad writing, really bad writing. Support the show
Fri, May 06, 2022
Episode 13: More on dialogue, and techniques about foreshadowing and coincidences
Dialogue is so important to our stories that we'll talk more about it here. Then we'll move on to foreshadowing--including the Chekhov's famous gun--and coincidences., where one is fine but two are not. Support the show
Thu, April 28, 2022
Episode 12 - Dialogue
A fictional character's dialogue sounds like a person speaking in real life, but not too much like a person speaking in real life. In this episode we'll talk about dialogue techniques that draw the reader into the story. Support the show
Thu, April 21, 2022
Episode 11: Point of view and voice.
Here are techniques to control our point of view so that our story doesn't have a dizzying quality as the reader jumps from one character's mind to another character's mind. We'll also discuss a writer's narrative voice. Support the show
Sat, April 16, 2022
Episode 10: More show and tell, and the grammatical person.
The difference between showing and telling is so important that we continue with it in this episode, including the technique of saving it for later. Plus, we'll talk about the grammatical person. Support the show
Sat, April 09, 2022
Episode 9: Showing versus telling
We'll talk about the most critical skill for vivid writing, showing versus telling. Showing reveals. Telling explains. Showing is almost always more involving for the reader, and we'll discuss how to show rather than tell.. Support the show
Mon, April 04, 2022
Episode 8 - Scene and summary
We'll discuss the difference between summary and scene., and why writing scenes rather than summaries is so important. Point of view will also be briefly touch on, along with techniques on how to end a scene Rhythmic placement of scenes is also a topic in this episode. Support the show
Sun, March 27, 2022
Episode 7 - Crafting a scene
Good scenes have a certain form. This episode is about how to craft a compelling scene, including the need to begin a scene late in the chronology and end it early.
Sun, March 27, 2022
Episode 7 - How to craft a scene.
Crafting a scene involves mechanics hidden from readers. Here are techniques that lead to the success of a scene: ways to grab the reader, immerse him or her in the scene, and then launch the reader into the next scene. Support the show
Wed, March 23, 2022
Episode 6: Villains and sidekicks.
How can we create compelling villains and lovable and maybe eccentric sidekicks? How many characters should we put in a scene? How about basing a character on a friend or relative? And are there tips for naming our characters? Learn these techniques and more ini this episode. Support the show
Wed, March 16, 2022
Episode 5: Creating compelling characters.
Characters in fiction come in a huge variety, and creating characters involves techniques that discussed in this episode. There are reasons we find Scout Finch and Hermione Granger and Jack Aubrey and Katniss Everdeen so compelling, and let's find out why. Support the show
Thu, March 10, 2022
Episode 5: How to develop appealing characters
Heroes in our novel reading appear to be wildly different. But almost all successful novel protagonists have several common aspects to their personalities, and in this podcast we'll talk about them. We'll focus on creating a character the reader loves, and so the reader will intensely dislike coming to the end of the story when the reader must leave the beloved character behind. Casting Through Ancient Greece A podcast about the history of ancient Greece for people new to and familiar with... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Wed, March 09, 2022
Episode 4: Pace, the first sentence, back-story, over-description
We'll talk about how to keep the reader involved in the story, how to move a plot forward. And we'll discuss one of my favorite topics: the novel's first sentence. Support the show
Thu, March 03, 2022
Episode 3: Finding a fresh plot.
Is there an idea dump where we can go to find a fresh plot for our novel or a strong plot point for the next chapter of our novel? No, but good methods exist to develop plots, and that's the topic of this episode. Casting Through Ancient Greece A podcast about the history of ancient Greece for people new to and familiar with... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Thu, March 03, 2022
Episode 3 - Go big or go home.
Is there an idea dump where we can find a fresh plot for our novel or a strong plot point for the next chapter of our novel? No, but good methods exist to develop plots, and that's the topic of this episode. Support the show
Wed, March 02, 2022
Episode 1: Learning and getting better at the craft of writing.
Follow the rules. Go with what works to increase our chances of getting published. Writing can be learned. And if we know how to write, we can get better. A critical ingredient: persistence. One negative thing about learning to write. Leaning to concentrate. And a technique about weeping. Support the show
Wed, March 02, 2022
Episode 2: Getting ready to start writing a novel.
Getting ready to start a novel. Drafting a a plan (timetable). An outline (pros and cons). Other useful pre-writing and during-the-writing documents. Recommendations for a novel's length. Support the show
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