Amie Kaufman On Writing

How To Get Better At Writing Sep 09, 2024

We're back after a long break with a new episode -- maybe the most useful one yet -- and an update on future plans. If you want to stay in the loop re future opportunities to learn from Amie, make sure you're on the mailing list, which you can join at amiekaufman.substack.com

Turning a Character Into a Plot with Lili Wilkinson (Season 4, Bonus Episode 2) Jul 19, 2023

We’ll be back in a couple of months with the second half of Season 4, and in the meantime, I have a couple of fantastic bonus episodes for you. When I got a question about how to turn a character idea into a story idea, I knew Lili was the person to answer it.

Listeners, you can find Lili on Instagram at @liliwilkinson, or online at her website, where you can learn more about her new book, A Hunger of Thorns - a sapphic, witchy, botanical book about lost girls, and an adventure into an abandoned power plant that’s built on the remains of a magical forest - and her many other works.

Don't forget that my newest book, The Isles of the Gods, is out now! I hope you love it.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Writing For Tabletop Games with James Sutter (Season 4, Bonus Episode 1) Jun 27, 2023

We’ll be back in a couple of months with the second half of Season 4, and in the meantime, I have a couple of fantastic bonus episodes for you. First up, we're going to hear from James Sutter. James is the co-creator of the Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games—if you’re not a tabletop gamer, they’re similar to games like D&D. He’s also an author, and his latest novel, Darkhearts, came out on June 6th.

Listeners, you can find James on Twitter at @jameslsutter and Instagram at james_l_sutter, or online at jameslsutter.com, where you can learn more about Darkhearts and his other work.

Don't forget that my newest book, The Isles of the Gods, is out now! I hope you love it.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Creating a Magic System May 15, 2023

Creating a magic system that really works takes effort. Every time you think you’ve got it working, someone points out some what-if hypothetical, and you’re back to the drawing board, trying to plug more leaks in your logic bucket. When it does work, though – well, all of us have been swept away at one point or another by the feeling we’re truly in another world, and a story full of magic you can believe in is really special. I’m going to give you three questions I ask myself when I’m creating a magic system, using one of my own as a case study.

My new book, The Isles of the Gods, is officially out! The Isles of the Gods is a fantasy novel set on the high seas, full of magic, romance, slumbering gods, gangsters’ dens and forgotten temples. It’s about a sailor girl who ends up saddled with an annoyingly handsome prince, who has to save him, if she wants to save the world. I think you're going to love it.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Research for Worldbuilding with Kate J. Armstrong May 08, 2023

I started writing an episode to answer a question about worldbuilding and research—and then I realised that I already have the perfect resource for you. All of you know by now that my lovely producer Kate is also Kate J. Armstrong, author of Nightbirds, a brilliant book about girls who can gift magic to you with a kiss. Kate and I host the Pub Dates podcast, where we take listeners behind the scenes as we follow our books through the publication process. We’ve discussed this exact topic – so today, I’m going to share an excerpt from that episode. It’s a little longer than the average Amie Kaufman on Writing episode, but I promise you won’t get bored.

If you're listening to this in real time, then tomorrow my new book, The Isles of the Gods, will be out. The Isles of the Gods is a fantasy novel set on the high seas, full of magic, romance, slumbering gods, gangsters’ dens and forgotten temples. It’s about a sailor girl who ends up saddled with an annoyingly handsome prince, who has to save him, if she wants to save the world.

If you’re listening on release (May 2, 2023), you have a couple of days left to claim the many preorder goodies on offer. If you’re going to read it, then make sure you lodge your receipt and get the goods as well.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Character Descriptions May 01, 2023

The way a character narrating a book—or even just a character whose point of view we share—is going to describe someone they see every day is going to be really different to the way they describe a newcomer. Let's break down some of techniques you can use to describe a familiar character in a way that serves the story and feel true to the person describing them.

If you're listening to this in real time, then tomorrow my new book, The Isles of the Gods, will be out. The Isles of the Gods is a fantasy novel set on the high seas, full of magic, romance, slumbering gods, gangsters’ dens and forgotten temples. It’s about a sailor girl who ends up saddled with an annoyingly handsome prince, who has to save him, if she wants to save the world.

If you’re listening on release (May 2, 2023), you have a couple of days left to claim the many preorder goodies on offer. If you’re going to read it, then make sure you lodge your receipt and get the goods as well.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Creating a Map Apr 24, 2023

I LOVE maps: I think they really add something to a world—when done well, everything from the style in which the map is drawn, to what’s included can contribute to the story. Today I'm going to give you my three best tips for creating one for your story.

I have a new book out in a week! The Isles of the Gods is a fantasy novel set on the high seas, full of magic, romance, slumbering gods, gangsters’ dens and forgotten temples. It’s about a sailor girl who ends up saddled with an annoyingly handsome prince, and has to save him if she wants to save the world. It’s my favourite thing I’ve ever written, and I’m beyond excited that it’s finally going to be out in the world.

I particularly want you to know it’s coming because if you preorder it, you can head to amiekaufman.com/preorder and claim a variety of thank you gifts that range from character art to signed bookplates to invitations to a virtual Q&A. There’s also an annotated first chapter, which will be of particular interest to the writers among you. If you’re going to read it, then make sure you lodge your receipt and get the goods as well.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Creating Romantic Tension Apr 17, 2023

All my books are romances. I love them: the yearning, the will-they-won’t-they, and sometimes just the how-on-earth-can-they of it. Whether it’s a tortured, star-crossed love affair or a cosy romance set somewhere sweet, I’m here for it. Today I’m going to give you three tips I keep in mind when writing my own romances.

I have a new book out in just a couple of weeks! The Isles of the Gods is a fantasy novel set on the high seas, full of magic, romance, slumbering gods, gangsters’ dens and forgotten temples. It’s about a sailor girl who ends up saddled with an annoyingly handsome prince, and has to save him if she wants to save the world. It’s my favourite thing I’ve ever written, and I’m beyond excited that it’s finally going to be out in the world—I first started work on this one ten years ago!

I particularly want you to know it’s coming because if you preorder it, you can head to amiekaufman.com/preorder and claim a variety of thank you gifts that range from character art to signed bookplates to invitations to a virtual Q&A. There’s also an annotated first chapter, which will be of particular interest to the writers among you. If you’re going to read it, then make sure you lodge your receipt and get the goods as well.

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on The Isles of the Gods.

Writing the End of the World with London Shah (Season 3, Bonus Episode 2) Dec 05, 2022

When I got a question about writing apocalyptic worlds, I knew that London should be the one to answer it. She has so much wisdom on this subject to share.

Find out more about London at her website. You will find a transcript of this episode on my website, which is also where you can sign up for my new newsletter and find out about my other podcast, Pub Dates, which is taking you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods (you can pre-order it right now).

Writing Ensemble Casts with M.K. England (Season 3, Bonus Episode 1) Oct 24, 2022

When I recieved a question on how to create a compelling cast of characters, I knew M.K. England was the person to answer it. M.K. is a pro at building a dynamic ensemble cast, and this episode is jam-packed with their practical advice on how to make sure your cast of characters are all distinct, unique, and play well off each other.

Find out more about M.K. at their website. You will find a transcript of this episode on my website , which is also where you can sign up for my new newsletter and find out about my other podcast, Pub Dates, which is taking you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods (you can pre-order it right now).

Co-Authoring Disagreements (Season 3, Episode 10) May 09, 2022

I get a lot of questions about co-authoring, and so I'm dedicating the last three episodes of the season to answering them. This week’s question is by far the most frequently asked question I get about co-authoring. What to do when you and your co-author disagree?

You can find a transcript of this episode on my website. You can also sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

How Co-Authoring Works (Season 3, Episode 9) May 04, 2022

I get a lot of questions about co-authoring, and so I'm dedicating the last three episodes of the season to answering them. If you missed last week’s episode, it was about the practicalities of preparing to co-author a book. This week, I’m talking about the writing itself. A transcript of this episode is available on my website. You can sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my other podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

Preparing for Co-authoring (Season 3, Episode 8) Apr 26, 2022

The most frequent questions I get are about how co-authoring works. So I’m going to devote the last three episodes of this season to co-authoring, answering one question each week. This episode kicks us off with some advice on how to set up a co-authoring relationship for success from the outset.

A transcript of this episode is available on my website. You can sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

What To Do With a Giant Word Count (Season 3, Episode 7) Apr 12, 2022

My books are famously huge, so I am very intimate with this issue! A long word count isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if it feels like your book is long because the story has gotten away from you, I offer four tips for what you can do about it.

A transcript of this episode is available on my website. You can sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

Four Ways To Build A Character (Season 3, Episode 6) Apr 04, 2022

When you come to a story, you might have a very basic idea of who a character will be. But how do you go about building those characters, making them feel real and engaging, so the reader cares what happens to them?

A transcript of this episode is available on my website. You can sign up for my newsletter there, which is full of information about upcoming releases and events, and my new podcast, Pub Dates, which takes you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

Choosing First or Third Person POV (Season 3, Episode 5) Mar 28, 2022

Let's talk about point of view. What's the difference between first and third person, and how does a novel change depending on which you choose?

A transcript of this episode is available on my website, as well as info about my books and how to sign up for my newsletter. That's also where you can find out more about my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

What Is Three Act Structure? (Season 3, Episode 4) Mar 21, 2022

This week, I am giving you a quick tour through the basics of the three act structure: what it is, why it matters, and why you might want to keep it in mind when crafting your story.

A transcript of this episode is available on my website, as well as info about my books and how to sign up for my newsletter. That's also where you can find out more about my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

Writing When You Have No Time (Season 3, Episode 3) Mar 14, 2022

If you want, or even need, to write, but you're having trouble finding the time, this one's for you. This is a guide for busy people that I hope will help you carve out that time while encouraging you to rest when you need it.

You will find the transcript for this episode on my website, as well as info about my books and a place to sign up for my newsletter. That's also where you can find out about my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

How Outlining Works (Season 3, Episode 2) Mar 07, 2022

You might find you’re immediately inclined to lay out your story before you begin, or you might be showing up to give it a try because your writing stalled out. Either way, there are lots of good options, so let’s get into them.

You'll find the transcript for this episode on my website, as well as information about my books and access to my newsletter. That's also where you can find out about my new podcast, Pub Dates, which will take you behind the scenes on my upcoming novel The Isles of the Gods.

Plotters and Pantsers (Season 3, Episode 1) Feb 28, 2022

Welcome to Season 3! To kick us off we have a question about plotters and pantsers. We often say that writers fall on a continuum from plotter at one end, all the way to pantser at the other. What do these terms actually mean and which approach works best?

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram. And you can find my new podcast, Pub Dates, wherever you listen to your favourite shows.

Introducing: Pub Dates Feb 15, 2022

I am thrilled to announce the new podcast I'm making with my friend, and this show's producer, Kate Armstrong. Come behind the scenes on the making of our books, The Isles of the Gods and Nightbirds, which are coming out in 2023. This is your backstage pass to our characters, our worlds, and all the stories of their making.

Being Your Own Editor with Abby Ranger (Season 2, Bonus Episode 2) Oct 15, 2021

Abby Ranger is a brilliant editor. Over the years, she's worked at HarperCollins, Disney-Hyperion, and Scholastic, with a who's who of authors. In fact, she was my editor on my first book, These Broken Stars. She's smart, insightful, and she doesn't just make your current book better - she teaches you to make all of your future books better too. In this episode, she's going to share tips for setting yourself up for success in editing your novel.

You can find out more about Abby at her website.

I'm thrilled to introduce my new podcast, Pub Dates, a collaboration with my friend (and this show's producer) Kate Armstrong. To hear an introduction to the show, simply search for Pub Dates wherever you listen to podcasts. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss episodes when they start dropping in 2022.

You can find me at my website – you can subscribe to my newsletter there, for behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast there. You can find me on Instagram at @AmieKaufmanAuthor or on Twitter at @AmieKaufman.

Sticking the Landing with Jay Kristoff (Season 2, Bonus Episode 1) Oct 04, 2021

When I asked you all who you’d like a guest episode from in our break between seasons, today’s guest was a very popular answer. I think Jay’s sense of storytelling is incredible, and when I saw today’s question in the mailbag about what makes for a satisfying ending, I knew I wanted you to hear from him.

You can find Jay on Twitter or on Instagram at @misterkristoff or at his website. If you loved this advice, you’re going to love his latest, Empire of the Vampire, which is out right now!

You can find me at my website – you can subscribe to my newsletter there, for behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast there. You can find me on Instagram at @AmieKaufmanAuthor or on Twitter at @AmieKaufman.

Writing Unreliable Narrators (Season 2, Episode 10) Jun 07, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

How To Get That Draft Finished (Season 2, Episode 9) May 31, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Falling Out of Love With Your Story (Season 2, Episode 8) May 25, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Four Tips on Backstory Without Info Dumps (Season 2, Episode 7) May 17, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Crafting Distinctive Character Voices (Season 2, Episode 6) May 10, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Writing Genuinely Evil Villains (Season 2, Episode 5) May 03, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Animal Companions (Season 2, Episode 4) Apr 26, 2021

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Sharing Vulnerability in Your Writing (Season 2, Episode 3) Apr 19, 2021

When I think about writing from the deepest parts of myself – something I’ve done often – I always think of an incredible spoken word poet called Abe Nouk – his surname is spelled Nouk, if you want to look him up – who I once saw speak at a conference. He said, ‘Do not be afraid to reveal yourself to your pen.’ And I wrote that down, took it home, and it’s been pinned up in my office for all the years since. You make the biggest impact on your readers when you share yourself, but it’s not easy to do. Usually I offer a series of tips on how to tackle the week’s issue, but today I just want to talk about my experience of sharing my own vulnerabilities on the page, and why it matters so much.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Hanging a Lantern (Season 2, Episode 2) Apr 12, 2021

There’s nothing worse than finding yourself slowly growing more confused as you read a book – realizing that you’re not sure if you’re meant to know what’s going on, in which case there’s a problem, because you don’t, or whether the author wants you to stick with them because all will be revealed in good time. How do we as writers reassure them, and show them that they should stick with us? The answer to this dilemma is that we hang a lantern: shine a light on the unanswered questions they have, making them visible and acknowledging them. It’s our way of saying ‘that’s here on purpose – I know it’s there, and I’m going to do something about it. Stick with me, and all will become clear.’ Today we’re going to talk about three situations where hanging a lantern will help.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Three Ways To Fix Your Pacing Problem (Season 2, Episode 1) Apr 05, 2021

I know we all know that feeling when you’re reading a story you should be enjoying, but it’s taking a while, and your mind is starting to wander, and… eventually you start to skim, or worse, you put the book down, and you don’t come back. Whether this is a book you’ve written, or someone else’s that you’re reading, you can feel that the pacing isn't right. It clearly needs tightening – so how do you do that? Here are three ways to look at your pacing and an easy way to fix it.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Researching for Historical Novels with Ryan Graudin (Season 1, Bonus Episode 3) Mar 27, 2021

While you’re waiting for us to bring you Season Two, I wanted to share another bonus episode, with some really inspiring advice about researching for historical novels from one of my favourite writers, Ryan Graudin. She’s the award-winning author of a stack of novels, including my favourites, Wolf by Wolf and Invictus, two of my go-to book recommendations whenever anyone asks for a read they won’t be able to put down. In fact, I love Ryan’s writing so much that we wrote a book together—it came out earlier this year.

You can find Ryan on twitter @ryangraudin and instagram at @rgraudin, and at her website, where you can also sign up for her newsletter. If you loved her history advice, you’re going to love the book we wrote together, The World Between Blinks. You can find me at my website – you can subscribe to my newsletter there, for behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast there. You can find me on Instagram at @AmieKaufmanAuthor or on Twitter at @AmieKaufman. This podcast is produced by the lovely Kate Armstrong, host of one of my favourite podcasts, The Exploress, which time travels through women’s history one era at a time.

Writing Suspense with Ellie Marney (Season 1, Bonus Episode 2) Dec 23, 2020

Ellie Marney is an Aussie crime author with a huge and loyal following – I count myself as one of her fans. She’s so smart, and so meticulous with her work. She’s gone behind the scenes at Westminster Mortuary in London, interviewed forensics experts from around the world to get her stories right, and lived all over the world too. She definitely knows how to kill you so well you won’t even notice, but she’s far too nice to do it. Her latest young adult novel is called None Shall Sleep – if you like true crime podcasts, if you liked Mindhunter, or Sadie or Silence of the Lambs, then this one’s for you.

You can find Ellie on Twitter and Instagram at @elliemarney, and at her website. You can find me at my website – you can subscribe to my newsletter there, for behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast there. You can find me on Instagram at @AmieKaufmanAuthor or on Twitter at @AmieKaufman. This podcast is produced by the lovely Kate Armstrong, host of one of my favourite podcasts, The Exploress, which time travels through women’s history one era at a time.

Writing Morally Ambiguous Characters with Marie Lu (Season 1, Bonus Episode 1) Nov 09, 2020

I loved this week's question about writing morally ambiguous characters, and since we’re in bonus episode territory I thought we should do something fun. So I called on one of my dearest friends, and one of the smartest and most insightful people I know, to see how she’d answer Sarina’s question. Marie Lu is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of a bunch of my favourite books and is known by readers worldwide for her morally ambiguous characters.

You can find Marie on Twitter at @marie_lu and on Instagram at @marieluthewriter, or at her website, where you can also sign up for her newsletter. I’ll also remind you again that her latest release is Skyhunter, and it’s fantastic.

You can find me at my website – you can subscribe to my newsletter there, for behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast there. You can find me on Instagram at @AmieKaufmanAuthor or on Twitter at @AmieKaufman. This podcast is produced by the lovely Kate Armstrong, host of one of my favourite podcasts, The Exploress, which time travels through women’s history one era at a time.

Weaving Setting Into Your Story (Season 1, Episode 10) Oct 12, 2020

This week we’re going to talk about how you convey it to your reader—because done well, your setting can contribute to the mood of your story, help shape the action, and guide the experience of the reader in ways they don’t even notice. We talked last week about avoiding White Room Syndrome—the feeling that your story could be set anywhere. Let’s talk now about how to weave in those details really well.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Four Ways To Visualize Your Setting (Season 1, Episode 9) Oct 05, 2020

Your setting is essentially a character in your story, and has so much to tell us. The location in which your story is set should matter—it should be relevant that the story takes place here, rather than somewhere else, and it should influence the way the story unfolds. Setting is so important that I’ve dedicated the final two episodes of season one to it—this week we’re talking about visualizing your setting, and next week we’ll talk about weaving it into your writing. Let’s get into it.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

How Do I Avoid Clichés? (Season 1, Episode 8) Sep 28, 2020

The answer definitely isn’t to avoid familiar storylines completely—sometimes a path is well-trodden for a reason. So let's get into the difference between a cliché (something we’ve seen over and over) and a trope (a familiar storyline or story element) and talk about how tropes might actually serve you.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. For more on my book recommendation for this month, Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club, check out author Alison Goodman's website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Where Should My Story Start? (Season 1, Episode 7) Sep 21, 2020

There’s a lot to say about the start of stories, and we’ll get to more of it in future seasons. In this episode, I talk about the tip I use to locate the start of my stories - and, if that doesn’t magically solve my problem, the two questions I ask myself from there.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Who Is My Protagonist? (Season 1, Episode 6) Sep 14, 2020

The protagonist—or the main character of your story, the star of the show—is often tricky. I’ve got two questions I ask myself about my protagonist that can be useful in figuring out who they should be if I’m starting, but they’re also useful later as a diagnostic tool—if you think your protagonist might be a bit boring, you can ask yourself these questions and use the answers to help spice them up a bit.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

How to Deal with Writer’s Block (Season 1, Episode 5) Sep 07, 2020

This is something that happens to everyone—I don’t buy it when people say they never have writer’s block. They might call it by another name, but there’s no creative out there who doesn’t sometimes have a moment, or a day, or a week… or longer… when they either don’t know how to push forward with their story, or can’t seem to make themselves. So how to you get past writer's block when it happens? I have four suggestions for ways to tackle it.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Where to End a Chapter (Season 1, Episode 4) Aug 31, 2020

I work hard to make my stories unputdownable; there’s an art to getting a chapter just right. I’ve got four tips for you when it comes to keeping readers up well past their bedtime.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

How to Show Your Worldbuilding (Season 1, Episode 3) Aug 24, 2020

When we hit those paragraphs that are just the author telling you stuff they want you to know about their world, we call them infodumps. We need to show readers what’s different about our world, but the truth is that we don’t think or speak about this stuff very often. Nobody gets on their commuter train every morning and thinks: “Once upon a time this would have been a steam train, but these days modern technology has advanced.” So why should our characters? How do we show our reader what’s different about our world without just dumping it in there?

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Introduction (Season 1, Episode 1) Aug 16, 2020

Welcome to Amie Kaufman on Writing, a short podcast that answers one question each week about how writers do what they do. If you’re a writer, or you’re a reader interested in how your favourite authors craft their stories, then you’re in the right place.

This season, we’re going to cover lots of topics: worldbuilding—how to do it and how to show it—figuring out who your protagonist is and where your story starts, dealing with writer’s block or getting stuck, figuring out where to end a chapter, plotting techniques and more. But in this first episode, I want to talk a little about who I am and why this stuff matters so much to me.

You can find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Worldbuilding is for Everyone (Season 1, Episode 2) Aug 16, 2020

Building a world for your story or your series is a huge job, and though we all know the one about how the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, how do you figure out which step to take first? This isn’t just a problem if you need to invent an original world—say, for a sci-fi or fantasy novel. Your novel can be set at a high school in America and still need worldbuilding. So where do you begin?

You'll find a transcript of this episode at my website, where you can also subscribe to my newsletter, get behind-the-scenes peeks at how I write, and any other news about new books, events or the podcast. You can also submit a question for the podcast on my website. You can find me on Twitter or Instagram.

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