Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Latest Episodes:

Episode 109 - How we can stop stalling and get going. Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 108 - Every description should do double duty. Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

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 .

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Episode 107 - The differences between literary and commercial fiction. Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 106 - How to write a scene's sequel, and plotting the novel's middle. Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 105 - A technique for plotting scene to scene, and my failed writing experiment. Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 104 - Let's get to work, and showing with dialogue. Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 103 - The joy of creating something out of nothing. And, is our new plot point a strong one? Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 102 - Lovely sentence-by-sentence writing, and pumping up our creativity. Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 101 - The phrases notebook, and avoiding our plot bogging down. Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Episode 100 - Getting into the flow, and the power of fiction. Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

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.

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