Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Latest Episodes:

Episode 49 - Avoiding the biggest mistake, and keeping the POV tight. Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Episode 48 - Writing strong dialogue, and Ray Bradbury on plotting. Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

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.

Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine dollars. If you want structured, concise guidance, click the Buy the Master Class link in the show notes to get started.

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Episode 47 - A strong plotting technique, and leeches. Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Episode 46 - What if no one comes to our book signing? And crafting our narrative voice. Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

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

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Episode 45 - Techniques to make our dialogue riveting. Dec 30, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Episode 44 - How to avoid another prospect-killing mistake. Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Episode 43 - Dialogue should do double duty. Here's how. Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Episode 42 - The single most important writing technique. Dec 09, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Episode 41 - How can we know if we have the talent to write? Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Episode 40 - Creating villainous villains. Nov 25, 2022

Show notes

Here are techniques for creating fictional villains readers will love to loathe and fear. We writers can make readers shudder when our scoundrels appear.

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