Helping Writers Become Authors

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 574: A Writer's New Year Reflections: The 6 Gifts I Gave Myself in 2021 Jan 10, 2022

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Here are this writer's New Year reflections, focusing on six "gifts" I gave myself and why I believe they were profoundly life-changing.

Ep. 573: The Two Halves of the Climactic Moment Dec 13, 2021

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The two halves of the Climactic Moment require the story's final sequence to offer two very specific beats: Sacrifice and Victory/Failure.

Ep. 572: The Two Halves of the Third Plot Point Dec 06, 2021

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The two halves of the Third Plot Point work together to create a scene arc that moves from the False Victory to the Low Moment.

Ep. 571: The Two Halves of the Midpoint Nov 29, 2021

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The halves of the Midpoint are unique in story structure in that they mark the dividing line between the two halves of the entire story arc.

Ep. 570: The Two Halves of the First Plot Point Nov 15, 2021

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The First Plot Point is often referred to as a threshold, a visual metaphor representing the native two-sidedness of all structural beats.

Ep. 569: The Two Halves of the Inciting Event Nov 08, 2021

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A series examining the two important "halves" in each of story structure's major beats, beginning with the Inciting Event in the First Act.

Ep. #568: 6 Questions to Help You Avoid Repetitive Scenes Oct 25, 2021

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Find out what defines repetitive scenes, as well as strategies for recognizing and avoiding them in your fiction.

Ep. 567: Archetypal Antagonists for the Mage Arc: Evil and the Weakness of Humankind Oct 11, 2021

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The archetypal antagonists for the Mage Arc often manifest subtly--not in obvious "evil," but in an ordinary person's weakness.

Ep. 566: Archetypal Antagonists for the Crone Arc: Death Blight and Tempter Oct 04, 2021

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The archetypal antagonists for the Crone Arc are represented as a Death Blight and as the subtle Tempter who would lure her from the Truth.

Ep. 565: Archetypal Antagonists for the King Arc: Cataclysm and Rebel Sep 27, 2021

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The archetypal antagonists for the King Arc are the Cataclysm and the Rebel, both of which challenge the King to culminate his rule.