The Dialogue Doctor Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 308 - "Help! I'm a Writer. What Do I Do Next? with Pa Theriot Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Pa Theriot. Pa and Jeff talk about what they should work on next. It's a question every author faces at some point, and a great reason to talk to a coach.

Check out more on the craft of writing at https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Episode 307 - How to Pitch with the Pitch Master Lindsey Hughes Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

This week, Jeff is joined by Pitch Master Lindsey Hughes. Jeff and Lindsey discuss career coaching. Then they dive into pitches sent in by listeners of the podcast. Lindsey gives tips on each pitch and on pitching in general.

For more on the craft of writing and publishing, go to dialogueDoctor.com

Episode 306 - Writing Holiday Party Scenes Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

This week on the podcast, Jeff sits down with romance author Ginny Moore to talk about writing big cast scenes that have strong emotional flow and build tension.

For more on the craft of writing, check out dialoguedoctor.com

Episode 305 - You Need Support - Time with Tom Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff is joined by author, editor, and former bookstore owner, Tom Holbrook. Jeff and Tom talk about stories they love, stories that are broken, and what they are seeing in their clients' work recently. Tom ends with a plea for writers to find groups of authors they can be supported by.

For more on craft and to sign up for the newsletter, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Episode 304 - Understanding the Emotional Flow of Your Story Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Author Beth Biss to discuss Beth's work in progress. They focus on the emotional experience of Beth's main character in the scene and how the reader's emotional journey matches it. Jeff also compares composing the emotions of a scene to playing music.

For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Episode 303 - Learning from a Masterful Short Story - An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff sits down with members of the Dialogue Doctor Community to talk about An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by the father of True Crime and Psychological Horror, Ambrose Bierce. They talk about the mastery of the writing, creating a main character the reader is supposed to dislike, and playing tricks on the reader.

For more on the craft of writing, come to DialogueDoctor.com

Episode 302 - Author Nation Recap! Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff sits down with authors Christine Daigle, Tom Hollbrook, and JP Rindfleisch IX to talk about their experience at Author Nation.

Episode 301 - World Building with Emotion Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm sits down with author Liz Woodiwiss. They look at a Call to Action scene Liz has written and discuss how to make world building more engaging by leading with emotion.

For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

To join the community, come to https://www.patreon.com/JeffElkins

Episode 300 - The Dialogue Doctor DNA Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jeff breaks down every theory and tool the Dialogue Doctor Team has created about writing. He talks about:

Why you should focus on the emotional journey,
The different types of vehicle characers,
The Dialogue Daisy,
How to build a character voice,
Understanding your character possiblities,
The Story Hypothesis,
Building an emotional shape of a story,
Understanding your cast through VEAH
Dialogue First drafts,
Voice Modulation,
The 5 different ways to open a scene,
Dialogue Tags,
And the 10 Magical Dials of Manipulating a Character's emotional journey

At the end of the episode, Jeff makes a big announcement.

For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Episode 299 - Writing the Perfect Sidekick Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Want to write better mystery stories? In this episode of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast, Jeff Elkins sits down with crime and mystery writer Doug Dorow for a live editing session focused on how to write sidekicks and build a strong detective character arc.

They discuss:

How to write compelling sidekicks that make your detective shine
How sidekicks can reveal your protagonist's strengths, flaws, and growth
What makes a great detective arc across a mystery or crime series
How to keep character development evolving from book to book

If you're crafting a detective series, crime novel, or cozy mystery, this episode will help you create unforgettable character partnerships and deeper emotional arcs that keep readers coming back.

👉 Subscribe for weekly writing tips and editing sessions that make your stories stronger.

👉Check out the DialogueDoctor.com for more on the craft of writing.

#WritingTips #MysteryWriting #CrimeFiction #DetectiveSeries #CharacterDevelopment #WritingPodcast #DialogueDoctor

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