Amie Kaufman On Writing artwork

Amie Kaufman On Writing

47 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 70 ratings

New York Times and internationally bestselling author Amie Kaufman answers one question each week about writing craft. Full of practical tips and an exercise each week, this is a show for writers, for readers who want a backstage look at how their favourite authors craft their stories, or for creative writing classrooms.

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Episodes

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

July 19, 2023 23:00 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MB

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 aba...

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

June 27, 2023 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.38 MB

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_...

Creating a Magic System

May 15, 2023 04:41 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

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 creati...

Research for Worldbuilding with Kate J. Armstrong

May 08, 2023 04:35 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MB

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...

Character Descriptions

May 01, 2023 04:18 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

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...

Creating a Map

April 24, 2023 00:27 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MB

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...

Creating Romantic Tension

April 17, 2023 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

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...

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

December 05, 2022 06:00 - 10 minutes - 14.5 MB

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)

October 24, 2022 06:00 - 9 minutes - 13 MB

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 newslette...

Co-Authoring Disagreements (Season 3, Episode 10)

May 09, 2022 07:00 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MB

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 ...

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

May 04, 2022 07:00 - 8 minutes - 11.4 MB

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 ...

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

April 26, 2022 05:00 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MB

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, wh...

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

April 12, 2022 06:30 - 10 minutes - 14.6 MB

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...

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

April 04, 2022 07:00 - 9 minutes - 12.6 MB

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)

March 28, 2022 06:00 - 11 minutes - 15.1 MB

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)

March 21, 2022 06:08 - 8 minutes - 11.8 MB

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)

March 14, 2022 06:00 - 10 minutes - 13.7 MB

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 Is...

How Outlining Works (Season 3, Episode 2)

March 07, 2022 08:28 - 10 minutes - 14.6 MB

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...

Plotters and Pantsers (Season 3, Episode 1)

February 28, 2022 06:09 - 12 minutes - 17 MB

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...

Introducing: Pub Dates

February 15, 2022 23:11 - 2 minutes - 4.03 MB

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)

October 15, 2021 06:00 - 12 minutes - 24.9 MB

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 webs...

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

October 04, 2021 06:00 - 9 minutes - 20.4 MB

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! ...

Writing Unreliable Narrators (Season 2, Episode 10)

June 07, 2021 07:00 - 8 minutes - 19.5 MB

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 07:00 - 9 minutes - 21.4 MB

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 07:00 - 9 minutes - 21.5 MB

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 07:00 - 7 minutes - 18.5 MB

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 06:39 - 10 minutes - 22.2 MB

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 07:04 - 8 minutes - 12.2 MB

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)

April 26, 2021 07:09 - 12 minutes - 16.7 MB

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)

April 19, 2021 06:41 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MB

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 ea...

Hanging a Lantern (Season 2, Episode 2)

April 12, 2021 11:43 - 8 minutes - 12.2 MB

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 h...

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

April 05, 2021 07:04 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MB

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...

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

March 27, 2021 07:24 - 11 minutes - 15.8 MB

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 ca...

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

December 23, 2020 06:56 - 10 minutes - 14.4 MB

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 y...

Writing Morally Ambiguous Characters with Marie Lu

November 09, 2020 06:00 - 9 minutes - 10.4 MB

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 @mar...

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

November 09, 2020 06:00 - 9 minutes - 10.4 MB

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 @mar...

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

October 12, 2020 07:56 - 8 minutes - 7.83 MB

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 t...

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

October 05, 2020 06:00 - 10 minutes - 9.45 MB

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. ...

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

September 28, 2020 07:00 - 8 minutes - 7.91 MB

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, eve...

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

September 21, 2020 07:00 - 5 minutes - 5.17 MB

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...

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

September 14, 2020 07:00 - 8 minutes - 7.87 MB

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 subscrib...

How to Deal with Writer’s Block

September 07, 2020 07:00 - 7 minutes - 8.19 MB

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...

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

September 07, 2020 07:00 - 7 minutes - 8.19 MB

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...

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

August 31, 2020 07:00 - 8 minutes - 9.15 MB

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)

August 24, 2020 07:00 - 9 minutes - 9.62 MB

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...

Introduction (Season 1, Episode 1)

August 16, 2020 23:00 - 6 minutes - 6.37 MB

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 ch...

Worldbuilding is for Everyone (Season 1, Episode 2)

August 16, 2020 23:00 - 8 minutes - 9.2 MB

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 subs...

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@amiekaufman 22 Episodes