Fiction Writing Made Easy
275 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 hours ago -How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you!
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Episodes
#35: 3 Reasons Why You're Not Writing
January 12, 2021 08:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to cover three roadblocks that might be keeping you from writing. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] So much of writing or editing a book has to do with managing your mind. And there’s no getting out of having to manage your mind either -- you can understand story structure, you can study all the books and take all the courses on character creation or worldbuilding or whatever, but until you understand that what you think about is going to create the ...
3 Reasons Why You're Not Writing
January 12, 2021 08:00 - 14 minutes - 9.82 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to cover three roadblocks that might be keeping you from writing. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] So much of writing or editing a book has to do with managing your mind. And there’s no getting out of having to manage your mind either -- you can understand story structure, you can study all the books and take all the courses on character creation or worldbuilding or whatever, but until you understand that what you think about is going to create the ...
#34: How to Plan Your Writing Projects for the New Year
January 05, 2021 08:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to plan out your writing projects for the new year. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] Creating a strategic plan is something most writers don't think about doing but it’s the kind of thing that can actually help you achieve the big goals you have like writing a novel, or submitting a short story to publishers, or whatever it is that you're hoping to do. [02:55] Step #1: Review the last 12 months so that you can make a realisti...
How to Plan Your Writing Projects for the New Year
January 05, 2021 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to plan out your writing projects for the new year. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] Creating a strategic plan is something most writers don't think about doing but it’s the kind of thing that can actually help you achieve the big goals you have like writing a novel, or submitting a short story to publishers, or whatever it is that you're hoping to do. [02:55] Step #1: Review the last 12 months so that you can make a realisti...
5 Takeaways From Coaching Writers This Year
December 15, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBIn today’s episode, I'm sharing some of the lessons I learned from coaching writers this year. My hope is that these lessons will help you to keep moving forward with your work in the most efficient way possible. Here's a quick preview: [01:20] Lesson #1: It’s totally possible to write the first draft of a full-length novel in 90 days IF you do the hard work to outline and pressure test your story upfront. [04:25] Lesson #2: It’s okay to start with the plot of your story, or the external s...
5 Takeaways From Coaching Writers in 2020
December 15, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBIn today’s episode, I'm sharing some of the lessons I learned from coaching writers this year. My hope is that these lessons will help you to keep moving forward with your work in the most efficient way possible. Here's a quick preview: [01:20] Lesson #1: It’s totally possible to write the first draft of a full-length novel in 90 days IF you do the hard work to outline and pressure test your story upfront. [04:25] Lesson #2: It’s okay to start with the plot of your story, or the external s...
#33: 5 Takeaways From Coaching Writers in 2020
December 15, 2020 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBIn today’s episode, I'm sharing some of the lessons I learned from coaching writers this year. My hope is that these lessons will help you to keep moving forward with your work in the most efficient way possible. Here's a quick preview: [01:20] Lesson #1: It’s totally possible to write the first draft of a full-length novel in 90 days IF you do the hard work to outline and pressure test your story upfront. [04:25] Lesson #2: It’s okay to start with the plot of your story, or the external s...
#32: How to Start Editing Your NaNowriMo Draft
December 01, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through what to do with your messy first draft now that NaNoWriMo is over. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Everything we cover in today's episode can be used whether you participated in NaNoWriMo or not. All that matters is that you have a finished draft. [02:30] Step #1: Take a break from your draft so that you can get some distance and give your imagination time to regenerate. [03:30] Step #2: Read your draft to familiarize yourself w...
How to Start Editing Your NaNowriMo Draft
December 01, 2020 08:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through what to do with your messy first draft now that NaNoWriMo is over. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Everything we cover in today's episode can be used whether you participated in NaNoWriMo or not. All that matters is that you have a finished draft. [02:30] Step #1: Take a break from your draft so that you can get some distance and give your imagination time to regenerate. [03:30] Step #2: Read your draft to familiarize yourself w...
The 6 Scenes Every Thriller Novel Needs
November 24, 2020 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.27 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every thriller novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:18] Thrillers combine all the criminality and suspense of a good detective novel with the danger and life and death stakes from the action or horror genre. Usually, these stories center around a protagonist who's focused on stopping a future crime from happening. [01:40] Readers choose thriller novels...
#31: The 6 Scenes Every Thriller Novel Needs
November 24, 2020 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.81 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every thriller novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:18] Thrillers combine all the criminality and suspense of a good detective novel with the danger and life and death stakes from the action or horror genre. Usually, these stories center around a protagonist who's focused on stopping a future crime from happening. [01:40] Readers choose thriller novels...
4 Reasons Why You Need a Target Word Count
November 17, 2020 23:00 - 12 minutes - 8.62 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk through four reasons why you should have a target word count for your story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:50] Generally speaking, a novel is defined as any story over 40,000 words. But, the average novel is usually somewhere around 80,000-100,000 words. [02:05] Technically there’s no maximum length for a novel, but there are guidelines you can follow to determine whether your story is the appropriate length, or too long. These guidelines a...
#30: 4 Reasons Why You Need a Target Word Count
November 17, 2020 23:00 - 13 minutes - 9.15 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk through four reasons why you should have a target word count for your story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:50] Generally speaking, a novel is defined as any story over 40,000 words. But, the average novel is usually somewhere around 80,000-100,000 words. [02:05] Technically there’s no maximum length for a novel, but there are guidelines you can follow to determine whether your story is the appropriate length, or too long. These guidelines a...
Horror Genre Conventions
November 03, 2020 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the horror genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie Halloween. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] What makes the horror genre unique? In horror novels, bad things happen to good people. There are life and death stakes, a monster intent on death and destruction, claustrophobic settings, and a major fight for survival. [02:35] Readers choose horror novels because they want to fee...
#29: Horror Genre Conventions
November 03, 2020 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the horror genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie Halloween. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] What makes the horror genre unique? In horror novels, bad things happen to good people. There are life and death stakes, a monster intent on death and destruction, claustrophobic settings, and a major fight for survival. [02:35] Readers choose horror novels because they want to fee...
#28: Red Herrings: How to Mislead and Surprise Readers
October 27, 2020 07:00 - 14 minutes - 10.4 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk about how to mislead and surprise your readers using red herrings. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] A red herring is anything that distracts readers and/or your characters from an important truth. Red herrings can also lead readers and/or your character to mistakenly expect one particular outcome over another. [02:00] Red herrings are a type of foreshadowing. The term "foreshadowing:" encompasses all the different ways that an author can g...
Red Herrings: How to Mislead and Surprise Readers
October 27, 2020 07:00 - 14 minutes - 9.82 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk about how to mislead and surprise your readers using red herrings. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] A red herring is anything that distracts readers and/or your characters from an important truth. Red herrings can also lead readers and/or your character to mistakenly expect one particular outcome over another. [02:00] Red herrings are a type of foreshadowing. The term "foreshadowing:" encompasses all the different ways that an author can g...
#27: The 6 Scenes Every Performance Story Needs
October 21, 2020 00:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every performance story needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:30] Performance stories center around a character who wants to achieve something specific in order to prove their worth to the world. For example, they might want to win a certain award, climb Mount Everest, be the best in their field, or be famous. [02:25] Readers choose performance novels because...
The 6 Scenes Every Performance Story Needs
October 21, 2020 00:00 - 14 minutes - 9.76 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every performance story needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:30] Performance stories center around a character who wants to achieve something specific in order to prove their worth to the world. For example, they might want to win a certain award, climb Mount Everest, be the best in their field, or be famous. [02:25] Readers choose performance novels because...
The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion
October 06, 2020 07:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk about crafting a great inciting incident for your story. I'm also going to show you how the global inciting incident looks different across the content genres. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] The inciting incident is an event that occurs and upsets the balance of your protagonist’s life. Life can't continue on in the same way now. [02:00] The inciting incident is also what sets your story in motion and gives rise to your protagonist’s ove...
#26: The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion
October 06, 2020 07:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBIn today's episode, we’re going to talk about crafting a great inciting incident for your story. I'm also going to show you how the global inciting incident looks different across the content genres. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] The inciting incident is an event that occurs and upsets the balance of your protagonist’s life. Life can't continue on in the same way now. [02:00] The inciting incident is also what sets your story in motion and gives rise to your protagonist’s ove...
Bonus: Conquering the Writing Blues Summit Interview with Dr. Susan Hickman
October 01, 2020 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBIn today's extra special bonus episode, I'm sharing my interview with Dr. Susan Hickman from the Conquering the Writing Blues Summit I took part in earlier this year. Here's a quick preview of what's included: [02:50] What does a developmental editor do? Plus how and why I became a developmental editor and book coach. [06:25] My take on plotting versus pantsing -- is one of them the “right way” to write? [10:00] What does a book coach do? Plus, why book coaching is having a “moment” with t...
#25: Worldview Genre Conventions
September 29, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the worldview genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Worldview stories focus on a period of the main character’s life where he or she is transitioning from one significant state to another. These stories show how the external events of the plot affect a character in such a way that he or she must grow, change...
Worldview Genre Conventions
September 29, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the worldview genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Worldview stories focus on a period of the main character’s life where he or she is transitioning from one significant state to another. These stories show how the external events of the plot affect a character in such a way that he or she must grow, change...
10 Steps to Get Ready for NaNoWriMo
September 15, 2020 22:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through ten steps to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Here's a preview of what's included: [03:40] Step 1: Choose one story idea to work on during NaNoWriMo. [04:40] Step 2: Test out (or flesh out) your story idea by writing a 1-2 sentence logline and a 250-word elevator pitch for your story. [00:00] Step #3: Choose your story's main genre so that you have a blueprint for writing a story that works. [07:40] Step #4: Uncover your story's theme so that you kn...
#24: 10 Steps to Get Ready for NaNoWriMo
September 15, 2020 22:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through ten steps to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Here's a preview of what's included: [03:40] Step 1: Choose one story idea to work on during NaNoWriMo. [04:40] Step 2: Test out (or flesh out) your story idea by writing a 1-2 sentence logline and a 250-word elevator pitch for your story. [00:00] Step #3: Choose your story's main genre so that you have a blueprint for writing a story that works. [07:40] Step #4: Uncover your story's theme so that you kn...
The 6 Scenes Every Romance Novel Needs
September 08, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every romance novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Romance novels center around two individuals falling in love despite the odds, despite the risks, and despite the opposing forces in their life. These stories usually end in "happily ever after," or at the very least, "happily for now." [02:15] Readers choose romance novels because they want to exp...
#23: The 6 Scenes Every Romance Novel Needs
September 08, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every romance novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:45] Romance novels center around two individuals falling in love despite the odds, despite the risks, and despite the opposing forces in their life. These stories usually end in "happily ever after," or at the very least, "happily for now." [02:15] Readers choose romance novels because they want to exp...
How to Evaluate the Conflict in Your Draft
September 01, 2020 07:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my five-step process for evaluating the conflict in your novel. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that gets harder and harder to deal with overtime. To learn more about writing good conflict, check out last week's episode (episode #21). [02:30] Step 1: Identify what your POV character wants and how they plan to get it. You’ll also want to have a good understanding of what your char...
#22: How to Evaluate the Conflict in Your Draft
September 01, 2020 07:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBIn today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my five-step process for evaluating the conflict in your novel. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that gets harder and harder to deal with overtime. To learn more about writing good conflict, check out last week's episode (episode #21). [02:30] Step 1: Identify what your POV character wants and how they plan to get it. You’ll also want to have a good understanding of what your char...
Progressive Complications: How to Write Better Conflict in Your Novel
August 25, 2020 23:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about writing better conflict in your novel using "progressive complications." Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that get more and more challenging to deal with over time. These complications can be people, places, things, or events, and they can be negative or positive. [02:10] Stories exist because of conflict. If there was no conflict, you'd have nothing to write about. [02:30] Progressi...
#21: Progressive Complications: How to Write Better Conflict in Your Novel
August 25, 2020 23:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about writing better conflict in your novel using "progressive complications." Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that get more and more challenging to deal with over time. These complications can be people, places, things, or events, and they can be negative or positive. [02:10] Stories exist because of conflict. If there was no conflict, you'd have nothing to write about. [02:30] Progressi...
#20: 5 Strategies for Getting Unstuck While Writing
August 12, 2020 00:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBIn today's episode, I'm sharing my five favorite strategies for getting unstuck while writing. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:30] If you need help pushing past the first few pages of your novel, I have a brand new workshop just for you! It's called How to Hook Readers in Your First Five Pages. Click here to learn more about the workshop or to enroll for $47. [02:00] Strategy #1: Zoom out and look at the big picture of your story before making any micro-level changes. Answer these...
5 Strategies for Getting Unstuck While Writing
August 12, 2020 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBIn today's episode, I'm sharing my five favorite strategies for getting unstuck while writing. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:30] If you need help pushing past the first few pages of your novel, I have a brand new workshop just for you! It's called How to Hook Readers in Your First Five Pages. Click here to learn more about the workshop or to enroll for $47. [02:00] Strategy #1: Zoom out and look at the big picture of your story before making any micro-level changes. Answer these...
#19: Thriller Genre Conventions
August 04, 2020 07:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the thriller genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] Thrillers combine all the criminality and suspense of a good mystery novel with the life and death stakes of an action or horror story. [01:50] Readers choose thriller novels because they want to experience the thrill of trying to outsmart and stop the villain befo...
Thriller Genre Conventions
August 04, 2020 07:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the thriller genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] Thrillers combine all the criminality and suspense of a good mystery novel with the life and death stakes of an action or horror story. [01:50] Readers choose thriller novels because they want to experience the thrill of trying to outsmart and stop the villain befo...
#18: 5 Mistakes Writers Make in Their Opening Pages
July 21, 2020 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.92 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to talk about the five most common mistakes I see writers make in their opening pages. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:00] Details about my brand new workshop called “How to Hook Readers in Your First 5 Pages.” In this workshop, I'll walk you through the five key elements that you need to include in your first five pages AND I’ll show you how these five key elements manifest in the first five pages of The Hunger Games. If you want to sign up, or if you...
5 Mistakes Writers Make in Their Opening Pages
July 21, 2020 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.38 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to talk about the five most common mistakes I see writers make in their opening pages. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:00] Details about my brand new workshop called “How to Hook Readers in Your First 5 Pages.” In this workshop, I'll walk you through the five key elements that you need to include in your first five pages AND I’ll show you how these five key elements manifest in the first five pages of The Hunger Games. If you want to sign up, or if you...
The 6 Scenes Every Horror Novel Needs
July 14, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every horror novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:10] In horror novels, bad things happen to good people. There are life and death stakes, a monster intent on death and destruction, claustrophobic settings, and a major fight for survival. [02:25] Readers choose horror novels because they want to feel the thrill and the terror of being in a life and dea...
#17: The 6 Scenes Every Horror Novel Needs
July 14, 2020 07:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBIn today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every horror novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:10] In horror novels, bad things happen to good people. There are life and death stakes, a monster intent on death and destruction, claustrophobic settings, and a major fight for survival. [02:25] Readers choose horror novels because they want to feel the thrill and the terror of being in a life and dea...
#16: Conventions vs. Tropes: What's the Difference?
July 07, 2020 07:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the difference between genre conventions and tropes. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:28] Genre conventions are story elements such as character archetypes, key events, and settings that are commonly found in a specific genre. These conventions define each specific genre and readers' expectations of a story in that genre. [03:10] Tropes are a specific way of delivering those genre conventions or obligatory scenes in your novel. They ...
Conventions vs. Tropes: What's the Difference?
July 07, 2020 07:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the difference between genre conventions and tropes. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:28] Genre conventions are story elements such as character archetypes, key events, and settings that are commonly found in a specific genre. These conventions define each specific genre and readers' expectations of a story in that genre. [03:10] Tropes are a specific way of delivering those genre conventions or obligatory scenes in your novel. They ...
#15: How to Figure Out the Shape of Your Story
June 23, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to figure out the big-picture shape of your story. Here's a preview of what's included: . [02:45] Each genre asks a specific story question. For example, in an action story, the central story question is some version of, "Will the protagonist defeat the antagonist and survive the encounter?" (This article has the start and end points by genre) [03:45] The central story question helps you create a framework for your story. That's because t...
How to Figure Out the Shape of Your Story
June 23, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to figure out the big-picture shape of your story. Here's a preview of what's included: . [02:45] Each genre asks a specific story question. For example, in an action story, the central story question is some version of, "Will the protagonist defeat the antagonist and survive the encounter?" (This article has the start and end points by genre) [03:45] The central story question helps you create a framework for your story. That's because t...
How to Handle Character Backstory in Your Novel
June 16, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through my top three tips for weaving your character's backstory into your novel in a way that engages the reader without bogging them down. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] What is character backstory? Character backstory is everything that has ever happened in your character's life that has helped to influence and shape who they are today, in the "story present." [02:20] The biggest mistake writers make when it comes to handling a char...
#14: How to Handle Character Backstory in Your Novel
June 16, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBIn today's episode, I'm going to walk you through my top three tips for weaving your character's backstory into your novel in a way that engages the reader without bogging them down. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:20] What is character backstory? Character backstory is everything that has ever happened in your character's life that has helped to influence and shape who they are today, in the "story present." [02:20] The biggest mistake writers make when it comes to handling a char...
#13: 5 Things That Kill Narrative Drive (and How to Fix it)
June 09, 2020 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.63 MBIn today's episode, I'm continuing last week's discussion on narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:10] What is narrative drive? Why should writers care? (Check out last week's episode for some tips on creating narrative drive in your story). [01:20] A story with "broken" narrative drive feels like it's going nowhere. [02:00 ] Mistake #1: Putting in too much exposition or backstory or worldb...
5 Things That Kill Narrative Drive (and How to Fix it)
June 09, 2020 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.1 MBIn today's episode, I'm continuing last week's discussion on narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:10] What is narrative drive? Why should writers care? (Check out last week's episode for some tips on creating narrative drive in your story). [01:20] A story with "broken" narrative drive feels like it's going nowhere. [02:00 ] Mistake #1: Putting in too much exposition or backstory or worldb...
3 Ways to Create Narrative Drive in Your Story
June 02, 2020 07:00 - 12 minutes - 8.7 MBIn today's episode, I'm exploring narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] What is narrative drive? Here's a quick definition. [01:35] According to Robert McKee, narrative drive is sustained when a story plays on two primary needs within the reader -- an intellectual need (curiosity) and an emotional need (concern). [01:50] Curiosity is the intellectual need to find answers to questions. [0...
#12: 3 Ways to Create Narrative Drive in Your Story
June 02, 2020 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.24 MBIn today's episode, I'm exploring narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included: [01:25] What is narrative drive? Here's a quick definition. [01:35] According to Robert McKee, narrative drive is sustained when a story plays on two primary needs within the reader -- an intellectual need (curiosity) and an emotional need (concern). [01:50] Curiosity is the intellectual need to find answers to questions. [0...