Helping Writers Become Authors
601 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 785 ratingsHelping Writers Become Authors provides writers help in summoning inspiration, crafting solid characters, outlining and structuring novels, and polishing prose. Learn how to write a book and edit it into a story agents will buy and readers will love. (Music intro by Kevin MacLeod.)
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Episodes
Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 42: When Your Story Stakes Aren't High Enough
July 05, 2015 04:00 - 9 minutes - 8.28 MB3 Ways to Make Writing Your Novel Easier
June 28, 2015 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBEp. 266: What Every Writer Ought to Know About the Omniscient POV
June 21, 2015 20:22 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBWhat's the problem with omniscient POV? Why are so many authors confused about it? And why are so many editors delivering digital hand slaps because of it?
Ep. 255: Never Confuse the Key Event and the First Plot Point in Your Book Again!
June 14, 2015 20:20 - 10 minutes - 9.96 MBDid you know a full understanding of the Key Event, its role in story structure, and its timing will help you write stronger First Plot Points?
Ep. 254: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters' Thoughts
June 07, 2015 20:17 - 10 minutes - 9.74 MBIs your narrator killing subtext by inferring other characters' thoughts too accurately? Find out in this latest of the Most Common Writing Mistakes!
Ep. 256: A Reactive Protagonist Doesn't Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference
May 31, 2015 20:08 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MBOne of the stickiest questions any writer is likely to face is: What's the difference between a reactive protagonist and a passive protagonist?
Ep. 255: Stories That Matter: 5 Necessary Factors for Weighty Fiction
May 24, 2015 19:58 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBCan you identify the five most important factors in creating weight and substance in stories that matter?
Ep. 254: How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action
May 17, 2015 20:05 - 8 minutes - 8.48 MBWhen your story's Midpoint properly facilitates the all-important shift in the middle of your story, your conflict is sure to progress in a powerful way.
Ep. 253: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 40: Unnecessary Scenes
May 03, 2015 19:51 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBDiscover four types of unnecessary scenes that may be sinking your book - and three ways to find them and kill them.
Ep. 252: Find Out if Your Prologue Is Destroying Your Story’s Subtext
April 26, 2015 23:08 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBTake a look at how poor prologues sap stories, how no prologue can strengthen stories, and how to determine if your story is one of the exceptions.
Ep. 251: My Writing Process, Pt. 2 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Write My First Drafts
April 19, 2015 22:54 - 10 minutes - 10.4 MBHere's what my daily writing process looks like when using Scrivener for my first drafts.
Ep. 250: My Writing Process, Pt. 1 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels
April 12, 2015 19:33 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBToday, I'm offering a sneak peek under the hood of my writing process when using Scrivener - and how you can use Scrivener to up your writing game.
Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment
April 05, 2015 19:27 - 13 minutes - 13 MBThe Climactic Moment is the reason your story is even being told in the first place. Needless to say, it's pretty important you get it right. Find out how!
Ep. 248: What Are Pinch Points? And How Can They Make Your Book Easier to Write?
March 29, 2015 20:02 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBWhat are pinch points? Of all the important moments in your story, they are most likely to be neglected. But they're crucial to your story structure.
Ep. 247: Your Book’s Inciting Event: It’s Not What You Think It Is
March 22, 2015 19:53 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBThe trouble with identifying the Inciting Event is that the term is applied rather wildly to half a dozen different moments in the story. Which is right?
Ep. 246: Want to Know More About the Structure of Your Favorite Books and Movies? Announcing the Story Structure Database!
March 15, 2015 19:36 - 8 minutes - 8.3 MBToday, I'm excited to put an end to the guessing about the "Big Secret" and unveil a new resource for authors. The official Story Structure Database.
Ep. 245: For Writers on the Verge of Writing Spectacularly Complex Characters
March 08, 2015 19:28 - 8 minutes - 8.45 MBThe ironic thing about about complex characters in fiction is that the essence of what makes them so wonderfully complicated is actually incredibly simple.
Ep. 244: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name
March 01, 2015 19:20 - 9 minutes - 9.42 MBIn the time it takes to write two words, you might distance readers from your narrative. Luckily, this one of our common writing mistakes is an easy fix.
Ep. 243: Do You Know the 6 Must-Have Elements of a "Wow" Story Premise?
February 22, 2015 20:14 - 9 minutes - 8.97 MBDiscover how a good story premise can help you eliminate structural weaknesses and create a valuable tool for outlining and pitching your novel.
Ep. 242: The Crucial Way to Figure Out How Much Time Your Story Should Cover
February 15, 2015 20:05 - 10 minutes - 9.91 MBThe length of the timeline is an important factor in any story. Take a moment to consider just how much time your story should cover.
Ep. 241: The 5 Secrets of Choosing the Right Setting for Your Story's Climax
February 08, 2015 19:56 - 10 minutes - 9.91 MBWhat makes a great climactic setting? Consider five important techniques for making the most of the setting in your story's climax.
Ep. 240: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 38: Irrelevant Book Endings
February 01, 2015 19:51 - 8 minutes - 8.08 MBOne of the easiest writing mistakes to fall into in your book endings is actually one that has much to do with book beginnings--and, indeed, the entirety of your book.
Ep. 239: The Lazy Author's Way to Identify and Overcome Writing Weaknesses
January 25, 2015 19:33 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBGo beyond the vague sense that's something wrong with your story and use these five tips to figure out what your writing weaknesses are.
Ep. 238: Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once and For All
January 18, 2015 19:30 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBIf you can identify on-the-nose dialogue and learn how to replace it with rich undercurrents of subtext, you're on your way to becoming a master author.
Ep. 273: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 37: Unnecessary Filler
January 04, 2015 19:22 - 7 minutes - 7.45 MBAs we continue to discuss the most common writing mistakes, we'd be remiss to leave out the all-too-prevalent faux pas of unnecessary filler or padding.
Ep. 275: How to Pitch Your Novel: What's the Difference Between Your Story's Hook and Your Story's Heart?
December 28, 2014 19:36 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBWhen figuring out how to pitch your novel, you may realize your story's hook and its heart might not be compatible within such a short description.