John Helps You Write Better
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago -Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The last Writers Chat of 2021
December 23, 2021 02:04 - 1 hour - 109 MBHey there's a gap in this thing! But here's the last Chat of 2021. Enjoy!
What I Learned In 2021: The last monday night stream of 2021
December 21, 2021 01:57 - 1 hour - 106 MBThe last Monday night stream of 2021 is here! So what did this year of streaming teach me and how does it relate to your writing? Reminder: The office is CLOSED from December 24 to January 11. The first stream of 2022 will be the Writers Chat on Wednesday January 12.
The Writers Chat for 12-15
December 16, 2021 02:23 - 1 hour - 110 MBIt's the Writers Chat for 12/15. 12 questions asked and answered (plus more from Chat) all about contracts and genre and writing spaces and getting things done. I think you're going to like this one. To join us for the next one, visit http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter To support the production, visit http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
HOW TO DO MPOV RIGHT
December 08, 2021 08:10 - 2 hours - 113 MBFROM 12/6 Have you ever struggled with multiple POV and multiple arcs or plots in your work? Would you like to get better at them? For more content like this, check twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter
What An Editor Does
December 07, 2021 15:09 - 1 hour - 108 MBFROM 11/29 Ever wonder what an Editor does and how they do it?
The Writers Chat for 12/1
December 02, 2021 12:55 - 1 hour - 104 MBTOPICS: Publishers, submissions, query letters, beta readers, and more. Call this one a test balloon. It's the audio from the Writers Chat (technically the audio feed from Zoom) for December 1.
The Writer's Chat from 6/16
June 17, 2021 12:29 - 1 hour - 87.7 MBHere's the audio from The Writer's Chat on 6/16. Topics include: book marketing, mPOV, Early Readers, publishers, and what to do when your partner is a bad writer. The Writers Chat is now streaming on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/johnhelpsyouwritebetter
The Writer's Chat of 6/9 (nice)
June 10, 2021 10:56 - 1 hour - 107 MBThe first Chat ever streamed to Twitch is now available for your ears. Topics include public domain work, in media res, publishing Jaws, grammar, and your kids.
The Writer's Chat of May 19
May 26, 2021 15:35 - 1 hour - 106 MBNo, this podcast isn't dead and gone. It was just quiet. But it's back now, and here's the Chat for May 19.
The Audio from the 1/13 Writers Chat
January 16, 2021 14:40 - 1 hour - 105 MBI think you're going to want to hear this. Stay tuned this week for an announcement about this podcast's changes in 2021.
Bonus Episode!! The Writer's Chat from 11/11
November 12, 2020 13:36 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBHey! While the podcast is undergoing some prep and some evolving, check out the Writer's Chat from November 11th. I think you'll find something in there you like. Keep fighting. Keep creating. We'll talk soon.
EP 020 How To Write It
September 29, 2020 13:30 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBIn this episode, we tackle how to figure out what to write whatever it is we need to write. Features numerous mentions of hopscotch.
EP 019 Sweet Beards, Writing Groups, Newsletters and Helping Others
September 24, 2020 13:42 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBWhat can a Russian teach us about developing not only a newsletter but also a writing group? PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate Look at this dude's beard! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Kropotkin_circa_1900.jpg
EP 018 Exposition part 1
September 15, 2020 07:35 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBI have a surprising amount to say about exposition in what I thought was really going to be a short episode. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP 017 Dialogue
September 08, 2020 06:30 - 26 minutes - 36 MBTalking about talking - its red flags, its structure, and its uses. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP 016 Scenes
September 01, 2020 06:05 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBHere we are. Getting very practical and very much into the drafting of our work. Let's talk about scenes. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate WEBSITE: http://writernextdoor.com
Ep 015 Questions and Prep
August 25, 2020 07:05 - 25 minutes - 35.7 MBAs we move towards getting practical about drafting, it's time to ask more questions. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP 14 Worldbuilding, part 2
August 18, 2020 05:30 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBHow can we better frame and contextualize the world of our story?
EP 013 Secondary Characters
August 11, 2020 06:55 - 21 minutes - 30 MBWe've talked protagonists and antagonists, now let's talk about everyone else.
EP012 PsychicDistance
August 04, 2020 07:40 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBCome hang out on a roller coaster and at a restaurant and learn about how to control what the reader sees and experiences as you and I are talking. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate WEBSITE: http://writernextdoor.com
EP011 Tense and POV
July 28, 2020 05:30 - 35 minutes - 48.2 MBIn order to move our story forward, we need to have a firm sense on how we're going to be telling that story. So let's take a look at the tenses and POVs available to us. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP010 Charcter Arcs and Thematic Arcs
July 21, 2020 07:50 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBIn today's episode: Some gratitude, some grooves, and some discussion of arcs and themes and how to build them. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate WEBSITE: http://writernextdoor.com
BONUS 002 Writer Chat 7/15
July 21, 2020 05:55 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBANOTHER BONUS EPISODE!! This is the Writer's Chat from 7/15. The last one was so well received, here's another. Don't forget that you can attend these Chats every Wednesday at 7pm ET, the link is always posted on Twitter (http://twitter.com/awesome_john) PATREON makes this possible: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate And for more help with your story (ask John about the 50-50 birthday deal) check out http://writernextdoor.com
BONUS001 July 8th Writing Chat
July 14, 2020 08:30 - 1 hour - 160 MBYes, Bonus episodes are a thing that can happen. For the inaugural bonus, here's a copy of the Writers Chat from July 8th. Every Wednesday night at 7pm ET (with the recording available the next day), there's a free Q&A you can attend to ask ANY AND ALL questions you have about writing, publishing, editing, querying, and anything else. Here's a taste.
EP009 Plot part 2 (the one where we make a story roadmap)
July 14, 2020 06:15 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MBIn this very NSFW epsiode, let's talk about how to map your story a piece a time. There's some pantsing, some plotting, some organizing, and a lot to cover when we're just figuring out the main plot. This one's a little long, but it'll help you. SUPPORT THE PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate SUPPORT THE REVOLUTION: http://Paypal/me/JohnAdamus CASHAPP - $cashforjohna
EP008 Character Arcs (Character, part 3)
July 07, 2020 06:15 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBThis week we dive deep on what a character arc can do and how you want to make characters more like bean dip than flashy food porn. Really. The character arc is a critical tool, and talking about it and other kinds of arcs this week will help you add depth to your story.
EP007 Worldbuilding Part 1
June 30, 2020 08:25 - 42 minutes - 57.9 MBThis week, it's time to take our characters and their adventure and give them a place to do it. World building isn't just about defining the critical bare bones, it's about creating a place that helps make the story happen. Learn this week how to get better at it. PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP006 Plot part 1
June 23, 2020 09:30 - 31 minutes - 43 MBIn this week's episode, there are decisions to make about plot and what makes a plot function most effectively. What will our intrepid protagonists square off against? What does our antagonist want? How do we make a plot engaging? All this and more in this week's Revolution. Also there are mild spoilers for Moby Dick. PATREON: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP005 Make Some Characters
June 16, 2020 13:05 - 45 minutes - 62.2 MBIn this week's thrilling sound effect-laden episode, some characters get made: A protagonist Their love interest Their sidekick The antagonist Looks like this is a SFF YA story about a school journalist, their rugby playing partner, and their third friend up against a time-traveling samurai principal. Learn how to build them and connect them with practical advice. To support this podcast: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP004 Characters Part 2
June 09, 2020 11:05 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBThe revolution marches on as we cover deeper "umami" of character development while the neighbors sand and power wash a rotten deck next door. The podcast is powered by the Patreon: http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyoucreate
EP003 Characters Part 1
June 02, 2020 13:05 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MBIt's time to talk about your characters. In Part 1 today, learn about skills, goals, fears, and wants.
Ep002 Using Beats
May 27, 2020 12:06 - 35 minutes - 48.1 MBEpisode 2 RELOADED. Let's talk about how to use beats, how to map a story with them, and how home invasion is a story device
EP_001_BASICBEATS
May 19, 2020 12:02 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBOn this week's episode, the revolution begins! And we're starting with the smallest unit of storytelling information, the beat, and walking through the different types, their uses, and why they're important.
Episode 0: Welcome to the Revolution
May 11, 2020 23:31 - 3 minutes - 5.18 MBThe revolution is coming. Are you ready to take your writing career to heights and places you've always dreamed about? Would you like actual not-vague not-rehashed "advice" to help you succeed? That's what Write the Revolution is all about - changing the way we create our art.