最佳Novel Writing播客 (2025)

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Episode 149 - How masterful writers use details. 25:53

3h ago25:53

25:53

What do George Orwell, Sara Gruen, Jean Shepherd, and John Steinbeck have in common? Many things but foremost among them is their expert use of details that take readers away, that lift us readers out of our chairs and transport us to their places and times. Here are thoughts on their use of details. Also, we should avoid cliches like the plague. S…

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Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 1) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 29 21:12

7h ago21:12

21:12

Does your novel feel like it’s wandering aimlessly, struggling to find direction? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the first five beats of the Save the Cat story structure—a simple, effective tool to shape your novel into a story readers can’t put down. Learn how this flexible plotting method can keep your story on track while leaving plenty …

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What is an Unreliable Narrator? 4:54

3d ago4:54

4:54

What is an unreliable narrator? Writers and readers alike use this moniker often without understanding what it really means. In this episode, we break down what an unreliable narrator is, the best genres that make use of them, pros and cons, and four examples of characters in popular literature who are unreliable narrators. Send us a text Click her…

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Ep82 – The Eyrie 1:01:45

19d ago1:01:45

1:01:45

THE PENULTIMATE STORY OUTLINE THE LAST STORY OUTLINE EPISODE FOR...PROBABLY QUITE A WHILE Voe and Oliver dive into The Weird by way of a "Zone Story", as both seek a way for Voe to escape cosmic debt slavery to a still-mysterious entity! What does all that mean? Listen to find out!由Oliver Brackenbury

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Episode 148: A magical way to end one scene and begin another. 26:02

7d ago26:02

26:02

Here is a magical way to end a scene and to begin another without worrying about travel and time between scenes. Also: avoiding dangling modifiers. And how Bernard Malamud worked, and Helen Dunmore's rules of writing. Support the show由James Thayer

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Ask Me Anything Thursdays: How Do I Make Readers Love My Protagonist? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 28 12:11

2d ago12:11

12:11

Ask Me Anything Thursdays answering the podcasting question "How do I make sure my protagonist is lovable?" Are you struggling to create a protagonist readers truly care about? In this episode, I share four actionable strategies to help you craft a dynamic, relatable protagonist readers won’t forget. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why connectin…

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Literary Sins: Random Character to the Rescue 3:36

10d ago3:36

3:36

As a reader, how do you react when a random character comes to the rescue during the climax? Odds are, you probably feel cheated. In this episode, we break down this literary sin and how to avoid committing it. Click here to find out if our Coaching & Critique Group is the right fit for you! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel…

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Episode 147 - Make sure it's important and make it short. 25:58

14d ago25:58

25:58

What should we do if we must--absolutely must--have an element in our story that might not be fully entertaining and engaging? 1) Make sure it's important and 2) make it short. Here are thoughts about this critical technique. Also, details in our descriptions are important, but which should we use and which should we leave out? Support the show…

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3 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Writing in 2025 | Episode 27 8:16

14d ago8:16

8:16

Are you looking to level up your writing in 2025? In this episode, I dive into three incredibly valuable ways you can improve your writing, get answers to your important writing questions, and get valuable feedback on your work for FREE. Tune in to learn how to navigate your writing challenges and set yourself up for success in 2025! This episode w…

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10 Productivity Tips for Writers, PART 2 6:37

17d ago6:37

6:37

Struggling with being a productive writer? We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity. All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block. This episode covers the last 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025! Click here to find o…

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Episode 146 - How to make our character unforgettable. 26:01

21d ago26:01

26:01

We writers can use lovely phrases and perceptive observations when describing our character in our story, and yet the reader may still quickly forget the character. Here's how to make a character stick in the reader's mind. Also, are you a born writer? Maybe so. Here's why you might be. Support the show…

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10 Productivity Tips for Writers, PART 1 5:11

24d ago5:11

5:11

Struggling with being a productive writer? We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity. All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block. This episode covers the first 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025! Send us a text Clic…

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Ep81 – An Imported God 1:25:01

26d ago1:25:01

1:25:01

Sword & Planet time! In which Voe fends off cosmic callousness as she rides strange beasts through a blend of colorful high adventure with grim thematic underpinnings.由Oliver Brackenbury

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Episode 145 - Bringing our settings to life. 27:03

28d ago27:03

27:03

We can show (as opposed to tell) as we create a setting for our story. Showing will make our settings vivid, and will allow the setting description to do double duty: describe the place and suggest a mood. Also, reasons to avoid meetings in our story. Support the show由James Thayer

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How to Achieve Your Writing Goals in 2025 11:39

1M ago11:39

11:39

Are you ready to hit 2025 running toward your writing goals? If not, do not fear! This episode covers 5 essential tactics for planning a successful writing year, no matter what your goals are. 2025 is right around the corner, and before you know it you'll be striving toward your next writing achievement. Send us a text Click here to find out of The…

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Ep80 – Love Letter to a Sailor 1:01:28

1M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

In which Oliver writes a love letter/homage to Sailing to the Future, the first third of Michael Moorcock's most excellent Sailor on the Seas of Fate starring Elric of Melniboné. In this way Voe finds herself to encountering multiverse fatigue, an Eternal Champion labour union, a nihilist scientist, and more!…

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Episode 144 - One sentence can bring our character to life. 26:20

1M ago26:20

26:20

We'll build our character as we write along, adding descriptions and actions and dialogue. But there is a way with only one or two sentences to reveal something powerful and memorable about the character--in just a few words--and I'll talk about the technique here. Also, Joyce Carol Oates's rules of writing. And punctuating dialogue, with important…

1
Reasons to Write the Blurb Early 4:26

1M ago4:26

4:26

The blurb is one of the hardest and most hated parts of an author's life... at least that's what it seems like! In this episode, we break down why writing the blurb early is actually the smartest thing to do. Blurbs don't need to be perfect or finalized immediately, but they should exist for the reasons discussed here. Need help with your blurb? Ch…

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Ep79 – Inner Sea 37:57

1M ago37:57

37:57

"How do you create a warning which will outlast your own language?" is the question at the heart of this first tale in Voe's final act, the story which introduces us to her new life of cosmic debt slavery by taking her deep, deep underground in an irradiated world to search for a cure to a virulent poison running through her veins...…

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Episode 143 - The three most important sentences when writing a scene. 26:53

1M ago26:53

26:53

Jack Bickham's three sentences on scene construction are the best I've found regarding how to write a scene. Here are why these sentences are important for us writers. Also: Sarah Ann Waters' terrific ten rules of writing. And avoiding the word "not." Support the show由James Thayer

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Recommended Writing Craft Books 4:42

2M ago4:42

4:42

Where do you start when it comes to books on writing craft? A simple search on Amazon for "writing craft books" brings up over 70,000 results. This episode covers the books that I recommend over and over for writers inside the Challenge or our Coaching & Critique group. From story structure and theme to tropes, genres, and beyond, use this episode …

1
Ep78 – The Final Act 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

THE NOVEL RETURNS! Yes, in this episode we provide a refresher on the novel and its contents so far, then do an overview of what the final act is about, and what Oliver needed to figure out before drilling down into its individual stories that will tell a tale of cosmic horror and Voe's indebted servitude to a mysterious entity...…

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Episode 142 - A big technique for literary writing. 24:50

2M ago24:50

24:50

Many listeners are writing literary novels and stories. Here is an important technique regarding construction of a literary story, and it also applies to commercial novels. Support the show由James Thayer

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Literary Sins: Too Many Characters 7:14

2M ago7:14

7:14

Have you committed this literary sin? Having too large of a cast, or introducing too many characters at the same time, can lose readers and make them forget important details. This, our second installment of the Literary Sins Series, addresses the problems of a large cast and offers solutions for how to fix them. Check out the 5-Day Character Devel…

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Ep77 - Interview with Graham Thomas Wilcox 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

Oliver speaks with Old Moon Quarterly editor about his Gothic Fantasy novella, Contra Amatores Mundi, that grew out from a story he published in the magazine.由Oliver Brackenbury

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Tropes we love & tropes we hate 45:49

2M ago45:49

45:49

Send us a text Love 'em or hate 'em, tropes are a major part of narrative storytelling. The important thing is understanding them, so you can either use (or avoid!) them to your heart's content. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina talk through popular tropes in many different genres of novels and discuss which ones they love, which ones…

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Episode 141 - How to begin and end scenes. 27:31

2M ago27:31

27:31

The easiest thing for a reader to do is to quit reading our story. Here are ways to begin and end scenes that'll prevent that from happening. Our scenes' beginnings and endings will propel the reader farther into the story. Support the show由James Thayer

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Thoughts from Author Nation 7:05

2M ago7:05

7:05

Are you curious about Author Nation and whether you should go next year? This episode covers who Author Nation is for, what kinds of sessions were offered, my overall takeaways, and some favorite sessions. I also talk about what I would do differently next time. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the righ…

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Oh no I'm behind on my word count 17:14

2M ago17:14

17:14

Send us a text You know, sometimes it happens. You prepare in whatever way works for you, you carve out time, you buy new fuzzy socks... and you still manage to fall behind. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina give you some #realtalk about what to do when your graph is looking bleak. Spoilers: It's going to be okay. Support the show Enj…

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Episode 140 - Tips from Stephen King on writing dialogue. 28:00

2M ago28:00

28:00

Stephen King is a powerful storyteller, of course, and he is also a highly-skilled sentence-by-sentence writer. Here are his tips on writing dialogue, plus thoughts from me about making our characters' dialogue riveting. Support the show由James Thayer

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The College Analogy for Avoiding Overwhelm 4:08

2M ago4:08

4:08

Do you get stressed and overwhelmed whenever you look at everything it takes to publish a book, whether you're pursuing self publishing or traditional? You're not alone. I see this in a lot of authors, especially the ones working on the first or second draft. This episode presents a different way to filter your perspective so you can stop freaking …

1
NESS Book Club #3 – The Dark Eidolon 1:07:39

2M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Valerie Valdes, Molly Tanzer, Prashanth Srivatsa and JM Clarke for a discussion of Clark Ashton Smith's classic story The Dark Eidolon. You can read the story here: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/212/the-dark-eidolon Valerie Valdes: https://candleinsunshine.com Molly Tanzer: https://mollytanzer.com Prashanth Srivatsa: https://pr…

1
Episode 139 - Writing in the first person. 27:04

2M ago27:04

27:04

Readers love first person novels, where the hero talks directly to the reader. Here are some techniques for first person writing. Also, famous novelists reveal the books that made them want to be writers. Support the show由James Thayer

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Writing with a full time job 25:23

2M ago25:23

25:23

Send us a text Listen, we get it. You go to work, and then you come home exhausted. All you want to do is relax, or watch TV, or collapse in bed. How do you prioritize writing when your job leaves you lacking in energy or inspiration? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz tackle the topic of how to continue to make progress on your writin…

1
Switching from Writing to Editing 4:13

2M ago4:13

4:13

How do you know when it's time to switch from the writing mode to the editing mode? What even is the difference between them? In this episode I share a different way to think about this that allows us the freedom to move from one to the other with ease. Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for…

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Episode 138 - How to live a writer's life. 27:04

3M ago27:04

27:04

Usually I talk about writing techniques but here are some living techniques for us writers. And some famous writers' favorite writers and novels. Plus: what Ernest Hemingway did when he was stuck. Also: the magic of avoiding dialogue tag modifiers. And Snoopy. Support the show由James Thayer

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If You are a Creative Powerhouse 2:39

3M ago2:39

2:39

Writer's Block Bonus Category - Creative Powerhouse! Halie calls this result a TRIPLE THREAT! AKA, nothing really slows you down. Or does it? Creative Powerhouses aren't immune to bumps in the road, and this episode covers why. To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to bes…

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Episode 137 - Twenty-one rules of writing. 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

How can an injury be good for us writers? It was for Roald Dahl. And here are Strunk and White's twenty-one rules of writing. Also, Stephen King on descriptions. And several famous setting descriptions, settings so good they are magical. Plus, Toni Morrison reveals how she works. Support the show由James Thayer

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November 2024 Pep Talk + Updates 13:54

3M ago13:54

13:54

Send us a text Generic store-brand November Writing Challenge begins in 2 days! Listen for words of encouragement and an update on the ways your hosts Kristina and Liz will be tackling the challenge in this most unprecedented year. Most importantly: we've chosen our tracking tool for the year and have a LEADERBOARD you can join! Best of luck this N…

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Ep 76 – Shatter the Sun with Dave Ring 55:24

3M ago55:24

55:24

Dave Ring of Neon Hemlock Press joins us to discuss his upcoming queer Sword & Sorcery anthology. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davering/shatter-the-sun-queer-tales-of-untold-adventure https://www.neonhemlock.com由Oliver Brackenbury

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When You Have More Than One Story Idea 7:33

3M ago7:33

7:33

What do you do when you have more than one story idea floating around in your head? Do you work on just one? Write multiple at once? Something in between? Like most writing questions, the answer is "it depends". This episode breaks down how to approach your writing decisions when you have more than one idea, and whether you should complete a projec…

1
NESS Book Club #2 – The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth 1:00:46

3M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

We discussed 'The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth' by Lord Dunsany, a proto-Sword & Sorcery tale. You can read it for free here: https://sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/swos/swos10.htm Free Audiobook: https://ia802904.us.archive.org/17/items/sword_of_welleran_1409_librivox/swordofwelleran_10_dunsany_128kb.mp3 Panelists: Jay Wolf - https://linktr…

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Side characters are people too 22:08

3M ago22:08

22:08

Send us a text How do you make your side characters feel like real people? Do you need side characters? How many should you have? There's so much to consider when developing your cast of characters! In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into the wonderful world of character development. We discuss how many characters is too many character…

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Episode 136 - Benefits of a character's otherness. 27:06

3M ago27:06

27:06

A strong way to make a character likeable, and to have the reader root for her, is to have the character experience "otherness." She's out of place. She doesn't fit. Here are techniques on how to do so. Also, how F. Scott Fitzgerald worked. And, no whining. Support the show由James Thayer

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If You Have Difficulty Prioritizing 6:36

3M ago6:36

6:36

Writer's Block Category #3 - Difficulty Prioritizing When your to-do list is miles long and keeps growing every second, it can feel irresponsible and indulgent to write. But the truth is that your writing is important, and creativity is a form of self care. This episode covers the paradox of choice and different methods for prioritizing your life s…

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Episode 135 - Maybe the strongest writing tool - contrast. 25:38

3M ago25:38

25:38

Contrast is among the strongest tools we writers can use. It's magic. Here is a discussion of how and where to use contrast. Also, Henry Miller's rules of writing and how John Grisham works. Support the show由James Thayer

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Can I write fanfiction in November? 27:21

3M ago27:21

27:21

Send us a text This is something we hear a lot when people are considering what to write in November: does fanfiction count? is it allowed? can I write it? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why their answer is an incredibly enthusiastic yes, including the many merits of fanfiction writing and a bit about why it sometimes has a bad …

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This or That: Outliner or Discovery Writer 4:31

3M ago4:31

4:31

Are you a Discovery Writer or an Outliner? Which one is better than the other? Which one SHOULD you write in? If these terms give you strong feelings one way or the other, make sure you listen through the end of this episode! Send us a text Click here to find out of The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is the right fit for you! What to do next… Take …

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Episode 134 - A stong technique for describing a character's personality. 29:51

4M ago29:51

29:51

We can show (as opposed to tell) about a character's personality by describing the character's face and body, so that our physical description does double duty. Jonathan Franzen's ten rules of writing. And techniques to add atmosphere to our scenes. Support the show由James Thayer

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How to write a novel in November without NaNoWriMo 29:50

4M ago29:50

29:50

Send us a text This year, it's the wild west for novelists who still want to participate in some kind of November writing challenge. Where do we track our words? Will it feel the same? How do we find our commmunity? Will winning still "count"? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss options for how to still write in November without supp…

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