In this episode, I'm doing a little countdown of some of the best and most listened-to clips from the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast in 2022. Here's a preview of what you'll hear in the episode:

[01:40] Tip #10: Test out your idea by writing a 1-2 sentence summary of your entire story, focusing on the main story thread.

[04:15] Tip #9: Create a scene-by-scene roadmap for your entire story (and then pressure-test it!) before you start writing.

[07:10] Tip #8: Write (and edit) your story in scenes, not chapters! This will help you stay on track and produce a well-paced story.

[10:40] Tip #7: Not everything that happens in a story needs to be dramatized in a full-blown scene. Sometimes, you can summarize!

[13:05] Tip #6: Establish your character’s mental and emotional state at the very beginning of each one of your scenes.

[16:45] Tip #5: When you finish writing a first draft, the very first thing you should do is take a break!

[19:50] Tip #4: Make sure something meaningful happens in your opening pages if you want to catch the reader’s attention!

[22:35] Tip #3: If you want to hook an agent’s attention with your query letter, don’t be vague when summarizing your story–be specific!

[25:15] Tip #2: If you want to get a traditional publishing deal, consider self-publishing (first) to gain experience and grow your audience.

[26:55] Tip #1: Don’t assume a traditional publisher will provide significant marketing help if you get a book deal.

Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know what your favorite part of the episode was, too! 

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! Click here to follow now!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Click here to learn more about the First 5 Pages Workshop!
• Ep. 54 - How to Test Your Story Idea Before Writing
• Ep. 55 - 3 Tips for Writing a First Draft in 90 Days
• Ep. 56 - 5 Reasons Why Readers Stop Reading
• Ep. 58 - 10 Querying Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
• Ep. 61 - First Chapter Analysis: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Ep. 63 - Don’t Start a Scene Without These 3 Things
• Ep. 66 - The Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
• Ep. 67 - The Pros and Cons of Indie Publishing
• Ep. 73 - The 4 Ph

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.