The Dialogue Doctor Podcast Episode 301 - World Building with Emotion
Nov 10, 2025
Liz Woodiwiss, an aspiring epic fantasy author, shares insights about her manuscript with coach Laura Humm. They dive into a pivotal Call to Action scene, emphasizing the importance of leading with emotion in world-building. Laura helps Liz explore her protagonist Terry's perspective and emotional journey, ensuring readers connect deeply with his fears and awakening to broader threats. They discuss structuring emotional beats and reveal how to amplify climactic moments by placing emotional stakes front and center.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Make Worldbuilding Emotional
- Terry's council scene is the moment his sheltered world expands into a larger, dangerous reality.
- Presenting world-building through his feelings makes the information digestible and emotionally resonant.
Anchor Large Cast Scenes To One POV
- Lead with the protagonist's POV in large-cast scenes so the reader experiences events through one character.
- Use the POV character's reactions to introduce other characters and information naturally.
Trim Exposition With Highlight-And-Review
- Highlight emotionally relevant details and trim exposition that doesn't serve the scene's goal.
- Use the Highlight-and-Review method (Hire Casey) to spot info-dump areas to revise.