The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs

Jul 25, 2024

Join Alison Espach, a creative writing professor and author of 'Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance,' as she discusses the art of crafting characters with evolving desires. She shares insights on the pitfalls of falling into repetitive writing patterns and the genre framing of her works. The conversation delves into the unique challenges of writing a fast-paced narrative versus one over an extended time, plus the significance of a single POV in her latest book, 'The Wedding People.' Get ready for a masterclass in character development and narrative strategy!

01:27:19

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Episode guests

Alison Espach

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Characters should have evolving wants and needs to effectively drive plot development and fulfill their arcs.

Clarity and brevity in query letters are essential for capturing agents' attention, focusing on central conflicts rather than excessive detail.

Weaving humor into serious narratives can enhance emotional depth and relatability when executed with genuine dialogue and situational irony.

Deep dives

Upcoming Changes to Podcast Segments

The podcast will pause its 'Books with Hooks' segments over the summer to allow the hosts to recharge and return in the fall. Despite the hiatus, they plan to continue critiquing two new submissions each week, which will be shared with paid Substack subscribers through their newsletter. In the meantime, the hosts will replay episodes from their backlist while introducing new author interviews each week. This strategy aims to maintain engagement with their audience while also managing the production process effectively.

Intro

4min

Crafting Compelling Query Letters

16min

Mastering the Art of Writing: Clarity and Character

22min

Exploring 'Everybody Knows': A Critique

10min

Exploring Unique Narratives in Women's Fiction and Fantasy Writing Opportunities

3min

The Importance of Language Learning and Cultural Exposure

2min

Navigating Genre Expectations in Writing

10min

Navigating Narratives: The Art of YA Fiction

21min

The Essential Role of a Thoughtful Narrator

2min

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment.

After which, Bianca interviews creative writing professor, essayist, and author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, Alison Espach. They discuss falling into the mode of writing the same sorts of novels repeatedly; the genre that Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance was pitched and marketed as; Alison's latest release, The Wedding People; writing a book that spanned a long period of time to one that spanned only a few days; writing a voicey third person POV; inciting incidents that happen off the page and that fuel curiosity; giving characters changing wants and needs and how that leads to plot points; and why Alison chose a single POV for The Wedding People.

Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/

https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/

https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW

Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting

More information about Alison can be found at https://www.alisonespach.com/

She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/alison.espach/

To sign up for CeCe’s Writing Emotion Course on the 8th of August, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Aee9OAPbSNmQ8xOb52Yl4w#/registration

Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15

To sign up for the Beta Reader Match Up, go to https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.html

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com

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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Upcoming Changes to Podcast Segments

Writer's Query Letter Analysis

Key Aspects of Writing Inquiry Letters

Engaging with Critique and Feedback

Balancing Humor with Serious Themes

The Role of Setting and Characterization

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Giving Characters Changing Wants and Needs to Fulfill Their Character Arcs

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Upcoming Changes to Podcast Segments

Writer's Query Letter Analysis

Key Aspects of Writing Inquiry Letters

Engaging with Critique and Feedback

Balancing Humor with Serious Themes

The Role of Setting and Characterization

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
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