

Writer Unleashed
Nanci Panuccio
Writer Unleashed is a weekly podcast for fiction and memoir writers. It's a deep dive into story techniques, writing craft, and the mindsets that help you write with unstoppable momentum and create stories readers can't put down.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 16, 2020 • 14min
#27: Writer Rejected: How to Bounce Back Fast
You’ve spent months, maybe years writing your story. So you finally get the courage to send it out into the world - to an agent, a literary magazine, a publisher, or your writer’s group. And then you get a form rejection letter (the worst kind), or feedback from your peers that makes you want to give up the writing life altogether. How do you bounce back? On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, I’ll share 3 tips on re-framing rejection so that you can get back in the saddle and write stronger and better than ever.We'll explore:Why stories are rejectedA few masterpieces that faced years of rejection (this may surprise you)The Ship and Learn approachWhen you should be spending more time revising than submittingMy take on why failure gets a bad wrapAlso, Listen To:Episode 20. Four Ways Your Writing Group Is Holding You Back (and What To Look For In Your Next Writing Tribe)Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Dec 9, 2020 • 16min
#26: Writing About Someone You Know - Is Your Story Worth It?
You can change a character's hair color, geography, age, or gender, but often what inhibits our voice is a concern that we'll offend someone we know. A parent. A sibling. A school mate. So, what do we do? We whitewash the truth. Or we avoid writing our story altogether. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore:3 reasons you need to tell your storyWhy secrets need to be unloadedThe power of compassion for yourself and yes, even for your oppressorsHow to own your side of the truthAlso, Listen ToEpisode 25: Why Your Voice MattersWorthy ReadsThe Kiss: A Memoir by Kathryn HarrisonFierce Attachments: A Memoir by Vivian Gornick Liberate your voice with my FREE 6-Day Audio CourseNot sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Dec 2, 2020 • 17min
#25: Why Your Voice Matters
Your voice is your most fundamental creative asset. But how do you access it? How do you let it flourish on the page? On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore why your voice matters to you --and to your readers. I’ll also give you a writing prompt to invite your voice to come out and play... so have your pen and paper ready. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore:Why craft is useless without voiceHow to avoid a dull, mid-level voice Why your resistance is a good indication that you're on the right trackA writing exercise to coax your voice onto the pageAlso listen to:Episode 1: Why Write What You Know Is Bad AdviceEpisode 10: What is Writer's Voice? Want to kick writer's block to the curb? Sign up for my FREE 6-day audio class, Liberate Your Voice.Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Nov 25, 2020 • 20min
#24: You Already Know How To Write Dialogue
You have captivating characters, a page-turning plot, gorgeous imagery. But as soon as your characters start speaking, does your story falls flat?Here's the thing. You already know how to write crisp, compelling dialogue. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 things to pay attention to in the conversations around you. This is all instruction for your story dialogue. We'll cover:Common mistakes writers make when writing dialogueSubtextMisdirectionCross purposesNon-verbal dialogueWe'll end with a 2-part eavesdropping exercise. Want to create multi-dimensional characters who defy stereotype? Grab your free character questionnaire here. Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Nov 18, 2020 • 18min
#23: The Number 1 Mindset All Great Writers Share
What's the number 1 mindset that separates great writers from the novice? A willingness to embrace uncertainty. And to not only embrace it but to create, cultivate and dance with it. On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore:How avoiding uncertainty is straitjacketing your writingWhy beneath chaos lies order and harmonyThe difference between convergent and divergent thinkingHow to use contradiction to hook readersHow to collaborate with your uncertainty to produce your most powerful, surprising work. Related Episodes19. Should I Outline Before I Write?21. How to Craft Your Ideal Story EndingFor more free writing resources, visit me at NanciPanuccio.comNot sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Nov 11, 2020 • 13min
#22: Three Ways to Avoid Character Stereotype
How do we create characters readers believe in? How do we write beyond stereotype? On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore 3 ways to create multi-dimensional characters. We'll explore: Plot-driven versus character-driven stories.The difference between empathy and sympathy.What really drives a reader's connection to your character.How to tap into your own impulses to create characters who breathe on the page. Want to create multi-dimensional characters who defy stereotype? Grab your Free Character Questionnaire here. Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Nov 4, 2020 • 18min
#21: How to Craft Your Ideal Story Ending
How do we craft an ending that lands with the reader? How do we avoid what author David Jauss calls "the literary equivalent of a faked orgasm?"On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 5 ways to avoid an ending that's too tidy, predictable, or lame. We'll talk about:Interesting character change over timeWhy a change in your reader is more important than character changeThe relationship between your story's beginning and endingWhy the strongest endings are not invented but discoveredRelated episodeEpisode 3 - Three Story Opening Techniques to Hook Your ReaderNot sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Oct 28, 2020 • 14min
#20: Four Ways Your Writing Group is Holding You Back (and What To Look For In Your Next Writing Tribe)
Is your writing group holding you back? Inhibiting for you? Confusing you? Making you doubt yourself? Or is it supporting you to grow? On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore 4 ways your writing group may be grid-locking you, and the 5 most important things to look for in a writing tribe. Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Oct 21, 2020 • 14min
#19: Should I Outline Before I Write?
Or should I just wing it, flying blind?I get this question a LOT. And while there 's no one-size-fits all approach to the creative process, the outline first approach can stifle most writers and gridlock their stories.So why the urge to outline? An outline is safe. Knowable. Certain.Having that road map should produce our best stories, then, right?Well, not exactly.On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, learn why not knowing where your story's going can produce your strongest, most surprising work.On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore:Our urge to know where our story is going at the outset.How too much certainty shuts down our creative process.Why uncertainty opens up space for our most surprising and riveting work.Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

Oct 14, 2020 • 14min
#18: How to Write With Unstoppable Inspiration
Inspiration is a mysterious, mercurial force.Sometimes it shows up, sometimes it doesn’t.But what if we could summon inspiration at will? If each time we sat down to write, we could reach that magic zone where the words flowed freely onto the page?What if there were some particular rituals, or triggers to that special consciousness that guaranteed an unstoppable, no-holds-barred writing session?On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore:How to summon your inner muse.Why relaxing into your own creative process is essential.How to break through your resistance.How to keep inspiration flowing.Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence premise you can build your entire book on, and the clarity and confidence to keep going.Download Your Quick Guide HereWant to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.