Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

A fictional character's dialogue sounds like a person speaking in real life, but not too much like a person speaking in real life.  In this episode we'll talk about dialogue techniques that draw the reader into the story.Support the show

Here are techniques to control our point of view so that our story doesn't have a dizzying quality as the reader jumps from one character's mind to another character's mind.  We'll also discuss a writer's narrative voice.Support the show

The difference between showing and telling is so important that we continue with it in this episode, including the technique of saving it for later.  Plus, we'll talk about the grammatical person.Support the show

We'll talk about the most critical skill for vivid writing, showing versus telling.  Showing reveals.  Telling explains.  Showing is almost always more involving for the reader, and we'll discuss how to show rather than tell..Support the show

Dive into the fascinating world of storytelling as the nuances between scenes and summaries are uncovered. Learn why immersive scenes captivate readers more than mere summaries. Discover techniques for crafting powerful scene endings that leave lingering questions and maintain tension. Explore how point of view and location enhance reader engagement, and appreciate the art of seamless scene transitions through compelling examples. This discussion promises to elevate your novel writing skills!

Explore the importance of conflict and physical actions in scene construction for writers. Learn techniques to grab and immerse readers in a scene, and launch them into the next. Discover advice on crafting impactful scenes and avoiding common writing pitfalls.

Learn how to create compelling villains and lovable sidekicks in your novel. Discover the importance of minimizing characters in a scene and the significance of names in writing. Explore the role of names in storytelling and the benefits of basing characters on friends or relatives.

This podcast explores the techniques for creating compelling characters in fiction. It discusses the balance between believability and interest in character development, and the qualities that make fictional characters memorable. The significance of hardship and odds in making characters likable is highlighted, along with the use of quirks and weaknesses. The chapter also explores the importance of deep characterization and provides tools and techniques for creating and describing characters.

In this podcast, they discuss the concept of pace in novel writing and how it should always move forward. They also emphasize the importance of the first sentence as a hook for readers and the need for an economical story. They caution against excessive backstory and over-description, and provide tips on finding the right balance in descriptions.

Exploring the process of finding a captivating plot for a novel, challenging the idea of 'write what you know' in fiction writing, emphasizing the importance of big and bold plots, highlighting the significance of conflict and raising the stakes, and following the heart-wrenching journey of David Copperfield.