Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

As writers, should we be concerned with a themes for our stories?   And a critical question: are writers allowed to be weird?  We'll also return to the need for early conflict in our stories, and then go on to discuss vivid writing.Support the show

Our setting -- the place and time of the scene -- anchor our characters the the ground.  Here are techniques for writing our settings to get the most from them, so that they play a strong role in the story.Support the show

Our topics this episode are how to avoid breaking the fourth wall, onomatopoeia (clunk, thud, kersplat), and techniques on ending the novel.  We'll also talk about some bad writing, really bad writing.Support the show

Dialogue is so important to our stories that we'll talk more about it here.  Then we'll move on to foreshadowing--including the Chekhov's famous gun--and coincidences., where one is fine but two are not.Support the show

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.