Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
James Thayer
Hosted by James Thayer, the podcast is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft a novel. It presents a set of tools for large issues such as story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted') and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine. The New York Times Book Review has said Thayer's "writing is smooth and clear. it wastes no words, and it has a rhythm only confident stylists achieve.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 7, 2024 • 30min
Episode 116 - Advice from your lifestyle counselor, and mistakes when describing our setting.
Where can we turn when wondering about whether we should continue reading a novel? Right here, for some thoughts on reading. Also, here is a discussion on big mistakes we might make when creating our story's setting, and how to avoid them.Support the show
May 31, 2024 • 27min
Episode 115 - Downer titles and words that echo poorly.
Some novels--even novels that are great literature--have titles that are downers: titles that are sour and pessimistic. Here are thoughts on why we might not want to give our novels downer titles. Also, why we should avoid words that when too close together echo poorly, creating a distracting dissonance. And how we writers can practice.Support the show
May 24, 2024 • 24min
Episode 114 - A critical technique to make our story engaging.
Details are proofs, evidence offered to the reader about our story. Details will make our fiction engaging and will allow the story to grab readers. But there are right and wrong ways to use details, and we'll talk about the difference. Also, how should we handle back-story, politics, and society in our story? And a goofy pop quiz.Support the show
May 17, 2024 • 25min
Episode 113 - The clear window technique.
For most of us our sentence-by-sentence writing should be a clear window to our story rather than a barrier to seeing the story. Here are thoughts on the clear window. Also, how George Orwell worked.Support the show
May 10, 2024 • 26min
Episode 112 - Writing in the past or present tense, and making submissions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing in the present tense? And the past tense? Also, a reminder about the importance of setting. And I get on my high horse about writers needing persistence regarding submissions.Support the show
May 3, 2024 • 29min
Episode 111 - If we have to have a big meeting, show rather than tell.
It's hard to make a big meeting scene interesting. Much of the time meeting scenes should be avoided. But if we must have a meeting, showing rather than telling will make it more interesting. Plus, how Carson McCullers worked. And some comments from feuding writers. Also, an interview with Maeve Binchy.Support the show
Apr 26, 2024 • 26min
Episode 110 - Book cover design, and regaining enthusiasm.
Good advice about designing your own book cover; don't. If you self-publish your novel don't ruin it with a do-it-yourself book cover. Here are thoughts on why you should hire a pro designer. Also: why have we lost some enthusiasm for writing our novel, and how can we get it back? And some of the loveliest sentences in literature.Support the show
Apr 19, 2024 • 26min
Episode 109 - How we can stop stalling and get going.
Some of us have a hard time beginning the writing of our novels or short stories. Here are the reasons why and things we might do to overcome them. Also, the best first sentences in literature. And now novelist John Cheever worked.Support the show
Apr 12, 2024 • 28min
Episode 108 - Every description should do double duty.
We can avoid inert paragraphs by having our descriptions do more than one thing at once. Descriptions of our characters, settings, and action and our dialogue can do double duty--two things at the same time--which will engage the reader and enliven our story. Here's how .Support the show
Apr 5, 2024 • 29min
Episode 107 - The differences between literary and commercial fiction.
Exploring the differences between literary and commercial fiction, how authors can draw from both styles, the importance of strong characters and quality storytelling, crafting compelling dialogues in crime fiction, and the impact of filtering in writing on reader immersion.
