The Dialogue Doctor Podcast

This week on the podcast, Jeff sits down with romance author Ginny Moore to talk about writing big cast scenes that have strong emotional flow and build tension. For more on the craft of writing, check out dialoguedoctor.com

In this episode, Jeff is joined by author, editor, and former bookstore owner, Tom Holbrook. Jeff and Tom talk about stories they love, stories that are broken, and what they are seeing in their clients' work recently. Tom ends with a plea for writers to find groups of authors they can be supported by. For more on craft and to sign up for the newsletter, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Author Beth Biss to discuss Beth's work in progress. They focus on the emotional experience of Beth's main character in the scene and how the reader's emotional journey matches it. Jeff also compares composing the emotions of a scene to playing music. For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with members of the Dialogue Doctor Community to talk about An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by the father of True Crime and Psychological Horror, Ambrose Bierce. They talk about the mastery of the writing, creating a main character the reader is supposed to dislike, and playing tricks on the reader. For more on the craft of writing, come to DialogueDoctor.com

In this episode, Jeff sits down with authors Christine Daigle, Tom Hollbrook, and JP Rindfleisch IX to talk about their experience at Author Nation.

Liz Woodiwiss, an aspiring epic fantasy author, shares insights about her manuscript with coach Laura Humm. They dive into a pivotal Call to Action scene, emphasizing the importance of leading with emotion in world-building. Laura helps Liz explore her protagonist Terry's perspective and emotional journey, ensuring readers connect deeply with his fears and awakening to broader threats. They discuss structuring emotional beats and reveal how to amplify climactic moments by placing emotional stakes front and center.

Dive into the art of storytelling as Jeff explores the power of emotional journeys in writing. Learn about vehicle characters and their growth arcs, the intriguing Dialogue Daisy for building character voice, and how to create tension with scene architecture. Discover key techniques like dialogue-first drafts, voice modulation, and the strategic use of dialogue tags. Plus, Jeff reveals eight magical dials to manipulate readers' emotions and announces an exciting new book preorder—perfect for aspiring writers!

Want to write better mystery stories? In this episode of The Dialogue Doctor Podcast, Jeff Elkins sits down with crime and mystery writer Doug Dorow for a live editing session focused on how to write sidekicks and build a strong detective character arc. They discuss: How to write compelling sidekicks that make your detective shine How sidekicks can reveal your protagonist's strengths, flaws, and growth What makes a great detective arc across a mystery or crime series How to keep character development evolving from book to book If you're crafting a detective series, crime novel, or cozy mystery, this episode will help you create unforgettable character partnerships and deeper emotional arcs that keep readers coming back. 👉 Subscribe for weekly writing tips and editing sessions that make your stories stronger. 👉Check out the DialogueDoctor.com for more on the craft of writing. #WritingTips #MysteryWriting #CrimeFiction #DetectiveSeries #CharacterDevelopment #WritingPodcast #DialogueDoctor

This week, Jeff Elkins is joined by author V.E. Griffth. Together, they examine the climatic fight of V.E.'s action novel. They discuss aligning the final fight with what the character has learned and creating clear emotional lines for the reader. Check out more at https://dialoguedoctor.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Becca Syme. Jeff and Becca talk about the state of publishing, howt things have changed, and how writers should see and understand themselves in the market. As conversations with Becca do, they veer into strengths and how writers need to find power in their work. To find Becca's new kickstarter, go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beccasyme/dear-writer-you-still-need-to-quit For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/