

The Dialogue Doctor Podcast
Jeff Elkins
Writing great books is critical to generating sales and building a following of readers. On the Dialogue Doctor Podcast, Jeff Elkins and other writers discuss how to write dialogue that will excite readers and help you sell more books.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 20min
Episode 301 - World Building with Emotion
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.

Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 21min
Episode 300 - The Dialogue Doctor DNA
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!

Oct 27, 2025 • 56min
Episode 299 - Writing the Perfect Sidekick
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

Oct 20, 2025 • 1h 3min
Episode 298 - Writing a High Impact Final Boss Fight Scene
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/

Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 26min
Episode 297 - Becca Syme Returns
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/

Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 6min
Episode 296 - The Hidden Tools of Comedy by Steve Kaplan - a Joint with JP
In this episode, Jeff is joined by his writing partner, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch the IX. Jeff and JP talk about the book The Hidden Tools of Comedy by Steve Kaplan. They discuss Kaplan's theory of comedy, talk about the comedic equation, and then discuss the 8 tools of comedy. Find Steve Kaplan's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Tools-Comedy-Serious-Business/dp/1615931406 Check out JP's work here: https://shop.jprindfleischix.com/ Check out Jeff and JP's Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jprindfleischix/nrds-queer-paranormal-comedy-seasons-1and2-special-editions For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Sep 29, 2025 • 54min
Episode 295 - Pitching Your Work with Laura Goode
In this episode, Jeff sits down with the amazing author, Laura Goode. Jeff and Laura talk about the art of pitching your work, performative confidence, and he wonderful book "Pitch Craft." To find Laura's book, go to https://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Craft-Writers-Getting-Published/dp/0593837126 For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/ To find Jeff and JP's Kickstarter, go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jprindfleischix/nrds-queer-paranormal-comedy-seasons-1and2-special-editions

Sep 22, 2025 • 1h 12min
Episode 294 - Creating Powerful Emotional Moments
In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Mary Van Everbroeck to work through a short story she's written. They talk about the complexity of writing and "big cast" scene, and creating powerful emotional tension in a scene. For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Sep 15, 2025 • 59min
Episode 293 - Writing Child Voices, Making Characters Distinct, & What Makes a Thriller?
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm meets with two of the Dialoggers for an "Office Hour." In this session, Laura and the Dialoggers talk about: Writing distinct character voices Making child characters sound like children And what makes a thriller a thriller. For more on the craft of writing, check out, https://dialoguedoctor.com/

Sep 8, 2025 • 1h 10min
Episode 292 - Novel Analysis - My Friends by Fredrik Backman [SPOILERS]
In this episode, Jeff, Laura, and a few members of the community discuss the book My Friends by Fredrik Backman. [WARNING! SPOILERS] They get into the character arcs, the power of the narrator, nonlinear story telling, and the beauty of Backman's writing. Also, Jeff reveals his super fandom, and Laura and Jeff debate the ending of a character. For more on the craft of writing, come to https://dialoguedoctor.com/


