

Show, don't Tell Writing with Suzy Vadori
Suzy Vadori
If writing advice and the lingo used in the publishing industry usually sounds like gobbledygook to you, look no further than this Show, don’t Tell Writing podcast.I’m Author, Editor, and Book Coach Suzy Vadori, and I’m absolutely obsessed with helping writers get their ideas onto the page in a way that readers LOVE. If you think Show, don’t Tell is just tired writing advice, prepare to have your eyes opened as I break down the process of applying this key technique in both fiction and nonfiction books, sharing step-by-step actions each week you can take immediately to get closer each week to your wildest writing dreams, whether you’re writing your first book, or your tenth, all while making the process inspiring and fun. If you want your book to get published, read, loved, and shared with readers all over the world, I’ll address the questions that are sooo hard to find answers for. Is your writing good enough to be published in today’s market? What are the unwritten rules that can make agents, publishers, and readers give your book 5-star reviews? Do you have what it takes to make it as a writer? Hint: You definitely do, but nobody is born knowing how to write a terrific book, so join us to give yourself an advantage over all the other books out there by adding to your writing skills, and getting the straight goods on the industry. In this weekly show, I’ll bring you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you’re writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be. I’ll even share the tangible, step-by-step writing advice that I used to escape her daily grind of being a corporate executive to make a living doing all things writing, and living my best creative life. I’ll be interviewing top writing experts and authors who give you the straight goods on what it takes to make it as a writer. Knowing these writing truths has given me the opportunity to work with thousands of writers over the past decade who have seen their writing dreams come true, and doors open for them that they hadn’t even thought of when they started their journey.If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels on your book’s draft and get serious about making your writing the best it can be, don't miss an episode – subscribe or follow today, and visit my website at www.suzyvadori.com for more writing resources and updates.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 26, 2024 • 36min
22. [Show, don't Tell Page Review] Fantasy with Lisa Tisor
Send us a textIn this episode of Show, don’t Tell Writing, Suzy offers live feedback on the opening page of Lisa Tisor’s fantasy novel. Lisa, a librarian and aspiring author from Eastern Oregon revisits a story she began as a short piece over 20 years ago. Suzy provides actionable advice on showing vs. telling, grounding the reader in the story’s setting, and pacing as Lisa’s protagonist stumbles into a mysterious fairy realm. Together, they explore how to highlight the magic of the story without info-dumping. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Nov 12, 2024 • 34min
21. Q&A with Suzy: NaNoWriMo, AI, Author Platforms, and More!
Send us a textIn this Q&A episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy tackles timely questions about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the writing industry, how to start building an author platform, and how to know if your writing is ready for readers.Resources Shared This Episode:ProwritingAid Autocrit GrammarlyQUIZ: Is Your Writing Ready for Readers?Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Nov 5, 2024 • 19min
20. [Show, don't Tell Page Review] Action/Adventure with Muhammad
Send us a textIn this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy provides live coaching for Muhammad’s action-adventure story, The Well. Muhammad, a Nigerian writer, shares his vision for crafting a story that reflects African culture and folklore with a larger-than-life protagonist. Suzy offers actionable advice on enhancing worldbuilding, developing character motivations, and grounding the reader in a vivid setting. The conversation covers storytelling essentials for creating an immersive adventure, especially for writers seeking to elevate their fantasy or action genres. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Oct 29, 2024 • 30min
19. Tackling Your Self Edit: What can you do yourself vs. needing an editor?
Send us a text In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy walks listeners through the process of self-editing, offering practical strategies for writers to refine their manuscripts before seeking professional help. Suzy emphasizes the importance of editing as a way to ensure that the story you envision reaches your readers as clearly as possible. ➡️Have Suzy Vadori's Book Ready Self-Edit Checklist: 8 Simple Tests to Run on your Book Before Ever Sending it to an Editor, Agent, Publisher, or Reader sent to you!Main Topics Include:The Purpose of EditingDifferent Types of EditingUsing Tools for Self-EditingSeeking Feedback Before Hiring an EditorTools Mentioned:1. Autocrit2. Grammarly3. ProwritingAidSign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Oct 22, 2024 • 25min
18. Behind the Scenes: What Will Make Your Query Jump Out of an Agent’s Slush Pile
Send us a textIn this episode, Suzy goes beyond the basics to discover how to get your query letter noticed. Topics include, the competitive nature of querying, statistics on the number of queries agents receive, and the small percentage that result in representation. She highlights the importance of grabbing an agent's attention quickly. Suzy emphasizes that simply following the rules isn’t enough to stand out.Suzy discusses how the “Show Don’t Tell” technique can be applied to query letters. She provides examples of how to describe key plot points and character dilemmas in an engaging way that showcases the writer's voice.The episode concludes with encouragement for writers who have faced rejection. Suzy shares insights on when to move on from a project and how to keep a positive outlook.Get Your Query Template HERESign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Oct 15, 2024 • 28min
17. Q&A Session from the Fall Two Day Writing Retreat Part 2
Send us a textIn this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy answers questions from participants at the two-day writing retreat held at the end of September. She provides valuable insights on various writing topics including, dealing with stalled projects, incorporating backstory, introducing a large cast of characters, and keeping multiple projects on track.Show, don't Tell in Memoir is also discussed, and how it is similar to a traditional novel. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Oct 8, 2024 • 48min
16. [Show, don't Tell Page Review] Memoir with Susan McKelvey
Send us a textIn this powerful episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy provides live feedback on a page from Susan McKelvey’s memoir. Susan shares the heart-wrenching story of losing her husband and grappling with her new role as the matriarch of her family while coping with hereditary disease in her children and grandchildren. Suzy helps Susan refine her page, offering insights on how to transform deep emotions into compelling storytelling. Together, they explore techniques to create an immersive experience for readers while staying true to Susan's voice. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Oct 1, 2024 • 24min
15. Q&A Session from the Fall Two Day Writing Retreat Part 1
Send us a text"And so the biggest thing that an agent is going to be looking for, or a reader, anybody, to catch them, to hook them right on that first page, which is really important, is why should I care about your character and what is it that they want? If you can answer those things really fast and just incorporate the worldbuilding into it.We don't want to stop the story and give three pages of worldbuilding. If you've got that right now, rip it out and find ways to dole it in." On September 27th and 28th, 2024 Suzy hosted an Online Writing Retreat. In this recording of the Live Q&A session, Suzy answers pressing questions from participants covering a wide range of topics on everything from finding the perfect editor, to worldbuilding from page one, to keeping pacing steady in your novel. This is Part 1 in this Q&A series. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Sep 24, 2024 • 43min
14. [Show, don't Tell Page Review] Women's Fiction with Bobbi Jo Beaver
Send us a text"And so your opening page is really a contract with your reader, right? And so you want to give them a taste of what it is that they're going to read."- Suzy In this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy Vadori provides live coaching and feedback on the opening page of Bobbi Jo Beaver’s women’s fiction novel. Bobbi Jo, a professional photographer from Omaha, Nebraska, shares her writing journey and the inspiration behind her novel. Suzy offers guidance on improving the first page, focusing on character development, setting, and hooking readers early on. They discuss the importance of grounding readers in the protagonist’s perspective and ensuring that the opening scene clearly conveys the character's age, motivation, and context. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight

Sep 17, 2024 • 52min
13. Interview with Tanasha Martin: Finishing an Entire Novel
Send us a textIn this episode of Show Don’t Tell Writing, Suzy sits down with Tanasha Martin, a talented writer working on her first young adult fantasy novel. Tanasha shares her journey from writing poetry and short stories to embarking on a complex multi-POV fantasy series. She talks about overcoming challenges, staying disciplined, and how a strong writing community helped her stay motivated. Suzy and Tanasha also dive into the importance of character development, outlining, and Tanasha's unique writing methods for creating a vast, immersive world. Sign Up for the Inspired Writing Newsletter HERESubmit Your Page for our Show don't Tell Coaching EpisodesLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts (Thank you!) Intro and Outro Music is Daisy by Zight and used under a CC by 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license. For more music by Zight visit https://www.youtube.com/zight


