Your Next Draft

Your reader experiences your story one scene at a time. Make every scene un-put-down-able.Great stories are made of great scenes.Sure, your novel has a clever plot with twists and turns from the first page to the last. But the way your readers will experience that plot is . . .. . . one scene at a time.Which means if you want your readers to fall in love with your novel, you need to captivate them with scenes they can’t put down.How do you do it?I’ll show you in this episode. I’m analyzing a scene from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to show you how and why it works——and how you can create the same magic with your own scenes.You’ll learn:The timeless structure behind this modern sceneHow every single detail in the scene enhances that structureWhat Taylor Jenkins Reid shares through exposition—and what she leaves outHow to draw inspiration from this scene to craft an exceptional scene of your ownAnd more!This episode is a sneak peek inside my upcoming Scene Mastery Workshop. In fact, this is the first scene we’ll study in the workshop. Then, we’ll dig into seven more scenes from other great novels.So if you enjoy this episode, you’ll love the workshop.Want to master editing scenes this summer? Click here to get all the details and apply »Links mentioned in the episode:Apply to join the Scene Mastery Workshop: alicesudlow.com/workshopEp. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StoryEp. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and SceneSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Show and tell your readers why time matters to your characters.Time matters.When you look up and it’s dark outside, time matters to you.When your characters look around and summer is turning into fall, time matters to them.When your readers are reading a novel and they can’t figure out how time is passing? Well, time matters to them, too—mostly because they’re confused.In this episode, I’m sharing two ways to make time matter to your readers the way it matters to your characters.That is, how to make time matter because it impacts your characters’ lives. (And not because your readers can’t get a grip on what’s happening in your story.)You’ll learn:How to blend showing and telling (it’s a spectrum, not a binary)2 techniques to convey time passing using showing and tellingHow to choose which calendars to use in your storyAnd more!Your readers want to understand why time matters to your characters. Show and tell them, and they’ll feel it passing just as your characters do.Links mentioned in this episode:Ep. 70: Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your NovelEp. 71: 3 “Telling” Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your NovelSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Don’t lose your readers. Just tell them what time it is.The passage of time seems intuitive. It just happens, right? (Like, whether you want it to or not. Time and tide wait for no man, etc.)Here’s the thing, though. If you don’t tell your readers that time is passing in your novel . . .. . . they won’t know.It seems wild, I know. It feels like time passing should be obvious. But I promise you, it’s not.Luckily, conveying the passage of time to your readers is simple (and it doesn’t take a lot of words to do it!). And in this episode, I’ll tell you exactly how it’s done.You’ll learn:Why you need to both show and tell time passing in your story2 ways your readers understand that time is passing3 techniques to “tell” your readers time is passingAnd more!This is one of those elements of storytelling that feels tiny, inconsequential, like your readers will catch on without you needing to think too hard about it.But trust me, it makes a big difference. I’ve read so many manuscripts that are missing any indicators of time passing. And they make me as a reader feel completely lost.Don’t lose your readers. Just tell them what time it is.Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 70: Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your NovelSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

This is often overlooked, but it’s essential for great stories.How do you make time pass?Well, when you’re living your regular life in the real world, you don’t have to do anything.Time is constantly passing, no matter what you do. And when a timer goes off, or you look outside and see the sun’s gone down, or you feel your stomach growl with hunger, you notice time has passed.You hardly have to think about it. It’s just happening, all around you, all the time.In your novel, though—well, there, you are responsible for charting the passage of time. You are the filter who determines how time passes.More than that, you are responsible for telling your readers how much time is going by.It’s an essential part of storytelling, and yet it’s often overlooked. So in this episode, we’re talking about time.You’ll learn:Why writers often forget to mention time passing3 ways you can use time passing to enhance your storyWhat happens when you don’t show how time is passing in your story2 kinds of tension you can create using timeAnd more!I’ve read so many manuscripts where I lose track of time and have to ask the writer, “Wait, when does this happen?” Check out this episode and save yourself from this common oversight.Send me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Learn when to practice and when to publish your writing. Discover the benefits of focused learning and the joy of sharing your stories. Find out how to balance learning new skills with putting your work out there. Take a self-assessment quiz to determine your next steps in writing. Whether you're practicing or publishing, the choice is yours to make!

This podcast delves into the parallels between learning to drive a car and learning to write a novel. It emphasizes the importance of spending time in the learning phase before mastering the skill of writing great scenes in novels. The episode discusses key elements of engaging scenes and the iterative process of refining scene-writing skills. It also explores the shift in skill development stages, highlighting the role of feedback in enhancing writing abilities.

Because working with an editor should be delightful, not scary.Let's be honest. When you start working with an editor for the first time, it can feel a little scary.You’re sharing your manuscript, the project you’ve worked so hard on, with a stranger on the internet. You’re inviting another person into a process that up until now has been entirely solo.And you’re entering an industry of professionals that’s probably entirely new to you. What should you expect? And what’s expected of you?In this episode, I’m demystifying what it’s like to work with an editor. I’m sharing four tips to help you make the most of your time with your editor—even (or especially!) if you’ve never worked with an editor before.You’ll learn:What NOT to do while you wait for your editor’s feedback10+ things you CAN (and maybe should!) do while you waitWhat to do AFTER you get your feedback to move forward with clarity and confidenceAnd more!Your work with your developmental editor can be one of the most rewarding creative partnerships you’ll ever experience. That may sound hyperbolic, but it’s 100% true.The first step is simply knowing what to expect. And that’s what you’ll learn in this episode.Links mentioned in the episode:Check out my manuscript wishlist: alicesudlow.com/wishlistWant me to edit your book? Tell me about your book here: alicesudlow.com/contactEp. 66: 4 Tips to Find the Right Editor for Your NovelSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

What you need to know BEFORE you start working with an editor—and how to tell if they’re the right fit for your novel.Working with a developmental editor can be the most rewarding part of your editing process.But if you’ve never worked with an editor before, it can also be . . . intimidating. Confusing. Scary.After all, you’ve got to hand your manuscript that you’ve worked so hard on to a stranger on the internet and hope their feedback will be helpful and not soul-crushing.If you’ve ever wondered how to find the right editor for your book——or maybe you’ve worked with an editor before, and it wasn’t a great experience——then this episode is for you. In it, I’m sharing my top tips to find the right editor for your novel.You’ll learn:What you should know BEFORE you start looking for an editor6 criteria to vet editors to see whether they’re the right fit for you5 questions to ask to make sure you and your editor are on the same pageAnd more!When you find the right editor for your book, the developmental editing process can be so incredibly rewarding. My coaching clients often tell me that the hour we spend together on calls is their favorite hour of the week.But if you don’t know how any of this works, you might feel a little lost. So let’s make it a little clearer and easier, shall we?And if you’d like to see if I’m the right editor for your novel, let’s talk!Go here to check out my manuscript wishlist and see whether I’m a good fit for yourstory.And go here to reach out and tell me about your book!Links mentioned in the episode:Check out my manuscript wishlist: alicesudlow.com/wishlistWork with me: alicesudlow.com/contactSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

What we get wrong about creativity—and the truth that will make your writing and editing so much more effective.Do you know how great stories work?Scratch that. Let’s start with an easier question. Do you know how your stories work?Not all writers do. Even published authors often struggle to articulate how they created the books their readers love. They rely on intuition, following gut feelings to shape their stories.But while your intuition can guide you to create a commercially successful novel . . .. . . I believe there’s a better way. An easier way. A less confusing and chaotic, more reliable and repeatable way.And that’s what this episode is all about.In it, you’ll learn:What we get wrong about our own creativityThe truth about writing and art that exceptionally successful writers (probably) don’t want you to knowWhat I find most amazing about traditional publishing (seriously, I think this is bonkers)And more!Your intuition is a powerful storytelling tool. But it’s not your only tool.And in this episode, I’ll show you why that’s such wonderful news.Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 36: Your Story Has Deep Meaning. Do You Know What It Is?Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and SceneP.S. What do you get when an editor and a nuclear physicist walk into a swing dance? Powerful truths about jazz music and storytelling, it turns out. Check out the episode to see what I mean.Send me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Why group coaching might be the perfect way to get feedback on your writing.When I was first getting started, I pictured editing like this:A writer writes a manuscript and sends it to their editor. The editor writes feedback and sends it back. The writer takes that feedback and uses it to edit their manuscript.That’s the classic form of editing. But it’s far from the only form of editing.Editing doesn’t even have to be one-on-one. In fact, sometimes group coaching can be exactly what you need!In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of group coaching for writers.You’ll learn:How group coaching combines the best features of critique groups + one-on-one editingWhat you CAN’T learn one-on-one (but you can learn in a group!)One group coaching caveat to watch out forAnd more!Group coaching isn’t better than one-on-one editing, or vice versa. It’s just different—a different experience that can meet different needs in your writing in a different way.In fact, you might decide to try both group and one-on-one editing at different points in your writing career. So it’s great to know what your options are!Links mentioned in the episode:Join the Scene Mastery Workshop waitlist: alicesudlow.com/workshopSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »