The Adventurous Author | How to Write a Book, Character Development, Write with Consistency, Creative Writing,Story Structure

The idea of being a #1 NY Times bestselling author is not something I’m striving for. I’ve tried to make myself want to achieve that goal because I thought it was what I was supposed to want when I decided to be an author. I even did some research to figure out how one goes about reaching such a goal.  The research didn’t change my mind. As a matter of fact, it made me want it less.  Listen in to find out why being a NY Times Bestselling author, #1 or otherwise, is not my goal, and find out what goal I am chasing that does motivate me to write great fiction. Your friend, DK Next Steps: **Register for the FREE Revolutionize Your Writing Masterclass.** The On-Demand Virtual Experience launches October 11! Master the art of organizing your story ideas in Notion to set yourself up for fiction writing success. Escape into the Land of Zandador: Get your free D.K. Drake Starter Library Purchase one or all of the Dragon Stalker Bloodline Saga books on Amazon. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts: “I love The Author D.K. Drake Show!” If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review this show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode. And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!

A major transformation is underway! The host discusses a shift from supporting teen authors to embracing a broader community of college-aged and young adult writers. Exciting new workshops are promised, designed to empower 100 authors on their creative journeys. Listeners can look forward to fresh approaches and a more vibrant writing community to chase their dreams together. A free masterclass is also on the horizon, offering valuable insights into the writing process!

Today’s Fantasy fiction Friday episode is coming to you on storytelling Saturday just to shake things up a bit. In this chapter of The Dragon Collector, we see the first hint of romance for Javan, some backstory on the romance of his grandparents, and some foreshadowing about what’s to come in books two, three, and four. Here’s a storytelling tip for you. Telling backstory with narrative tends to be boring. Making it part of a conversation is a much more interesting to share the same information without putting your readers to sleep.  I thus orchestrated a conversation between Javan and his grandmother as she answers his question: Why does Ravier hate me? Through the answer, we get to know Ravier a bit better, and that helps us understand why he has such a grumpy attitude toward his grandson. Enough explanation. Let’s go to Zandador! Your friend, DK Next Steps: Get Your Free DK Drake Starter Library here. Snag one or all of the Dragon Stalker books here. See the Super Simple Overview of the Publishing Process for Self-Published Authors here. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love DK and Published Before College.” If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review my show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode. And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!

Ever heard the terms "WPH" or "Words Per Hour" but had no clue what they meant? Then today's episode is for you. In it, you'll learn what this key writing metric is, six reasons why it's important, and how to calculate it. Listen in! Your friend, DK Next Steps: Sign up for the FREE Revolutionize Your Writing Masterclass. The On-Demand Virtual Experience launches October 11! Snag your freebie: Super Simple Overview of the Publishing Process for Self-Published Authors Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love DK and Published Before College.” If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review this show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode. And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!

Happy Friday! I’ve got chapter 34 of The Dragon Collector ready for you today.  It’s not an action-packed chapter, but not every chapter in your book should be filled with non-stop action. Your characters need downtime to recover, and so do your readers. That’s why pacing in a book is so important. Go too fast and pack too much in and you exhaust your readers. Go too slow and take forever to get to the action and you bore your readers. We don’t want our readers to be bored or exhausted. We want them to be engaged, to feel like they are right there with your characters experiencing the story as it happens even during scenes like the ones you’ll hear today where you as the author have to set up the next adventure. Let’s go to Zandador! Your friend, DK Next Steps: Become an Insider and get the D.K. Starter Library for FREE. Snag your freebie: Super Simple Overview of the Publishing Process for Self-Published Authors Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love DK and Published Before College.” If that sounds like something you’d say, please rate and review my show. Your rating and review helps the show get found by other authors with big writing dreams. It’ll take a quick 30 seconds to scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then share what you enjoyed most about this episode. And if you haven’t already done so, follow the podcast. That way you’ll never miss an episode and will be better prepared to write and publish your novel. Follow now!

In this engaging discussion, Lynda Sunshine West, CEO of Action Takers Publishing and an award-winning #1 bestselling author, shares her wisdom on book marketing. She unveils three cost-free strategies to promote your work effectively. Lynda recounts her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to launching 25 bestselling books, emphasizing the power of self-belief and community support. Tune in for actionable tips and an intriguing publishing opportunity that could kickstart your author journey!

Curious about AI's role in writing? Discover how a live workshop transformed blank pages into vibrant stories with ChatGPT's help. Hear how participants collaborated to craft a steampunk epic featuring a ronin warrior, exploring themes of redemption and oppression. Uncover the innovative ways AI sparks creativity and enhances narrative development, proving to be a valuable partner in the writing process. This episode highlights the fascinating intersection of technology and storytelling!

Feeling isolated as a teen author is a common struggle, but there are ways to overcome it! Learn actionable steps to connect with fellow writers and foster a supportive community. Discover the importance of local events, writing groups, and workshops to break the loneliness. Plus, get excited about an upcoming free workshop focusing on the key principles of the three-act story structure and enjoy a hands-on writing experiment. It's time to conquer that feeling of isolation and engage in the vibrant world of storytelling!

Explore the vibrant training montage of Javen as he prepares for an epic mission to rescue endangered dragons. Delve into his struggle with self-doubt and seek divine guidance alongside human support. Witness his rigorous path of improvement under Ravier's tough love, blending sparring with dragonology lessons. Plus, discover the opportunity to join a free writers' workshop that encourages collaborative storytelling and helps you master the three-act structure!

Need a spark for your writing? Discover five imaginative prompts designed to kickstart your storytelling. Explore a thrilling action-adventure theme with teenage exchange students, utilizing an AI tool to generate unique narrative openings. Join a collaborative virtual workshop where you can experiment with the three-act story structure and contribute to a shared story. It’s a fun way to break through writer's block while learning alongside a supportive community!