Kenny talks with author Jasen DeGray about using a Creations Myth to build the world in which your characters live.

Highlights

02:07 Jason‘s Author Journey

10:48 Why world-building is so important

13:54 Start with a Creation Myth

18:36 What does world-building from the top-down mean?

19:50 Creating cultures

30:15 How world-building connects to character creation

33:50 Where to find inspiration

39:11 Jason‘s world-building for 3VE

44:43 Author Action Point

46:53 How do you stick to your story

Check out the Show Notes page for more

Trust, communication are key to co-writing a book. Kelly and Matthew have written an entire series and have some great insights to share.

Highlights

01:05 Matthew‘s story

05:00 The Crown‘s Secret

08:42 Kelly & Matthew‘s Writing Process

12:36 What it‘s like co-writing with a spouse

16:23 Issues that can arise

25:11 Working in another author‘s fictional universe

30:10 Strengths and weaknesses each brought to the process

33:25 Keeping things cohesive

37:31 What Kelly learned from Matthew

41:19 How co-writing has helped Matthew‘s solo writing

42:45 Author Action Point

Check out the Show Notes page for more.

Psychology can help you build a more three-dimensional character. It gives you the meat of who they are as a person and holds far more weight with readers than mere physical appearance. What drives your character? Why do they act in a certain way or react to a specific trigger? Understanding your characters in this way can help you connect with your readers.

Highlights

02:15 Darian's Author Journey

07:57 What do psychology and writing have in common

15:02 Tools to access your character's beliefs systems

18:31 Figuring out why your character reacts to something

21:25 How knowing basic psychology helps writers

23:25 Darian's process for character creation

27:12 Psychology in writing vs therapy

33:09 Theories for writers

36:20 Transactional analysis

42:55 Systemic Theory

45:44 Should writers analyze all their characters

50:35 The push-pull relationship of injunctions and drivers

57:16 Author Action Point

58:34 Connecting with Darian

Check out the Show Notes page for more.

Ginger Moran is a passionate feminist who is the author of several books with strong female characters. She aims to create essentially strong characters who are vulnerable and flawed. Ginger loves female characters who are flawed and lean into that. In this episode, we discuss the creation of Agatha, the heroine of American Queen. We also talk about the qualities of a strong female character and how you can write them.

Highlights

02:02 Ginger's Author Journey

05:50 American Quee

07:28 How she came up with Agatha

15:28 Process of writing what she doesn't know

23:50 Favorite female characters

26:00 Why do some authors struggle with female characters

34:10 Qualities of strong female characters

36:24 Creating strong and vulnerable characters

46:42 The role of politics in a novel

49:56 Author Action Point

Check out the Show Notes for more.

Self-doubt! Limiting beliefs! Imposter syndrome! These insecurities are known by many different names. But they have one thing in common; every author faces them. In this episode of the podcast, Kenny chats with Bryan Nowak. Together they share the self-doubts they each faced and share how they overcame these limiting beliefs.

Bryan Nowak writes horror, sci-fi, and mystery and currently has 8 books published. He is also the host of the All Things Writing Podcast. As an experienced writer, Bryan has dealt with and overcome his own limiting beliefs.

Highlights

1:31 Bryan’s Author Journey

10:18 All Things Writing Podcast

15:21 Bryan’s self-doubt experience

28:44 Breaking the barrier of your first book

36:21 How Bryan still struggles sometimes

42:07 Author Action Point

44:33 Connect with Bryan

Check out the Show Notes page for more.

Fight scenes, fisticuffs, and battlefield skirmishes are scenes that feature in many different genres. But how do you write an effective fight scene? In today's episode, Carla Hoch, author of Fight Write and the founder of fightwrite.net, shares with the Author Your Dream audience how to improve their writing on this subject. As well as sharing from a craft standpoint, she also touches on the physical and biological factors that would be happening to your character.

Highlights

02:35 Carla's Story

11:53 Be tenacious

16:52 Bad fight scenes

19:55 Why you should read fight recaps and comic books

22:16 Sensory experience and Mirror Neurons

27:45 Structuring your fight

39:12 #1 Thing to consider when writing fights

41:00 Mistakes and how to avoid them

51:33 Writing realistic scenes with zero martial arts experience

59:25 Pacing

Check out the Show Notes page for more.

The role of an agent might not be what you initially thought it was. In this episode, you will find out what an agent does, what they are looking for, and some tips on submitting your manuscripts.

06:02 Lucy's Author Journey

09:33 Genre specific agents

11:02 How to discover what an agent is looking for

14:16 Why do authors need an agent

15:49 Paying agents

16:55 Can you make it on your own

19:05 Promotable Authors

21:23 Submission mistakes

24:12 Can you get an agent if you are already self-published

25:52 What agents want

30:03 Where else to find an agent

31:51 Author Action Point

Check out the Show Notes page for more.

What is a writing coach? What do they do? Who should work with one? In this episode, Kenny talks with author and writing coach Ann Kroeker. Ann has been involved with writing in one way or another for the past three decades. She is now using all of her experience to help authors as a writing coach.

This role is relatively new, but for Ann, a coach is someone who comes alongside a writer where they are. Then helping the writer go from where they are to where they want to be. Throughout this interview, Ann gives some fantastic insights that will help you on your writing journey.

Highlights

01:45 Ann's Author Journey

06:14 What is a writing coach

10:49 What to expect

17:08 Who should work with a writing coach

21:22 Is it worth it?

24:48 Ann's Writing Coach Podcast

30:51 The process of working with a coach

34:05 Most rewarding coaching experience

42:25 Author Action Point

44:35 Want to work with Ann?

50:00 Connect with Ann

Get more on the Show Notes page.

The revision process can seem daunting. You have just spent months or even years writing your book. Now you have to go back through your manuscript and figure out how to make it better.

In this episode, Brad Pauquette shares a practical, beneficial four-step plan to help you streamline your manuscript revision. We take the time to take an in-depth look at each of the four steps. Each step is designed to help you focus as you go through each round of editing. The plan breaks your editing rounds into manageable chunks by focusing on certain aspects each time.

Highlights

01:35 A little about Brad Pauquette

04:41 What is manuscript revision

07:17 Overview of the 4 Step Plan

18:12 Mistakes people make when approaching the revision process

21:14 Brad's recent webinar

25:14 Action and Plot

32:20 Dialogue and Motivation

37:15 The importance of ambiguity

42:33 Description and Theme

49:22 Author Action Point

For full show notes visit https://authoryourdream.com/episode/revision-process/

Instagram for authors is one topic Kenny get asked about frequently. In today's episode, Kenny talks with Danielle Wilkinson to help you grow your Instagram.