Creative, Actually Podcast

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about Character Emotion: Brandi explains how to write character emotion so readers can feel what your characters feel. You’ll learn how to avoid flat, melodramatic scenes, replace repetitive gestures and clichés with fresh, character-specific reactions, and use emotional shifts to boost pacing and tension.

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Brandi Badgett

00:39 Why Emotion Hooks Readers

01:42 Common Emotion Pitfalls

05:11 Avoiding Cliches and Repetition

08:23 Psychology of Emotion Basics

11:21 Building Emotional Character Arcs

14:00 Showing Emotion on the Page

19:04 Dialogue as Emotional Subtext

21:44 Method Acting for Writers

22:58 Reading Autism and Empathy

31:00 Why Emotion Changes Lives

35:28 How Fictionary Helps Writers

38:21 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Links:

Fictionary

Emotion Thesaurus

Love in Development (Amazon ebook)

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about POV: Brandi explains common POV mistakes like head hopping and inconsistent POV strategy, how to stay inside a character’s lived experience, and when unreliable narrators work without feeling like cheating. She also shares tips to help you build tension and build trust in your reader!

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:43 What POV Really Means

02:23 Single POV Basics

04:23 Dual and Multiple POV

06:48 Common POV Pitfalls

10:46 Practice POV Exercises

13:26 Staying in Character View

15:40 POV Types by Genre

20:13 Choosing Your POV Strategy

23:57 Unreliable Narrators

25:30 Second Person Explained

27:30 Fictionary and Writing Process

31:44 Final Advice and Wrap Up

Links:

Fictionary

Love in Development (Amazon ebook)

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about show vs tell: Discover how you can balance the tools of showing vs. telling to write immersive fiction that keeps a reader engaged. Brandi also shares how there are specific times when it’s best for your story to use telling!

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:44 Show Versus Tell Basics

02:59 Dialogue Subtext Examples

04:55 Why Showing Works

06:05 Thoughts and Inner Voice

08:43 Action Beats Not Talking Heads

11:01 Setting and White Room

16:23 Revision Stage Techniques

19:27 When Telling Helps

27:18 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Links:

Fictionary

Love in Development (Amazon ebook)

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about non-linear timelines: Brandi defines non-linear timelines as a single timeline visited out of order (not alternate realities), and clarifies how writers can use dual timelines, flashbacks, flash-forwards, and fragmented structures to control what readers learn, avoid info dumps, increase tension, and reveal past secrets, and much more!

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:55 What Backstory Means

02:53 Wound - Belief - Behavior

04:09 Worldbuilding as Backstory

08:01 Why Backstory Matters

10:09 Avoiding the Info Dump

12:13 Breadcrumbing Examples

15:52 Modern Readers and Pacing

18:09 World First or Story First

22:07 Balancing Worldbuilding Time

25:29 How Fictionary Helps

28:09 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Links:

Fictionary

Love in Development (Amazon ebook)

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about backstory: what is backstory and why it’s important and what three things you need to know about how to use backstory the best way possible. Brandi shares solutions on how to use backstory to write an engaging book while avoiding the dreaded info dump. (Yay!)

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:55 What Backstory Means

02:53 Wound - Belief - Behavior

04:09 Worldbuilding as Backstory

08:01 Why Backstory Matters

10:09 Avoiding the Info Dump

12:13 Breadcrumbing Examples

15:52 Modern Readers and Pacing

18:09 World First or Story First

22:07 Balancing Worldbuilding Time

25:29 How Fictionary Helps

28:09 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Links:

Fictionary

Love in Development

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Brandi Badgett, Fictionary’s star Editor and Instructor guides you through the most important aspects of storycraft to help you write your best book.

Today’s topic is all about theme: what is theme and why it matters, how to figure out what the theme of your book is, and how to craft it into every part of your story without being preachy.

I’m excited to share this series with you. Packed with lots of useful information and actionable tips, it’s perfect for both aspiring authors and seasoned writers!

About Brandi Badgett:

I am a wife and mother of five beautiful children. My husband is a rocket scientist, so we live in Alabama, just outside of Rocket City. I’m a lifelong bibliophile and learner which means my home is covered in books.

I am a senior at BYU-Idaho, working on a degree in Family and Marriage Studies. The things I have learned in classes and reading studies have influenced my life greatly, and I hope to share the knowledge with others.

I’ve played with writing since I was young, but when it came to a novel—I always got stuck until I landed upon Fictionary. Between the knowledge of story I learned there and the kindness of the community, I stayed for years and became a Certified StoryCoach Editor and Instructor.

I also write fiction under my pen name Leigh Romero.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Series Intro

01:08 Why Theme Matters

02:32 Theme vs Moral Lessons

04:29 Topics and Universal Themes

08:52 Thematic Statements Explained

12:13 Theme as Story Engine

13:04 Major and Minor Themes

15:43 Finding Theme in Revision

18:04 Weaving Theme Into Craft

22:23 Originality and Universal Ideas

24:50 Theme and Reader Connection

31:11 Tips to Identify Theme Mid Draft

33:54 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Links:

Fictionary

Love in Development

Love in Development Goodreads page

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

In today’s conversation, Elizabeth sits down with her good friend Ruana, co-owner of Dunie, a multidisciplinary design studio in Almaty, Kazakhstan to talk about how having a special needs child has affected her life and her creativity as a writer.

Ruana’s young son Idris suffers from a very, very rare genetic disorder that severely impacts his life and future. During the course of the long, frightening and uncertain journey to stabilize him, Ruana needed a heart ablation for what some considered a broken heart. If you are a parent of a special needs child, please be aware that some of the conversation might feel triggering. Please be gentle with yourself.

Thank you so much to Ruana for sharing her journey with us and of how she overcame her loss of creativity to express it in new and wonderful ways. Ruana is a truly inspiring person and I am grateful for this meaningful conversation that will encourage many listeners.

About Ruana:

Ruana Esengosova is the co-founder of Dunie Design. With a background in International Management and Japanese Art, she has always been passionate about heritage and culture. After living for 14 years in the UK, she has come back to Almaty with dreams of establishing Dunie as an international Central Asian brand and gaining more insight into her roots. When she’s not juggling motherhood, she likes to watch anime, write teenage angst romances and send cat memes to her loved ones.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:42 Thoughts on Borat and Kazakhstan

02:11 Almaty Travel and Seasons

03:10 From Wattpad to Long-Term Friendship

04:54 From Delivery to Diagnosis Journey

07:55 Creativity Through Pain

11:06 Finding Dunie Community

13:53 Starting Dunie Vision

15:55 Building a Design Movement in Central Asia

19:38 Writing Meets Design

22:36 Visual Diary Practice

27:09 Future Goals and Doubts

31:34 Social Media Double Edge

36:22 Two Versions of Ruana’s Life

39:15 Writing Serious Stories

43:15 Closing Thanks and Farewell

Links:

Dunie

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

In today’s episode, Elizabeth at Creative, Actually chats with sweet romance author, Fictionary Story Coach Editor, and instructor Linda O’Donnell who shares why all successful romance novels have a “wound” for their protagonist to overcome.

She shares examples of how writers can progress their character’s wound across the romance beats from the meet cute to breakup and their epiphany.

We also get a sneak peak into her upcoming debut romance novel Embracing The Role, where a woman returns to her hometown only to become stuck in the same house with a movie star she wants nothing to do with.

The first of a six-book series, Linda’s closed Northern Star Series focuses on a small-town where women cross paths with various kind of celebrities and misunderstandings abound!

We find out more about how her co-authored books with the CEO of Fictionary, Secrets to Writing a Romance and the upcoming Secrets to Writing a Novel can help even brand new writers craft their romance story arc and protagonist’s wound with confidence.

So glad to have you here with us!

About Linda O’Donnell:

Linda O’Donnell is a writer, certified structural editor, certified copy editor, and a writing and editing instructor. She co-authored Secrets to Writing a Romance with Kristina Stanley, and together they are working on their latest book, Secrets to Writing a Novel. Linda’s contemporary romance novel, Embracing The Role, is coming out Aug 2026.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Linda O’Donnell - Sweet Romance Author, Fictionary Instructor, and Editor

00:56 How Linda Shifted From A Career In IT to Writing Romance Novels

03:55 The Importance of Wounds and Character Likeability

05:08 Linda’s Northern Star Series Featuring Celebrity Love Interests

06:06 How Fictionary Helps to Craft A Romance Arc

09:27 How To Define Your Character’s Romance Wound

12:26 How Their Wound Drives The Story’s Conflict

15:28 All About Meet Cutes, Meet Uglies, And The Setup

16:56 Moving The Character’s Wound Journey Through The Story Beats

26:00 How To Tell The Difference Between What Qualifies As A Romance And Other Genres With Romance In Them

31:04 Linda’s Writing Craft Books and Resources

33:05 Where to Find Linda & Close

Links:

Fictionary

Embracing The Role - Book 1 in the Northern Star Series - Linda’s Debut Romance Novel

Secrets To Writing A Romance

Secrets to Writing A Novel

Linda O’Donnell Sweet Romance Author Website

The Write Bones - Linda’s Editing & Coaching Services

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

Writer, editor, and Fictionary-certified Story Coach Editor Alexandria Yandt joins Elizabeth on Creative, Actually to discuss how she balances writing books and teaching outlining courses while homeschooling six kids.

Alexandria started to write fiction during COVID for escapism and anxiety relief, and shares how she evolved from discovery writing to creating story with structure via Fictionary.

She also shares about her journey to her upcoming releases: a closed romance speculative trilogy currently in editing and a historical romance planned to be released in January 2027.

About Alexandria Yandt:

Stories are journeys, and I love helping writers shape theirs into something unforgettable.

My favorite genres to edit include romance (or any story with a romantic subplot), young adult, science fiction, and fantasy.

Above all, as a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor, I believe in kindness in editing. Writing a book is an act of courage, and my goal is to help writers feel excited and empowered.

Using the 38 story elements, I provide actionable feedback that strengthens plots, deepens character arcs, and enhances setting. Lets make your unique story shine!

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Alexandria Yandt

00:30 Teaching Outlining Courses

01:27 Creativity From Lived Experiences

02:30 Why Book Coaching Is Win-Win

03:10 Characters And The Importance Of Interiority

06:19 Balancing A Busy Family Life With Creativity

08:41 Late Nights And Community

11:26 Building Course Content

12:48 Structure That Sparks Aha

14:33 Writing Began In COVID

16:33 Why People Write

18:23 The News And Our Creative Focus

20:06 Skeleton Blurb Fix

21:10 No Outline Needed?

22:43 Keep Learning Craft

23:47 Fictionary Helps Give Writers Structure

27:15 Structure Sparks Ideas

30:13 Harsh Editor Feedback Story

32:09 Hybrid Outlining Tips

34:46 Kindness And Community

35:34 Refilling The Creative Well

35:56 Alex’s Upcoming Books

37:28 Final Thoughts & Goodbye

Links:

Fictionary

Fictionary YouTube Channel

Fictionary Community

Contact Alexandria at Fictionary

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me

On today’s episode, creativity coach and strengths-focused editor Julia Gandrud joins Elizabeth to discuss how the Enneagram can help writers get to know themselves better and help them write complex characters perfect for different genres. She describes each type’s motivations and fears and how stress and growth patterns can deepen character creation across genres.

About Julia Gandrud:

Julia Gandrud is a writer, artist, creativity coach, and strengths-focused editor. She’s also a local ambassador for the Editorial Freelance Association. Lately, she’s been more of an executive functioning and accountability coach, because creatives need community. She believes life is best when we support creativity, learning, and connection. She has an MFA in Film from the San Francisco Art Institute (R.I.P.) and an MA in Art Education from Rhode Island College. She’s an Enneagram Coach, Fictionary Certified Editor, a member of the EFA, and a speculative fiction writer. She edits with all genres, with specializations in mystery, speculative fiction, queer romance, memoir, and academic writing.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Julia Gandrud

00:55 Why Editing Chose Her

01:23 Story Patterns And Structure

04:04 Learning To Edit Formally

06:23 Enneagram Writing Substack

09:14 What Enneagram Really Is

11:25 Gut Triad Types 8 9 1

13:13 Heart Triad Types 2 3 4

15:58 Head Triad Types 5 6 7

20:23 Host Finds Their Type

22:30 Using Enneagram For Characters

24:38 Tests Versus Self Inquiry

28:42 Julia Identifies As Nine

29:41 Writing Blind Spots And Conflict

31:45 Villains And Gray Morality

33:12 Wings And Type Stability

34:22 Coaching And Where To Find Her

35:27 Final Thanks And Goodbye

Links:

Website

Substack

Art Website

Instagram

Free Enneagram Test

Additional analysis and examples of types

Did you know that I work with amazing creatives from all over the world? If you are working on a project and you would like a mentor, coach, editor, or work through any stucks, I have plenty of ways to meet your needs and at every price point.

I’d love to help you reach your goals!

Check out what I can do for you! > Work with me