On this episode of “No ‘I’ in Writing,” we talk about where Chris is in his novel-writing process. Chris talks about the different drafting processes he has used for each book of his trilogy and opens up about elements of this novel that are making him feel insecure. (Giant Bugs!)

Christy talks about ways to help identify the main character (which is harder and more complicated than you might think), and how to structure an inciting incident to establish your main character and their struggles. She forces Chris to wrestle with tough questions and clarify his primary and secondary character arcs. Listen to hear Chris change his mind, in real time, about who his main character is and why.

Christy makes her first official edit to Chris’ book. (Spoiler alert: it involves more giant bugs.)

Side quest: Exorcisms and Christy’s new unhealthy life goals.

Shouts out:

• Amy Lodwig

• Chris’ friends Chad and Megan

• Story Grid (https://storygrid.com/ )

• The Exorcist (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/ )

• Wizard of Oz (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138 )

• Father Doug (Blanchet’s fabled exorcist and all-around nice guy)

• Alice in Wonderland (https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Wonderland-Illustrated-Original-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B0C6FR5GY7 )

• My Neighbor Totoro (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/ )

Links and such:

• Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C ⁠

• Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠

• Chris' Author Website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠

• Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠

• Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠

• Christina's email: [email protected]

• Chris' email: [email protected]

Christy gives tells us what she did and didn’t take from Chris’ advice and gives us an update on the impact that their coaching session from Episode 11 had on her forward progress.

We also touch on how coaching is different from mentoring or

·      Writing Excuses Podcast (https://writingexcuses.com/)

·      The Coaching Habit (https://boxofcrayons.com/boc/the-coaching-habit-book/ )

·      Terry Scheuer (Of course)

·      Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠

·      Chris' Author Website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠ 

·      Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠

·      Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠

·      Christina's email: [email protected]

·      Chris' email:  [email protected]

On this episode of “No ‘I’ in Writing,” Chris puts on his book coaching hat, and we talk about where Christy is in her novel-writing process and strategies she can use to get unstuck and start writing forward again.

We talk about why it’s important to get a first draft out quickly, how to tie deadlines to more specific goals, and why Sauron has a backstory and every Orc does not (aka why you should focus on developing a single antagonist).

Shouts out:

Links and Such:

In which we discuss the importance of constructive feedback in the creative collaboration process and how to give and receive it effectively to improve the quality of the work.

Hear why Chris’s new novel is currently full of square brackets and all about his terrible teenage poetry. How to enlist the help of your beta readers and the kinds of feedback you might hope to get from them. Why diversity is important in your beta readership and those you receive feedback from. 

Shouts out:

Links and such:

We talk about pantsers and plotters. Who are Pantsers? What are Plotters? How does one collaborate with such people? Where do you fall on this spectrum?  

Hear about how Chris pantses his characters and how Christy gardens her plots. Learn how writing his series moves Chris away from pantsing toward plotting

Fact check for this episode: It was George RR Martin who mentioned “Gardeners” as a metaphor for a writing style as did tons of other folks on the internet. So who knows (or cares anymore) who originated the idea. Incidentally, he also mentioned the architect writing style that Chris talks

Shouts out:

Links and such:

Content warning: There is mention of the mass culling of fuzzy

When Christy told her friend Phil Partington that we were addressing the question “How do you begin to write?,” he asked, “What do you

Mentions and Links:

Shouts out: Phil Partington (HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHIL!), Brian Doyle, Diana Ma, Young Adult and Middle Grade Author and

In which we talk about large language model AIs, Chris’ Book Systemic. Existential threats to both writers and editors. Why computer-generated art makes us lonely. The role of the writer/artist in the era of AI. Do artisan books have any appeal? Are we making up reality as we go? Mrs. Thenell’s philosophy class. How to be a good person in a ubiquitous surveillance society.

Shouts out:

This is the second in our series on editing, in which Christina and Chris discuss how writers can help keep each other on track and how to know if you’re ready to hear critique and feedback.

Shouts out to: Amanda Kost, Rogan Carr, Bobby Gilliam, Terry Scheuer, Amy Lodwig, Chris’ daughter Anya

Various links and such:

In which Christina and Chris talk about what a book coach is and does, developmental editing, and how your non-witting friends can help develop your book.

Shouts out to: Chris’ wife Amy and, of course Christina’s daughter, Freya

Various links and such:

In which Christina and Chris talk about how they collaborated to build a flat, milk-toast, antagonist into an anger-inducing structure-providing full-fledged villain. 

Terry Scheuer, Chad McEvoy, and Chris' Mother-in-law all get shouts out.

Various links and such: