Storystruck

What actually makes a character feel real?

In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down 7 different ways to bring characters alive on the page for readers. Great character writing isn’t about avoiding telling altogether. It’s about understanding when to use description, action, dialogue, metaphor, physiology, thoughts, and feelings to create a layered, emotionally believable character.

We talk about how each technique gives readers a different kind of information and why relying too heavily on just one can make characters feel flat, repetitive, or emotionally distant.

From the way a character moves through a room to the thoughts they’d never say out loud, this episode explores how small details work together to create someone who feels fully alive on the page.

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

• Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
• Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

Get the FREE Intuitive Writing Mini Course and Workbook here: https://writersrebellion.com/intuitive-writing

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

Whether you’re just starting or stuck somewhere in the process, this is the kind of conversation that makes writing a book feel possible again.

In this episode, Rachel and Nino sit down with author Mike Alcantara to talk about the real process of writing and publishing a book—from the messy beginning stages to the “I’m so over this” moment that actually means you’re done. We dive into how Mike turned personal struggles, journaling, and problem-solving into a full framework and what it actually took to bring that idea to life.

We’re also breaking down what makes a nonfiction book actually useful (not just inspirational). From actionable tools and worksheets to storytelling, structure, and those underrated “key insights” sections, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what separates a book people read… from a book people use.

Get Mike's book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-problem-re-solving-solution-michael-d-alcantara/1149751716

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

• Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
• Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

Get the FREE Intuitive Writing Mini Course and Workbook here: https://writersrebellion.com/intuitive-writing

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

In this episode, we break down how backstory actually works. You don’t need a 50-page character biography. What you do need is to understand the moments that shaped your character into who they are at the start of your story and how those moments are quietly driving every decision they make.

We’re diving into a practical, psychology-based approach to backstory, aka, “therapizing" your characters. From core wounds and limiting beliefs to the patterns your character keeps reinforcing, this episode shows you how to uncover the real reasons your character behaves the way they do and how that becomes the engine of your plot.

We also get into world building, family dynamics, and why your villain needs just as much depth as your protagonist (if not more). So grab a notebook and get ready to stop drowning on endless backstory or forcing plot points and start creating stories that feel inevitable, immersive, and keep readers turning pages.

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

• Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
• Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

Get the FREE Intuitive Writing Mini Course and Workbook here: https://writersrebellion.com/intuitive-writing

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

In this episode, Nino walks through how specific birth chart placements can influence your writing process—where you naturally thrive, where you get stuck, and why certain habits (hello, “just one more course”) feel productive but keep you spinning your wheels. But this isn’t about astrology for the sake of astrology. It’s about using it as a tool to understand yourself as a writer so you can finally move forward.

Rachel puts Nino’s “Writer’s Birth Chart” to the test in a live coaching session. What starts as curiosity turns into a full breakdown of Rachel’s creative patterns, from overthinking and research spirals to bouncing between ideas and struggling to actually finish a draft.

You’ll also hear how this insight translates directly into your work. How your themes, characters, and even the stories you’re drawn to write might be deeply connected to your own internal patterns. Because when you understand why you write the way you do, you can stop fighting yourself and start building a process that actually works for you.

What if your best ideas aren’t something you force… but something you allow?

In this episode, we dive into intuitive writing is, how it works, and why it might be the missing piece in your writing process. Whether you’re a die-hard plotter pantser, or plantser, this conversation breaks down how to access the part of your brain (or your creativity) that already knows where the story wants to go.We’re talking flow state, subconscious creativity, and the difference between overthinking your story versus letting it unfold.

You’ll hear practical ways to tap into intuitive writing from conversations with your characters to simple tools that help you bypass decision fatigue all without needing to be “spiritual” or completely change your process.

And we go deeper into the why behind it all. How stories can create real emotional impact, help readers process their own experiences, and become something more than just entertainment. Because at the end of the day, writing isn’t just about getting words on the page; it’s about creating something that moves people. And intuitive writing might just be the doorway to that.

Sign up for the Writer's Unbound Program

Get the FREE Intuitive Writing Mini Course and Workbook

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

• Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
• Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

Let’s talk about feedback… because not all feedback is helpful.

In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down how to get the right kind of feedback at the right stage of your writing process. From writing buddies and critique groups to beta readers, we’re diving into who to trust, when to share your work, and how to avoid feedback that does more harm than good.

We’re also getting honest about the emotional side of sharing your writing. Because handing over a rough draft to the wrong person? That’s how great ideas get shelved for six months. We talk about how to protect your confidence, how to ask for specific feedback (so you’re not drowning in opinions), and why knowing yourself as a writer matters just as much as knowing your craft.

Plus, we’re breaking down the different types of beta readers, how to use them effectively, and why your writing journey doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in revisions, this episode will help you get feedback that actually moves your story forward.

Anytime Rachel asks Nino a question and gets an answer involving moon phases or astrology, the advice is weirdly, scarily accurate. So naturally, we decided to do a whole episode on it.

Nino (self-proclaimed amateur astrologer with Gemini energy) breaks down how to use astrology in your writing for character development and understanding your creative process.

Recorded on a full moon in Libra, this episode covers all 12 zodiac signs with their light aspects and shadow sides. Fire signs (Aries warriors, Leo sunshine people, Sagittarius explorers), earth signs (Taurus stability, Virgo overthinkers, Capricorn planners), air signs (Gemini chaos, Libra beauty, Aquarius innovators), and water signs (Cancer empaths, Scorpio intensity, Pisces dreamers).

Mid-conversation, Rachel randomly downloads which zodiac signs her main characters are, and we talk about how understanding your characters' astrological personalities can make your writing more intuitive.

Whether you're a skeptic or plan creative activities around the moon phases, this episode gives you practical ways to use astrology for better characters and a smoother writing process.

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

• Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
• Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

$500 to be in an anthology. A publisher asking for money upfront. A book club who wants a fee. Sound fishy? That's because it is.

In this episode, Rachel and Nino break down the scammy, sleazy, and straight-up unethical practices happening in the publishing world right now. From co-author schemes that make $20K off aspiring writers to fake agents impersonating real ones, to publishers that aren't really publishers at all—we're exposing it all.

Nino kicks things off with a story about a friend who almost paid $500 to be in a cash grab anthology. Rachel shares her ghostwriting nightmare with a company that lied about their credentials. And together, they walk you through the red flags you need to watch for so you don't get taken advantage of.

We're covering: how to spot vanity presses, why you should NEVER pay a publisher or agent, the difference between ethical hybrid publishing and scams, how to verify if someone is legit, and newer scams in book clubs and marketing.

Your book deserves better than this. Protect your work, protect your wallet, and don't let desperation or imposter syndrome make you vulnerable to these predators.

Resources:

1. Writer Beware Blog - https://writerbeware.blog/
2. Absolute Write Forum - https://absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php
3. Facebook writing groups you belong to

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

1. Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
2. Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

Remember being read to as a kid? That cozy feeling of someone bringing a story to life with their voice? That magic didn't disappear; it just evolved into audiobooks.

In this episode, we're sitting down with bianca andrea irving, an audiobook narrator and podcast host who's been in the game since 2009. She takes us behind the mic to talk about how audiobooks are made, why listening IS reading, and what authors need to know if they want their book narrated.

We're covering everything: how Bianca got her start reading Harry Potter to her brother, the technical craft of pacing and breathing, creating distinct character voices, working with authors through platforms like ACX, and why LeVar Burton is a national treasure. Plus, we chat out about how audiobooks connect back to oral storytelling traditions and why some books just hit different when you listen versus read.

Whether you're an author considering an audiobook, a narrator-curious creative, or just someone who loves consuming stories with your ears, this episode is for you.

Grab your headphones and let's dive in.

Rachel is talking at the Perfect Your Process Summit March 21, 2026. Learn what your writing personality is and how it's the hidden key to your creative process. Catch it live free or snag the replay at https://www.bookboundjourney.com/perfectprocess2026

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

1. Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
2. Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]

Welcome to the first ever Story Spiral where Rachel and Nino go down the rabbit hole on a book, dissecting the craft, characters, and everything in between.

First up: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, the cozy fantasy that launched a thousand lattes. Rachel gave it 1.5 stars. Nino gave it 3. And somehow, they both found a ton to learn from it.

They're breaking down what works, what doesn't, and why reading versus listening can completely change your experience. Plus why this might not be the best intro to cozy fantasy if you're coming from epic fantasy, and what small tweaks would have made Rachel love it.

Fair warning: FULL SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven't read it and care about spoilers, go read it first, then come back. Or don't. The craft discussion is worth it either way.

Whether you loved this book, hated it, or haven't touched it yet, this episode is packed with takeaways for your own writing. Grab your coffee (or latte) and let's spiral.

Rachel is talking at the Perfect Your Process Summit March 21, 2026. Learn what your writing personality is and how it's the hidden key to your creative process. Catch it live free or snag the replay.

💌 Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe and follow Storystruck wherever you listen so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow us...

1. Rachel's Instagram: bookboundjourney
2. Neno's Instagram: nenoswritersrebellion

Join the Story Weavers Community: Join here

If you have a suggestion for an episode, drop it in the comments below or email us at [email protected].

Ready to go from draft to done? Visit Rachel's website today for editing services and writing classes https://www.bookboundjourney.com/

Want to actually start and finish writing your book (or have someone do it for you)? Check out Neno's book coaching and ghostwriting services at https://www.writersrebellion.com

🎵 Music Credits: Special thanks to Michah Silverstein for our beautiful music. If interested in hiring his musical talents, he can be contacted at [email protected]