The Novel Analyst Podcast: Creative Writing Advice & Author Interviews

It's been 8 years since I started writing in 2012. Here's the 8 biggest lessons I've learned.

Show Notes:

Across the Broken Stars - goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49125250-across-the-broken-stars

> Best writing advice resources:

Anything by K. M. Weiland
Brandon Sanderson's online lectures
Lessons from the Screenplay
Story by Robert McKee

Dialogue by Robert McKee

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass

(Note: some of those links are affiliate links, which means if you use them, I may receive compensation - at no extra cost to you. It's a win-win!)

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Cohesion and resonance. More than anything else, they're what will elevate your story above the rest, and leave readers thinking long after the final page.

Show Notes:

Send me your questions: https://jedherne.com/question/

Or: jed.herne1[at]gmail.com

Listen to my in-depth analysis of an amazing fight scene: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/10/16/38-words-of-radiance-by-brandon-sanderson-giving-readers-chills/

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A masterclass in writing beginnings that make readers reach your endings. 

Check out my shiny new instagram account for a behind-the-scenes look into my writing life: https://www.instagram.com/jedherne/

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For months, I’ve been struggling with how to write a series. See, most of my ideas come to me as stand-alone books, but this current project felt like something bigger than one novel.A few weeks ago, I had an epiphany.Now, I think I’ve cracked the code on writing a series.And today I’ll share it with you.Show Notes:Lessons from the Screenplay video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4x9mplwN3Lo My interview on A Writer’s Explorations A huge Q & A writing talk I gave to primary school studentsMy previous episode analysing Skulduggery Pleasant Book 6 – Death BringerDerek’s 2010 blog article that I quotedThe Anatomy of Story by John TrubySave the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake SnyderSEND ME A QUESTION:jed.herne1(at)gmail.comOrJedHerne.com/Question--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/novelanalyst/message

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Science fiction space operas are stories told at an epic scale. How can you make such a vast world accessible to readers? How can you ground these fantastical and strange new worlds in a sense of realism?

Balancing the epic with the human is perhaps the greatest strength of Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (first book in The Expanse). Today's show dives deep into analysing how characters are they key to guiding readers through epic stories. 

Show Notes:

jedherne.com/fires – get a free short story and join my email newsletter to hear about future book giveaways!

jedherne.com/question – submit your questions for the show!

anchor.fm – what I use to make my podcast for free (note: I am not sponsored by them and I make no money for this – just recommending a useful tool that I use)

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Words of Radiance is the second book in The Stormlight Archive, an epic fantasy series of incredible ambition - and superb execution. What's remarkable about WOR isn't just the world building, the twisting plot, or the amazing characters (although they're all great). No, what made this book remarkable was the emotional response it created within me. In this episode, I explain how you can do the same for your stories. Enjoy!

Read Fires of the Dead, my debut fantasy book: jedherne.com/firesofthedead

Win a signed copy of Fires of the Dead: jedherne.com/win (closes 23/10/2019)

Ask me a question! I might answer on this show: jedherne.com/question

Email: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com

Listen to my episode on The Way of Kings, which is book 1 of The Stormlight Archive.

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Due to time running a little bit away from me, todays episode is delayed. I’m really sorry about that but it should be coming out tomorrow, just 24 hours after its normal posting time. I’m doing this because I really don’t want to rush this book - it’s massively important to me and I want to do it justice. Thanks so much for your patience and I’ll see you tomorrow!

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Hey podcast! Use this link to enter the Fires of the Dead giveaway (closes Oct 30th):

jedherne.com/win

And use this link to leave a question for me to answer on the show:

jedherne.com/question

(There's also a text form, if you'd rather type instead of talking. However, I'll prioritise voice messages, since they're easier to play on the show). 

Fires of the Dead - available in all formats!

Paperback, Hardback, and eBook

Audiobook (narrated by me)

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Subtly conveying information to readers is a delicate skill. It's one that Rowling mastered in the Harry Potter series, where all the information is available to readers well before it's needed, but only coalesces at the required moment. In today's episode, I describe the 4 M's of subtle foreshadowing, in relation to the Potter saga. Enjoy!

Read my debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead.

"The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else." - Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio book.

Email me - I love hearing from listeners and I respond to every message: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com

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Stoked to interview Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer - which I analysed on the show just a few days ago. We had an excellent in-depth chat about his book, how writing for role-playing games has helped him as an author, and lots more. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

Gareth's top books/resources:

• DECLARE, Tim Powers
• Lavondyss, Robert Holdstock
• Deep Work, by Cal Newport
• Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey (more accessible version of Deep Work)
• Hamlet's Hit Points, Robin D Laws
• Storyteller Tools, M. Harold Page
• House of Leaves 
• Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer
• 7 Wonders of the Industrial World (BBC Series)

My debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, comes out tomorrow! (Sep 20th, 2019). Read it here: https://jedherne.com/firesofthedead

Questions, comments, queries? I love hearing from you! I respond to every email sent to: [email protected]

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