The Wordslinger Podcast

A WORDSLINGER STORY CUT

Spider-Man has been rebooted, reimagined, recast, and retold more times than most superheroes could survive. So how do you make him feel new again without losing what made people love him in the first place?

In this Wordslinger Story Cuts, I break down Spider-Man: Brand New Day and why I think it may be the best Spider-Man franchise film yet.

This movie does something especially smart: It doesn’t waste time explaining everything. We’re dropped directly into Peter Parker’s life, with relationships, history, conflicts, and mysteries already in motion. That use of in medias res and storytelling “open loops” gives the world depth while constantly giving us another reason to keep watching.

We’ll talk about Spider-Man’s relationship with the Punisher, why unanswered questions can actually strengthen a story, the importance of clear character motivation, and how a long-running franchise can reinvent itself without abandoning decades of history.

Whether you love Spider-Man, the MCU, movies, television, novels, or just great storytelling, there are some powerful lessons here about what keeps an audience invested.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com
GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

🕷️ IN THIS STORY CUT:

00:00 — Is Brand New Day the best Spider-Man movie?

📚 FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

🎙️ SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more!—at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER

If you’re a writer, author, creator, or storyteller building a career around your work, subscribe to Wordslinger. This is the place for practical guidance on writing, publishing, storytelling, marketing, and building a creative career that lasts.

And if you love breaking down what makes movies, television, and novels work—or fail—check out more Wordslinger Story Cuts right here on the channel.

#SpiderMan #SpiderManBrandNewDay #Storytelling #Marvel #MCU #WritingTips #Screenwriting #StoryAnalysis #Wordslinger #StoryCuts

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A WORDSLINGER PODCAST

Why are more writers reconsidering traditional publishing—and could we be entering a second indie publishing renaissance?

In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, Kevin Tumlinson looks at the changing landscape of publishing, from unreliable AI detection and increasingly restrictive publisher policies to the growing opportunities available to independent authors.

Writers have more tools, more distribution options, and more ways to reach readers directly than ever before. At the same time, traditional publishing is adding new layers of risk and gatekeeping—including situations where authors can face serious consequences simply because software claims their work was generated by AI.

Kevin explains why he has recommitted himself to indie publishing, why he believes quality will ultimately matter more than the tools used to produce a book, and why independent writers may be better positioned than ever to build sustainable careers on their own terms.

The conversation also covers audience building, responding to readers and YouTube comments, dealing with trolls and bad reviews, using AI as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for creativity, and building a business flywheel where books, content, audience growth, and revenue reinforce each other.

If you're a writer, author, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to navigate publishing, marketing, technology, and the business of making a living from your work, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is the place for practical, experience-driven guidance to help you write better, publish smarter, grow your audience, and build a career around your creativity.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

TIMECODES

00:00 The expanding Wordslinger universe

FIND KEVIN:

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

Wordslinger on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/wordslingerpodcast

Kevin is working to move the YouTube channel to:
https://youtube.com/wordslingershow

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS:

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books and more at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Wordslinger 10-Shot!

Bad reviews are inevitable. The real question is what you do after you get one.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I’m talking about the mistake authors make when a negative review gets under their skin—and why responding, arguing, or trying to “correct the record” usually makes things worse.

I recently looked at my own book reviews for the first time in more than a year and found a 2-star review calling one of my books boring. That sent me down a rabbit hole about reviews, trolls, negative comments, and how much attention writers should really give any of them.

We’ll talk about why you should almost never respond to a bad review, when reporting a review might actually make sense, why I once deliberately upvoted some of my worst reviews, and why one of the healthiest things you can do as a creator may be to stop reading reviews altogether.

And there’s an important flip side: reviews still matter. They provide social proof and credibility for your books, which means authors should absolutely be asking readers to leave them—even if you decide not to read them yourself.

If you’re a writer, author, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to build a career without letting criticism derail you, this one’s for you.

What do you think? Do you read your reviews? Have you ever responded to a bad one? Tell me in the comments.

And subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, experience-tested guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, building an audience, and creating a sustainable career around your work.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at https://knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

00:00 — The reality of negative reviews

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Kevin’s books:
https://kevintumlinson.com/books

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

Ernest Dempsey:
https://ernestdempsey.com

#WritingAdvice #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #BookMarketing #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #Wordslinger

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People love throwing around the phrase “AI slop.” But does using AI actually hurt your content—or are creators reacting to something that audiences barely notice?

I decided to stop guessing and test it.

For several weeks, I ran YouTube A/B/C tests comparing AI-generated thumbnails against thumbnails built from traditional photos and graphics. And the results were not what the loudest AI critics might expect.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down what happened, what the numbers actually showed, and why I think creators need a better definition of “AI slop.”

I also talk about where I personally draw the line with AI. I do not use AI to write my books. I love writing too much for that. But I do use AI as a business tool for things like editing assistance, titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and other tasks that can save me time and energy.

The question isn’t simply, “Did AI touch this?”

The better question might be: Did the tool augment the creator—or replace the creator?

If you're a writer, creator, publisher, or creative entrepreneur trying to figure out where AI fits into your work, this conversation is for you.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at http://knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

00:00 — Welcome to the Wordslinger 10-Shot
01:14 — Why I wanted to talk about “AI slop”
01:52 — The backlash writers get for using AI
02:58 — I do NOT use AI to write my books
03:24 — Where I actually use AI in my business
04:43 — I put AI thumbnails through an A/B/C test
05:39 — The surprising results
06:36 — AI as augmentation instead of replacement
07:17 — “Why don't you just hire someone?”
08:04 — What “AI slop” should actually mean
09:09 — The test results are in: Did AI win?

If you're building a life and career around writing, publishing, storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel.

This is where writers come for practical, experience-based guidance on becoming better writers, publishing smarter, building an audience, navigating new technology, and creating a sustainable career around their work.

You can also explore the Wordslinger Podcast, Wordslinger 10-Shots, and Wordslinger Story Cuts playlists at:

https://youtube.com/wordslingerpodcast

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

#Writing #Authors #AIForWriters #ArtificialIntelligence #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #CreativeEntrepreneur #Publishing #WritingCommunity #Wordslinger

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“I can’t afford to self-publish.”

I hear this from writers all the time—and I think it’s based on one of the biggest misconceptions about indie publishing.

You can self-publish a book for $0.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down the real costs of independent publishing, including editing, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing—and show you where you can spend money, where you can save it, and where you may not need to spend anything at all.

We’ll also talk about the important difference between legitimate indie publishing and expensive “publishing services” that charge authors thousands of dollars while taking control of their work.

Because here’s the bigger point: You don’t need a huge budget to become an indie author. But if you want to build a sustainable writing career, you do need to start thinking like a publisher—and like a business owner.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com

☕ IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 — “I can’t afford to self-publish”

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER

If you’re a writer trying to build a career—not just finish a manuscript—subscribe to Wordslinger.

This is where we talk honestly about writing, publishing, book marketing, author business, creativity, technology, and what it actually takes to make a living with your words.

Whether you’re indie publishing, traditionally publishing, or still figuring out which road to take, you’ll find practical guidance here for every stage of your writing and publishing journey.

FIND KEVIN

Find Kevin and his books:
https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:
https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:
https://wordslingerpodcast.com

SERVICES FOR AUTHORS

Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:
https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:
https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor:
https://authoranchor.com

TOOLS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Draft2Digital

💬 YOUR TURN: What do you do to keep the cost of indie publishing down? What free or inexpensive tools have saved you money? Drop them in the comments—other writers may discover exactly the resource they need.

#SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #WritingAdvice #BookPublishing #AuthorBusiness #BookMarketing #WritingCommunity #Wordslinger

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Kevin on Kraft: EPISODE 1!

**Kevin on Kraft** is an occasional conversation between writers Kevin Tumlinson and Donn King about the craft, process, and strange magic of writing.

**Your first draft is supposed to be bad.** Seriously.

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is expecting the first draft to look anything like the finished book. That pressure to get everything right—to nail the characters, plot, dialogue, pacing, and prose on the first try—can make finishing the book exponentially harder.

In this first episode of **Kevin on Kraft**, Donn King and I dig into how stories actually get written: discovery writing, plotting versus pantsing, developing characters as you go, getting unstuck when the story stalls, and why sometimes the best solution to writer’s block is to **blow up the spaceship** and see what happens.

We also get into where ideas come from, why originality may be overrated, how writers can borrow familiar storytelling patterns without copying, and one of my favorite principles of storytelling:

**Same—but different.**

If you're writing your first novel, your seventieth, or you're simply trying to make a living doing creative work, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to know everything before you begin.

You just have to begin.

Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com

GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS

☕ **IN THIS EPISODE**

00:00 — Welcome to Kevin on Kraft

05:20 — Why we're talking about writing craft

09:25 — Kevin's path through writing and publishing

13:17 — Why persistence matters for creative careers

15:20 — Everyone is creative—even if they don't think they are

16:37 — How Kevin builds stories from a title

22:26 — What actually makes a story a story?

25:55 — Plotters, pantsers, and discovery writers

30:50 — Why trying to write a perfect first draft is a mistake

32:23 — What to do when your story gets stuck

32:49 — The “looping” technique for getting your momentum back

33:56 — Sometimes you should just blow up the spaceship

36:45 — Using rewriting to change the past

39:47 — How to create plot twists that make you look like a genius

40:30 — Kevin's “Ash Bin” trick for deleted scenes

43:16 — Inspiration, homage, and when it becomes copying

46:02 — Why every story uses the same ingredients

46:32 — The secret is “same but different”

47:30 — What's next for Kevin on Kraft?

🎙️ **FIND DONN KING**

Donn King's website: https://donnking.com

Donn King on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/daking2742

The Alignment Show: https://thealignmentshow.com

King's Chronicles on Substack: https://kingschronicles.substack.com

✍️ **FIND Kevin**

Find Kevin and his books:

https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:

https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Wordslinger Podcast home page:

https://wordslingerpodcast.com

🛠️ **SERVICES FOR AUTHORS**

**Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWritingAid:**

https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

**Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:**

https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

**Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books—and more—at AuthorAnchor:**

https://authoranchor.com

🔔 **SUBSCRIBE TO WORDSLINGER**

If you're serious about writing better books, building a publishing career, growing your audience, and making a living from your creativity, **subscribe to the Wordslinger channel**.

This is where writers come for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creativity, and building a sustainable career around the work you love.

And leave a comment: **Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between? And what do you do when your story gets stuck?**

#WritingAdvice #WritingTips #Authors #Writers #WritingCraft #FirstDraft #NovelWriting #CreativeWriting #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors #Wordslinger

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I sold more than 10 million books over the course of my writing career—and somehow I’m still spending my time talking about AI witch hunts.

In this episode of the Wordslinger Podcast, I dig into the growing problem of AI detection tools, false accusations, and platforms giving users new ways to report writers for supposedly creating “AI slop.”

These tools are producing false positives, damaging reputations, costing writers subscribers, and potentially putting publishing contracts and careers at risk. And the deeper problem is that writers are increasingly being treated as guilty before they’ve had any opportunity to defend their work.

But this episode isn’t only about AI.

I also talk about what selling 10 million books has taught me about long-term success, why your career may look very different when you view it in aggregate, and why writers should spend less time obsessing over goals and more time building a reliable creative process.

We’ll also explore:

• Why AI detection software is dangerous for writers

• How false accusations can create real financial damage

• Why outrage-driven content is tempting—but creatively limiting

• What 20 years of book sales taught me about success

• Why consistency matters more than ambitious daily goals

• How to build a writing habit without burning yourself out

• Why your backlist is one of your greatest career assets

• How the “same but different” principle applies to books, covers, and branding

• Why writers, creators, and entrepreneurs need a unified platform

Your writing career will not be built by one viral moment, one massive launch, or one perfect book.

It will be built by showing up, improving your process, and creating work consistently over time.

If you’re a writer looking for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creative business, and building a sustainable author career, subscribe to the Wordslinger channel. This is the place for writers who want real-world advice for every stage of the writing and publishing journey.

TIMECODES

00:00 – Welcome to Wordslinger

00:50 – The AI detection witch hunt

02:10 – Why AI detectors generate false positives

03:03 – Writers losing contracts over AI accusations

03:59 – The financial consequences for Substack writers

05:23 – Could AI detection become automated defamation?

06:29 – LinkedIn introduces AI-slop reporting

07:56 – How trolls weaponize reporting tools

08:54 – Why outrage content gets more views

09:59 – Refusing to become the AI witch-hunt show

10:51 – Selling 10 million books and earning $2.4 million

12:08 – What long-term success actually looks like

13:41 – How one book can suddenly change a career

14:47 – The power of a breakout book

15:16 – Why process matters more than goals

16:46 – What happens after you reach the goal

17:41 – Building consistency like a muscle

18:30 – Why starting too big leads to failure

19:05 – How to create a sustainable writing habit

20:42 – Turning consistency into finished books

21:10 – Writing lucrative commissioned fiction

21:58 – Why your backlist is where the real money lives

22:58 – Expanding and tightening the Wordslinger brand

24:01 – The “same but different” principle

25:28 – Using genre expectations in covers and branding

26:49 – Building a consistent author platform

27:43 – Why subscribing helps support the show

29:06 – Final thoughts

VISIT AND CONNECT

Wordslinger Podcast:

https://wordslingerpodcast.com

Improve your writing with ProWritingAid:

https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish and distribute your books with Draft2Digital:

https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Get virtual assistant support through AuthorAnchor:

https://authoranchor.com

Find Kevin and his books:

https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:

https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

Subscribe to the Wordslinger YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/wordslingerpodcast

QUESTION FOR YOU

Do you think AI detection tools protect writers—or create an even greater threat to their careers?

Leave your answer in the comments. I read and respond to every comment.

#WritingAdvice #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #AIDetection #ArtificialIntelligence #AuthorBusiness #WritingCommunity #CreativeEntrepreneur #BookPublishing #AuthorBranding #WritingProcess #WordslingerPodcast

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AI detectors are accusing real writers of using artificial intelligence—and people are losing grades, contracts, opportunities, and reputations because of unreliable software.

Meanwhile, writers are still wrestling with another difficult question: How do you actually build a sustainable writing career when book sales alone may not provide a dependable living?

In this episode of Wordslinger, J. Kevin Tumlinson examines the growing AI-detection witch hunt, the difference between using AI as a creative tool and allowing it to replace creativity, and the unfair consequences writers face when flawed technology is treated as proof.

Kevin also explores the changing economics of the writing life. A successful writing career may not look like the romantic version many of us imagined. It may require multiple income streams, smarter financial planning, a larger platform, and enough runway to keep creating without constantly worrying about the next paycheck.

In this episode:

00:00 — Welcome to Wordslinger

01:11 — Why AI detection software is a scam

02:13 — Writers and students facing false accusations

03:29 — Why good writing can trigger AI detectors

04:21 — The hypocrisy of feeding writers’ work into AI

05:15 — Legitimate and accessible uses of AI

06:18 — How disabled writers can use AI as assistive technology

07:23 — Translation and language tools for authors

08:20 — When technology supports creativity

09:32 — Leonardo da Vinci, Stan Lee, and outsourced creation

11:46 — AI companies destroying rare books

14:11 — Are we responsible stewards of AI?

15:42 — How writers can actually make a living

17:13 — The fantasy versus reality of the writing life

19:22 — Building multiple streams of writing income

21:31 — Stop laying track directly in front of the train

24:29 — Creating financial runway before leaving your job

26:35 — The two financial tracks every writer needs

28:48 — Keeping writing at the center of your career

30:57 — Where to connect with Kevin

Whether you are an author, freelance writer, artist, podcaster, publisher, or creative entrepreneur, the real question is not whether technology or the publishing industry will change. They will.

The question is whether you can use the tools available, diversify your income, protect your creative identity, and build a career capable of surviving those changes.

What do you think? Are AI detectors protecting writers—or creating a modern witch hunt? And can authors still expect to earn a living primarily from book sales?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, creative business, technology, and the mindset required to build a lasting writing career. This is the place for writers who want informed, experience-driven help throughout every stage of their writing and publishing journey.

VISIT AND CONNECT:

Wordslinger Podcast

[https://wordslingerpodcast.com](https://wordslingerpodcast.com)

Improve your writing with ProWritingAid

[https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5](https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5)

Publish wide with Draft2Digital

[https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger](https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger)

Get professional support with AuthorAnchor

[https://authoranchor.com](https://authoranchor.com)

Find Kevin and his books

[https://kevintumlinson.com](https://kevintumlinson.com)

Join Kevin on Substack

[https://kevintumlinson.substack.com](https://kevintumlinson.substack.com)

#WritingCommunity #AuthorTube #ArtificialIntelligence #AIDetection #WritingCareer #IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #CreativeEntrepreneur #PublishingAdvice #Wordslinger

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I came this close to walking away from writing forever.

After a traditional publishing deal went sideways, I paid back the advance, lost the rights for a stretch, and seriously believed my career was over before it started. What saved me wasn’t “just write every day.” It was building a deliberate system around the chaos of multiple projects, side hustles, and creative energy.

In this Wordslinger 10-Shot I break down the exact approach I still use today so I can keep finishing books while running a podcast, YouTube channel, coaching, and other ventures without burning out or falling into shiny-object syndrome.

You’ll learn:

How I use directed intensity instead of forcing myself to grind on one thing

Why strategic “side quests” actually help me finish more fiction

The simple scheduling trick that keeps everything moving

How secondary skills and businesses can feed (not steal from) your main writing career

Whether you’re a novelist, indie author, content creator, or multi-passionate entrepreneur, this system is designed for people who refuse to choose just one lane.

Timestamps

00:00 – The deal that almost ended my writing career

01:12 – Why “just write more” wasn’t the answer

02:45 – Directed intensity: my core rule for juggling projects

04:20 – Side quests vs. shiny object syndrome

06:10 – How I schedule production days and recovery

07:55 – Secondary “encodings” that actually support your writing

09:15 – Final thoughts + invitation

Resources & Links

Wordslinger Podcast → https://wordslingerpodcast.com

ProWritingAid (my go-to editing tool) → https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Draft2Digital → https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

AuthorAnchor → https://authoranchor.com

Find all my books & more → https://kevintumlinson.com

Join me on Substack → https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

If you’re a writer or creative entrepreneur looking for practical, no-fluff guidance on building a sustainable writing and publishing career, this is the channel for you. Hit subscribe, turn on notifications, and let’s keep growing together.

Drop a comment and tell me: What’s the biggest “chaos” you’re trying to organize in your creative life right now?#Wordslinger #IndieAuthor #WritingLife #CreativeEntrepreneur #AuthorTips

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What makes a story impossible to put down?

It usually starts with one uncomfortable truth: You have to make your characters suffer.

In this episode of the Wordslinger 10-Shot, I dig into several practical writing craft principles that can help you create stronger characters, sharper scenes, more natural dialogue, and stories that keep readers turning pages.

We’ll talk about why change is the engine of story, how consequences create momentum, why “and then” can quietly kill your plot, and how to build tension without exhausting your reader. I’ll also explore dialogue as a form of action, the value of leaving some questions unanswered, and how to recognize when a story is truly finished.

Whether you’re writing your first novel or your fiftieth, these are the kinds of craft fundamentals that can help you tell more compelling stories.

What writing craft topic would you like me to cover next? Leave your question in the comments. I may turn it into a future episode.

TIMECODES

00:00 – Why writers should talk more about craft

01:44 – Why your characters need to suffer

03:36 – Suffering doesn’t have to mean physical danger

07:38 – Every scene must create change

10:13 – Creating discomfort and escalating tension

10:54 – “And then” versus “because” storytelling

12:18 – Giving readers moments of hope and relief

14:31 – Why everything in a story must serve a purpose

18:11 – Building tension in peaks and valleys

18:55 – Understanding three-act structure

21:30 – Change as the purpose of scenes

23:20 – Dialogue as action, not exposition

27:37 – Why explanatory dialogue stops a story cold

29:32 – Suspense as the distance between knowledge and action

30:52 – How to know when your story is over

34:03 – Leaving some questions unanswered

37:30 – Using A, B, and C plots across a series

40:17 – Why craft remains a writer’s primary tool

Subscribe to the channel for practical, honest guidance on writing, publishing, marketing, and building a sustainable creative career. Whether you’re just getting started or working toward your next breakthrough, this is the place to find useful advice for every stage of your writing and publishing journey.

Visit the Wordslinger Podcast:

https://wordslingerpodcast.com

Improve your writing with ProWritingAid:

https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5

Publish and distribute your books with Draft2Digital:

https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger

Get professional support for your author career with AuthorAnchor:

https://authoranchor.com

Find Kevin and his books:

https://kevintumlinson.com

Join Kevin on Substack:

https://kevintumlinson.substack.com

#WritingCraft #WritingTips #Authors #CreativeWriting #Storytelling #IndieAuthors #WritingAdvice #NovelWriting #CharacterDevelopment #WordslingerPodcast

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