The Writer's Block Podcast

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Shelly Devlin, Mandra Biscornet, and Deborah Monk discuss the do’s and don’ts of writing good dialogue:

 

Dialogue is everything between the quotations…Whenever the characters are speaking

It should move the story along, develops the character, or builds the reader’s understanding of the character’s relationship to the others in the story

Dialogue doesn’t belong if it doesn’t add to the story

Poor dialogue can be disruptive to the reader

 

 

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Shelly Devlin is out sick today so Mandra Biscornet and Deborah Monk discuss the do’s and don’ts of developing strong characters:

 

Make up a character bio so you know them very well more details are better

Struggle is one way to develop your character quickly

How characters interact with one another is also a great way

Clichés have their place but be careful not to overdo them

What are the redeeming qualities of the “Bad Guy”?

What is the dirty little secret the “Good Guy” is hiding?

 

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk discuss ways to use Similes and Metaphors to make your writing really pop!

Similes are a comparison between two objects using the words “like” or “as”

A Metaphor is the comparison between two objects and not using the words “like” or “as”

The items you are comparing do not have to be similar in any way

Be careful that you are choosing comparisons that draw the reader into your story rather than into your writing. 

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk discuss ways to Let Your Dialogue Speak For Itself With Dialogue Tags:

 

Dialogue tags clarify who is speaking

To use or not to use “said”

Too many tags or tags that are over the top will pull the reader out of the story

When only two characters are talking you can have one character refer to the other by name

You can skip a tag if the tag before and after are clear

Your dialogue should speak for itself

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk interview professional book and e-book formatter Pam Marin-Kingsley about What goes into formatting your book:

Formatting can take as much as 100 hours to learn how to format your book

Formatter’s know the tricks of the trade to get your book ready to go to publishing

Ornate fonts are a no go for the text of your book

One should not use more than 3 fonts for the whole book

Fonts can help keep the reader involved in the story or they can pull the reader out

Reach out to Pam at PamMarin-Kingsley.com

Formatting is relatively inexpensive ($300 for up to 325 pages including the design plus $50 per e-book format)

Are there bloggers that you can hire to review you book?

Formatted Deborah Monk’s Book “Well-Behaved Woman Coming Undone”

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk to discuss the launch of Deborah’s new book as well as the re-release of her first book:

Available on Amazon: “Well Behaved Woman Coming Undone” and “Searching for Julia Stone”

Along with the book the merchandise that goes long with the art that appears in the book launches on the keepsake tab of DeborahMonk.com

Enter Deborah’s monthly contest on her website to win some of her one of a kind pieces

Would you like Deborah to speak at your book club?

Do you own an independent book store and want to carry Deborah’s book?

Her book’s and some of her stained-glass art are available at Sisters We Three in Newburyport, Ma

Watch for the video trailer coming soon Follow her on Facebook and YouTube to get notified as soon as they are uploaded

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet is out this week so Rick Peoples sits in on the panel with Shelly Devlin and Deborah Monk to discuss:

Rick Peoples Wrote “Hey Ma, Your Husband’s Dead”

Available on Amazon, Barns and Noble, Itunes, Kobo, Kindle, and Nook

Back drop of the 1970’s

TheRickPeoples.weebly.com

Self-Published

How long does it take to self-publish once the editing is done?

Hire an editor…You cannot self-edit. A fresh set of eyes can make ALL of the difference.

What are the total costs to self-publish?

How do you figure out what you really paid for your project?

Formatting programs can limit your creativity.

Should you buy your own ISBN number?

Who pays for the ISBN number becomes the publisher of record

People judge your book based on its cover. How can you make the process easier?

What are the colors that people are drawn to on books?

What Fonts are most popular

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk discuss the how to handle all the new things you learn in the writing process! Here are some great thoughts:

Editing with an editor

The process can be over whelming

Be prepared to read as many as 4 lines about one of your single lines

They are not all going to be bad

Publishing

Should your book be” YOUR book” or should you be open to making changes suggested by the publisher?

What is the difference between self-publishing and hybrid publishing services?

How much money should you expect to spend

What are the ways to save money?

What are the channels you can go through to network with the right people to do many of the things required to put a team together if you are going down the self-publishing route?

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet, Shelly Devlin, and Deborah Monk discuss the power of word choice. This week it’s all about the movers and shakers of the written word…The Verb! Here are some great thoughts:

The verbs you choose should be strong and vivid

Adverbs can also be replaced with powerful verbs

Adjectives and even Nouns can be swapped for verbs

“It is” and “there was” are weaker starters for sentences. Using a verb can make your sentence really pop

Use your verbs to show rather than tell

 

 

 

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.

Whether you are writing fiction, Non-Fiction, a memoir, or are just into creative writing this is the podcast for you. This podcast is more than just about how to write as we cover the why’s, when’s, and where’s of writing. Mandra Biscornet is out this week so Shelly Devlin and Deborah Monk discuss:

The third architype of writing…The Puzzler

Puts the key pieces of the puzzle on the treasure map early on

The story reveals its self to the puzzler as the story unfolds

The post-it note method allows you, as a puzzler, to move the pieces of the story around to suit your narrative

Writers block…sometimes you must just keep writing

You can re-write something you have done before

Start with a paragraph of someone else’s writing

Use this time to work on some editing

Sit at your desk, set the timer, and write for 5 minutes

Do some calisthenics

 

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Writer’s Block Podcast recorded at the Studio 21 Podcast Café and hosted on the United Podcast Network.