You've just received your 10th agent rejection. Or the story that's so vivid in you mind just isn't translating onto the page.  Maybe you're stuck in the murky middle and can't see your way out of it. 

How do you push through?

In this episode, you'll reframe your relationship to failure,  glean the lessons from setbacks, and ultimately, write a better story. 

Episode Website

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go.

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. 

Should you self publish?  Or traditionally publish?

In this episode, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both.  So you can make an informed decision on which publishing path is right for you.

We'll cover:

• What  steps to expect as a traditional author
• How much time it takes to bring a self-published book vs. a traditionally published book
• Upfront costs self publishers shouldn't ignore
• Royalties (and why marketing and distribution are key to sales)
• A side by side comparison of income potential for traditional and self published authors

So, whether you're on the fence, just curious, or you've already decided which path to take and want some tips and pointers, you won't want to miss this episode. 

Episode Website

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts.  

Love what you're learning from the Writer Unleashed podcast? Pease consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers -- just like you -- to write the story that won't let them go. 

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. 

The mark of a great story is specificity. And to make your writing pop, you want to bring concrete details into the scene.

In last week's episode, we talked about setting a scene in a particular place. And each particular place  - whether it's a room, a yard, or an alley -  will have objects.

In this episode, we're going to talk about objects to give your story more muscularity and vividness.

We'll explore 3 different types of objects and the various purposes each play in a scene, and in the story as a whole.  And I'll give you examples of each.

Episode Website

In story, setting is an essential yet often under-used element. 

Setting allows for the interaction between characters and their environment, weaving together a vivid world. 

In this episode, I’ll share 4 ways to bring vivid, multi-dimensional settings to your scenes.

We’ll explore how setting influences character development and gives the reader an immersive experience. So that the setting doesn’t serve as mere backdrop, but transports readers into the world of your story.

Episode Website

Not sure how to structure your story? Start Here. This free 3-Act Worksheet gives you a clear framework so you know exactly what your beginning, middle, and end need to do — so you can stop guessing and start writing. Grab it free here.

What undermines an otherwise compelling story?  Poorly written scenes.

So, how can you write more captivating, impactful and structured scenes?

In this episode, you'll learn 5 essential elements that make a scene, along with an example to illustrate. 

We'll cover:

• What a scene is (and what it's not)
• The difference between scenes and chapters, and why I recommend writing in scenes first
•  Different types of action that give a scene immediacy
• How setting each scene's intention will create tension and raise the stakes
• The withhold and reveal technique to keeping your reader anticipating each and every scene 

Episode Website

Not sure how to structure your story? Start Here. This free 3-Act Worksheet gives you a clear framework so you know exactly what your beginning, middle, and end need to do — so you can stop guessing and start writing. Grab it free here.

How do you write dialogue that doesn’t feel artificial, cliche or dull?

How do you use dialogue to create character depth, subtlety and originality?  Conversation that’s not over the top dramatic or overly direct, and yet absolutely riveting.

In today’s episode, we’ll go over 3 questions to guide you in writing dialogue that has readers hanging on every word.

We'll cover:

• Why using dialogue to advance your plot is the wrong approach
• Why what's not being said is just as important as what is being said
• The secret to creating tension and suspense through dialogue
• How to find the story in each piece of dialogue

Episode Website

Paralyzed by uncertainty during the writing process? In this episode, learn why uncertainty is every great writer's secret weapon. You'll learn why uncertainty is vital to the creative process, and how to court, even intensify uncertainty to write your most riveting work. 

How do you give your characters a distinct, unmistakable voice? 

What people say and how they say it is a big part of character development. And each character has a unique way of speaking, thinking, and interacting.

In this episode, we'll go over 5 ways to bring your characters' voices to life. To make them distinct, magnetic, believable, and memorable.

These elements help bring authenticity and depth to your characters by reflecting their cultural backgrounds, age, experiences, and the places in which they live.

Episode Website

In this episode, you're going to go beneath the surface of your characters. We'll go 4 levels deep, starting on the surface, and moving a level deeper until we get to your character's truest self. The self he's trying so hard to hide, suppress, and protect. 

This will bring multi-dimension, complexity, and believability to your characters. Even if your reader doesn't relate to your character's external situation, or their particular plot problems, they will connect in every way to their human dilemma.  

This is especially valuable for your protagonist. But it's equally valuable for your antagonist,  and other main characters. 

These are emotional layers your characters are constantly negotiating as they move through your plot. 

And you, as author, need to know your characters more than they know themselves. 

Episode Website

Not sure how to structure your story? Start Here. This free 3-Act Worksheet gives you a clear framework so you know exactly what your beginning, middle, and end need to do — so you can stop guessing and start writing. Grab it free here.

What exactly is writer's voice?

How do you access yours, and how do you express it on the page?

In this episode, I'll give you 4 ways to give your voice more presence and purpose in your stories.

We'll talk about:

• What we mean by writer's voice
• The difference between character voice and writer's voice
• Common ways writers struggle with and silence their voice, and
•  4 tips, along with exercises to help your voice emerge and deepen

Episode Website

Not sure how to structure your story? Start Here. This free 3-Act Worksheet gives you a clear framework so you know exactly what your beginning, middle, and end need to do — so you can stop guessing and start writing. Grab it free here.