What makes a piece of writing feel false? What makes it feel true?  Why does it move us? Or fail to? How do we drop readers directly into a character’s experience so that they become the character and go on the journey with them? In this episode, you'll borrow 3 acting techniques for writing stories  that feel more real, more believable, and more true.

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Download your FREE Character Questionnaire

Also Listen to:
Episode 81: Story Details: What to Leave In, What to Leave Out

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

Details are the lifeblood of your story.  And writing is all about the selection of those details. But how do you decide which details matter? 

When we sit down to write, we’re often bombarded with too many details. We’re in this constant and brutal battle with the facts of our experience, the details of the world, and the needs of our story.

The question we must continually ask is, What do I leave in? What do I leave out?

But selecting the right story details is easier than you think. Because you already know how to do this. You select what's worthy of your attention moment by moment, whether you're conscious of it or not.

In this episode, we’ll explore what you already know about selecting details, and how to bring that instinct directly to your fiction or memoir.

Episode Website

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

What makes your story a page turner? What makes it so irresistible that readers devour every page? In today’s episode, we’re breaking down 4 tips to writing a page turner. Techniques that go beneath and beyond common structures like the Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, and the traditional 3-Act.  So you can make your story stand out from the pile.  And keep readers hooked scene by scene.

Episode Website

FREE 3-Act Worksheet

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

Scenes are the building blocks of your story.  But how do you craft scenes that draw us in every single time? That keep us turning the page?  In this episode you'll learn how to craft spellbinding scenes from beginning to end.

In today's episode, we'll cover:

• The difference between scene and summary.
• Four essential things each scene should give your protagonist.
• How to set each scene's intentions.
• What it means to "advance your plot" and how to do it.
• and how to structure your scenes from start to finish. 

Episode Website

Also Listen To:
Episode 78:  Five Elements of a Riveting First Scene

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

Your first scene is crucial. It’s what sets your story in motion. It's where you keep your reader or lose em'.  So you want to craft this scene with intention.  In this episode, you'll learn 3 essential things your first scene must accomplish.  And we'll explore 5  core elements that go into every successful first scene, with examples from Neil Gaiman's  novel, American Gods, and Lucy Grealy's memoir, Autobiography of a Face.

Also Listen To:
Episode 69: How to Create Plot Continuity With Character Thought

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

There’s no one size fits all way to write. Still, there’s no shortage of advice on how to do it.  But some advice can derail you for months, maybe years. Advice like reaching a certain word count per day. Or crafting your story with an ideal reader in mind. Or outlining before you’ve felt  your way into your story.  So, today I’m going to counter some of the most common advice I hear over and over and give you another perspective.  

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

 Writing is solitary.  And if you’re anything like me, you like to dip into some inspiration from time to time for a creative boost or deeper insight into the craft. So much of our progress depends on how we feel about the work. So in this episode, I’m going to pull some of my favorite  quotes and unwrap them for the wisdom and creative fuel they offer on  writing technique and  the writing life.

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

Have you ever thought, Writing should be easier for me than this?  I sure did. I didn't know there was a craft to writing a novel. I thought talent and sheer  passion would see me through. And then I became a professional competitive dancer and learned that desire and talent were just starter fuel. The truth is, writing is no easier than mastering any other art form. Talent is not enough. Technique on it's own is not enough. So, what does it take to master the art of writing? In this episode, I share what I learned as a dancer about bringing heart and technique together, how to practice deliberately to bring your work closer to a publishable caliber, and why perfectionism is restricting you.

Episode Website

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

How do you keep a consistent writing routine when you're life is hectic as all hell?  How do you find time to write and  fulfill life's never-ending hamster wheel of responsibilities?  And where do you find the energy?  In this episode, you'll hear the strategies I've been using for years to let writing co-exist with a crazy busy, but beautiful  life as a single working mom. You'll learn a more abundant way to think about time, how to ride the momentum when you're at your best, and how to protect your creative time fiercely.   

Books mentioned:
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think
7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Also Read:
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

Also Listen To:
#15 How to Find Your Creative Flow

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity

How can you be more efficient with structuring your story? How do you balance structure while keeping the story fresh and surprising? In this episode we're going to talk about 5 essential storytelling techniques that will help you structure your story into a riveting experience for your readers. You'll also learn how to hook your reader in your opening sentences instantly using one simple word.

Also Listen to:
Episode 71: Captivating Characters
Episode 72: 3 Ways to Craft a Compelling Point of View

Most first drafts don't stall because writing is hard. They stall because there's a weak link in the foundation. The Story Clarity Worksheet helps you find it. Download yours free at nancipanuccio.com/clarity