Do you ever feel like you're tying yourself up in knots with all the different points of view your story has?  POV is one of the most misunderstood and often poorly taught story elements. It's also one of the most important story decisions you make.  But there's so much confusion about POV. In today's episode, we'll untangle some of the confusion. You'll learn what point of view is (and what it's not) and the 3 main constructs that create point of view.  And  a writing exercise to drive it all home, so grab something to write on and write with.

Also listen to:
Episode 71: Beyond the First Draft: Captivating Characters

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

You have your first draft. Or maybe you're stalled in your current work in progress. Now what?  How do you finish what you started? Today, you'll learn how to move forward with your work in progress, or revise the  draft you already have.  This is part  1 of a 3 part mini series, Beyond the First Draft. This episode focuses on character development. You'll get clear on who your story is about, what your main character wants, how to build complexity into your characters, and how to reveal their nuances.

Grab your FREE Character Questionnaire and Email Series here.

Episode Show Notes

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 a lot of writing advice floating around. But most of it shackles writers more than it helps, and sometimes leads to paint-by-number stories.  In this episode, learn common traps when it comes to plot, action, backstory, show, don't tell, and point of view. You'll turn around misconceptions and learn what to do instead.

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 does character thought have to do with plot? It's the connective tissue that brings continuity to your story, scene by scene. It helps fill in all those plot holes. And it keep your reader grounded in what's happening as your story advances. 

Character thought is part of the action. It's the connective tissue that accomplishes 3 things:

1. reminds your reader what happened earlier,
2.  establishes desire and motive in the present, and 
3. creates suspense about what might happen next. 

In this episode, you'll learn 3 ways to have characters think their way through your scenes to give your plot continuity.

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Also Listen To:

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 harness the depth and complexity of your story material? And orchestrate all those story threads so that they intensify your plot?  By creating subplots. Learn two ways subplots work,  plus three places your subplots may already be hiding out in your WIP waiting to be developed.

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Links mentioned:
FREE Character Questionnaire
nancipanuccio.com/character/

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’s the most overlooked way to show how a character feels?

The vowel scale - the poet's secret weapon.  Just like musical notes, vowel sounds have frequencies that create vibrations in the reader's body, making them feel with your character. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the frequencies of these vowel sounds to reinforce the emotion, tone, images, and meaning of your story.

Also Listen  To:
Episode 13:  How to Write For Emotional Impact

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 create the kind of suspense that keeps readers riveted to your pages, hanging on every sentence? 

Suspense doesn't happen in the broad strokes - trouble, cliffhangers, sympathetic characters, etc. It's built sentence by sentence. And there are two simple techniques you can apply right now.  In today's episode, you'll learn how to orchestrate details that  bring tension and suspense right on the sentence level, creating insatiable readers. 

Go to the show notes at nancipanuccio/com/66

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

Readers crave novelty and surprise. They don't want the same cliched description of a sunset. Or the expected character response to betrayal.  But coming up with original ideas, especially  for ordinary things like sunsets, requires us to tap into our own creative reservoir.

In today's episode, we'll explore 4 ways to keep your creative channels open. So you can access your original take on the world, and write stories that surprise and delight. 

Dismantle 6 faulty mindsets coming between you and your best work, and unlock your voice with this FREE 6-Day Audio Course.  Go Here to access Lesson 1.

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 writing when you're paralyzed by self doubt?

By reprogramming faulty thought patterns.

In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll re-frame common misconceptions about writing, and even misconceptions about your own abilities that are sabotaging you. 

We'll explore:

• What's really at the core of writer's block
• 3 Common thoughts that derail writers
• The truth about talent
• And why there's no such thing as failure

Want to dismantle more faulty thought patterns and unleash your voice?  Take my FREE 6-Day audio class. Click here to sign up.

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

Style can be the downfall of an otherwise stunning story.

That's because the writing calls  too much attention to itself and upstages the characters. It fights against your story and keeps your reader from getting fully engrossed.

Worse, it keeps you from getting deeply involved with your own story.

In today's episode, we'll talk about the elements that make up your writing style, and how to make sure your style integrates with your story. You want style to complement your story, not fight against it.   

We'll explore:

• Core elements that make  up style
• The reader's experience when style is amiss
• Common style errors
• 4 solutions to using style to amplify your story

Want FREE writing resources and workbooks?  Grab them now at NanciPanuccio.com

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