Writer Unleashed

By Nanci PanuccioEducation Fiction How To

Writer Unleashed episodes

March 17, 2021#40: Show Don't Tell: Revealing Character Through Body Language
It’s a scientific fact: body language speaks volumes about what’s truly in our hearts and minds. And the same is true of your characters.

Facial expressions, mannerisms, gestures, eye movements — non-visual cues, no matter how subtle, divulge what a person may be feeling in any given moment.

It’s one of the best ways to show, don’t tell.
In today’s episode of Writer unleashed, we’ll explore:
How we decode non-verbal cues of people we encounter every day
How to avoid labeling character emotion and reveal what they’re really feeling
What gestures, eye and body movements, micro expressions reveal about characters in ways that even they’re not aware of, but the reader intuits
How to bring subtlety to the dynamics between characters
A fun, 2-part exercise to drive it all home
Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group where I answer your most burning writing questions. Joining is FREE.

Grab more FREE writing resources here.
11 min
March 10, 2021 #39: How to Write Captivating Character Description
We're all tired of being introduced to characters like the young man in his twenties with jet black hair, emerald green eyes, and a chiseled jaw.

Even if a character looks like that, there are ways to make him more surprising and unforgettable.

In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll break down 3 techniques to write descriptions that bring characters to life.

Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.

14 min
March 03, 2021#38: How to Create Characters Readers Care About
How do you create characters readers care about? So that the reader can't help but keep reading?
In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, I'll explore 5 common character mistakes and how to avoid them to create characters readers care about.

We'll explore how to:
Avoid the stock character
Choose one compelling protagonist
Complicate your character's desire
Raise the stakes
Create interesting change
Also listen to:

Episode 37: Three Questions to Ask Before You Plot Your Story

Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
15 min
February 24, 2021#37: Three Questions to Ask Before You Plot Your Story
What questions should you ask before you plot your story? Whether you outline every chapter, or write from the hip, on today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, I’ll break down 3 questions you should explore before you outline your plot.

We'll explore:
What story is
Horizontal plots and vertical plots and how they intersect
Character Viewpoint - who your story is about
Desire and Resistance and how this impacts your plot
Also listen to:

Episode 31: What Most Writers Get Wrong About Point of View
Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
13 min
February 17, 2021#36: Three Storytelling Techniques to Steal From Superbowl Ads
Whether you're a football fan, or not, the Superbowl ads are often storytelling works of art.

On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll unwrap 3 storytelling techniques you can swipe from your favorite Superbowl ads and apply to your story right away.

We'll explore:
The reverse engineering approach to story structure.
How to dramatize conflict early on.
How to use a shot summary to refine and shape your story.

Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
15 min
February 10, 2021#35: What Does It Take To Become a Successful Writer?
What does it take to become a successful writer?

On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, author and media consultant Simona David and I unpack the journey and the process.

We explore:
My exploratory approach to early drafts
What it means to write what you know
What revision can tell us about what our story’s trying to become
How to work with and through uncertainty
How to draw readers in emotionally
The actor’s technique to character development
How to write believable dialogue
My take on what it means to be a successful writer
...and much, much more.
Simona David, a journalist who freelances for various publications, including Chronogram and Upstater magazines, is the author of Self-Publishing and Book Marketing, A Research Guide.

Visit Simona here: https://simonadavid.com/

Want the Free Character Questionnaire mentioned in this episode? Head on over to nancipanuccio.com to grab yours now.

Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
42 min
February 03, 2021#34: How to Write Backstory Without Boring Your Reader
How much backstory is too much?

Backstory is one of the trickiest things to get effectively onto the page. Too much of it and your reader loses track, forgets, or even stops caring about what’s happening in your story's present.

In today's episode of Writer Unleashed, we'll explore the 3 most common missteps writers make about backstory, plus 3 tips to help you write backstory without putting your story on snooze.

We'll explore:
What backstory is and why it's useful
3 common mistakes new writers make when writing backstory
Why less backstory is always more
How to strategically weave backstory into your story's key moments
How to use backstory to reveal and foreshadow
Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
16 min
January 27, 2021#33: Three Ways to Avoid Melodrama
There's a delicate balance between bringing a scene to the dramatic brim, and spilling over the top into melodrama.
On today's episode of Writer Unleashed, I'll share 3 techniques for avoiding melodrama, plus a writing exercise to bring it all home.
We'll explore:
The power of restraint
The near-death experience approach to tragedy in story
How to use objects to carry character emotion.
If you want to connect with more like-minded writers, and with me, join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
14 min
January 20, 2021#32: Five Ways to Avoid the Stock Villain
How do you avoid writing the stock villain? How do you move beyond the cliche to create a bad guy that surprises us? That goes against the status quo?
On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore 5 ways to create a villain that defies stereotype.

We'll discuss:
What readers really want from your villain
How to explore what's underneath your character's bad acts
Better questions to get under your villain's skin
How to tap into your own impulses to write more nuanced and believable villains
Grab your free Character Questionnaire on this free resource page.

And if you want to connect with more like-minded writers, and with me, join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
12 min
January 13, 2021#31: What Most Writers Get Wrong About Point of View
Of all the things I see tripping writers up, point of view is the most common and persistent.
It's one of the most misunderstood elements of writing.

It's also one of the most essential things to get right.

On today’s episode of Writer Unleashed, we’ll explore:

3 common missteps writers make about point of view
What point of view is…and what it isn’t.
Why first, second, and third-person has virtually nothing to do with point of view.
When to use multiple points of view. And when not to.
And 4 simple techniques to crafting your story’s most riveting and compelling point of view.
Want to connect with more like-minded writers? Join us on our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. Joining is free.
15 min

About Writer Unleashed

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Writer Unleashed is a weekly podcast for fiction and memoir writers. It's a deep dive into story techniques, writing craft, and the mindsets that help you write with unstoppable momentum and create…