There’s something captivating about seeing a story unfold through a child’s perspective. Child narrators strip away the layers of adult logic, cynicism and pretense, revealing raw wonder, confusion or even unexpected wisdom.

But writing from a child’s perspective is deceptively difficult. Writers often fall into traps, making the child sound too innocent, too passive, or one dimensional.

So in today’s episode, I’ll help you navigate 3 common challenges so you can create a believable, compelling child narrator.

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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

The unreliable narrator is one of the most powerful storytelling techniques. Whether you're writing in first-person or third, an unreliable narrator compels readers to interpret what's happening, looking for clues that reveal the truth beyond the narrator's perspective.

And this keeps readers hooked into your story until the very last page.

In this episode, I'm going to share 4 different types of unreliable narrators, and 4 tips  for mastering your unreliable narrator.

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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

First person narration puts readers directly into a character's head, creating an intimate and immediate experience. This perspective allows for deep emotional connection and personal stakes. But it also comes with unique challenges.

In this episode, I'm going to share 4 common pitfalls when writing in first person and how to avoid them.

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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 opening scenes are valuable real estate. You don't want to squander them on anything mundane or extraneous.

Many writers start way too early in the story, often giving the everyday details of their character's life. Or they spend too much time introducing the character's world and not launching him or her into the action soon enough. And then the reader is left wondering where the story is going, and when it's going to pick up momentum.

In this episode, I'm sharing 3 tips for writing hook-worthy opening scenes that pull readers in and don't let them go.

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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

Ever wish you could expand time and give more energy to your writing? In this episode, you'll learn about two types of time - one that restricts time and one that expands time. We'll also talk about how to manage common distractions, and what it really takes to stay motivated for the long game.

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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

When is it a good idea to write from multiple points of view, rather than one point of view? And how do you do it? In this episode, I'll cover 4 reasons to use multiple points of view, how to write them, and common pitfalls to avoid.

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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 do you do when you're stuck in a scene, or you know the scene isn't working, and you just don't know why or how to move the scene forward?  In this episode, we'll go over three reasons your scenes are stalling and what to do instead. 

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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

Now that we're in a brand new year, it's a good time to reflect on what worked in the past year, what didn't work, and most importantly, what we can do differently to move the needle forward in 2025.

Time is a precious resource, so we don't want to squander it spinning in the wrong direction again and again only to keep getting stuck.

So in this episode, I'm going to share 3 ways to write with more freedom, curiosity, and joy this year and beyond.

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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’ve lost motivation and may even have stopped writing altogether. So how do you get your mojo back so you can bring your work in progress to the finish line?

In this throwback episode, we'll explore 5 reasons our motivation fizzles out and how to turn it around.

We'll talk about: 

• the power of having a safe, judgement-free community 
• what social scientists have discovered about what really motivates us. (this may surprise you.)
• the real reason we hit road blocks, plus what we need to break through
• what flow is and how to get more of it, and...
• how to stay motivated day by day

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Episode 20:  Four Ways Your Writing Group Is Holding You Back (and what to look for in your next writing tribe)

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

Getting results in our writing is great. But a result-oriented mindset can hinder creativity and authenticity.

In this throwback episode, you'll learn how to evaluate your work based on 2 important qualities: presence and truth.

This is all about your emotional connection and belief in your story. It's a more transformational approach that values the ongoing journey, and the evolving relationship with your work.

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