Let's Write Your Novel!
Let’s Write Your Novel! is a place where writers with a story on their hearts will find the clarity they need to finally write their novels. If you want to write a novel, or you’ve started writing and gotten stuck, let this podcast serve as your toolbox for crafting a solid story that will connect with readers. Each short episode will give you one skill or strategy to apply to planning, drafting and/or revising your novel. We’ll also take time to explore the other equally important things that come with this process, such as accountability, mindset, and time management. Your story matters. You deserve to write it and you have a reader out there who needs it. Stephanie Dethlefs is a writer, certified book coach, teacher, and lifelong avid reader. She is the author of the middle grade novel Unspoken and numerous published essays and articles. She lives in Pacific NW Washington with her family, two cats and a spunky pup.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 8 minutes
- Episodes
- 65
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2023
An important announcement!
2023 is bringing some changes to the Hello Writers world. Take a quick listen to hear what's new!
Links:
New YouTube Channel
Grab my newsletter!
What's Important About Small Goals
When we set out to write a novel, we have one goal, which is to write a novel. But we also know that having the goal of writing a novel is not unlike standing at the foot of a mountain with the plan …
What Pixar Can Teach Us About Plot
There is no one “right” way to write a novel. But there are basic types of plot points which every story, no matter how simple or complex, needs to include. Using a strategy like this Pixar storytell…
How to Play With the Plot
Having vague or fuzzy ideas can lead to self-doubt and discouragement, but self-doubt does not need to keep you from writing your book. In this episode, we’re playing with plot ideas by asking the qu…
Meet Your Readers
You can increase the chances that a reader will connect with your story, and understanding your ideal reader is one way to do just that. If you want the point of your story to come across loud and cl…
Why Self-Doubt Is Okay
Self-doubt (a.k.a. imposter syndrome, writers’ block and the inner critic) is an experience that all writers have. The question is not how to get rid of it, but how to understand it and work with it.…
What a Book Coach Can Add
Working with a book coach is a lot like working with a personal trainer for exercise. Can you do it without one? Sure! But are there benefits to working with someone who deeply understands the skills…
Help Your Reader Care
Why is your protagonist making the decisions they’re making in the story? If you want your reader to care about what happens next, the best way is to answer three essential questions about your prota…
What It Takes to Write a Novel
What does it actually take to write a novel? This episode is all about what to expect in terms of effort, time investment and emotional exertion. Writing a novel is hard, and it takes a long time. B…
The #1 Question to Ask When Writing a Novel
Feeling unmotivated or uncertain about your current work-in-progress? In this episode, we’ll dig into an important question that will unearth reasons you didn't even know were there and give you the …
How to Write a Novel
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of writing a novel? No lie, it’s hard work. But this episode lays out a three-phase process that is structured enough to support you while allowing for your…
Why aren't I writing?
When was the last time you sat down to write your book? If you’re experiencing difficulty finding your way to the page, this short episode is for you. We’ll peel back the layers to find out what’s be…
Your Protagonist's Arc of Change
Your protagonist is not just bouncing from one event to another. They are changing as a result of those events. In this episode, we dig into your protagonist’s arc of emotional change, both why it ma…
Do I have to plan my novel?
You know that there’s value in planning your novel ahead of time, but you just can’t quite make yourself do it. You are not alone! In today’s episode, we talk about the plotter/pantser continuum and …
BONUS: Kickstart Your Novel
Have you got an idea for a novel but you're not sure where to start? Or maybe started and gotten stuck?
Here are two easy-breezy but powerful (and did I mention FREE) ways to kickstart yourself with …
Your Novel's Timeline
#056 Knowing where your novel starts and ends provides structure, efficiency and focus within your novel-writing journey. In this episode, we explore three strategies for making these early decision…
Writing Secondary Characters
While secondary characters might seem less important than your protagonist, they actually serve a very important purpose. They drive the story forward and give the protagonist context, relationships,…
How to Write Believable Characters
#54 How do we create primary characters that are nuanced and complex without being stereotypical, flat, or strange caricatures of themselves? The key is to know them. Like, really know them. And it’s…
Writing in 2022
We're not making resolutions here. We're looking at what worked last year and what didn't, what we want to accomplish in 2022 and how we're going to make that happen! While much of the world is out o…
Understand Your Character's Motivation
Why does your character make the decisions she makes? Why does the "bad guy" act the way he does? Hint: there is ALWAYS a reason. In today's episode, we're looking at the four questions that will ge…