Word Maze - what I'm learning about writing

The last episode of the current season! Pilar talks about what she's gained from taking part in previous NaNoWriMo s  and encourages anyone who's been thinking of writing a novel to try it too. Wha…

In today's episode, Pilar talks about:

Why she's stuck.

How the story's changed once she got writing, and how the idea can develop. What's she learned from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gai…

You'd think it's obvious, but it's taken Pilar quite a while to realise the main difference between writing a non-fiction book and writing a novel.  Pilar recommends Anne Janzer’s excellent book on …

Why do we write? I struggled so much during the re-write that I almost threw it all away and gave up this "I want to write fiction" thing.

Why I didn't:

• I hate dropping stuff before giving it a prop…

Pilar updates listeners on her writing retreat and how it's difficult to explain to people who don't write that writing is not driven by inspiration. She shares her struggle with technique and the b…

I've finally received some feedback, at a micro and macro level. Lots to think about regarding character, supporting characters and the level of trauma the character is carrying with her at the begi…

Today I share how I'm struggled to write a scene which was hard for the character to go through. 

The writing journal has been very useful in identifying where I need to pay attention to next in the …

Having never "journaled" before, Pilar has started a writing journal to help her identify the bits that need fixing. She came across this idea when listening to the podcast How do you write? with Ra…

Pilar has started working with a coach, and so now the hard work begins!

She talks about how she's made some changes after considering the character's point of view.  Recommended book: On Editing. H…

I'm back with Season 3 - after a month of struggling to build the story for the current novel, I've dug out a piece from a year ago and decided to work on that instead, hopefully with an editor...

In…

In today's episode: Pilar shares how to get into the habit of writing, and how to be aware of the context that helps you to do your best writing. Advice from Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand She…

Another short episode:

Pilar mentions a device she quite liked from Duel en Ville

How she's started working with an editor through reedsy.com

She recommends Nick Hornby's novel 'Juliet Naked'.

Link …

When writer's block comes from not wanting to dive into the emotional world I'm trying to create... There is of course the voice that whispers, will they believe the superhero story you're trying to…

Well, I really wish my characters had a life of their own and were destroying my plot, but, it's not really happening - though, as I was recording for this episode, I realised that yes, one of them h…

I've decided to abandon NaNoWriMo and I briefly explain why. However, I'm not abandoning my story, or this podcast, as it's all great fun. I also explain why. If you want to have a look at what I'm …

I've discovered a new feature in the Remarkable tablet, thanks to the NaNoWriMo forum!

I talk about that and also about finding the truth in your story, your characters and painfully, in your villain…