Writer Unleashed

In order to nail down a solid, productive writing practice, to reach the level of mastery that ultimately leads to publication, you need to be in a state of flow. But how do we find flow in our writi…

Happiness may be great in real life. But it’s fatal in story.

Few things numb readers more than characters surrounded by birdsong and puppies who aren’t risking something deeply important.

There’s no p…

We want to move our readers emotionally. We want them to feel our character’s joy, pain, and everything in between. 

But one of the surest ways to sever the reader’s emotional connection is to be over…

A flashback moves readers back in time. It interrupts the flow of the story to catch up on what happened before page 1. 

But when writers overuse flashbacks, readers grow impatient. They lose interest…

Time is finite. It’s not a renewable resource. We have so much crammed into our day - our jobs, our kids, our spouses, our homes.  And even if we do find pockets of time to write, we’re flat out ston…

You hear it all the time - Find your voice!

Publishers say they're looking for "fresh new voices."

But what does writer's voice mean, exactly?

In today's episode, we'll explore:

• What writer's voice is
• Ho…

Why is it so damn hard to keep a writing routine?  In today’s episode, of Writer Unleashed, I’ll give you 3 strategies backed by science to break through your barriers so you can start and keep a con…

Not sure if your idea has what it takes to become a powerful story? This free quick guide will help you uncover the heart of your idea in just three simple steps. You’ll walk away with a one-sentence…

A plot outline provides a blueprint. It’s safe, known territory. It would seem then that knowing where our story is going before we write should produce our best stories.

But this is far from the trut…

"Show, don't tell" is a common writing mantra. And while it's solid advice, it gives telling the short shrift. Sometimes it's better to show and sometimes it's better to tell. You can't do one or the…

If you’re like me, there comes that moment when you loathe what you’ve written.

You read what poured out on the page in a meteor shower of inspiration. And then everything that felt glittering and bri…

What’s your story about? 

In other words, what's your plot? What happens?

If you’re anything like me, you trip over this question. You find it hard to sum up your story in an elevator pitch. That’s bec…

You only have a matter of seconds to hook your reader into your story. Start too soon or too late, give away too much or too little, and your reader moves onto another book or hops on Netflix. 

So, ho…

How do you keep writing after your work's been criticized? In today's podcast, I'm going to share 5 mindset shifts to help you not only survive harsh feedback, but come back writing stronger than eve…

You've heard it before - "Write what you know."

Sounds simple. But writing what you know is deceptively complex.

And when you take it at face value, it can restrict your story.

In this episode, we're…

If you want to create stories that pull readers in, if you want to deepen your craft, get unblocked, and write with unstoppable momentum, Writer Unleashed is for you.

Each week, we'll explore techniqu…