Writer Unleashed

We want our readers to feel our character’s pain, their joy, and everything in between. But one of the quickest ways to sever the reader’s emotional connection is to be overly direct about how our ch…

In this encore episode, we talk about common plot problems that plague first-time novelists, and how to solve or avoid them completely.  

• You'll explore how to:
  • Define the central problem driving your …

An image paints a picture for readers, giving them a sensory experience.

Some images are just meant to be descriptive. They're not insignificant. Nothing in story is.  But they don't carry any partic…

You've just received your 10th agent rejection. Or the story that's so vivid in you mind just isn't translating onto the page.  Maybe you're stuck in the murky middle and can't see your way out of it…

Should you self publish?  Or traditionally publish?

In this episode, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both.  So you can make an informed decision on which publishing path is right for you.

We'll cove…

The mark of a great story is specificity. And to make your writing pop, you want to bring concrete details into the scene.

In last week's episode, we talked about setting a scene in a particular place…

In story, setting is an essential yet often under-used element. 

Setting allows for the interaction between characters and their environment, weaving together a vivid world. 

In this episode, I’ll shar…

What undermines an otherwise compelling story?  Poorly written scenes.

So, how can you write more captivating, impactful and structured scenes?

In this episode, you'll learn 5 essential elements that…

How do you write dialogue that doesn’t feel artificial, cliche or dull?

How do you use dialogue to create character depth, subtlety and originality?  Conversation that’s not over the top dramatic or o…

Paralyzed by uncertainty during the writing process? In this episode, learn why uncertainty is every great writer's secret weapon. You'll learn why uncertainty is vital to the creative process, and h…

How do you give your characters a distinct, unmistakable voice? 

What people say and how they say it is a big part of character development. And each character has a unique way of speaking, thinking, …

In this episode, you're going to go beneath the surface of your characters. We'll go 4 levels deep, starting on the surface, and moving a level deeper until we get to your character's truest self. Th…

What exactly is writer's voice?

How do you access yours, and how do you express it on the page?

In this episode, I'll give you 4 ways to give your voice more presence and purpose in your stories.

We'…

You’ve just finished the first draft of your novel, memoir or short story, and now you're seeking beta readers.

A beta reader is a test reader or a group of test readers of your unpublished work. Ide…

Now that summer's officially here, and with Writer Unleashed reaching it's 3rd year of being on the airwaves, I've done a retrospective of past episodes.

And I've curated 7 of the most popular episod…

Description can enrich your story with layers of atmosphere and authenticity that drops the reader inside the world of your story.

But sometimes writers assume that in order to create a world for the…

Writers often think they're writing in scene when they're actually writing in summary. So, what is summary? What is scene? And when do you write in one vs. the other? 

In this episode, I'll break down…

How do mothers balance writing with parenthood? Whether you're a mom of young children, or a single parent holding down a full time job and a full brood, carving out space to write can feel challengi…

Whatever stage of the writing process you're in, whether you have a finished first draft, or a work in progress... you may be thinking of hiring an editor.

But what does an editor actually do?

And at …

What's an inciting incident, and why does your story need one?

In this episode, learn what an inciting incident is, and two types that set your story in motion.

We’ll also talk about where in your stor…