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PODCAST

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Hosted by James Thayer, the podcast is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft a novel. It presents a set of tools for large issues such as story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer"s novels are "superbly crafted") and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine. The New York Times Book Review has said Thayer"s "writing is smooth and clear. it wastes no words, and it has a rhythm only confident stylists achieve.

education how to

All Episodes

26:53

Episode 143 - The three most important sentences when...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/12/13

Jack Bickham's three sentences on scene construction are the best I've found regarding how to write a scene. Here are why these sentences are important for us writers. Also: Sarah Ann Waters' terrific ten rules of writing. And avoiding the word "not."Support the show

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24:50

Episode 142 - A big technique for literary writing.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/12/06

Many listeners are writing literary novels and stories. Here is an important technique regarding construction of a literary story, and it also applies to commercial novels. Support the show

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27:31

Episode 141 - How to begin and end scenes.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/11/29

The easiest thing for a reader to do is to quit reading our story. Here are ways to begin and end scenes that'll prevent that from happening. Our scenes' beginnings and endings will propel the reader farther into the story.Support the show

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28:00

Episode 140 - Tips from Stephen King on writing...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/11/22

Stephen King is a powerful storyteller, of course, and he is also a highly-skilled sentence-by-sentence writer. Here are his tips on writing dialogue, plus thoughts from me about making our characters' dialogue riveting. Support the show

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27:50

Episode 139 - Writing in the first person.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/11/15

Readers love first person novels, where the hero talks directly to the reader. Here are some techniques for first person writing. Also, famous novelists reveal the books that made them want to be writers.Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

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27:44

Episode 138 - How to live a writer's life.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/11/08

Usually I talk about writing techniques but here are some living techniques for us writers. And some famous writers' favorite writers and novels. Plus: what Ernest Hemingway did when he was stuck. Also: the magic of avoiding dialogue tag modifiers. And Snoopy. Face Your EarsExplore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

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28:35

Episode 137 - Twenty-one rules of writing.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/11/01

How can an injury be good for us writers? It was for Roald Dahl. And here are Strunk and White's twenty-one rules of writing. Also, Stephen King on descriptions. And several famous setting descriptions, settings so good they are magical. Plus, Toni Morrison reveals how she works.Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport ...

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27:41

Episode 136 - Benefits of a character's otherness.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/10/25

A strong way to make a character likeable, and to have the reader root for her, is to have the character experience "otherness." She's out of place. She doesn't fit. Here are techniques on how to do so. Also, how F. Scott Fitzgerald worked. And, no whining.Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

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25:38

Episode 135 - Maybe the strongest writing tool -...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/10/18

Contrast is among the strongest tools we writers can use. It's magic. Here is a discussion of how and where to use contrast. Also, Henry Miller's rules of writing and how John Grisham works.Support the show

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29:51

Episode 134 - A stong technique for describing a...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/10/11

We can show (as opposed to tell) about a character's personality by describing the character's face and body, so that our physical description does double duty. Jonathan Franzen's ten rules of writing. And techniques to add atmosphere to our scenes.Support the show

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26:30

Episode 133 - In our plot what should we save for a...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/10/04

In our novel should we leave plot questions unanswered so we have compelling questions for a sequel? Here are thoughts on how we can approach it. Also, Hilary Mantel's ten rules of writing, how Anne Rice worked, and techniques for writing in the active voice.Support the show

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28:14

Episode 132 - How to avoid the main reason readers...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/09/27

Why do readers put down a novel for good before they reach the last page? Here is a reason, maybe the main reason, and how we writers can avoid it. Also, examples of failed showing, as opposed to telling. And Margaret Atwood's rules of writing.Support the show

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24:57

Episode 131 - A review of the ten strongest writing...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/09/20

Here is a list of the top ten writing techniques in order of their importance, as best I can figure them out. Also, good comments from a book coach. And Zadie Smith's rules of writing.Support the show

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26:39

Episode 130 - Kurt Vonnegut's rules of writing, and...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/09/13

Here are Kurt Vonnegut's eight rules of writing. Also, why reading an Andy Weir novel is such a good writing lesson. And; character descriptions should do double duty. Here is how, with examples from legendary writers.Support the show

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26:20

Episode 129 - A scene with too many mistakes. Can we...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/09/06

Here is a scene with a strong plot point important to our story. It should be powerful but it isn't because of technical mistakes in the writing. Can we spot the mistakes? Also, George Orwell's six rules of writing. And a review of how and why to avoid filters.Support the show

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25:23

Episode 128 - Should we be afraid our plot has been...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/08/30

What if we get the sense that our story is a trope, that the plot is a cliche, that it's been done before? Here are thoughts on cliched stories. Also, Christopher Vogler's twelve steps for plotting our story.Support the Show.

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28:07

Episode 127 - Go big or go home plotting.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/08/23

Classic novelists knew the strong technique regarding plotting and it's a terrific lesson for us: go big or go home. And what if we want to ignore a proven technique? And: thoughts on a character's stream of consciousness thinking. Also, how to avoid overthinking our writing project.Support the Show.

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27:40

Episode 126 - Should we hire a book coach?

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/08/16

When can a book coach help us and when can a coach not help us? Here are thoughts on book coaches. Also, the master George Orwell on describing a character. Plus, improving our sentence-by-sentence writing by 1) showing, 2) offering details, and 3) avoiding summary words: three big techniques in one.Support the Show.

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25:51

Episode 125 - When to avoid the proven writing...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/08/09

Sometimes we don't need to use the standard and strong writing technique, and we can deviate from the proven technique. When? We'll talk about it here. And here are some fun writing quotes. Also, an example of how interior monologue deadens a scene, and how to change it to a scene that will engage and entertain the reader. Support the Show.

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25:53

Episode 124 - Save the cat plotting.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2024/08/02

Blake Snyder's famous Save the Cat plotting--where he describes fifteen beats a movie screenplay should have--is useful for us novelists. And wonderful setting descriptions from Willa Cather. Also, what's wrong with this sentence: He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion? And Neil Gaiman's eight rules of writing.Support the Show.

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203 results

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