x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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 210 - Timeless plot patterns.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/03/27

Folks new to fiction may think because there are a million stories and dozens of genres, plots can be presented in any way imaginable. But successful plots have time-tested patterns, and these are discussed here. Plus, M.M. Kaye's lovely setting descriptions, so elegant her writing might be called the voice of magic. And: how the best-selling romance novelist Emily Henry lives and works. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering p...

en-us

27:58

Episode 209 - Avoiding blunders in our story.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/03/20

How and why should we avoid our character traveling? And how does Orson Scott Card not make blunders in his novels? Here is his tool for having a mistake-free novel. Also: here is why our scenes--almost all scenes--should have some action, and how to write that action. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and abou...

en-us

29:50

Episode 208 - How to paint pictures with words.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/03/13

Writing is magic. We type on a keyboard, and then the words we type create powerful images in readers' minds. Here is a discussion of our main tool for creating vivid images: detail. Which details, how to use them, and examples from a detail master, Jean Shepherd. And another angle: detail is as important in dialogue as it is in character and setting descriptions. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, charact...

en-us

26:49

Episode 207 - When the hero lies to the reader.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/03/06

Sometimes an unreliable narrator can be great fun to create, and great fun to read about. Here are techniques for developing a protagonist the reader learns not to trust. Also, how can we avoid dull interior monologue and instead show readers what a character is thinking? Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 3...

en-us

30:33

Episode 206 - How to get lots of plot ideas.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/02/27

Novelist John D. McDonald said he had more plot ideas than time to write them. That's not the case for most of us writers. We usually are in chronic need of more plot, more story. Here are techniques for inventing plot from James Scott Bell and Lester Dent. Also: vivid character descriptions from Jean Shepherd, showing us how to create unforgettable characters. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dial...

en-us

27:32

Episiode 205 - How to stop stalling and get going.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/02/20

Sometimes we are full of ambition to write. Yet we don't. We put off our writing, then put it off again. Why do we do that? And what can be done to get us in front of the keyboard? Here are thoughts on what we can do to get us producing. Also, powerful first sentences drop the reader into the story after the action is already underway. Here's how to do it, with examples from excellent writers. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing...

en-us

28:00

Episode 204 - Meaningless modifiers and what to cut.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/02/13

Some words don't add anything to a sentence other than confusion. Here are several modifiers that our story is better without. Also, is cutting ten percent of our manuscript a good goal when editing? What should we cut to reach that ten percent? Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. &nbs...

en-us

25:39

Episode 203 - Argument makes our dialogue riveting.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/02/06

Dialogue lets the reader become part of the story, as if the reader is standing next to the characters listening to them talk. Not all conversation between characters is equal: argument is the most engaging dialogue. An argument between characters in our story--the back and forth, the accusations and denials, the evasions and justifications--can be riveting. Here are thoughts on writing the big argument scene. Support the show Buy the master class.

en-us

27:17

Episode 202 - How to have fun while writing.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/01/30

Writing fiction is work but it doesn't need to be a grind. Here's how we can have fun while we write, things that'll give us a joyful kick, maybe even make us laugh. Also: the important technique of the mini-backstory, which reveals so much about our character in so little space. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about...

en-us

28:18

Episode 201 - A formula for strong sentences.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/01/23

Physics loves formulas: E=MC2. How about writing? Here is a formula for writing strong sentences, ones that are clear and have energy. Our setting and character descriptions can also benefit from a formula, one that shows how to engage the reader. That formula is talked about here, too. Support the show Buy the master class.

en-us

26:38

Episode 200 - How can we know if we can write?

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/01/16

Do we have the skill to write a novel or short story? Here are early clues that may let us know. Also, top writers' ten best rules of writing. And J.R.R. Tolkien's techniques for writing fascinating settings. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is availab...

en-us

27:31

Episode 199 - Writing a scene with many people and...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/01/09

Sometimes in our story we'll have a scene filled with people where everyone is moving all at once, such as a battle scene or mob scene or festival scene or street scene. Here are techniques on crafting the scene so there's no confusion so readers can focus on the hero. Also, what is the rule of exceptions? And, can something bad happening to us make us better writers? Support the show Buy the master class.

en-us

26:18

Episode 198 - A big way to make our dialogue riveting.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2026/01/02

Readers love dialogue, the chance to eavesdrop on the characters. Here is a good way to make that dialogue really worth listening to. Also, here are techniques that can tie our scenes together, which Jack Bickham calls transitions and sequels. In a story, what is a transition and what is a sequel? Support the show

en-us

24:26

Episode 197 - That odd little thing for our character.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/12/26

How can we make our character memorable for the reader? How can we make the character leap off the page and stay in the reader's memory? Here's how Sherwood Anderson did it. And here are also character descriptions from another master, William Faulkner, showing us how to create big and bold characters. Support the show

en-us

25:30

Episode 196 - Importance of the character arc.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/12/19

Readers want a character who can grow and change over the course of the story. Here is a discussion of the character arc: how we can use the arc to develop our character and the plot, giving the reader the big reward at the end of the story of a character who has met the moment with change. Plus, here is how we can show (rather than tell) about a character's thoughts such as confusion and dread. Support the show

en-us

29:01

Episode 195 - The adopt a dog technique.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/12/12

One of the best ways to have readers like our story is to have readers like--maybe even love--our main character. But we usually don't want our protagonist to be a Pollyanna, always sweet and understanding. Rather we want to create a fully-formed character--maybe with some weird or off-putting angles, maybe some flaws and shortcomings--to make the character interesting and believable. Here's a technique to make sure readers will root for our main character even i...

en-us

25:05

Episode 194 - How to invent a strong plot.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/12/05

We want to write but we don't have our story fully figured out. What can we do? Here are thoughts on inventing plot, things we can do to shake loose the plot from our brains. Also, the techniques of a master of character description: Margaret Mitchell. Support the show

en-us

26:43

Episode 193 - Plotting: go big or go home.

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/11/28

Fiction's job is to entertain. A main way to entertain is to be bold with our plot. Here are thoughts on how to avoid the dull in our plot and how to create a story that keeps readers turning the pages. Also, how to invent strong metaphors and similes. And avoiding overly-precious, self-conscious writing. Support the show

en-us

25:11

Episode 192 - Plotting: the importance of conflict,...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/11/21

In fiction in all genres only trouble is interesting. How do we writers use trouble in our story? Here are thoughts on how we can plot using conflict, crisis, and resolution, a technique important for all genres. Also, should we use beta readers? And the add-a-quirk technique. Support the show

en-us

24:35

Episode 191 - Do we know enough to write the first...

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel ·

2025/11/14

When do we know enough writing techniques to start our novel? And when is the story ready to be written? I'll try to answer both questions. Also, how do great writers describe a character's appearance in ways that reveal the character's past and personality? Here's how masterful writers do it. Support the show

en-us

210 results

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College