This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Adrienne Young and Isabel Ibañez to the Story Works Round Table to chat about...
SWRT 278 | Outlining Your Novel
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss the process of outlining. There is more to talk about than we might first think. Why is outlining useful? How should we go about it to make sure it’s a time saver and not a time waster? Does it help to outline more than once in the writing process?
Outlining (or storyboarding) is a great way to assess the story you’re writing before and during the lengthy process of novel drafting. The more experienced a writer you are, the more valuable the tool seems to be!
Are you ready to get more out of your writing, to grow your writing skills, and get that novel done faster? Do you want community, feedback, and mentoring? Check out group coaching for novelists. A new session begins in May. www.wordessential.com/fictioncoaching
SWRT 005: Soggy Middle Problem
Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss the soggy middle problem and what to do about it. Keep your action interesting and stakes and tension rising throughout the entire story. VIDEO AUDIO SHOW NOTES What is a soggy middle? And what kind of writers tend to have...
SWRT 004 | Genre Series: Mystery, Characters
What is a cozy mystery? And how do you develop the right cast of characters to fit inside of one? What skills to they need? And who do they need around them? We discuss genre conventions for mysteries in general, and cozy mysteries specifically. Don’t forget your law enforcement, or your red herrings!
SWRT 003 | Genre Series: Dark Fiction with Lisa von Biela
We welcome special guest, Lisa von Biela, to the Story Works Round Table this week to launch a series on genre fiction. Lisa has numerous dark, horror, speculative stories published, primarily with Dark Fuse. We talk about inspiration, plotting, and the twists of...
SWRT 002 | Introduction to Point of View
In this week’s episode we discuss point of view.
SWRT 001 | Dialogue | How it’s different from speaking; how it advances your story
How is dialogue in fiction different from real life? When should you use exposition versus dialogue? And how do you use your dialogue to move your story forward? When do you use dialogue to communicate information or explain things? And when should you shy away?
SWRT 000 | Introductions
Find out what the Story Works Round Table podcast is all about and meet your hosts, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert.
SWRT 34: Developing Your Supporting Characters
How do you develop supporting characters? What goes into them versus your protagonist? How do you move them from plot device to fully fleshed being? And what role should they play? Above all how do you keep them from all sounding the same?
SWRT 33: How to End Your Story
How do you know when to end your story? And how do you deliver your ending in a way that leaves readers thinking about your story and character for days? Be deliberate about what you leave unresolved, and don’t let that ending be disappointing! Above all make sure your protagonist takes center stage. And don’t be fooled by our decoy endings.
SWRT 32: Stakes & Tension
What is the difference between stakes, tension and danger, and how can we use them correctly to create a compelling story? How do you increase stakes without ending the world? And why should they be personal to your protagonist? How do you make readers really feel the tension? Use these three to craft a surprising story, no matter your genre.