We’ll be spending extra time with our families this month, but will be back with all new podcast episodes in January...
SWRT 271 | Character Motivation
We’re talking character motivation. It’s crucial to every element of your story and you’ll do yourself a favor by having a handle on it in the prewriting stages. We talk about the protagonist, the reader, and you, the writer. Also, how motivation relates to flaws and conflicts, and how a series differs from a standalone.
SWRT 25: Trouble
What is trouble? How does it contribute to both character and plot arcs? How do you have to pay off trouble? And do you have to get it into every scene? We enjoy making a character struggle with a speeding ticket, and talk about how it can contribute to hooks both between chapters and books.
SWRT 24: Soggy Middle Problem
What is a soggy middle? And what kind of writers tend to have problems with it? Are you giving your middle the attention and care it deserves? And what makes a soggy middle after all? After some much needed middle shaming we all agree – do not tolerate a soggy middle!
SWRT 23: Writing in Two Languages with Anja Bauermeister
What is it like to write in two different languages? How do you make that choice and why pick one over the other? How does it affect voice and how can immersion in the project effect that coveted flow state?
SWRT 22: Writing Prompts part 2
This week, in a continuation of writing prompts part 1, we share our freewriting. In addition to reading and reacting to our writing, we talk about the benefits of sharing writing prompts with others, what cultural touchstones we drew on, and the implicit issues genetic manipulation brings.
SWRT 21: Writing Prompts part 1
What is the purpose of writing prompts? And how are they useful? When and how should you use them? And what kind of formats can you see them in? We share our own experiences and share some prompts. Join us for a writing prompt and listen in next week as we read our free writing aloud.
SWRT 20: Translations into German
Get to know Anja and Christina and their work as German translators. Ever wonder about the process of taking a book from one language to another? What about how the translator takes your words and conveys them in another language? And what is the level of trust you are extending? And don’t forget that a different language is a different market!
SWRT 19: Revision
How many drafts should you go through before you finish your book? And what draft should you send your developmental editor? Is rewriting or revision the answer? And how should you analyze that work in progress in order to find it’s flaws?
SWRT: #18 Setting
What makes a setting? And how can you use it to immerse your reader in your story? What details are good, and when does showing your research ruin the story you are trying to tell?
SWRT 17: Finding Your Protagonist
What is a protagonist, and does your story need one? What are the stakes your protagonist needs? Who is the right person to tell your story? And how is a protagonist different from a point of view character? And ultimately, do you have to discover one thing before another in your pre-writing process?