Questions 273: Plotting at Pulp Speed
Subscribe Here! Caine asks: “Without rewriting, how do pulp writers plot?” Resources mentioned: Dune by Frank Herbert Under the Dome by Stephen King Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Questions 272: Nuclear Storytelling Options
Subscribe Here! Ed submits a correction, and then asks: “How do you spot tropes and techniques that are very difficult to do well?” Resources mentioned: Back to the Future Dr. Who
Questions 271: All About Flash Fiction
Subscribe Here! Celine asks: “What’s the deal with flash fiction? I love it, but can’t imagine how to write it.” Resources Mentioned: Wasted Youth by Jim Steinman (from Bat Out of Hell 2) The Best of Robert Service by Robert Service The Next Ten Thousand Hours The Raven by Edgar …
Questions 270: Getting Characters to Speak to You
Subscribe Here! Dan Dan the Art Man asks: “How can you create characters that feel so real to you that your characters tell you where the story should go?” Resources mentioned: Writing the Blockbuster Novel by Albert Zuckerman Writing to Sell by Scott Merideth
Questions 250: Solidarity as a Biological Drive
Subscribe Here! Ed: “How do you justify classifying ‘solidarity’ as a biological drive in your Deep Character series?” Resources mentioned: Cast Away
Questions 249: Contracts, Republishing, and Expanding
Subscribe Here! Cain asks: “What are the general dos and don’ts of republishing work that’s already appeared in anthologies?” Resources mentioned: The Copyright Handbook by Stephen Fishman Some Might Call It Infringement Chicken Noodle Gravity by J. Daniel Sawyer Cold Duty by J. Daniel Sawyer The Man In The Rain …
Questions 248: Writing Chaotic Scenes
Subscribe Here! JR asks: “How do you write a chaotic scene without making it chaotic for the reader?” Resources mentioned: Arthur by Stephen R. Lawhead All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque And Then She Was Gone by J. Daniel Sawyer Silent Victor by J. Daniel Sawyer The …
Questions 247: Writing Nonfiction Books
Subscribe Here! Josh asks: “What advice would you give for writing nonfiction how-to guides?” This episode sponsored by Bundle Rabbit! Resources mentioned: Making Tracks by J. Daniel Sawyer Throwing Lead by J. Daniel Sawyer and Mary Mason
Questions 246: I’ve Lost My Finishing Mojo
Subscribe Here! Vega asks: “I can’t finish my second book. Help!” This episode is sponsored by our generous patrons!
Questions 245: When Have You Arrived?
Subscribe Here! Ed asks: “In the new world of publishing, how do you know when you’re ‘good enough’?” This episode sponsored by Bundle Rabbit!