Tim asks: What’re your opinions on pacing an Action-adventure novel? How much action is actually necessary? King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider HaggardSahara by Clive CusslerIndiana JonesRomancing the StoneThe Killing Floor by Lee ChildJurrassic Park (film)Congo (film)The Lost World by DoyleThe Mummy
Khellan asks:I’ve recently started carving out some “guaranteed” time to write fiction 3 times a week. It’s been a long time. Do you have any tools or tricks to get you back in the particular headspace or mood for the specific story you’re working on, or have you ingrained the …
Joe asks:Lots of people have opinions about how to write a bestseller. What are some of the more interesting and counter intuitive ways to write a book that never sells at all? Sponsored by Archivos
Tim asks:I’ve noticed dictation results in a more twisty story than typing, at least for me. I guess I’m curious if there are any techniques you use that alter the kind of story that results? Resources Mentioned:The Clarke Lantham MysteriesJ. Daniel Sawyer Fiction Podcast
Tim asks:Grit. How do you express a character’s mental toughness whether they’re a Point of View character or not? Resources mentioned:The Gulag ArchipelagoWitnessTakenJohn Wick Sponsored by Archivos
Joe asks:What writing advice would have totally tanked you as a writer if you hadn’t ignored it? Resources Mentioned:The Collected Poems of Emily DickensonThe Best of Hemingway
Tim asks:Do you see your characters more like real people or more like toys with all manner of features to employ in the narrative? Resources mentioned: On Fairy-Stories by JRR TolkienLast Days of Socrates by PlatoBiblical Book of JobCollected Classic Novels of HG WellsDavid Mamet Masterclass
Khellen asks:My antagonist hasn’t shown up halfway through the book and I’m not sure what to do. How do you build an effective antagonist for your stories? Resources Mentioned: Suave Rob’s Awesome Adventures by J. Daniel SawyerThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Sponsored by Archivos
Nichole asks:I’m having trouble expanding my short story into a novel. Can you give some techniques and examples? Resources: Predestination and Other Games of Chance (full cast audio podcast by J. Daniel Sawyer) Nightfall by Isaac Asimov novel, short story
Nichole asks: How does one show the gender of a first person narrator? Resources: I, Claudius by Robert Graves Sponsored by Archivos
