by Nanci | Jun 1, 2026 | Craft, Podcast, Structure
You know your opening matters. You’ve probably rewritten it more than once. You’ve tried starting earlier, starting later, cutting the backstory, adding more tension. But something still isn’t landing and you can’t quite name why. The best...
by Nanci | May 18, 2026 | Character, Craft, Podcast, Structure
Your story feels stuck. You’ve reread the chapters, moved scenes around, added more conflict. But something still isn’t working and you can’t name what it is. There’s a layer underneath every stuck story that most writers never think to...
by Nanci | May 11, 2026 | Mindset, Podcast
When writers talk about their antagonist, they usually mean the person working against their protagonist. The obstacle in the way of him or her getting what they want. What often happens though, is that the antagonist becomes just one more requirement of the story....
by Nanci | Apr 27, 2026 | Mindset, Podcast
Have a story you’re burning to tell but can’t figure out where to begin? Think other writers have it easier? You’re not stuck because you’re not a real writer. You’re stuck because you’re waiting to feel ready. And that’s...
by Nanci | Apr 20, 2026 | Mindset, Podcast
You started your book on fire. Now you sit down to write and feel blank – or worse, you’ve started to feel disenchanted by your own story. That’s the mid-draft slump. And if you’re in it, you know it doesn’t just make you doubt your...
by Nanci | Apr 13, 2026 | Craft, Podcast
If your first draft feels like it’s wandering — like you’re generating pages but not quite writing a story — this episode is for you. After coaching and editing hundreds of first-time novelists and memoir writers, I keep seeing the same three mistakes show...
