by Nanci | Oct 7, 2024 | Character, Podcast
When reading a story, the reader’s brain actively simulates the experience of the characters. The reader becomes so absorbed in the story, they experience it as though it’s true. They believe in it. But before a reader can have that experience, you have to...
by Nanci | Sep 30, 2024 | Character, Podcast
What is an anti-hero and why do they fascinate us? How do they keep us invested in their plight scene by scene? Even as they do immoral, criminal, or deplorable things? I’m a big fan of antiheroes because we can’t have a neutral reaction to them. So in...
by Nanci | Jul 29, 2024 | Character, Podcast
How do you flesh out your characters? How do you go deeper? Well, just as we don’t know people in one pass, we can’t know our characters in our stories fully in our early drafts, including when the main character is us, or anytime we’re basing...
by Nanci | Feb 26, 2024 | Character, Craft, Plot, Podcast
You want your dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking. But despite your effort, the dialogue still sounds stilted, awkward, and dull. Writing dialogue requires practice. And there are some ways to think about dialogue to help you write it better. In...
by Nanci | Feb 19, 2024 | Character, Craft, Plot, Podcast
Lost in the mess of your draft? Can’t see the forest for the trees? In this episode, learn how to uncomplicate your plot with simple strategies that create more clarity, connection, and depth for you and your readers. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here...