Writer Unleashed
Episodes
#188: How to Prioritize Writing When You Have A Career And Family
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make writing a priority when other commitments compete? When you have a full time career and family? We all know writing a book is a col...
#187: 3 Ways To Write With More Confidence
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling with confidence when it comes to writing your story? Maybe you swing from excitement to self-doubt. Or you worry that no one will care to r...
#186: Plotting The Character-Driven Story
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when your novel or memoir doesn’t follow the typical plot structure? What if there’s no crime to be solved, tsunami to survive, or ...
#185: Your Opening Scenes: What To Reveal, What to Withhold
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We can all agree that your opening scenes are your only chance to capture your reader's attention. It's what hooks them into the story. You...
#184: 5 Questions To Help Focus Your Story Idea
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our stories can become so overrun with ideas, they run away from us.Each idea leads to another and another until you’re lost in the vortex. There ar...
#183: How To Link Your Character's Interior Story To The Plot
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most writers know how their characters need to change. They know what happens on the plot level. They know their character's struggles. Often...
Reprise: 4 Writing Myths Holding You Back
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no shortage of writing advice. Especially in the online space. Google is not the best gatekeeper. And some FB groups are doling out conf...
Reprise: What Readers Really Want From Your Story
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do readers read? Is it just for entertainment? To escape everyday life? Or is there a deeper need?What is it about story that keeps us captivate...
#182: 5 Ways To Nail Your First Chapter
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your first chapter matters. It's what binds readers to your story. It makes them care. And when they care, they can't help but keep reading....
181: Writing Emotions: 3 Ways To Move Readers
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When a story moves us, it’s not because of beautiful writing, or a strong voice – it’s not because of a great plot. All these things are importa...
#180: Show, Don't Tell: Your Top Questions Answered
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Show, don't tell. How many times have you heard this advice? You may understand the concept, but it's still not sinking in.So, what's t...
#179: Writing Dialogue: 5 Do's and Don'ts
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You want your characters' dialogue to sound natural, like real people talking. But what do you do when the dialogue just sounds mundane, forced...
#178: How To Uncomplicate Your Plot
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If I had to pick one thing that makes readers stop reading, it's the overcomplicated plot. Both novice and experienced writers fall into this ...
#177: 3 Ways To Deeper, More Fascinating Characters
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You want to bring more depth and complexity to your characters so that readers are interested and invested in what happens to them.But how do you do t...
#176: Beyond First and Third Person: 3 Tips For Writing Point Of View
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of confusion about the difference between who's telling the story (first or third person), and point of view. I'll see ...
#175: Charting Your Story's Major Plot Points
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are plot points? And why do you need them?In this episode, we’ll talk about 3 major plot points, the purpose of each, and where in your story t...
#174: 3 Essential Elements For Structuring Act One
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how to write your First Act? In this episode, learn 3 core elements to structure - and nail- Act One of your story. From your set-up, to...
#173: How To Write A Captivating Opening Hook
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write an opening scene that hooks your reader? An opening so captivating, it compels readers to keep turning the page.A great opening does ...
#172: How To Stick To Your Writing This Year
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New Year. Fresh start. Maybe you’ve resolved that 2024 is going to be the year you’re going to finish your novel or memoir once and for all.But ...
Rewind: Writing Inspiration From The Masters
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're going back to a beloved episode from 2022. Writing is solitary. And if you’re anything like me, you like to dip into s...
Rewind: 3 Mindset Shifts To Make Your Writing Dream A Reality
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In one of the most downloaded episodes of 2023, we're tackling the one thing stopping writers from bringing their story to the finish line.Fear.M...
#171: Scene and Summary: A Guide To Writing Both
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is scene? What is summary? In this episode, learn the crucial difference between them. We'll explore the common ways writers get scene and s...
#170: 10 Great Gifts For Writers
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for original gift ideas for writers? Want to add some to your own holiday wish list? In this episode, I’m sharing 10 gifts ideas perfect ...
#169: Plot Simplified Into 4 Core Elements
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Overthinking your plot with beats and pinch points? Plot doesn't need to be complex or over-thought to capture your reader. In fact, when your ...
#168: 3 Simple Techniques To Turn Good Writing Into Great
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn good writing into great writing?With stories that engage, thrill, and surprise your reader.That create drama right on the sentence lev...
#167: 3 Powerful Writing Exercises When You Don't Know What To Write
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when you want to write, but don't think you have anything to say? Or you do have something to say, but don't know how to sa...
#166: How To Recharge Your Motivation To Write
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you keep writing when you don’t have the motivation to keep going? How do you recapture the excitement you had when you first started?In t...
#165: How To Get The Most Out Of NaNoWriMo (Or Any New Writing Project)
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s November, also known as National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo can be a great jumpstart to a writing project, or to make progress on an existi...
#164: How To Give Each Character A Story Purpose
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having a large cast of characters can overwhelm your readers, especially if the characters are introduced all at once, too many characters crowd a sce...
#163: 5 Tips For Writing Stronger, More Structured Scenes
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write stronger, more structured scenes that excite you and captivate your reader?Each scene is a microcosm of the whole story. It creates a...
#162: 5 Checkpoints For Developing Character And Plot
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you balance character development with the advancement of your plot? How can you develop characters to even execute your plot, unless you first...
#161: Looking Back On The Past: A Guide To Writing Retrospective Narrators
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we write about what happened, we’re tempted to be bound by what actually occurred. But our memories are not recordings that can be verified. Me...
#160: How To Build Captivating Character Relationships
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The interpersonal dynamics between characters are an essential part of character and plot development. Drama involves people who interact with and in...
#159: 5 Writing Exercises To Help You Master Dialogue
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dialogue is one of the trickiest elements to master. It’s not a complete rendering of the way humans really speak. It’s shaped, concise, sha...
#158: A Different Approach To Writing First Drafts
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write first drafts? Do you outline first and then write the story following that outline? What if outlining just isn't your jam? In th...
#157: 5 Ways To Earn Money Writing
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are many ways these days to earn money writing. And if you enjoy tinkering with words, these 5 will help you earn cash while giving you the ti...
#156: 4 Ways To Show Character Emotion
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We want our readers to feel our character’s pain, their joy, and everything in between. But one of the quickest ways to sever the reader’s emotion...
#155: 5 Common Plot Problems And How To Fix Them
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this encore episode, we talk about common plot problems that plague first-time novelists, and how to solve or avoid them completely. You'll ...
#154: How A Central Image Can Amplify Your Story’s Meaning
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An image paints a picture for readers, giving them a sensory experience. Some images are just meant to be descriptive. They're not insignificant....
#153: How Failure Can Lead To Your Best Writing
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've just received your 10th agent rejection. Or the story that's so vivid in you mind just isn't translating onto the page. Maybe ...
#152: Should You Self Publish Or Go The Traditional Route?
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should you self publish? Or traditionally publish? In this episode, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both. So you can make an informed decisi...
#151: How Objects Create Stronger Storytelling
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The mark of a great story is specificity. And to make your writing pop, you want to bring concrete details into the scene.In last week's episode,...
#150: How To Build Multi-Dimensional Story Settings
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In story, setting is an essential yet often under-used element. Setting allows for the interaction between characters and their environment, weaving ...
#149: 5 Essential Elements To Make A Scene
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What undermines an otherwise compelling story? Poorly written scenes. So, how can you write more captivating, impactful and structured scenes? In th...
#148: 3 Guidelines For Writing Riveting Dialogue
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write dialogue that doesn’t feel artificial, cliche or dull?How do you use dialogue to create character depth, subtlety and originality? ...
#147: How Uncertainty During The Writing Process Helps You Write Better Stories
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Paralyzed by uncertainty during the writing process? In this episode, learn why uncertainty is every great writer's secret weapon. You'll le...
#146: 5 Ways To Fine Tune Character Voice
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you give your characters a distinct, unmistakable voice? What people say and how they say it is a big part of character development. And each ...
#145: Four Levels To Deeper Character Development
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, you're going to go beneath the surface of your characters. We'll go 4 levels deep, starting on the surface, and moving a le...
#144: Four Ways To Give Your Voice Presence And Purpose
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is writer's voice? How do you access yours, and how do you express it on the page? In this episode, I'll give you 4 ways to giv...
143: How To Get Better Feedback From Beta Readers
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve just finished the first draft of your novel, memoir or short story, and now you're seeking beta readers. A beta reader is a test reader ...
#142: Your Summer Writing Playlist
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Now that summer's officially here, and with Writer Unleashed reaching it's 3rd year of being on the airwaves, I've done a retrospective...
#141: Four Guidelines For Writing Dazzling Description
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Description can enrich your story with layers of atmosphere and authenticity that drops the reader inside the world of your story. But sometimes write...
#140: Scene Vs. Summary: When To Write Which
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writers often think they're writing in scene when they're actually writing in summary. So, what is summary? What is scene? And when do you w...
#139: Mothers Who Write: How To Find The Time, Energy, and Support
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do mothers balance writing with parenthood? Whether you're a mom of young children, or a single parent holding down a full time job and a ful...
#138: What Kind Of Editor Do You Need?
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whatever stage of the writing process you're in, whether you have a finished first draft, or a work in progress... you may be thinking of hiring ...
#137: The Inciting Incident: How To Launch Your Story's Action
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's an inciting incident, and why does your story need one?In this episode, learn what an inciting incident is, and two types that set your st...
#136: Present Tense Vs. Past Tense: The Pros and Cons
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Present tense or past tense? How do you decide? What are the advantages of present tense, and when is past tense a better option? In this episode, I’...
#135: The Secret To Mastering Your Story's Point Of View
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most important decisions you’re going to make about your story is its point of view. Point of view is also one of the more complex story ...
#134: A 5-Step Framework For Writing A Clear Compelling Story
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A common challenge many writers face is gaining clarity on the story they’re writing and conveying it to readers in a way that compels them to keep ...
#133: Should You Write A Prologue?
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does your story need a prologue? Will it hurt your story? Should you remove or rewrite the one you’ve already written? And how do you write a riveti...
#132: Do's and Don'ts Of Writing Flashback
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write flashback without overwhelming or interrupting your forward moving story? Can you have too many flashbacks?Is it bad to write a flas...
#131: 3 Easy Ways To Write Better Dialogue
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you make your story’s dialogue more realistic without writing too much dialogue? Or extraneous pass the meat and potatoes dialogue?How do you...
#130: Drilling Down To Your Story's Central Dramatic Question
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's an implicit, central dramatic question driving every compelling story. Will Santiago catch a fish? (The Old Man and The Sea)Will Clarice ...
#129: 5 First Chapter Mistakes You Can Avoid
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What should your first chapter do? What does it need to accomplish? And what are common ways writers get their first chapter wrong? In this episode,...
#128: 3 Mindset Shifts To Make Your Writing Dream A Reality
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the one thing stopping writers from bringing their story to the finish line?Fear.Maybe you fear visibility and the expectations and judgem...
#127: Remix: Big Writing Takeaways From 6 Writer Unleashed Episodes
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm sharing takeaway ideas on the writing craft from 6 Writer Unleashed episodes. I'll share:how to inject conflict and sur...
#126: Writing Memoir: 5 Tips To Avoid Getting Sued
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to writing memoir, or even autobiographical fiction, writers often stay awake at night worrying about the possibility of being sued. Wri...
#125: How To Write Conflict Into Every Scene
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every story since the beginning of time has involved conflict. Somebody wants something, goes out to get it, and has trouble getting it. That’s wha...
#124: How To Hook Readers In Your Opening Paragraph
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write a great introduction for your story? An opening that draws a reader in, establishes the voice of your main character, and whets your ...
#123: A 2-Step Process To Start, Write, And Develop Your Story
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you take an idea from its nebulous beginnings and turn it into a story?You may have a feeling about what you want to write, but you don'...
#122: How To Stick To Your Writing Goals
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's a new year. Fresh start. Clean slate. So, let's talk about promises we make to ourselves. Write more consistently. Finish the b...
#121: 3 Varieties of First-Person Narration
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
First-person is a highly versatile point of view. And there's always an implied audience. In today's episode, we'll explore 3 varieties...
#120: Writing In First Person: 5 Challenges And How To Conquer Them
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For many writers, first-person narration comes naturally. And for memoir writers, it's the only choice. First-person has some advantages over t...
#119: Your 6-Step Story Outline
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In last week’s episode, we talked about 3 foundational elements to explore before you outline. And in this episode, we’re going to start buildi...
#118: Before You Outline: 3 Core Foundations To Build First
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to structuring your story, there's no one-size-fits-all. Some writers wing it all the way, others craft meticulous outlines before ...
#117: 3 Ways To Create Convincing Characters
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do we take our characters from their sketchy beginnings and make them come alive? How do we make them convincing? All writers struggle to make cha...
#116: Story Triggers: How To Generate Powerful Fiction and Memoir
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Great stories often start with a trigger. One persistent image, a childhood memory, a family story, or a phone conversation you overhear on the trai...
#115: How To Develop A Multi-Dimensional Story Setting
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you bring a textured, multi-dimensional sense of place to your story?And why is it important? Well, just as plot isn't separate from chara...
#114: Third Person POV Simplified
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Among all the POVs, 3rd person is arguably the most confusing.Let's say you're writing in limited third from your main character's POV,...
#113: How To Write Exposition Without Boring Your Reader
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How much exposition is too much? Should you begin your story with exposition? And how do you write exposition in a way that isn’t excessive, awkward...
112: 3 Tips For Writing Dynamic Dialogue
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dialogue between characters is one of those things writers struggle mightily with.You want the dialogue to sound like real life, but when you try to m...
#111: How to Structure A Scene in 3 Acts
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Each scene is your story in miniature, a story unto itself. And each follows the same 3 - Act structure.So, in this episode, you'll learn the st...
#110: 3 Powerful Ways To Show Character Emotion
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In story, you should always be building emotions. But it’s challenging to get big emotions like grief, love, fear, and anger on the page. Many wr...
#109: Your Top 5 Character Questions Answered
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You asked, I answered. In this episode, I’m answering 5 questions I hear over and over about character development. Questions like:What makes a stro...
#108: 3 Things Published Authors Do Differently
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What separates published authors from aspiring authors? Do they have more talent? More time? Nope. They just approach writing with a different menta...
#107: How to Write A Short Story In 3 Easy Steps
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What makes short stories different from novels? Aside from the obvious difference in length? And what can novelists learn from short stories? In this ...
#106: How to Develop A Consistent Writing Practice
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Now that summer's officially over and we're on the cusp of Fall, what better time to rekindle or start a consistent writing practice? Call...
#105: Four Questions To Ask Before You Quit Writing
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There comes a time when the story we're writing just isn't coming together as we envisioned. Writing's become too overwhelming and ...
#104: Five Episodes to Sharpen Your Writer's Toolkit
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As summer begins its exit, and Fall approaches, I curated 5 episodes to refresh your writing. These are some of the most downloaded episodes. You&apos...
#103: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Creative Non-Fiction
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's the difference between biography, autobiography, memoir, the immersion story, and personal essay? In this episode, you'll learn a...
#102: Five Secrets About Your Antagonist You Should Know
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you write the bad guy?The villain. The antagonist. The one who makes life difficult for your protagonist?How do you make this person believable...
#101: A Four-Step Strategy For Self-Editing Your Story
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Want to bring your manuscript closer to published, but don't want to drop thousands to hire an editor? In this episode, you'll learn to edi...
#100: Five Common Plot Problems You Can Avoid
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like no matter how much time you spend on your plot, your story’s just not coming together? Maybe you're generally happy with your st...
#99: How to Nail Down Your Story In 3 Simple Sentences
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If I asked you what your story was about, could you sum it up in a few sentences and tell me all I need to know to want more? Maybe you have too many ...
#98: Should You Hire An Editor?
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does an editor do precisely? How do you choose an editor you can trust with your manuscript? How much do editors charge? And is hiring one w...
#97: How to Stop Hating Everything You Write
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you tell the difference between genuinely bad writing and writing that's actually good... but you think it's bad because you're ...
#96: What Readers Really Want From Your Story
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do readers read? Is it just for entertainment? To escape everyday life? Or is there a deeper need? What is it about story that keeps us captivat...
#95: How to Start Your Story With the End in Mind
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're often instructed to hook readers in our opening paragraphs by enticing them with story questions. All good. But you can't really pla...
#94: Three Simple Steps to Deeper Character Development
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of writers believe you can't deeply develop character until you know what happens on the plot level. But this is backwards. Ultimately, wh...
#93: Whose Story Is It?
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Call it your hero. Or your MC. But all stories need one main protagonist. When we don’t know who your main character is, we have no one to root...