In this episode, Jeff hangs out with author/editor/bookstore owner Tom Holbrook. They talk about stories they've enjoyed recently and stories they've consumed that were broken. They then discuss what someone should look for in an editor; and Jeff also goes full "grumpy old man" about publishing as he and Tom talk about what they are encountering as editors. For Tom's editing services go to https://holbrookauthorservices.com/ Find Tom's bookstore at https://riverrunbookstore.com/ For more from the Dialogue Doctor, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In in this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch IX sits down with author Fiona Chan to look at a section of Fiona's work in progress. They discuss the character voices, showing and not telling with the action, and the characters' motivations. It's a wonderful deep dive into how to write strong characters that change through the story. For more on writing dialogue, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff and Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch IX discuss the classic book on writing scenes, "Scene & Structure" by Jack M. Bickham. They talk about the evolution of writing advice, the system Bickham sets up for scene building, and the components of an amazing scene. For more on writing amazing dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm sits down with Historical Fantasy author Madeline Davis to look at a scene from Madeline's current work in progress. They discuss increasing the emotional intensity of the scene by replacing expositional summaries with getting characters speaking to each other, building frustration through vocalization, and taking into account what the Vehicle Character (the POV) has experienced before we choose the words the character uses. For more on writing dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with publisher and author agent David Morris to talk about his history in publishing, the difference between a small publisher and an agent, and what he looks for in authors. You can find David's publishing house (Lake Drive Books) at https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/ You can find his work as a literary agent (Hyponymous Literary Agency) at https://www.hyponymous.com/ For more on dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Holly Lyne to look at the first chapter of Holly's work in progress. They discuss the character growth arc and then look for ways in the first chapter to set up the character for stronger emotional payoff as the character changes. They also look at the character's voice and modulating the voice to demonstrate change. For more on Dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/summer-fall-2024-events/
In this Episode, Jeff meets up with some of the Dialoggers (members of the Dialogue Doctor Community) to talk about the movie the Big Short and discuss how to craft a story with multiple vehicle characters. To join the Dialogger community and participate in conversations like this, go to https://www.patreon.com/JeffElkins
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm is joined by author Danielle Boneau. Together they edit one of Danielle's scenes and talk about how to give it a greater emotional impact. They discuss balancing drama with facts in historical fiction, expressing emotions through character vocalizations, using the surroundings to amplify emotions, and slowing down to increase the emotional power of the scene. For more on writing amazing dialogue and powerful characters, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with first time author Matt Brook to talk about the beats of his first story. Matt comes to Jeff with a summary of the story, and they work together to find the scenes in the summary. They talk about how to find the confidence you need to finish your book, goals as an author, whether or not you should be worried about genre conventions, and how to take a summary of a story and find the scenes you need to make it work. Jeff shows Matt how to find a beat inside each story. For more on dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff, JP, and Laura (the Dialogue Doctor Coaches) join forces to talk about what they've learned in the last three years, their favorite moments, what they hope to attempt in the future, what is coming in the fall of 2024, and other things. For more from the Dialogue Doctor Coaches, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch IX works with Author Viver Israel to refine the characters in her cast. They start off by talking through JP and Viver's Story Hypothesis and how Viver's characters change. They talk through Viver's main character's voice and major voice modulations, and then they look at the voices of Viver's other cast members and how they all relate to one another. To find more of JP's work, check out https://www.jprindfleischix.com/ To learn more about writing dialogue, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch sits down with narrator and audio producer Kirt Graves to talk about audiobook production. Kirt shares about how his history in debate and growing up gay helped him built the super power of empathy. He talks about how he collaborates with authors, the role of the author in a narration project, and how to give the narrator good notes. JP and Kirt also talk about working on queer books and why representation is important. To find more of Kirt's work or to hire Kirt, check out https://www.kirtreads.com/ To find Kirt's podcast Hoof and Fang, go to https://www.hoofandfangpodcast.com/ For more on writing dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
Jeff and editor/writer/bookstore owner Tom Holbrook come together to talk about what they are seeing in the book world. They talk about things they are encountering frequently as editors, stories that they've recently loved, stories they consumed that were broken, and about the state of publishing in general. To find Tom online, go to https://holbrookauthorservices.com/ For more on writing dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach sits down with fantasy author Mark August to talk about writing a big cast with multiple points-of-view. Laura and Mark talk about introducing lots of characters, Laura breaks down how to introduce a lot of characters, letting us know who is in the scene, and getting characters talking right away. To find more of Mark's work, go to https://readmarkaugust.com/books/ For more on writing dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
WARNING - this episode contains conversation about suicide and violence. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, please call 988 now. Help is available. You can speak with someone today. In this episode, we are kicking off poetry month. Jeff sits down with poet Edward Doyle-Gillespie to talk about what inspires Ed to write poetry, why he loves it, and how it is different than writing fiction. To find more of Ed's poetry, check out his work on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edoylegillespie?mibextid=ZbWKwL
In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Jenny Wilson to talk about her cast. They work through her vehicle's voice and how her vehicle needs to change during the story, then they talk about her surrounding cast members and how those cast members can enhance the reader's experience. For more on dialogue and characterization, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Don Elliot to talk about plotting out a longer series. They talk about how to manage it, how to role it out to readers, and how to make it feel realistic. Jeff stresses in the episode that it is important to hook the reader at the scene/character level. They also talk plot structures, Game of Thrones, and the Godfather. For more on this, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, JP Rindfleisch the IX and Jeff talk about Houston Howard's book, You're Gonna Need a Bigger Story. JP takes Jeff through the main points and the process together how the story might impact their writing. To find more of JP, check out https://www.jprindfleischix.com/ For more on writing dialogue, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Eric Heuser to look at a scene Eric is working on. Jeff and Eric talk about adding a POV to a work in progress, building emotional resonance, writing a character with a different interior and exterior voice, using reflective prose in segment breaks to give the reader a feeling of intimacy. For more on dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/
In this episode, Laura and Jeff answer questions from the Dialoggers. Questions include: --Suggestions for plotting and planning a longer series, --How to write dialogue in a group scene where you have six or more characters in the discussion? --When trying to establish characters, world, and show the 'normal' state of life for them, how do you keep it interesting? This is especially tricky with fantasy considering the world building. --How do you choose to read a new author? Like do you choose mood or genre first? What do you type into Amazon? --What if your vehicle's steps towards their true need feel repetitive? People and/or situations change, but the choice or action seem too similar? --Can you offer any tips to help a writer who normally writes third-person close; write first-person? --Can you recommend a framework for finding the sweet spot between overwriting and underwriting during the drafting process? For more on dialogue, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/