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Writer Unleashed is a weekly podcast for fiction and memoir writers. It's a deep dive into story techniques, writing craft, and the mindsets that help you write with unstoppable momentum and create stories readers can't put down.
267 Episodes
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If your novel or memoir juggles multiple storylines—different timelines, narrators, or settings—you might wonder how to keep it all cohesive. In this episode, I share three craft techniques to make your separate narratives feel like parts of the same living story. You’ll learn how to connect your threads through a shared core question, create cause and effect across timelines, and use theme to tie everything together. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Ne...
What's the difference between a character-driven story and a plot-driven story? And how do you know which one you're writing? In this episode, I explain what these terms actually mean, how to identify where your manuscript falls on the spectrum, and—most importantly—how to strengthen whichever element needs more support. You'll learn the two most common problems writers face and get one simple exercise to help you revise with intention. There's no "right" answer here—just intentional choices....
Got a story idea but don't know where to begin? You're not alone. Many writers either freeze at "Chapter One" or spend months planning without ever drafting. In this episode, I walk you through the essential things you need to know before you write your first scene. So you can stop overthinking and start writing today. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally ...
Suspense isn't just for thrillers—it's what makes readers unable to put down any story, from memoir to fantasy to romance. In this episode, you'll learn three proven techniques to create page-turning tension in any genre. No car chases or explosions required. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Writing a story with multiple POVs? In this episode, we’ll unpack how to keep your narrative focused, decide which characters need full arcs, and make sure every point-of-view earns its place in your story. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Memoir is true, fiction is made up - but how does that change your actual storytelling? In this episode, I break down the key differences between memoir and fiction: what you can and can't do in memoir, how much creative license you have, and when to choose one form over the other. Plus: the surprising ways memoir and fiction use the exact same narrative techniques. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer U...
If you’ve been wrestling with story structure, this episode will help you see it differently. Learn what’s really keeping you stuck and how to finally bring your draft to the finish line. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
If you’ve ever hit that point in your draft where the words feel heavy, the story starts to wander, and your momentum disappears—you’ve landed in the messy middle. Every writer faces it. The difference is, some know how to push through. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why the middle of a draft feels so hard—and how to revive your story so you can actually finish it. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Wr...
If your novel or memoir keeps stalling out, it’s not about talent or discipline. Chances are, something else is getting in your way. This episode uncovers what it is—and how to move past it. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Your protagonist’s first appearance can make or break your story. That opening impression tells your reader whether they should lean in, or move on. Too often, writers get stuck in backstory, mundane routines, or quirky details that don’t really matter yet. The result? A flat introduction that fails to spark curiosity or connection. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why your protagonist’s introduction carries so much weight.The 4 most common mistakes writers make in opening scenes.3 strategies to...
Every writer hits that moment mid-draft where the story feels too big, too messy, too unclear. But getting lost in the middle of a draft doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re deep in the work. And the good news? There’s a way through. In this episode, I’ll help you zoom out, find the heart of your story again, and get back on track. So you can turn that overwhelming pile of pages into a novel or memoir that actually works. If you’re overwhelmed by the volume of your story material...
Most writers dream of quitting their jobs to write full-time. But here’s the twist: many of the greatest authors did their best work while juggling day jobs. In this episode, we’ll dive into the stories of famous writers who turned paychecks into pages, and how you can, too. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
Most story ideas that excite you at 2 AM seem paper-thin by Thursday afternoon. Here's the truth: your idea probably isn't too small, you just haven't learned how to dig deeper. While other writers chase the next shiny concept, successful authors know how to mine the gold that's already there. In this episode, discover the specific questions that reveal whether your story has legs, plus the proven techniques for expanding any concept into a full narrative that writes itself. Stop second-guess...
Do you have a folder full of half-finished drafts? You’re not alone. Almost every writer has started a story with excitement, only to abandon it when the magic fades. In this episode, I’ll share why this happens, the mindset shifts that help you stay the course, and four practical strategies to keep you moving forward even when the middle gets messy. You’ll learn how to stop chasing new ideas, stay connected to the story you’ve already begun, and use writing not just to finish, but to deepen ...
Every writer wrestles with doubt from time to time. But if you don’t know how to handle it, that doubt can stall your story for months or even years. In this episode, I’m dismantling three of the most common myths that keep writers stuck and replacing them with truths you can lean on. So you can keep showing up for your story with a sense of wonder and unshakeable confidence. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our ...
Backstory often gets blamed for slowing a story down. Writers are told to cut it, sprinkle it lightly, or avoid it altogether. But here’s the truth: the wrong backstory, delivered the wrong way, at the wrong time is the problem. Used with intention, backstory can reveal the wounds and desires that drive your character, raise the stakes, and transform an ordinary scene into one that lingers with readers. In this episode, I’ll share: 3 powerful ways to use backstory so it deepens, rather than d...
Your opening line is your reader’s first invitation into your story, so it has to do more than just start the book. It has to hook. In this episode, I'm sharing 3 powerful strategies to craft a first sentence that grabs your readers' attention and keeps them wanting more. Episode Web Page Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.
We don’t just read stories to find out what happens. We read to witness who a character becomes. So how do you show that change? Not by stating it outright, or having another character comment on it, but through behavior, inner voice, and choices that reveal an internal shift. In this episode, we’re breaking down what character transformation looks like on the page, and 4 powerful ways to show it. Whether your character evolves in subtle or seismic ways, this episode will help you track and s...
When dialogue works, it feels alive. It's charged with tension. It reveals character, drives the plot, and leaves space for the reader to lean in and feel what’s left unsaid. But when it doesn’t? It falls flat, feels forced, or gets skimmed over entirely. In this episode, I’m breaking down three essential tips to help you write dialogue that feels authentic, but curated. Natural, but emotionally charged. We’ll look at what to cut, how to shape each exchange, and how to infuse even simple mome...
You’ve finally shared your pages with someone. Maybe it was a critique partner, a writing group, an editor, or beta reader. You were nervous, but hopeful, maybe even excited, and then the feedback came. And now you’re spiraling. Maybe they pointed out something you thought you’d nailed, or they didn’t understand your main character, or they told you something that deep down you already feared might be true. And now the voice in your head is getting louder. Am I even a good writer? Do I ...
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Another excellent episode! Thank you ever so much! I'm very much looking forward to listening to all of your episodes (I'm new to podcasts) as well as to new ones! Keep up the good work!
Excellent! Thank you!
I think an outline needn't mean being trapped in some mold but could just provide some form of preliminary compass that could always change, but that is necessary to overcome the daunting feeling of a blank page...
Thank you for this wonderful episode! I'm new to podcasts and have been listening to podcasts about writing for a week, this is the first one I found of real substance and value! keep up the good work!