Writer Unleashed

279. 4 Secrets to Irresistible Story Openings

Most writers know their opening matters. But knowing it and nailing it are two different things. In this episode, I'm breaking down four real book openings to show you exactly what's working beneath the surface, why it hooks readers, and what you can take from each one into your own story. Episode Web Page

• Transcript

Encore: 3 Ways to Make Writing Fun Again

What do you do when writing starts feeling heavy and overwhelming? When it stops being fun? In this encore episode we'll look at what causes these feelings and how to make your writing joyful again. We'll cover: The number one thought process that's holding you back - and how it shows up in your writing How to reconnect with your personal purpose for writing your story Staying present in your writing The importance of practice and play, and why your writing can only improve with this approach Episode Web Page

• Transcript

278. Why Your Story Is Stuck (And What's Really Missing)

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 examine. It's not your plot. It's not your structure. It's something that has to be true about your protagonist before any of that can work. And when it's off, no amount of rewriting will fix it. In this episode, I'm breaking down what that missing layer is, why it's harder to identify than it looks, and how it shifts and deepens across all three acts of your story. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for in your own manuscript — and what to do about it. Episode Web Page Stuck in your draft? Join my free live masterclass, From Stuck to Story, and find the structure that's already in what you've written. Save your seat: https://mylivemasterclass.com

• Transcript

277. 3 Must-Have Traits of A Believable Antagonist

When an antagonist feels like just another plot device, readers sense it - and disengage. In this episode, I'm sharing three must-have traits that change everything, and why getting this right might be the most important craft decision you make about your story. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript

Encore: Mothers Who Write: Finding the Time, Energy, and Support

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 full brood, carving out space to write can feel challenging, if not impossible. This encore episode is a love note to mothers. I share my story, along with what I've learned along the way about how to honor the urge to create while being totally present for our kids. We'll cover how to make time, set the conditions to make your writing happen, and how to ask for support. Episode Website Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript

276. Why You Can't Start Your Book (And How to Get Unstuck)

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 exactly what's keeping you from starting. In this episode learn 3 practical exercises you can do before you outline, before you structure, before you feel ready. Because clarity doesn't come before the writing. It comes from the writing itself. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript

275. The Mid-Draft Slump: How to Believe in Your Book Again

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. If you've hit the mid-draft slump and started wondering whether your story is good enough, or whether you are, this episode is for you. In this episode, I break down why writers lose faith in their books mid-draft, and why the problem is almost never the story itself. You'll learn the three shifts that will get you back in the room with your work. This isn't a pep talk. It's a reorientation — one that puts you back in control of the one thing that was always yours: your experience of writing this book. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript
• Chapters

274. 3 Mistakes I See In Almost Every First Draft

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 up in draft after draft. Not because these writers aren't talented. But because first drafts are hard, and most of us don't know what we don't know until someone points it out. The frustrating thing about these mistakes? They're invisible from the inside. The draft looks like it's working. Pages are accumulating. But something feels off, and you can't put your finger on it. In this episode, I'm naming all three — and telling you exactly what to do instead. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

273. Why Writers Quit (And Why You Shouldn't)

Every writer hits a wall mid-project. The draft isn't working, the rejections are stacking up, and quitting starts to feel like the logical choice. But quitting isn't protecting you from failure. It's guaranteeing it. In this episode, I break down down three truths about setbacks that every writer needs to hear, and why the writers who finish are the ones who learn to use failure as fuel. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript

#272: Why Your Story Dies in the Middle (And the One Thing That Brings It Back to Life)

Every writer knows the feeling. Your story is on fire, you're excited about what's on the page. Then somewhere in the middle, something dies. The excitement fades. The scenes stop feeling alive. And no matter how many times you reread or rework your outline, the flatness doesn't go away. Most writers think something is wrong with them when this happens. It isn't. There's one specific thing missing from your story - and once you find it, everything changes. In this episode I reveal the one thing missing from most stories that keeps your draft moving, your characters compelling, and your readers invested all the way to the end. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Transcript
• Chapters

#271: The Thing That's Quietly Keeping You From Finishing Your Book

If you've ever hit a rough patch in your draft and found yourself reaching for another craft book, another podcast, another writing group, this episode is for you. Finishing your book gets harder when outside voices drown out your own instincts. In this episode, I break down what's actually keeping you stuck, how to recognize your own signal, and three concrete strategies for quieting the noise long enough to hear it. Episode Web Page Structure your story with this FREE 3-Act Worksheet. Go beyond outlining and write a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Grab your FREE Worksheet here.

• Chapters