Writer Unleashed
Channel Details
Writer Unleashed
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.
Recent Episodes
296 episodes
Encore Episode: How To Write Exposition Without Boring Your Reader
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,...
283. What's Making your Dialogue Read False (and What To Do About It)
Most writers know when their dialogue isn't working. What they don't know is why. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three mistakes that make dial...
282: 5 Mindsets That Separate Writers Who Finish From Those Who Don't
If you've been writing your novel or memoir for months, maybe even years, and you still can't seem to cross the finish line, this episode is for you....
#281. The Secret to Writing Unforgettable Secondary Characters
Every character in your story is living a full, invisible life - not just your protagonist. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three levels of cha...
280. Chapters vs. Scenes: What Most Writers Get Wrong
You think in chapters. You write in chapters. And that might be exactly why revision feels impossible. In this episode, I tackle one of the most unive...
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 ope...
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 the...
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 wha...
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 ch...
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 bro...
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 rea...
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 hi...
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 coac...
#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. Bu...
#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 exci...
#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 episod...
#270: Why Writing Feels Harder Than It Has To
Most writers assume the struggle is just part of the deal. That if it feels hard, they must be doing something wrong, or not working hard enough, or n...
#269: How to Write Backstory Without Killing Momentum
Backstory creates a dilemma: you need to give readers context about the past, but the moment you stop your forward-moving plot to explain it, you lose...
#268: How to Write Riveting, Believable Dialogue: 3 Essential Techniques
What makes dialogue believable? It's not what you think. In this episode, I'm breaking down three techniques that bring conversations to life on the p...
#267: What to Cut From Your Novel and What to Keep: 3 Questions to Help You Decide
Every writer faces this moment: staring at a bloated manuscript, knowing something has to go, but terrified of making the wrong call. The usual advice...
#266: 3 Ways To Amp Up Romantic Tension In Your Story
Many writers think romantic tension comes from obstacles keeping compatible people apart. A jealous ex. A misunderstanding. A job in another city. But...
#265: First Encounters: 4 Ways To Signal Romantic Connection Without the Cliches
The first encounter between your would-be lovers is not about instant chemistry or love at first sight. It’s where the emotional logic of your entire...
#264: 5 Writing Blocks That Feel Impossible To Cross But Aren't
Writers face blocks that feel insurmountable but aren't. Discover the 5 story barriers keeping you stuck - outlining traps, getting lost in the middle...
#263: Why You Can't Finish Your First Draft (and the Simple Shift To Get It Done)
Can't finish your first draft? Perfecting your outline for months? Staring at a blank page afraid you'll write something bad? These look like differen...
#262: Finding the Story in Your Rough Draft (Even When It’s a Mess)
You have material - notes, scenes, a rough draft. But you can't quite see the story yet. In this episode, I'll show you four simple questions to help...
#261: 3 Pacing Mistakes That Kill Your Opening
You've revised your opening five times. Cut hundreds of words. Tightened every sentence. But readers still lose interest before they finish Chapter On...
#260: When Life Gets Busy: Staying Connected to Your Writing
When life ramps up, writing is usually the first thing to slip through the cracks. Deadlines, family demands, celebrations, travel, and the general De...
#259: When Your Story Feels Too Big to Finish: 4 Ways To Work Through Overwhelm
Feeling like your work-in-progress is spiraling out of control? You're not alone. This episode tackles that overwhelming moment when your story feels...
#258: The First Read of Your First Draft: What to Look For and What to Ignore
Your first read-through of a first draft can feel like stepping into unknown territory. You’re excited to see what you made, but you’re also bracing f...
#257: How to Weave Multiple Storylines Into One Cohesive Story
If your novel or memoir juggles multiple storylines—different timelines, narrators, or settings—you might wonder how to keep it all cohesive. In this...
#256: Character-Driven vs. Plot-Driven: Finding Your Story's Natural Balance
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 expla...
#255: From Idea to Page: 5 Steps to Start Writing
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 dr...
#254: 3 Ways To Create Page-Turning Suspense in Any Genre
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 lea...
#253: Whose Story Is It? Making Sense of Multiple POVs
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...
#252: Memoir vs. Fiction: The Key Differences (and Surprising Similarities)
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 memo...
#251: Why Story Structure Has You Stuck (and How to Fix It)
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...
#250: The Messy Middle: Why Drafts Lose Steam (and How to Revive Yours)
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...
#249: 5 Reasons You're Still Not Finished With Your Novel
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 unco...
#248: First Impressions Matter: Introducing Your Protagonist the Right Way
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.
#247: When You're Lost In The Mess Of Your Draft: How To Get Back On Track
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...