Captivate Podcasts

The mirror moment in a story is when the main character experiences a moment of clarity that pushes them to change direction. It is the turning point. That moment of clarity is when your character experiences an ah-hah moment. Most often, it is the unveiling of a truth about—themselves, the world, what they must do…

This is part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 is in Episode 41. Your story is finished. You’ve reached the end. Your beta readers are waiting, an agent has asked for a full manuscript, or maybe you are getting it ready for your editor. What are some easy ways to immediately improve it before…

Before you send your manuscript to an agent, editor, or your beta readers, use these steps to immediately improve your manuscript. Read the accompanying post at WritingPursuits.com: Seven Easy Ways to Improve Your Manuscript. The question of the week is: What are your favorite last-minute checks before your send your manuscript out? Get your free copy…

Scenes are the building blocks of novel writing. If you master writing scenes, your stories will be unputdownable. Riveting. Engaging. If you are an experienced author, you know these things, but every fiction author must learn how to write a good scene. The question of the week is: How do you know you have reached…

Is writer’s block real? Yes. Can you beat it? What to do when you have writer’s block. Writer’s block is not a permanent condition, and there are ways to minimize its impact. The question of the week is: What is your favorite way to get unstuck and beat writer’s block? Get your free copy of…

Figuring out your characters’ fears and deepest needs and desires is a key to characterization and generating conflict for your plot. The question of the week is: How have you used your characters’ fears to drive your plot? Or, what is your favorite example of a character’s fears driving a plot? Get your free copy of…

Today, I have a guest, Stephen Schneider, and we will be discussing his middle grade fiction and a few other topics. Stephen writes as S. A. Schneider, and he is a purveyor of fantasy and a travel guide for kids to explore the many worlds found in books. Anyone who has a wolf should be…

Time is our most precious commodity, but we spend too much effort and thought–too much time–on stuff that actually holds us back. We also avoid a couple of things that make all the difference. Get your free copy of the First Chapter Rubric. Links: WritingPursuits.com Instagram: @WritingPursuitsPodcast Three Story Method Certified Editor KathreseMcKee.com Mailerlite (affiliate link)…

In this week’s episode, I interview Christine Daigle about her experience with Kindle Vella, and she gives lots of tips and insights for successfully writing serial fiction. Christine is co-writing two Kindle Vella series with Stewart Sternberg under the pen name of L. P. Styles. Guest: Christine Daigle who co-writes with Stewart Sternberg Author Website:…