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Episode 215 - The ratchet, a strong plotting tool. episode artwork

EPISODE · May 1, 2026 · 25 MIN

Episode 215 - The ratchet, a strong plotting tool.

from Essential Guide to Writing a Novel · host James Thayer

How can we know if our scene pushes the story forward.  Does our scene contribute to the story?  The ratchet can test our scene.  I talk about the ratchet and show how Cormac McCarthy and F. Scott Fitzgerald used it.  Plus, a technique for searching for instances of telling in our manuscript so we can change them to showing.  And C.S. Lewis's rules of writing.Support the showBuy the master class.

What this episode covers

How can we know if our scene pushes the story forward. Does our scene contribute to the story? The ratchet can test our scene. I talk about the ratchet and show how Cormac McCarthy and F. Scott Fitzgerald used it. Plus, a technique for searching for instances of telling in our manuscript so we can change them to showing. And C.S. Lewis's rules of writing. Support the show Buy the master class.

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Episode 215 - The ratchet, a strong plotting tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

This episode is 25 minutes long.

When was this Essential Guide to Writing a Novel episode published?

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

What is this episode about?

How can we know if our scene pushes the story forward.  Does our scene contribute to the story?  The ratchet can test our scene.  I talk about the ratchet and show how Cormac McCarthy and F. Scott Fitzgerald used it.  Plus, a technique for searching...

Can I download this Essential Guide to Writing a Novel episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
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