Episodes
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WM36 Why You Should Take Part in NaNoWriMo (and why I'm pausing this show)
The last episode of the current season! Pilar talks about what she's gained from taking part in previous NaNoWriMo s and encourages anyone who's been thinking of writing a novel to try it too. What is NaNoWriMo https://nanowrimo.org/ Community aspect You commit for a month, that might be easier…
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WM35 You Create When You Start Writing
In today's episode, Pilar talks about: Why she's stuck. How the story's changed once she got writing, and how the idea can develop. What's she learned from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman What's she's incorporated from Scott King's Story Pitch Here's the link to exporting...
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WM34 Making a Character Active
Pilar has realised that all her character was doing was living in the past, but she has a couple of things she's going to try to make the character more active. Following feedback from her writing coach, she now needs to almost go back to the drawing board, but this presents plenty of…
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WM33 Writing Fiction vs Writing Non-Fiction
You'd think it's obvious, but it's taken Pilar quite a while to realise the main difference between writing a non-fiction book and writing a novel. Pilar recommends Anne Janzer's excellent book on writing non-fiction, "Writing to Be Understood: What Works and Why". A little bit of progress on...
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WM32 Why Do We Write?
Why do we write? I struggled so much during the re-write that I almost threw it all away and gave up this "I want to write fiction" thing. Why I didn't: I hate dropping stuff before giving it a proper go - that's why I went to drama school I'm learning a lot I know that what I'm doing is hard, so...
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WM31 Do Not Wait for Inspiration, Bad Habits and Dialogue
Pilar updates listeners on her writing retreat and how it's difficult to explain to people who don't write that writing is not driven by inspiration. She shares her struggle with technique and the bad writing habits she's discovered. This episode's wisdom is on using dialogue as exposition,...
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WM30 Working through Feedback
I've finally received some feedback, at a micro and macro level. Lots to think about regarding character, supporting characters and the level of trauma the character is carrying with her at the beginning of the story, and what's triggered by the inciting incident. I recommend episode 456 of the...
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WM29 Not Writer's Block but Writer's Discomfort
Today I share how I'm struggled to write a scene which was hard for the character to go through. The writing journal has been very useful in identifying where I need to pay attention to next in the story. How shall I incorporate all the subplots into the ending? Check out all the books I talk…
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WM28 Discovering a story through journaling
Having never "journaled" before, Pilar has started a writing journal to help her identify the bits that need fixing. She came across this idea when listening to the podcast How do you write? with Rachel Herron Connect with Pilar over at www.pilarwrites.com For more book recommendations, check out...
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WM27 Editing for Point of View
Pilar has started working with a coach, and so now the hard work begins! She talks about how she's made some changes after considering the character's point of view. Recommended book: On Editing. How to edit your novel the professional way by Helen Corner-Bryant and Kathryn Price (again!) For…
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WM26 Finding the holes in the story
In this episode, Pilar talks about how she's working on the structure of her novel and the holes she's identified. She recommends the book On Editing. How to edit your novel the professional way by Helen Corner-Bryant and Kathryn Price For more books, check out the Trello board...
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WM25 One Piece at a Time
I'm back with Season 3 - after a month of struggling to build the story for the current novel, I've dug out a piece from a year ago and decided to work on that instead, hopefully with an editor... In this episode, Pilar talks about her fiction plans, recommends Being a Writer by Dorothea Brander...
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WM24 How do you like to write?
In this episode, Pilar reflects on something she read in Becoming a Writer about paying attention to the kind of style you like writing in. She comes back to the lack of need of describing a character's physical appearance, after listening to episode 154 of the Bestselling Experiment podcast…
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WM23 Picking Up Writing Mid Novel
In today's episode: Pilar shares how to get into the habit of writing, and how to be aware of the context that helps you to do your best writing. Advice from Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand She's heard some wonderful advice over at the Story Grid podcast on how to pick up a book you're…
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WM22 Borrowing from a TV series and working with a copy editor
Another short episode: Pilar mentions a device she quite liked from Duel en Ville How she's started working with an editor through reedsy.com She recommends Nick Hornby's novel 'Juliet Naked'. Link to books on…
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WM21 My character was too passive and why do we need to create art?
When writer's block comes from not wanting to dive into the emotional world I'm trying to create... There is of course the voice that whispers, will they believe the superhero story you're trying to create? Actually, it doesn't matter that much, as I've seen watching Contact, a French TV series....
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WM20 I Wish My Characters Would Drive me Mad
Well, I really wish my characters had a life of their own and were destroying my plot, but, it's not really happening - though, as I was recording for this episode, I realised that yes, one of them has thrown in something unexpected. Today's quoted books: Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by...
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WM19 Dialogue is not just People Talking
I've discovered some of the reasons why it's been so hard to get writing today - I hope it's of some use to you too! But it's not all about how difficult I'm finding it, I also have some advice about when to use dialogue - or what to look out for when you're editing. I mention the book Write a...
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WM18 Why I'm abandoning NaNoWriMo but not my story
I've decided to abandon NaNoWriMo and I briefly explain why. However, I'm not abandoning my story, or this podcast, as it's all great fun. I also explain why. If you want to have a look at what I'm learning, check out my Trello board...
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WM17 How dark will you go?
I've discovered a new feature in the Remarkable tablet, thanks to the NaNoWriMo forum! I talk about that and also about finding the truth in your story, your characters and painfully, in your villain. How much are you willing to go through for your story?
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WM16 Steam's running out - already!
The blocks I'm coming across - to do with plot and characters, (what else!) and what I'm enjoying most. Plus, my NaNoWriMo word count - I'm falling behind... but there's still time to catch up!
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WM15 Using plot structure to guide the character
Days 5 and 6 of NaNoWriMo: How I realised my character was being totally reactive and what I did about her. Plus, reflections on the how the mind of superheroines work.
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WM14 Going in a different direction
Realising that I had paid not attention to the setting, I did so, and went off in a completely different direction! Plus, there's no need to say "she thought" when you're in someone's point of view.
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WM13 On creating a villain, and the lies that superheroes tell
I've caught up with the word count! Today I share what I've learned about villains and antagonists, a little device I used to help time pass, and the meaty theme behind the superhero story. Check out the Trello Board https://trello.com/b/3LUWiqsc/pilars-nanowrimo2018-learning-and-podcasting-board...
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WM12 On point of view, word count and first block
Day 2 of NaNoWriMo. I've come up with the mentor's story, but I'm a bit stuck with the villain. And I tell you about a device I've learned from Big Little Lies.
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WM11 Day 1 NaNoWriMo
And we're off! Pilar explains why she's chosen to write in the superhero(ine) genre, (all about the inner journey) and what the first 950 words of her story cover.
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WM10 Prepping for NaNoWriMo
Welcome to a new season of Word Maze, where Pilar Orti, your host, shares her progress through NaNoWriMo and everything she's learning about writing fiction.
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WM09 Past and Future
Words featured in today's episode: Tryst Burlap Anachronism Mnemonic Obeisance Deigned Descry Mot juste Admonished Schadenfreude Pithy Burnish Pilar's book: Hi, I'm Here for a Recording. The ordinary life of a voiceover artist. At 14:10mins you can find some writing advice from Pilar today,...
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WM08 Growth
Words featured in today's episode: stipend miscreant asinine maudlin tendrils assuage desuetude inchoate oneiromancy Pilar's book: Hi, I'm Here for a Recording. The ordinary life of a voiceover artist. At 15:25mins you can find some writing advice from Pilar today, something she's learned while...
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WM07 Modern Life
In today's episode, we cover the words: emetic deliberative cantilevered frangipani conniptions conflagration schadenfreude scuzzy rebuke Books covered Nutshell by Ian McEwan Meatspace by Nikesh Shukla Back Story by David Mitchell and Pilar's own Hi, I'm Here for a Recording. The ordinary life of…
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NaNoWriMo Day 24
A new scene with a secondary character, a small twist and this quote from Grant Faulkner: "Don't write what you know, write what you want to know."
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WM06: A Little bit of Cheer
The first part of the episode covers the words: Alacrity Avuncular Matelot Redolent Obverse Ecumenical Peripatetic Arcana At 13:30mins you can find some writing advice from Pilar today, inspired by something she observed in one of the books featured today: Exposure, by Helen Dunmore Hotel Alpha…
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NaNoWriMo Day 19
I shouldn't have gone back to my first half, but I did and saw that the timeline is a mess. What I've discovered about my protagonist's father and one of her rituals. Why I need to develop "Steve" and what I discovered about him. Is my character becoming a bit monotonous?!
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NaNoWriMo Day 15
Discovering how to make the transition from the Ordinary World to the adventure a bit more difficult for the character to make; the difficulties of finding the moment when she accepts the call to action.
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NaNoWriMo Day 12
Finally outlining! The little monsters that have appeared as characters, and mixing up the number of characters to colour the plot.
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WM05: A Little Bit of Crime
The first part of this episode covers: remonstrating Hackles Mufti Shufti sluicing bumptious avidity cinch stymie vindication These words come from these books: "A Question of Blood" by Ian Rankin. "Alys Always" by Harriet Lane. "Team of Teams" by Stanley McChrystal. At xxxx there is writing…
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NaNoWriMo Day 11
The obsession with word count and how it's helping me to keep going. The point of NaNoWriMo is not to generate quality, but quantity. And in typing away, you get to break through your conscious choices and explore what else is in your subconscious. I'm certainly discovering a lot about my...
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NaNoWriMo Day 10
I'd forgotten to write the ordinary world scene and when I did, I discovered my protagonist was hooked on sleeping pills. I recommend Scrivener.
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NaNOWriMo Day8
Writing an outline with different options for the characters; writing the final scene; discovering that your first novel is the result of trying to understand yourself...
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NaNoWriMo Day 6
No writing yesterday but I caught up with my word count today! Musings on avoiding "deep thinking", how word count is motivating me and the temptation of sub-plots.
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WM04 A Little Bit of Intellect
The first part of this episode covers: cornucopia nadir tenet synedoche surmise discomfiting cockamamie gasket actuator From these books: "Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All" by Jonas Jonasson "A Landing On the Sun" by Michael Frayn "Think Like a Freak: How to think smarter" by Stephen J...
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NaNoWriMo Day 4
I give a little bit of the plot away, or else I can barely share anything of what's going on with my story... The joy of ideas coming to you and why am I still pulling myself away from my keyboard??!!
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NaNoWriMo Day 3
Day 3 and I'm already struggling! Why I brought in a scene where a cat goes missing, changing character names and hey, I hit 5,000 words!
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NaNoWriMo Day 2
My thoughts today: Does plotting the story in advance destroy the magic of discovering the story? How I've solved my third/first person dilemma. Why are we afraid of writing?
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NaNoWriMo Day 1
I've started NaNoWriMo and already have a dilemma... Looks like I might have to go over my first 1600 words and rewrite...
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WM03 A Little Bit of Authority
The first part of this episode covers these words... Apocryphal Vicissitude Suzerain Plutocrat Unctuous Insouciance Perfunctory Epistemology Skew From these books: "South Riding" by Winifred Holtby. "Our Kind of Traitor" by John Le Carré. "Going to Extremes: How Like Minds Unite and Divide" by…
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WM02 A Little Bit of Suspense
The first part of this episode covers these words from these books: Recce Ensconce Chagrin Mollified Wynceyette Cantered Atoll "Breaking Cover" by Stella Rimington "The Letter" by Kathryn Hughes "Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely At 09:10mins, there is writing advice from "Plotting and…
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WM01 A Little Bit of Everything
The first part of the episode covers these words from these books: Soubriquet Insouciant Douse Glibly Soubrette (which sounds a bit like one of the other words, soubriquet) Iniquity Cantankerous Lacklauster Lauding "Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King. "Funny Girl" by Nick Hornby. "Creativity Inc" by…
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