All Episodes

S18:E07: Internal Conflict vs. External Conflict: The Shift From Projection to Agency in Character Arc

S18:E6: 9 Tips for How to Write Dark Stories Responsibly (And Make Hope Feel Earned)

S18:E05: Embodied Writing: How to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Story

S18:E04: The Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story

S18:E3: Story as Cosmology: A Framework for Meaning

S18:E02: Why Writers Need a Sense of Wonder in Fiction More Than Ever

S18:E01: How My Writing Career Evolved in 2025—and the Author Business I'm Building for 2026

S17:E29: The Best Books I Read in 2025: My Top Fiction and Nonfiction Picks

S17:E28: Reflections on Turning 40 (+40 Things You Might Not Know About Me)

S17:E27: 5 Ways to Keep the Story Moving Between the Big Moments

S17:E26: The Real Purpose of the Second Act (And Why You Can't Skip It)

S17:E25: "Who Am I?" The Midpoint as Self-Recognition in Story Structure

S17:S24: Big vs. Small Character Arcs: Understanding the Degrees of Change in Storytelling

S17:E23: How a Character's Personality Shapes Arc, Voice, and Goals

S17:E22: Why All Stories Are Myth—and How They Transform Us

S17:E21: What's Happened to Modern Storytelling? (+ 6 Ways Storytelling Can Find Its Soul Again)

S17:E20: Writing Better Character Conflicts With the 5 Conflict Management Styles

S17:E19: The 5 Types of Scene Endings Every Writer Must Master

S17:E18: 7 Ways to Watch and Read More Intentionally

S17:E17: What Makes a Story "Bad"? A Guide to Why Your Narrative Isn't Working

S17:E16: Why Intentional Storytelling Matters in an Era of AI and Algorithm-Driven Content

S17:E15: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 2 of 2)

S17:E14: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 1 of 2)

S17:E13: Crafting Archetypal Arcs With Enneagram Insights

S17:E12: Using the Enneagram for Character Development: Avoiding Repetition for Lies Each Type Might Believe

S17:E11: The Most Dangerous Arc: Breaking Down the Corruption Character Arc

S17:E10: Writing a Fall Arc: How to Show a Character's Moral Decline

S17:09: Disillusionment Arc in Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Character Growth

S17:E08: How Writers Can Use the Four Stages of Knowing in Character Arcs

S17:E07: How to Make Your Fantasy World Feel Real: 6 Pillars of Organic Worldbuilding

S17:E06: Your Character's Three Choices: Character Goal Examples for Writers

S17:E05: 5 Proven Ways to Conquer Self-Doubt in Writing

S17:E04: Exploring the Impact of AI on Fiction Writing: Opportunities and Challenges

S17:E03: The Writer's Road to Creative Burnout Recovery

S17:E02: The Rules of Fiction: What They Are and What They're Not

S17:E01: Reflecting on 6 Life-Changing Lessons in 2024

S16:E42: Top 10 Books I Read in 2024

S16:E41: Top 8 Lessons I've Learned as a Writer in 16 Years

S16:E40: The 5 Gift Rule for Writers at Christmas

S16:E39: Antagonist vs. Villain: What's the Difference?

S16:E38: The 3 (Structurally) Most Important Characters

S16:E37: Learn About the Different Types of POV (+Head-Hopping)

S16:E36: The Resolution (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 12 of 12)

S16:E35: The Climax (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 11 of 12)

S16:E34: The Third Plot Point (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 10 of 12)

S16:E33: The Third Act (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 9 of 12)

S16:E32: How to Trust Yourself as a Writer (Not Relying on Advice Too Much)

S16:E31: The Second Half of the Second Act (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 8 of 12)

S16:E30: The Midpoint (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7 of 12)

S16:E29: The First Half of the Second Act (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 6 of 12)

S16:E28: The Secret to Writing Strong Themes

S16:E27: The First Plot Point (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 5 of 12)

S16:E26: The Inciting Event (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 4 of 12)

S16:E25: The First Act (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 3 of 12)

S16:E24: The Hook (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 2 of 12)

S16:E23: 5 Reasons Story Structure Is Important (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 1 of 12)

S16:E22: Launch Day! Two New Books for Writers (+Win a Freewrite Alpha!)

S16:E21: Everything You Need to Know About the Lie the Character Believes

S16:E20: Juggling Life and Writing: 9 Tips for Maintaining Creative Focus

S16:E19: Scene Structure and Transitions in Big Scenes

S16:E18: 5 Strategies for Writing the Parts You Don't Like

S16:E17: Troubleshooting Your Story's Ending

S16:E16: Enneagram Types for Writers: Types 5-9

S16:E15: Enneagram Types for Writers: Types 1-4

S16:E14: How to Use Symbolic and Archetypal Settings in Your Story

S16:E13: Checklist for Beginning Your Story: Plot Considerations

S16:E12: How to Choose Story Settings: The 4 Basic Types of Setting

S16:E11: From Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of Character Arc With Carl Jung

S16:E10: Checklist for Beginning Your Story: Introducing Your Characters

S16:E9: Announcing the Shadow Archetypes Course! (+Giveaway)

S16:E8: 6 Tips to Write Deeply Emotional Fiction

S16:E7: How to Use Antagonists in Your Story: The Right Way and the Wrong Way

S16:E6: Writing 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Backstory

S16:E5: Burned Out on the Business of Writing? 6 Insights to Rediscover Joy and Passion in Your Work

S16:E4: 5 Reasons Marketing Is Hard for Writers

S16:E3: Writing Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know

S16:E2: Lessons From 2023: 5 Reflections on "Flat Arc" Periods

S16:E1: Top 10 Writing Posts of 2023

Ep. 647: My Top Books of 2023

Ep. 646: How to Market a Book: 6 Steps From a Full-Time Author

Ep. 645: 14 Do's and Don'ts of Time Management for Writers (from a Recovering Over-Achiever)

Ep. 644: "There and Back Again": The Lord of the Rings and the Power of Despair in Fiction

Ep. 643: How to Use Archetypes in a Series

Ep. 642: How Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story

Ep. 641: Announcing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway)

Ep. 640: What Are Antagonistic Proxies? And How Can They Help Your Story?

Ep. 639: Where Should You Start Plotting Your Story?

Ep. 638: Hot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character

Ep. 637: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing

What Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious)

Ep. 635: How to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips

Ep. 634: 8 Different Types of Scenes

Ep. 633: How to Discover What Your Character Fears

Ep. 632: A New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes

Ep. 631: What Does Your Character Want? Desire vs. Plot Goal vs. Moral Intention vs. Need

Ep. 630: What's the Difference? Your Character's Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness

Ep. 629: The Daily Routine of a Full-Time Writer

Ep. 628: Imposter Syndrome for Writers Is a Real Thing (+ the Key to Slaying It)

Ep. 627: 5 Ways to Use Your Character's Shadows to Power Your Story

Ep. 626: How to Create Insanely Complex Characters Using "Shadow Theory"

Ep. 625: Why There's No Such Thing as "Just a Story"

Ep. 624: Tips on Hiring and Working with a Book Cover Designer (And New Cover Reveal for Dreamlander!)

Ep. 623: The Backstory Drip (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 3 of 3)

Ep. 622: Backstory-as-Story vs. Alternating Timelines (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 2 of 3)

Ep. 621: Prologues vs. Flashbacks (Backstory Techniques, Pt. 1 of 3)

Ep. 620: How Archetypes Changed My Life and My Writing

Ep. 619: Here Are Two Ways to Write Organic Themes

Ep. 618: Genre Tips: How to Write Literary Fiction

Ep. 617: Genre Tips: How to Write Mystery

Ep. 616: Genre Tips: How to Write Historical Fiction

Ep. 615: Genre Tips: How to Write Romance

Ep. 614: Genre Tips: How to Write Fantasy

Ep. 613: 5 Tips for How to Return to Writing After a Long Break

Your Story Isn't Working? Here Are 6 Problems to Troubleshoot

6 Lessons Learned From 4 Years of Writer's Block

Ep. 610: Looking Back on 2022: 5 Reflections on a Year of Healing

Ep. 609: 15 of My Favorite Books in 2022

Ep. 608: What Are the Best Places to Write? 15 Tips to Create the Perfect Writing Space

Ep. 607: 8 Tips for Dealing With Negative Reviews of Your Book

Ep. 606: Top 14 Tips and Tools for Creating Unique Character Voices

Ep. 605: 9 Negative Character Arcs in the Enneagram

Ep. 604: 9 Positive Character Arcs in the Enneagram

Ep. 603: Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?

Ep. 602: 7 Tips for How to Add Complexity to Your Story

Ep. 601: Is Your Story Too Complicated? Here Are 9 Signs

Ep. 600: How to Write Emotional Scenes (Without Making Them Cringey)

Ep. 599: How Perfect Does Your Story's Structural Timing Have to Be?

Ep. 598: 13 Rules to Be a Better Beta Reader

Ep. 597: How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters?

Ep. 596: 7 Tips for Opening Your Story In Medias Res

Ep. 595: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions About In Medias Res

Ep. 594: 8 Ways to Avoid Cardboard Characters (and Plot Contrivances While You're At It)

Ep. 593: Understanding the New Normal World of a Story's Resolution

Ep. 592: Understanding the Underworld of a Story's Third Act

Ep. 591: Understanding the Adventure World of a Story's Second Act

Ep. 590: Understanding the Normal World of a Story's First Act

Ep. 589: Deepening Your Story's Theme With the Thematic Square

Ep. 588: 6 Ways to Find Your Best Ideas Before You Start Writing

Ep. 587: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 2 of 2

Ep. 586: The Role of the Antagonist in Story Structure, Pt. 1 of 2

Ep. 585: Do You Have to Write Every Day? 10 Pros and Cons

Ep. 584: The 6 Challenges of Writing a Second Novel

Ep. 583: 14 Tips for Dealing With the Passage of Time in a Story

Ep. 582: 6 Ways to Craft Spectacular Set-Piece Scenes

Ep. 581: How to Know When You're a Successful Author?

Ep. 580: Should You Take a Break From Writing? 5 Red Flags

Ep. 579: 9 Ways to Approach Relationship Dynamics in Fiction

Episode #578: Archetypes and Story Structure: How They're Connected

Ep. 577: Making Story Structure Your Own

Ep. 576: Conflict in Fiction: What It Really Is and Why It's Important to Plot

Ep. #575: The Writer's Inner Critic: 10 Ways to Tell if Yours Is Healthy

Ep. 574: A Writer's New Year Reflections: The 6 Gifts I Gave Myself in 2021

Ep. 573: The Two Halves of the Climactic Moment

Ep. 572: The Two Halves of the Third Plot Point

Ep. 571: The Two Halves of the Midpoint

Ep. 570: The Two Halves of the First Plot Point

Ep. 569: The Two Halves of the Inciting Event

Ep. #568: 6 Questions to Help You Avoid Repetitive Scenes

Ep. 567: Archetypal Antagonists for the Mage Arc: Evil and the Weakness of Humankind

Ep. 566: Archetypal Antagonists for the Crone Arc: Death Blight and Tempter

Ep. 563: Archetypal Antagonists for the Hero Arc: Dragon and Sick King

Ep. 546: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 13: The Crone's Shadow Archetypes

Ep. 542: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 9: The Maiden's Shadow Archetypes

Ep. 541: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 8: Introduction to the 12 Shadow Archetypes

Ep. 540: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 7: The Mage Arc

Ep. 539: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 6: The Crone Arc

Ep. 538: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 5: The King Arc

Ep. 537: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 4: The Queen Arc

Ep. 536: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 3: The Hero Arc

Ep. 535: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc

Ep. 534: Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 1: A New Series

Ep. 533: An Introduction to Archetypal Stories

Ep. 532: Story Theory and the Quest for Meaning

Ep. 531: 3 Character Arcs in the Karpman Drama Triangle

6 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Protect Creativity

Ep. 266: What Every Writer Ought to Know About the Omniscient POV

Ep. 255: Never Confuse the Key Event and the First Plot Point in Your Book Again!

Ep. 254: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 41: Inferring Non-POV Characters' Thoughts

Ep. 256: A Reactive Protagonist Doesn't Have to Be a Passive Protagonist! Discover the Difference

Ep. 255: Stories That Matter: 5 Necessary Factors for Weighty Fiction

Ep. 254: How the Perfect Midpoint Moves Your Protagonist From Reaction to Action

Ep. 253: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 40: Unnecessary Scenes

Ep. 252: Find Out if Your Prologue Is Destroying Your Story's Subtext

Ep. 251: My Writing Process, Pt. 2 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Write My First Drafts

Ep. 250: My Writing Process, Pt. 1 of 2: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels

Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment

Ep. 248: What Are Pinch Points? And How Can They Make Your Book Easier to Write?

Ep. 247: Your Book's Inciting Event: It's Not What You Think It Is

Ep. 246: Want to Know More About the Structure of Your Favorite Books and Movies? Announcing the Story Structure Database!

Ep. 245: For Writers on the Verge of Writing Spectacularly Complex Characters

Ep. 244: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 39: Referencing Characters by Title Rather Than Name

Ep. 243: Do You Know the 6 Must-Have Elements of a "Wow" Story Premise?

Ep. 242: The Crucial Way to Figure Out How Much Time Your Story Should Cover

Ep. 241: The 5 Secrets of Choosing the Right Setting for Your Story's Climax

Ep. 240: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 38: Irrelevant Book Endings

Ep. 239: The Lazy Author's Way to Identify and Overcome Writing Weaknesses

Ep. 238: Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once and For All

Ep. 273: Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 37: Unnecessary Filler

Ep. 275: How to Pitch Your Novel: What's the Difference Between Your Story's Hook and Your Story's Heart?