All Episodes
Helping Writers Become Authors — 738 episodes · page 1 of 8
S18:E18: The 5 Ingredients You Need to Write Subtext in Fiction
S18:E17: Character Misdirection: How to Write False Allies and False Enemies
S18:E16: The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One
S18:E15: 5 Ways to Identify Your Writing Weaknesses (and Become a Better Writer)
S18:E14: The Lie the Character Believes: A Deeper Look at Consciousness and Character Arc
S18:E13: The Psychology of Story Endings (+5 Tips to Write a Truly Satisfying Ending)
S18:E12: Why We Need Heroic Stories: The Courage We Borrow From Fiction
S18:E11: How to Write Mythic Fiction: 7 Practices to Reconnect With the Lost Art of Mythmaking
S18:E10: How to Write Mythic Fiction: Stop Borrowing Old Myths and Start Creating New Ones
S18:E09: Thoughts on How the Marketplace Is Shaping the Stories We Tell
The Emotional Toll on Writers in the Modern Landscape (And Why So Many Are Burning Out)
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