All Episodes
The Novel Analyst Podcast: Creative Writing Advice & Author Interviews — 72 episodes
Introducing: Wizards, Warriors, & Words - my new fantasy writing advice podcast!
55. [Book Review] Shadows of Self - Mistborn 5 - by Brandon Sanderson
Q & A with Jed - why I write fantasy, why did I self-publish, and the state of the fantasy genre
54. [Interview] Gabriel Bergmoser talks about The Hunted, adapting his book into a major movie, and how to write gripping stories
Q & A with Jed Herne - My favourite character, the books that inspired me to start writing, and more
53. [Interview] Rob J. Hayes – Writing a Fantasy Trilogy, Overcoming Doubts, and The War Eternal
52. [Interview} S. Andrew Swann - Lessons learned from publishing 26 fantasy and sci-fi books
51. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie - Concrete and Specific Setting Descriptions
50. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie - A Simple Way to Craft Compelling Characters
49. [Interview] Kate Heartfield - Interactive Fiction and The Magician's Workshop
48. The Magician's Workshop by Kate Heartfield - Lessons from Interactive Fiction
47. [Interview] Rob J. Hayes on Viking Martial Arts, Achieving Success as a Self-Published Fantasy Author, and Turning Messy Drafts into Great Stories
Fires of the Dead is FREE for the next 4 days!
46. Never Die by Rob J. Hayes - Choreographing Excellent Ensemble Casts
Book Launch Party for Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne
[Announcement] Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne is out today!
45. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin - Crafting a Slow-Burning Narrative
44. Master of Sorrows by Justin Call - Crafting Compelling Magic Systems
[Sneak Peek] - Chapter 1 of Across the Broken Stars - My Upcoming Space Fantasy Novel
43. [Interview] Justin Call - Author of Master of Sorrows - board games, fantasy, and the creative life
8 Top Writing Lessons From 8 Years of Writing
42. A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix - The Triumph of Humanity
41. The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding - Nailing the Opening 48 Pages
40. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - Writing an Amazing Series
39. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey - Grounding Stories With Characters
38 - Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson - Giving Readers Chills
[Announcement] Win a signed copy of Fires of the Dead + send me your questions!
37 - Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling – Disguising Exposition
36 - [Interview] Gareth Hanrahan: World Building, Writing Advice, and Creating a Successful Writing Career
35 - The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan - World Building for Fantasy Cities
Special sneak peek! Chapter one of my debut fantasy novella, FIRES OF THE DEAD
34 - The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough - Creating Emotion
33 - A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. - Exploring Theme through Structure
32 - Gabriel Bergmoser Interview - lessons learnt from book deals, movie deals, and becoming a full-time writer
[Announcement] I'm giving away 7 Joe Abercrombie novels for FREE!
31 - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Using the Relationship Axes to Create Interesting Character Dynamics
30 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Writing Twists
29 - The Way of Kings - Stormlight Archive book 1 - by Brandon Sanderson - Crafting Epic Fantasy
Talk isn’t cheap - Quick Storytelling Tips 005
28 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling - Meaningful Supporting Characters
… But really, I hated them - Quick Storytelling Tips 004
Truth in writing - Quick Storytelling Tips 003
27 - Skulduggery Pleasant - Death Bringer by Derek Landy - The Gap
Theme is not preaching - Quick Writing Tip 002
Stay off the nose - Quick Writing Tip 001
26 - Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J. K. Rowling - Ring Structure
25 - Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - The Art of Setting Descriptions
24 - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams pt. 2 - How to Write Funny
23 - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams pt. 1 - Why Characters Don't Matter
22 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Finding your Perfect Prose
21 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Meaningful Endings and the Truth
20 - Elantris by Brandon Sanderson - Avalanche Endings
19 - Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - The Art of Naming
18 - Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson - Misfit Characters
17 - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Crafting Compelling Narrators
16 - Boone Shepard - The Silhouette and the Sacrifice by Gabriel Bergmoser - Writing Awesome Endings
15 - 2018 in review - Everything I Read, Favourite Books, and Top Writing Lessons
14 - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - 6 Steps to make the reader cry
13 - The Martian by Andy Weir - Problem and Response Story Structure
12 - Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson - Controlling Pacing using Chapters
11 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling - Narrative Misdirection
10 - Mistborn The Final Empire - by Brandon Sanderson - Mastering the Grand Skill of Worldbuilding
9 - The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester - Grounding the Future in the Past
8 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - Creating Empathy for the Hero
7 - The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie - Exploring Theme
6 - Neuromancer by William Gibson - 6 Lessons for Writers
5 - Gabriel Bergmoser Interview - Windmills, Boone Shepard, Movie Maintenance, and Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
4 - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein - Writing an Amazing Midpoint
3 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling - Creating Suspense Using Question Arcs
2 - The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie - Characterisation through Contradiction
1 - The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - Making Every Scene Interesting
0 Novel Analyst Teaser