Episodes
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
SW SPECIAL J’s Beginner’s Guide (part 8) SUBPLOTS (Joe’s favorite episode)
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 8) SUBPLOTS (Joe’s favorite episode)
WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/HOYNat1l03Y
Episode 8 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel teaches you how to do subplots. First, we review PLOT CLOCKS. Then we look at a model called SUBPLOT RAINBOWS. We follow along with how J.K. Rowling outlined the Order of the Phoenix. We see how the innovative MUSICAL PLOT STAFF works for organizing multiple viewpoints. And finally, we look at three short tips, which are (1) get a good editor, (2) start with the smallest plottable story chunk, and (3) keep the plot personal (not epic).
If you have questions, EMAIL US: pleasestartwriting@gmail.com
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Buy our books!
JOSEPH BENDOSKI: https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Bendoski/e/B06XX7LYKL
J WASHBURN: http://library.jwashburn.com/
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 7) PLOT CLOCK
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 7) PLOT CLOCK
WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/zR-IPvGfAbg
Episode 7 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel teaches you how J Washburn structures a story using a PLOT CLOCK! The main points of this clock are (1) HOOK, (2) PLEDGE, (3) TURN, (4) PRESTIGE, (5) FINALE. We take an in-depth look at Jurassic Park and Star Wars: A New Hope as examples of how this structure works. And we also takes quick glance as the kishotenketsu model for plotting. And finally, I reveal the behind-the-scenes story of the ECKSDOT finale!
If you have questions, EMAIL US: pleasestartwriting@gmail.com
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Buy our books!
JOSEPH BENDOSKI: https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Bendoski/e/B06XX7LYKL
J WASHBURN: http://library.jwashburn.com/
Saturday Sep 03, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 6) PLOT FROM SCRATCH
Saturday Sep 03, 2022
Saturday Sep 03, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 6) PLOT FROM SCRATCH
WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/_dWnYmQ83M8
Episode 6 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel is the easiest way to write a plot!
We start with a letter from a listener, and we address questions like these:
- Should I write my story from the finale and work backward?
- Should I just figure out the plot as I go or should I write an outline?
- How does George Martin plan his FANTASY NOVELS?
- How do you fix a broken plot?
- Is it faster to just skip outlining and just start writing?
- What models can I structure my plot around?
- What’s the absolute simplest way to think of plot?
If you have questions, EMAIL US: pleasestartwriting@gmail.com
* * *
Buy our books!
JOSEPH BENDOSKI: https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Bendoski/e/B06XX7LYKL
J WASHBURN: http://library.jwashburn.com/
Friday Mar 04, 2022
SW 129 INT Raymond O’Connor: Stop letting stories die inside you!
Friday Mar 04, 2022
Friday Mar 04, 2022
OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/StartWritingPodcast
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Ggg13QPw8qs Ray's RUNNING OFF THE RAILS podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-off-the-rails/id1546572690https://pca.st/podcast/6c329090-2adc-0139-32e0-0acc26574db2https://runningofftherails.com/WEAVE BREAKER D&D build: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/351499/The-Weave-Breaker--The-Ultimate-Spell-Sword-Class https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/meh5ff/the_weave_breaker_the_ultimate_spell_sword_class/GETTING STARTED IN D&Dhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVdb9Yr8fc05_VbAVfskCA
Saturday Jan 29, 2022
SW 128 INT Jeanne Cavelos: Scifi author and founder of OdysseyWorkshop.org
Saturday Jan 29, 2022
Saturday Jan 29, 2022
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YaUGPWGYM0w
Jeanne Cavelos is an author, editor, scientist, and writing coach. In this episode, we talk about several of her works, including THE SCIENCE OF STAR WARS, several BABYLON 5 novels, and her upcoming near-future scifi novel called FATAL SPIRAL. She is the founder of a nonprofit that brings out the best in writers called the ODYSSEY WRITING WORKSHOP.
Apply to the Personal Odyssey Workshop here:
http://www.odysseyworkshop.org
Read some writing tips on the Odyssey Workshop Blog:
https://odysseyworkshop.wordpress.com/
Listen to the Odyssey Workshop Podcast:
https://www.odysseyworkshop.org/resources/podcasts/
[NOTE FROM J: Sorry for the audio quality in this episode. That's my mistake. But I'm absolutely delighted to have had this conversation with Jeanne. And my thanks to you for listening!]
Friday Jan 07, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 5) VILLAINS
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 5) VILLAINS
WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/9aTS_YrWPhI
HOMEWORK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYvaxzh7cfys4LP6CJZqje1wspxuNy5U-970mH7EvMY/edit?usp=sharing
Episode 5 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel is about how to create DEEP CHARACTERS. This means making them dynamic. Villains can be the opposite of heroes, meaning they're dislikable and bad. Or villains can simply have opposing goals, ones that conflict with what they hero wants. These villains are not bad by nature, but they provide antagonism in a competitive, zero-sum game.
http://www.jwashburn.com
J Washburn is the author of STARCHILD, an epic space opera about a rogue pilot in a galactic revolution.
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 4) TIPS FOR HEROES
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/6I_9yB4vojs
Episode 4 of A BEGINNER’S GUIDE to Writing a Novel gives you tips on how to create real and empathetic characters: Keep your cast small. Make every character physically and emotionally unique. Make sure readers can find the right button on the microwave. Use simple tags to remind your readers of a personality. Don’t be afraid to use repetition. Use a character outline to find the deeper emotional needs. Focus on VISION, INITIATIVE, and SPIRIT. Don’t make your hero too abnormal.
NEEDS WASHED: http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/11/lawn_needs_cut/ HOMEWORK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYvaxzh7cfys4LP6CJZqje1wspxuNy5U-970mH7EvMY/
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 3) HEROIC EQ
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Episode 3 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel teaches about building characters from the ground up. In this episode, J Washburn and Joe Bendoski tag team in a lecture that covers emotional intelligence, mimicry, and character names. We look at examples from Charles Dickens, George Lucas, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin.
To see the visuals from the slide deck, check out this episode of Start Writing on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2tx_8Ovv1g
Friday Aug 27, 2021
SW SPECIAL J’s Beginner’s Guide (part 2) WORLDBUILDING
Friday Aug 27, 2021
Friday Aug 27, 2021
This episode covers how J Washburn goes through the worldbuilding process. He touches on examples from J.K. Rowling, Brandon Sanderson, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. He explains how to make a Story Bible. Oh, and maybe most importantly, he teaches you about finding and defining your genre.
Watch the episode on YouTube if you want to see the slides: https://youtu.be/LhHT98U1Pgg
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
SW SPECIAL J’s Beginner’s Guide to Writing a Novel (part 1) OVERVIEW
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
Thursday Jul 22, 2021
We've had a lot of listeners ask us where to start. Our backlog spans many years! So this is meant to be tips for a beginner. It was put together with J as the lead, rather than Joe. See the video version here: https://youtu.be/dB37b0tUIzs
Let us know what you think: me@jwashburn.com