Writing Archives | The Writer's Cookbook

How Much Backstory is too Much Backstory in a Book?

Kristina Adams — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This is something I’ve been asked quite a lot. Many writers really enjoy the world building process, and maybe the character creation process, but then they sit down to write and feel like they’ve already said everything. Or, they spend so much time doing all this work, then they feel like they have to use […]

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What Happens When You Don’t Know Your Characters’ Backstories?

Kristina Adams — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 20:48:30 +0000

Backstories are an integral part of your character creation. They inform everything from how your character speaks, to how they think, to how they interact with other people. Sure, you might be able to figure out some of this organically, but it’s a lot harder if you’re not consciously thinking about what’s driving your character […]

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How to Create a Large, Diverse Cast Your Readers Will Love

Kristina Adams — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

This week on The Writer’s Mindset we share tips on how you can create a large, diverse cast of characters your readers will love just as much as you do. In this episode, you’ll learn: Listen to us discuss writing diverse characters: Powered by RedCircle Support The Writer’s Mindset on Patreon Listen to new interviews […]

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Plotting Made Simple (with Shane Millar)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Shane Millar is a Fictionary Certified Story Coach and the author of the Write Better Fiction craft guides. He is also the author of the Myth & Magic urban fantasy thriller series. Shane holds a BA in journalism and is a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). He lives in Buckinghamshire, England. He […]

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Writing and Publishing Short Stories (with Matty Dalrymple)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: […]

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Writing Dialogue-Centric First Drafts (with Jeff Elkins)

Ellie Betts — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 17:45:21 +0000

Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north […]

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First Book Lessons: What Authors Wish They’d Known Before Hitting Publish

Kristina Adams — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 12:57:15 +0000

In our first episode of season six, we bring back past guests Elizabeth Spann Craig, Alexa Whitewolf, Matty Dalrymple, and Daniel Willcocks to ask them what they wish they’d known before they published their first book. Listen to Matty Dalrymple, Alexa Whitewolf, Elizabeth Spann Craig, and Daniel Willcocks share their first book lessons: Powered by […]

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How to Write and Publish a Series (with Helen Scheuerer)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Helen Scheuerer is the YA fantasy author of the bestselling trilogy, The Oremere Chronicles and the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots. More recently, she has also delved into publishing advice for authors with her debut nonfiction book, ‘How […]

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How to Write Brilliant Beginnings (with Shane Millar)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

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The Heroine’s Journey (with Gail Carriger)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond […]

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12 Writing Resources to Change Your Writing Life

Kristina Adams — Thu, 26 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

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How to Write Superbad Villains (with Sacha Black)

Kristina Adams — Thu, 05 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

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