Joe asks:I’ve been enjoying these short q&a podcasts! Here’s a question for your next one: what is your take on reading as a writer? Do you believe it’s important to read widely in the genre you write, or to avoid your genre and read widely in everything else? I’ve heard … The post Question 1102: Reading as a Writer http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/26/question-1102-reading-as-a-writer/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks: What’re your opinions on pacing an Action-adventure novel? How much action is actually necessary? King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider HaggardSahara by Clive CusslerIndiana JonesRomancing the StoneThe Killing Floor by Lee ChildJurrassic Park (film)Congo (film)The Lost World by DoyleThe Mummy The post Question 1101: Pacing in Action-Adventure http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/25/question-1101-pacing-in-action-adventure/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Where/how do you go to track down and read those books out of copyright? You mentioned King Solomon’s Mine recently and I’d love to get a copy of that on my ereader if there’s a free resource to grab it. Notes:Archive.orgSFFaudio.orgLibriVox The post Question 1100: Finding Public Domain Books http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/24/question-1100-finding-public-domain-books/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Caine asks:In a self evaluation of our own skill sets/aptitudes as a writer, what identifiers should exist that would indicate we have developed into a substantial professional writer? How do we know that we have what we need skills wise? What should we be able to do? What should we … The post Question 1099: Measuring Yourself as a Writer http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/23/question-1099-measuring-yourself-as-a-writer/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Khellan asks:I’ve recently started carving out some “guaranteed” time to write fiction 3 times a week. It’s been a long time. Do you have any tools or tricks to get you back in the particular headspace or mood for the specific story you’re working on, or have you ingrained the … The post Question 1098: Getting Back In The Mood http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/22/question-1098-getting-back-in-the-mood/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Khellen asks:You mentioned punctuation and that stuff in another episode… Do you have enough to create a mini ebook with that stuff in? It is 123.6% worthwhile, because I forget and have to find a couple of books to figure out the rules! Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1097: We Need a Punctuation Master Class http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/12/question-1097-we-need-a-punctuation-master-class/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Joe asks:Lots of people have opinions about how to write a bestseller. What are some of the more interesting and counter intuitive ways to write a book that never sells at all? Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1096: How To Write a Worstseller http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/11/question-1096-how-to-write-a-worstseller/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:I’ve noticed dictation results in a more twisty story than typing, at least for me. I guess I’m curious if there are any techniques you use that alter the kind of story that results? Resources Mentioned:The Clarke Lantham MysteriesJ. Daniel Sawyer Fiction Podcast The post Question 1095: Dictation and Twisty Plots http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/10/question-1095-dictation-and-twisty-plots/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:Grit. How do you express a character’s mental toughness whether they’re a Point of View character or not? Resources mentioned:The Gulag ArchipelagoWitnessTakenJohn Wick Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1093: Mentally Tough Characters http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/09/question-1093-mentally-tough-characters/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Joe asks:What writing advice would have totally tanked you as a writer if you hadn’t ignored it? Resources Mentioned:The Collected Poems of Emily DickensonThe Best of Hemingway The post Question 1092: Destructive Writing Advice http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/05/question-1092-destructive-writing-advice/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:Do you see your characters more like real people or more like toys with all manner of features to employ in the narrative? Resources mentioned: On Fairy-Stories by JRR TolkienLast Days of Socrates by PlatoBiblical Book of JobCollected Classic Novels of HG WellsDavid Mamet Masterclass The post Question 1091: Individual Characters or Chessmen? http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/04/question-1091-individual-characters-or-chessmen/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Ed asks:Can you riff on creative partnerships, particularly long term? What makes them succeed? What makes them fail? How does one find a creative partner? And how does one adapt or change when a creative partnership ends? Resources Mentioned:The Expanse by James S.A. CoreyThe Man Who Wrote Frankenstein by John … The post Question 1090: Creative Partnerships http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/03/question-1090-creative-partnerships/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Khellen asks:My antagonist hasn’t shown up halfway through the book and I’m not sure what to do. How do you build an effective antagonist for your stories? Resources Mentioned: Suave Rob’s Awesome Adventures by J. Daniel SawyerThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1089: Creating Effective Antagonists http://everydaynovelist.com/2024/01/02/question-1089-creating-effective-antagonists/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Dawn asks: Which is best for writing: typing, longhand, or dictation? Why? Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1088: Writing Implements http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/22/question-1088-writing-implements/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Nichole asks:I’m having trouble expanding my short story into a novel. Can you give some techniques and examples? Resources: Predestination and Other Games of Chance (full cast audio podcast by J. Daniel Sawyer) Nightfall by Isaac Asimov novel, short story The post Question 1087: Expanding a Short Story Into a Novel http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/21/question-1087-expanding-a-short-story-into-a-novel/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Dawn asks:How should a lonely writer go about networking with other writers? The post Questions 1086: Networking for Writers http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/20/questions-1086-networking-for-writers/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Nichole asks: How does one show the gender of a first person narrator? Resources: I, Claudius by Robert Graves Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1085: Showing Narrator Gender in First Person http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/19/question-1085-showing-narrator-gender-in-first-person/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:What makes you (and other listeners) want to tell stories? Resources: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1084: What Motivates a Writer? http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/18/question-1084-what-motivates-a-writer/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Dawn asks:How do freelancers deal with breaks and vacations? Sponsored by Suave Rob’s Awesome Adventures! The post Question 1083: Vacations for Freelancers http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/17/question-1083-vacations-for-freelancers/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Dawn asks: Is there ever a time in one’s life when you shouldn’t start writing? Sponsor: Suave Rob’s Awesome Adventures The post Question 1082: When Not to Write http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/08/question-1082-when-not-to-write/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Nichole asks: So what’s the skinny on all the edible plants up there on your homestead? Resources mentioned:Monty Python and the Holy Grail The post Question 1081: Edible Plants http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/07/question-1081-edible-plants/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Alexis asks: I always feel behind. What kind of advice do you have for work-life balance for freelancers? The post Question 1080: Work-Life Balance http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/06/questions-1079-work-life-balance/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
We’re back after far too long an absence. In this episode you will find a feeble justification for our delinquency, as well as a brand new sparkling question from Dawn. Dawn asks: How do you get around a fear of writing? Sponsored by Archivos The post We’re BACK! Question 1079: Fear of Writing http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/11/02/were-back-question-1079-fear-of-writing/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:How can I keep the momentum going in a series that I haven’t planned out from the beginning? Resources Mentioned:Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster The post Question 1078: Sustaining an Unplanned Series http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/25/question-1078-sustaining-an-unplanned-series/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Ed asks:Will AI push our world in a more libertarian or totalitarian direction? The post Question 1077: AI and the Politics of the Future http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/24/question-1077-ai-and-the-politics-of-the-future/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:Which of your stories was the most fun to write? Resources mentioned:Suave Rob’s Double-X Derring-DoSuave Rob’s Rough’N’Ready Rugrat RaptureChicken Noodle GravityFuneral Hats The post Question 1076: The Most Fun Story to Write http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/23/question-1076-the-most-fun-story-to-write/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Ed asks:What will happen to AI, and what will AI do, as the bottom falls out of the world’s demography? The post Question 1075: AI and the Demographic Collapse http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/22/question-1075-ai-and-the-demographic-collapse/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:Have you ever tracked how many hours it takes you to write a book? If I were to do this, what would be the advantages? The post Question 1074: How Many Hours to Write a Book? http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/19/question-1074-how-many-hours-to-write-a-book/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Nichole asks: How can I make my first person narrator voice more distinctive? If I changed to third person, would that work better? Resources Mentioned:I, Claudius and Claudius the God, both by Robert GravesThe Clarke Lantham Mysteries by J. Daniel SawyerThe Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1073: Using Voice in Character and Narration http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/18/question-1073-using-voice-in-character-and-narration/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.
Tim asks:How can you make your character dynamics grow in intensity over the course of the story? Sponsored by Archivos The post Question 1072: Intensifying Your Character Dynamics http://everydaynovelist.com/2023/05/17/question-1072-intensifying-your-character-dynamics/ appeared first on The Every Day Novelist http://everydaynovelist.com.