273. Why Writers Quit (And Why You Shouldn't)
Every writer hits a wall mid-project. The draft isn't working, the rejections are stacking up, and quitting starts to feel like the logical choice. But quitting isn't protecting you from failure. It's...
31 Maalis 15min
#272: Why Your Story Dies in the Middle (And the One Thing That Brings It Back to Life)
Every writer knows the feeling. Your story is on fire, you're excited about what's on the page. Then somewhere in the middle, something dies. The excitement fades. The scenes stop feeling alive. And n...
24 Maalis 19min
#271: The Thing That's Quietly Keeping You From Finishing Your Book
If you've ever hit a rough patch in your draft and found yourself reaching for another craft book, another podcast, another writing group, this episode is for you. Finishing your book gets harder when...
17 Maalis 15min
#270: Why Writing Feels Harder Than It Has To
Most writers assume the struggle is just part of the deal. That if it feels hard, they must be doing something wrong, or not working hard enough, or not talented enough. What if none of that is true? ...
10 Maalis 15min
#269: How to Write Backstory Without Killing Momentum
Backstory creates a dilemma: you need to give readers context about the past, but the moment you stop your forward-moving plot to explain it, you lose them. This episode shows you how to integrate bac...
3 Maalis 19min
#268: How to Write Riveting, Believable Dialogue: 3 Essential Techniques
What makes dialogue believable? It's not what you think. In this episode, I'm breaking down three techniques that bring conversations to life on the page. You'll learn what creates the illusion of aut...
24 Helmi 16min
#267: What to Cut From Your Novel and What to Keep: 3 Questions to Help You Decide
Every writer faces this moment: staring at a bloated manuscript, knowing something has to go, but terrified of making the wrong call. The usual advice—"kill your darlings," "cut ruthlessly"—doesn't he...
17 Helmi 18min
#266: 3 Ways To Amp Up Romantic Tension In Your Story
Many writers think romantic tension comes from obstacles keeping compatible people apart. A jealous ex. A misunderstanding. A job in another city. But that's not what makes readers ache for two people...
10 Helmi 25min
