A follow up to "Exposition," how do you start a story once you've cut that dull first page? Here's two ideas you should keep in mind when sitting down to write (or revise) your fiction!

Ever read a story that was a slog through the entire beginning, or a story that almost put you to sleep before it finally got around to starting? Ever worry about accidentally writing one of those stories? Let's stop worrying and do something about it! Here's a new take on how to think about your exposition and what it does for your story. At the end of the episode, you might be asking yourself if you even need any exposition at all.

Hey fiction writer, does you inner critic think your dialogue isn't very good, or wants you to hyper-focus on how to set up scenes like a masterpiece on your first draft? In this episode, let's stop feeling like our writing isn't good enough and give all our ideas a hundred percent!

Have you ever read a story that goes on too long, seems empty, or is just boring? Worse yet, have you written such a story? In this episode, we discuss the work required to make the story beats strike with effective timing, and the strategies that can help us pull it off. Learning this skill can be a journey unto itself, but that first step will have a surprising effect on your writing right away.

A writer is a very particular kind of reader. They take what they read and turn it into a passion for words that, through an unaccountable alchemy, becomes a story. In this episode, we discuss the different ways that reading stories can inspire, and the value that can be found in reading things that challenge the assumptions you make about writing, and challenge what you like about your own writing.

Are you a planner or an improviser? Do you think you already understand all the techniques you need to brainstorm and outline? Think again! In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of planning ahead, and some of the different reasons you might want to try finding your very own unique way of thinking about what comes next. Come find some inspiration to write in the way that works best for you, even if that means inventing something new.

The world is full of people who want to tell you how to write and what you should be writing. In this episode we discuss what to do with all the feedback and advice we get from our readers, teachers, editors, and fellow writers. Find out how to turn these well-meaning tips, even feedback that's off-base or disagreeable, into a resource that can improve your stories and craft.