111 episodes
Essential Guide to Writing a Novel James Thayer
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- Education
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4.9 • 264 Ratings
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Hosted by James Thayer, the podcast is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft a novel. It presents a set of tools for large issues such as story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted') and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine. The New York Times Book Review has said Thayer's "writing is smooth and clear. it wastes no words, and it has a rhythm only confident stylists achieve.
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Episode 111 - If we have to have a big meeting, show rather than tell.
It's hard to make a big meeting scene interesting. Much of the time meeting scenes should be avoided. But if we must have a meeting, showing rather than telling will make it more interesting. Plus, how Carson McCullers worked. And some comments from feuding writers. Also, an interview with Maeve Binchy.
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Episode 110 - Book cover design, and regaining enthusiasm.
Good advice about designing your own book cover; don't. If you self-publish your novel don't ruin it with a do-it-yourself book cover. Here are thoughts on why you should hire a pro designer. Also: why have we lost some enthusiasm for writing our novel, and how can we get it back? And some of the loveliest sentences in literature.
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Episode 109 - How we can stop stalling and get going.
Some of us have a hard time beginning the writing of our novels or short stories. Here are the reasons why and things we might do to overcome them. Also, the best first sentences in literature. And now novelist John Cheever worked.
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Episode 108 - Every description should do double duty.
We can avoid inert paragraphs by having our descriptions do more than one thing at once. Descriptions of our characters, settings, and action and our dialogue can do double duty--two things at the same time--which will engage the reader and enliven our story. Here's how .
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Episode 107 - The differences between literary and commercial fiction.
Should we categorize our novel as literary or commercial? What are the benefits and drawbacks of doing so? Also, we can improve our dialogue writing by reading great crime fiction. And: the importance of avoiding filters.
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Episode 106 - How to write a scene's sequel, and plotting the novel's middle.
Jack Bickham says that scenes should be followed by sequels. Here are thoughts on how to write a sequel. Also, the middle of a novel--sometimes called the Great Swampy Middle--can be hard to plot. We'll discuss techniques on bulking up the middle of our story.
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Customer Reviews
Lovin’writin’
I’m going through this podcast for my second time. I listen to it at work and have learned so much. Thank you!
Lessons in Craft
There are many wonderful podcasts that focus on writers and their books. This podcast, however, is one if the few that focuses on the craft of writing. I may not agree with everything he says but I have not yet found an episode that didn’t make me think and explore new ideas. Thank you Mr. Thayer.
Very helpful
Well, you could get a lot of this from his book, and probably take it in better by highlighting and making notes, it’s a wonderful audio format. Sometimes I like to listen to it when I’m walking my dog between brakes and writing and then it will spark ideas, ideas for me to improve, or add to my novel draft.
But for the love of God, could we figure out a way to mute the lip smack inhale sound between sentences? Love you but is there anyway, some of us with misophonia find that as bad and it kills me ha.
Anyway thanks for the podcast
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