by Stephanie Dethlefs | Feb 1, 2023 | Accountability, Character Development, First Draft, Planning your book, Plot development, writing craft
I know what it feels like to be at the beginning of writing a novel. It’s thrilling. And also… 😱 overwhelming. 😱 confusing. 😱 full of self-doubt. Writing a novel is a big job, and we often think we have to have all of the pieces in place first. 🤔 We think we should...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Feb 1, 2023 | First Draft, How to write a novel, Mindset, Planning your book, Plot development
There is this pervasive idea that there are two ways to write a novel: either you plan it all out or you wing it. And what’s worse: both camps think the other way is wrong. This frustrates me to no end, because the truth is there is no “right” way to...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Oct 18, 2022 | Planning your book, Plot development, writing craft, Writing middle grade, Writing YA
Having vague or fuzzy ideas can lead to self-doubt and discouragement, but self-doubt does not need to keep you from writing your book. In this episode, we’re playing with plot ideas by asking the question “what if?” and watching as a story begins to take shape....
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Sep 13, 2022 | Audience, Character Development, Planning your book, writing craft
Who is your main character? More importantly, why are they making the decisions they’re making in the story? If you want your reader to care about what happens next, the best way is to answer these three essential questions about your protagonist. You can’t guarantee...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Aug 16, 2022 | Accountability, Book Coaching, First Draft, Getting feedback, How to write a novel, Inner critic, Mindset, Planning your book, Revision, writing craft, writing life
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the thought of writing a novel? No lie, it’s hard work. But this episode lays out a three-phase process that is structured enough to support you while allowing for your creative inspiration. There is no “right” way to write a novel, but...
