A Novel Process: Recent Episodes
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A Novel Process is a podcast about what it's really like to write a book, told in real-time. featuring various writers, every two weeks they'll make an episode about how it's going. The surprises, blocks, celebrations, and creative currents are all investigated in their own signature style.
This episode May wrestles with the difficulties of delivering crucial plot information about telepathic bioluminescent salamanders when you're only method for delivering that information is... telepathic bio-luminescent salamanders.
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The tenth (and last!) in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
This episode May brings this massive story to a close, outlining not one but two possible endings for the book. Which one is better? Well, May likes the second one. But if you disagree, shoot her an email!
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The nineth in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
This episode focuses on Stan, the head of the Cabal and the man that has been the most gung-ho to learn how to make Hot Rocks, and use them to restart the mine. Now that the final sacrifice has been made, it seems like it’s finally time to put that plan into action. But making commercial quantities of an alien crystal turns out to be trickier than they thought. What will Stan do if, after a decade of hoping and planning, he isn’t able to Make Naralynda Great Again?
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The eighth in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
After ending the last episode on a cliff hanger, Eddie now has three possible candidates for the alien sacrifice. Who will he choose? How will he choose? And what will happen to those left behind?
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The seventh in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
In this episode the aliens decide they only need one more sacrifice, and trouble ensues...
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The sixth in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening in May's episodes without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
In this episode the status quo gets a shake up when a lavenderfarm (and a hot lavender farmer) comes to Naralynda. A rom-com section? Don’t mind if I do!
We always love to hear from listeners, if you'd like you questions answered or comments addressed, send them to:
anovelprocesspodcast@gmail.com
The fifth in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening in May's episodes without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
In this episode we finally get a chance to explore the lives of the aliens in this sci-fi story. When the latest human sacrifice gets unavoidably delayed, humans and salamanders are forced to spend time in close quarters. Cultures are exchanged, world views are rocked, and I get to spend a lot of time (some would say too much) geeking out over alien bio-tech.
The third in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening in May's episodes without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
In this episode we met the town undertaker, Kym. Kym is a very nice guy, he loves his family, he's a passionate cyclist, and he loves his job.
What he doesn't love is being woken up in the middle of the night, handed a decapitated dead body, and told to organise a fake death certificate as soon as possible.
What will Kym do when he finds himself part of (as far as he can tell) a corrupt, murderous plot? And will finding out about the aliens behind it all make him feel better or worse? Listen to find out.
In this episode, Kirsteen discusses the idea of the cover art for her latest book. They say "don't judge a book by its cover" but there are actually many factors that can influence how your book sells than just the cover art itself.
The third in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening in May's episodes without going all the way back to the start, jump in at May and the Short Story Structure (Part 1).
In this episode, we focus on the story of Emma and Louisa. Emma is a terminally ill teenager, and the salamander's next scheduled sacrifice. And Louisa is her mum, who's not quite ready to let her go.
In this episode, Kirsteen explores creative ways to go about marketing and selling a book as a self-publishing author and discusses some tips and discoveries she made during her brief stint as a TikTok personality
Also! Kirsteen needs a name for her new Fantasy Romance book! Leave your suggestions on our socials (Facebook, Instagram & TikTok)
Kirsteen's Fantasy Writing' Tik Tok account (@fantasy.writing.tips): https://www.tiktok.com/@fantasy.writing.tips?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
The second in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you're new to the podcast and want to understand what is happening in May's episodes without going all the way back to the start, then why not start here instead! (Well, not here, here. Start with part 1.)
In this episode, we flash back in time ten years, to find a very different Naralynda. The mine is closed, most people are out of work, outlook Is bleak. When tow local men die in mysterious circumstances, their friend Eddie decides something needs to change. He will make their deaths matter, no matter what it takes...
In this episode, Kirsteen talks about the premise of her new fantasy romance story (aka her " first pancake" novel).
Expect plenty of political backstabbing, hot-tempered werewolves, and Faeries who... can shoot fireballs out of their fingertips?!
The first in a new series of checkpoint episodes! If you’re new to the podcast and want understand what’s happening without going all the way back to the start, why not start here instead.
In this episode, May talks through the novel’s new structure (based loosely on sci-fi classic I, Robot). And then the story begins, with Debbie returning to her home town of Narralynda, and finding that all is not well…
In this episode, Kirsteen talks about what she's been working on over the last few months. Hint: it isn't the editing The Traitor's Daughter.
In this episode, May takes a break from narrative construction to dive back into world-building. Let's crystalse some organic matter and see if we can make a spaceship out of it! Creepy bio-tech for the win!
In this episode, May and Kirsteen answer YOUR burning questions in this mailbag episode. Video version also available via the link below.
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, now that the book is a Hallmark-y queer romance, May spends some time planning a character arch for Debbie's small town hunk with a heart of gold.
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, Following on from last fortnight’s episode, Kirsteen continues her discussion on implementing reader feedback, using examples.
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, May rhapsodises about why Lavender Farms are awesome:
1) In general
2) In her novel
(Spoilers, it's mostly because they are queer as shit)
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, Kirsteen talks about receiving constructive criticism, and how to interpret and implement reader feedback.
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, May outlines the newest version of the book's structure. It has a lot in common with the structure of a Hallmark Movie (but with more alien euthanasia).
Find us on our socials and ask us questions here - https://linktr.ee/anovelprocess
In this episode, Kirsteen talks about the difference between alpha and beta readers, the impact of their feedback (or lack thereof) and how the editing process has changed with the rise of self-publishing authors.
In June 2021 May started a podcast about writing a book (which she thought would take about six months). To celebrate her ongoing wrongness (and our anniversary) May and Kirsteen got together for a wide-ranging chat about how their writing processes have been going for the past year. And in exciting news, if you’d like to watch the discussion (and not just listen to it) you can find the link here - https://youtu.be/4ugvSc1v7Dw
In this episode, Kirsteen goes back through her novel and lays down the context of her story.
...or tries to anyway. Actually what happens is that having tasted success with Chapter 1 May runs into a hard wall with Chapter 2, and struggles to recover.
In this episode, Kirsteen talks about narrative perspectives, and a writing exercise she created to help her distinguish between different character voices.
In this episode, May describes the first actual chapter of the actual book, which she has actually written. We meet our new main character, Debbie, and see a flashback to her first visit to the local mine when she was just seven years old. While she's there, she discovers a mysterious cave...
To learn more about Queenstown and its bright red river of acid, click here: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/mar/25/where-the-river-runs-red-tasmania-guardian-documentary
In this episode, Kirsty talks about unusual research tangents, true crime as inspiration, and breaking ciphers
In this episode, May talks about the beautiful, detailed, chapter-by-chapter plan that she would have created for the novel, if only her brain wasn't a writhing bed of snakes.
In this episode, Kirsteen deep dives into the main protagonist of her novel: Artemis. We find the narrative arc works quite well, but the character arc reveals our main character is just... too awesome.
In this episode May tries to work out why the end of her book is dull. Turns out she hasn't been applying extreme enough consequences to her characters for performing human sacrifices. The little scamps.
In this episode, Kirsteen discusses the pros and cons of prophecy, and the love/hate relationship she has with her book’s prologue.
A monumental moment here, as we welcome a new writer to the podcast, Kirsteen McInnes! In this episode May and Kirsteen chat about their different writing processes, sci-fi vs fantasy, gardeners vs architects, still working on your first draft vs having finished multiple drafts like a show-off (ahem).
Going forward we're excited to announce that you'll be regularly hearing from Kirsteen here on the podcast, every second week. She'll discuss the trials and tribulations of late-stage novel writing: editing, re-writing, and preparing for publication.
In this episode, May discusses why researching mining regulations is way more fun (and more creatively fulfilling) than making stuff up.
In the first episode of 2022, May explains how to write a romance between two communities (and why it's way easier once you invent Alien Euthanasia).
It's the last episode of 2021! In it, May twiddles the knobs and dials of the book's central moral quandry, attempting to make the problem that the protagonists are trying to solve exactly the right level of problem-y. This twiddling requires skill, finesse, and the ability to actually listen to the good advice that multiple, intelligent people have given to May, multiple times.
In this episode, May talks about writer's block, anxiety, and accidentally writing a book about terminal illness.
In this episode, May takes a long large look at the state of the novel and plans out the ways she wants to move forward.
In this mailbag episode May answers a bunch of listener questions on a wide range of topics, including autism, gender and Andy Weir.
In this fifth checkpoint episode, we finally reach the end of the book! (In its current summary form anyway.) This episode includes is an alien invasion, a cliff-top gunfight, and an epilogue with a little bit of hope for the future.
In this fourth checkpoint episode, we have arrived at Act III. Chekov's gun will be fired, fat ladies will sing (I can say that cos I love karaoke), and resolution with be reached (or will it...)
In this third checkpoint episode, May takes us through the second half of Act II in the book's current narrative structure. This section is sometimes called 'The Bad Guys Close In'. May describes the bad guys in more detail, they do indeed close in, and shit gets real.
In this second checkpoint episode, May takes us through the first half of Act II in the book's current narrative structure. This is sometimes called the Fun and Games section.
Is it fun? Yes.
Are there games? Metaphorically, sure.
Weren't there only going to be two checkpoint episodes? Why are we only halfway through Act II? No further questions.
In this episode May takes us through act one of what she hopes is the final narrative outline of the book. Maybe (probably) it will all change by the next episode, but hey, a girl can dream.
In this episode, May thought she had finally found the perfect narrative structure for her novel which, interestingly, bore a striking resemblance to the narrative structure of seminal 90's teen classic 'She's All That'. Unfortunately, there's a problem.
In this episode, May goes on a journey, searching for inspiration with a visit to some beautiful limestone caves. But, as so often happens with journeys, the real inspiration came from the friend she made (listen to her rant about the book for four hours) along the way.
In this episode, May attempts to talk about language while using language, which is a bit like trying to take a car apart while you’re driving it.
In this episode, May word vomits some thoughts on how the living conditions of her aliens might end up influencing their philosophy and culture. In the process, she accidentally invents salamander fascism. Like you do.
In this episode, May talks about why narratives need problems, why a good problem is hard to find, and why having heat as a problem is more problematic than most.
In this episode, May outlines the premise of both her novel and the podcast about writing her novel, and explains why making both at the same time is not as vomit-inducingly self-aggrandizing as it first appears.