Writing Expensive Words: Recent Episodes
Kristin N. Spencer
The big question every writer has is: How can I sell more books? Or, if they’re not published yet, it’s how can I write books that sell? But when writers approach selling books from a numbers perspective, they’re missing out on the amazing relationships they could be building with readers through their stories. It’s impossible to write books that resonate with readers when you’re writing for money, because money can’t read. But shouldn’t writers be able to make a living with their stories? Well, when you connect with human souls, readers turn into fans and friends, and that’s when consistent income begins. That and so much more. But how do writers connect with readers? That is the question this podcast aims to answer. For more information on the host or upcoming episodes, check out https://expensivewords.com
Today we're going to talk about how to use real emotions in your writing without having to tell the reader any of your deepest darkest secrets. Let's do this. Keywords for this episode: -What makes a good sad story -Why is mood important in story -Why do we like sad stories -Why emotions are so powerful -What makes a story emotional -What is your emotional story -How to write an emotional story Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about emotion-based imagery (also known as emotional imagery) and why readers love it. Questions/prompts to think about: How to write about your feelings. How to write character feelings. How to write emotional characters. How to write emotionless characters. How to write characters in love. Write about feelings. How to write feelings story (AKA a testimonial). Support this podcast
Today's guest is the wonderful Kristina Adams, the host of The Writer's Mindset podcast. Learn how to be more in tune with your emotions so that you can write better character emotions, and learn a lot of other awesome writerly things in this episode. The Writer's Mindset Podcast: https://www.writerscookbook.com/podcast/
Kristina's Author Website: https://kristinaadamsauthor.com Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about: Transformation of idea into reality. How to transform idea into product. Transform your idea into a real business. How to turn idea into business. Transform idea into vision. Ideas to transform your writing. Can you change? Support this podcast
Readers are sick of gimmicks with no story. You don't want to betray the reader. How to listen to reader feedback (especially with your first story). How to avoid writing a bait and switch. Why you shouldn't change the rules halfway through. How to deal with extreme reader reactions. Be who you are, not who you think they want (and you won't have to worry about covering your lying butt). Support this podcast
Today we're going to discuss: Gimmick Writing Meaning Writing Gimmicky Characters Gimmick Definition What Is a Literary Gimmick? Examples of Literary Gimmicks What is the worst writing gimmick? and How to Distract Readers From Iffy Writing (and why this idea is wrong and you don't need it) Learn how to write an irresistible intro for free by heading to: https://literarysymmetry.com/hello (literarysymmetry.com/hello) Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about how to avoid gimmicky writing and we'll define and answer the following: Gimmick Writing Meaning Writing Gimmicky Characters Gimmick Definition What is a Literary Gimmick Examples of Literary Gimmicks What is the worst writing gimmick? How to distract readers from iffy writing? Support this podcast
According to askthepublic.com writers all over the world are searching about how to sell their story ideas. But should you do that? Can you sell story ideas? Find out on today's episode of Writing Expensive Words. Support this podcast
Learn how The Queen's Gambit approaches storytelling in a compelling and convincing way that has won over at least 62 millions viewers. Today we're going to talk about foils and feelings of loneliness. Plus foreshadowing. When it comes to The Queen's Gambit, it's always about foreshadowing. Support this podcast
Learning how to keep going when you feel like trash. As a writer, but also in general. We're going into the Dark Night of the Soul, so buckle up. Support this podcast
This is the best (and shortest) class on adverb use you'll ever take. Become a master in adverb usage in under 10 minutes! Support this podcast
Learn how The Queen's Gambit approaches storytelling in a compelling and convincing way that has won over at least 62 millions viewers. Foreshadowing galore as we meet almost all of most important characters in the story in one episode. Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about how even if your story has the same basic premise as another story, it can still be just as epic as the aforementioned story. Today we're going to compare "Summer Frost" by Blake Crouch to the film Free Guy written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn.
Let's do this! Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about how to be creative without confusing or alienating your reader. Books and Films discussed in this episode: "You Have Arrived at Your Destination" by Amor Towles "Guardians of the Galaxy" directed by James Gunn "Emergency Skin" by N.K. Jemisin "If I Let You In, Again" by Kristin N. Spencer (https://kristin-n-spencer.medium.com/if-i-let-you-in-again-ad0a7abd9e34 (https://kristin-n-spencer.medium.com/if-i-let-you-in-again-ad0a7abd9e34)) Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about the introduction to the show "The Queen's Gambit" and whether a flash-forward intro is a good idea. This episode mentions: The Queen's Gambit Guardians of the Galaxy The Tomorrow War and some show I can't remember the name of Support this podcast
In today's episode we are going to talk about otherness is, why it matters to the reader, and how superhero stories use otherness to gain fans. Mentioned in this episode: -Black Widow -Superman -Miles Morales's Spiderman Support this podcast
How to get to launch day, and why I haven't made a video or podcast in two months. Write, self-edit, sensitivity reader, self-edit, send to copy editor, implement and argue over notes, format final manuscript, make cover, upload...
The Bryan Cohen advertising course [FREE] can be found here: https://bryancohen.lpages.co/july21/ Support this podcast
Today, we're going to talk about how it feels to work with an editor who reveals that everything you wrote, that you thought was simple, maybe isn't so simple and needs revising. I'm also going to go through my entire process with you from sitting down to write (after planning) to being ready to publish. Here we go! Support this podcast
Just because you use real emotions that cost you something to write (expensive words), doesn't mean that everything you write has to be super complicated. Today, we're going to talk about simplicity, and why it's every writer's friend. Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about what envy is doing to your writing and your life, and what you can do to stop it. Support this podcast
Whenever you learn something new or try something difficult, you are putting yourself in a position where you are likely to feel uncomfortable. But if you are willing to take that risk and to embrace the comes-fast-goes-fast nature of uncomfortable, that might just be your superpower. Support this podcast
Today you're going to learn how to write two main POVs by looking at examples from two of my favorite books: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray Because who doesn't love a dual POV story? Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about the battle for supremacy within and how to embrace all of our creative selves without feeling guilty or like a failure. Support this podcast
Learn how to write a compelling breaking point for your character that won't catch your reader off guard. Support this podcast
Trope Trials is the series from the Writing Expensive Words podcast that puts two books from the same trope up against each other. Today's trope is time loop. Today's battlebooks are Recursion by Blake Crouch and The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman. Mandatory shout-outs to Groundhog Day, The Edge of Tomorrow, About Time, and, regrettably, Palm Springs (which doesn't have enough character growth to make you care about the story). Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about how to balance who you are and your art with the rules that are meant to make your art better, not limit you individually. Learn how to be who you are without sacrificing reader experience. The way I write (create) does NOT equal who I am. Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about how to shelter-in-place as a writer to maintain emotional health and gain a broader perspective. Support this podcast
Learn how to live with the review you get, how to mine reviews for useful information, and how to ignore the haters. -Separate facts from opinion. -Learn how to deal with trolls. -Use empathy to think about the readers who leave negative reviews and whether their unrealistic expectations are to blame for their bad reading experience. Support this podcast
Learn how to snuff out doubt using your knowledge of why you did what you did with your story and a great support system made up of people who know more than you do. Support this podcast
What should authors do in this era of cancel culture? Should we let fear stop us? What about representation? Get the answers in this episode as I respond to the hottest topic in publishing right now: writer fear and the cancel culture. Support this podcast
How to get past the idea that writing more equals more money, and why you should take another look at your writing goals. Support this podcast
Learn how to use insecurity to make your characters more relatable and how to spin that insecurity into triumph for the benefit of your story and your reader. Plus, a personal confession. Support this podcast
This recording was taken from The Storyteller Mindset 5-Day Email Challenge so that you can listen to this reminder anytime you need to. Your voice matters, and so does your story. To sign up to join The Storyteller Mindset 5-Day Email Challenge, go to https://literarysymetry.com (literarysymetry.com) Support this podcast
We're going to talk about food in fiction, naming off a few of our favorites, and why it's still okay to mention food in your writing. Special guest Travis Spencer joins us to talk about food inside of fiction. Support this podcast
A big shout out to Raman from Dharmshala, India, who wrote in to ask this question: should I include other forms of writing in my novel. Let's talk about poetry, journals, essays, letters, songs, and opinion pieces in today's episode. Support this podcast
Will our hero finish her seemingly impossible quest? Find out on today's episode of the Writing Expensive Words podcast. Support this podcast
Learn why you need to feel valuable before you can create, and how to allocate your daily creative credits accordingly. Support this podcast
Day 20 was my first failed word count day, and on today's episode, I talk about why I'm okay with that. Support this podcast
Knowing you've created an entire, amazing story is unlike any other feelings, and I know you can finish, if you just listen to this episode. Support this podcast
Did I accidentally discover this method while working on the 5 books in 5 weeks challenge? Probably. Join me to learn why the traditional way we write book series is broken, and how to change that. Support this podcast
A short rant about mentoring, and a peek into my process as I attempt to write 5 books in 5 weeks. Support this podcast
How to keep hoping, how to keep writing, and why storytelling is so important to me. Support this podcast
I'm feeling sassy today. Learn how the action & reaction formula works within a scene, and also what a scene is. Bonus: Learn how to make dialogue magic. Support this podcast
I finished book #2 in the Old School Series and have now written 50,000 in just two weeks. Am I still sane? Listen to find out. Support this podcast
An update on this crazy experiment I'm trying, and also my mental breakdown. Support this podcast
Think about how you really spend your time. Do you still not have time to write? Support this podcast
What crazy projects will I attempt this year? Check it out, and also learn what Literary Symmetry is putting out in 2021. It's going to be a good year (well, at least better than last year, hopefully). Support this podcast
Here is a list of all of the things that made 2020 into more than just a year of being scared/bummed out. Support this podcast
I give my candid opinion (back up by https://amzn.to/38FTOqh (this amazing book)) and share my impressions of Soul by Pixar. Support this podcast
How to have me edit your short story (https://www.facebook.com/groups/perfectreadwriting/ (for FREE)) and also where and when to publish. Support this podcast
Tune in for the third installment of Alone in Nashville at Christmas where we find out Joelle's fate, and learn how to separate scenes inside of a short story. Mmmm, hot chicken. Support this podcast
Today we get into the middle of "Alone in Nashville at Christmas" part 2, and I give you a real life example of why we have to reread things just to make sure everything we planned to go into the story actually got there. Will this episode make you want hot chicken from Nashville, absolutely, yes. Support this podcast
Here is the first part of "Alone in Nashville at Christmas" where we take the idea of sensory imagery, feelings, and expensive words into the fictional realm. Let's do this thing. Support this podcast
How to think through your story so that you get the details right and don't irritate every reader. Also, how to adjust when your now-life inspires you to write about it and ruins your plans. Support this podcast
Understand that even though 2020 has been a dumpster fire, there are things worth celebrating. Here are my professional things. Support this podcast
Let's travel back in time to third grade, and then update the wrong teaching into a right one. Pronouns ya'll. Support this podcast
How to take your emotions caused by sensory details, and spin them into a fictional short story idea. Support this podcast
This is the last episode of the autobiographical portion of the Story Bootcamp series. Listen to this, finish your autobiographical story, and then get ready to work on your fiction short story. Boom. Feelings. Support this podcast
How to think about the middle of your autobiographical short story, and what things you need to include to keep the reader hooked. Also, a small note about libel and how to avoid getting sued by your family. Support this podcast
We need to know how much detail and which details to use in our writing. Cash, Crash, Jubilee by Eli K. P. William is proof. https://literarysymmetry.com/storyfilters (Check out Story Filters here.) Support this podcast
In this episode I'm going to share the intro to a short autobiographical story with you, and tell you what steps you need to take to write your own autobiographical intro. Why? Because I said so... also, because it's going to help you become a better storyteller (yes, even if you write fiction). Support this podcast
In this episode, you're going to learn how to use the five senses to give the reader the details they need, how to leave subliminal information in the tiniest of phrases, and how to write an action and reaction. Let's write this. Support this podcast
Why insomnia guided me to a realization my husband had been trying to help me reach all week. Support this podcast
You know that loneliness that happens when you're trying to learn something new and hard... and it feels like no one else knows what you're going through? Yeah, me too. Support this podcast
We talk about the difference between a reader who wants to impose their will on your writing, and a reader who cares, but gets confused by the things you forget to include in the text (that are already cemented inside of your head). Support this podcast
Have you ever wondered why thinking about writing is such a huge time-sucker for writers? Well, in this episode we talk about how writers have to work hard to make sure everything makes sense for the reader. I'm also going to share a story of when I paid hundreds of dollars to a "professional" editor who didn't really fix my manuscript. Support this podcast
The hard truth you need to know before you write 100,000 more words. Support this podcast
The story of how Story Filters was born and all of the fun things this little course will do for your writing (for FREE!). Support this podcast
How to manage expectations when you can't tell the future, and how to evaluate creative credits while managing expectations. Say that five times fast. Support this podcast
How to use self-empathy longterm for your writer self by using thought replacement. Support this podcast
How to use self-emapthy to give yourself honest and kind evaluations that are based in context and not comparison. Support this podcast
How to be honest with yourself, even when it's hard, so you can navigate the writing world faster and better. Hint: Kindness when being honest with yourself is key. Support this podcast
The thing is, simple doesn't mean bad, but it does mean repeatable. Support this podcast
Find out what it means to be kind to yourself, and why if you aren't, no one else's kindness can really help you or your writing. Support this podcast
Is storytelling better if it's quality or quantity? And is there a way to learn how to produce quality work without paying tens of thousands of dollars to a university? Support this podcast
A master storyteller can leverage the position and experience of each character to reveal the themes, moods, and ideas from different perspectives that can either confirm or contradict these ideas to show them in the light they want. This is the best way to discuss, via storytelling, the complexities of life. Support this podcast
This episode is on how to avoid quitting. You might not feel like you need this episode. I'm glad. I love your confidence. Listen to it anyway. Support this podcast
These are my tricks and tips on how to hack NaNoWriMo for a better chance of winning. The NaNo Prep Care Package can be found at http://expensivewords.com/nanoprep (expensivewords.com/nanoprep) Support this podcast
Yes, we're going to talk about planing vs. pantsing. No, it's probably not as straight forward as you think. Support this podcast
In this episode we are going to talk about how to give yourself the best chance at winning NaNoWriMo (aside from the planning I'm going to badger you about in the next episode). Support this podcast
How can you get just the right amount of the complicated everday into your story? Check out this episode, that's how. Support this podcast
Some people will dislike your story. They dislike me and my writing. That doesn't mean I'm going to quit, or that you should quit either. Support this podcast
Why you need to consider what is best for your story before you consider whether people might like or dislike your writing choices. Shout out to Jon Favreau because I talk about him and The Mandalorian in this episode. Support this podcast
I hope you aren't hungry. It's time to understand why leaving things unfinished is so appalling to the reader and why you never, ever want to be Fred Malcom. Support this podcast
This is one of the episodes you should listen to first if you haven't listened to this podcast before. Expensive words or nothing at all. Support this podcast
This is the final episode in the Relationships in Writing series. Today we're going to talk about what to do when one type of relationships in your story transforms into a different type of relationship. We're going to talk about Pride and Prejudice, and of course, the Hunger Games series. #teampeeta Support this podcast
If you ever feel stuck when you're writing, show a scene of your character at work and introduce a wacky or relatable character. This episode is brought to you courtesy of Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope. Support this podcast
It's important to understand that family relationships are complicated, and that's why they're so important to your story. Do I use my own expensive words in this episode. Yes, and they might come back to bite me, but oh well. Support this podcast
In the second episode of the Relationships in Writing series, we are going to go over how to write platonic friendships. Specifically, we are going to look at Amos and Naomi in The Expanse series and Anne and Diana in Anne of Green Gables. Are there puns about the ship that is for friends in this episode? You bet there are. Support this podcast
In the first episode of the Relationships in Writing series we are going to take on the big one: romance. How should you think about romantic relationships inside of your story, and how can you write them in an informed way so that you don't get blind-sided by your target audience? P.S. I definitely talk about my husband in this episode. Support this podcast
This is the last episode of the Writing 101 course. Join me as I take you through a review of all of the episodes and help you as you journey forward to write the story of your heart. Support this podcast
This is the eighth episode of the Writing 101 series where we talk about how the ideas of character, plot, and setting apply to storytelling in nonfiction. Support this podcast
Do you like rules? Check out how rules can save you from alienating your entire reading audience in the seventh episode of the Writing 101 series. P.S. It was Insurgent, not Allegiant. Allegiant is the third book in the Divergent series. Support this podcast
This is the fifth episode in the Writing 101 series. Today, we're going to talk about how to plot the plot, keeping the character arc in mind. We'll also discuss how to fuse the relatable with the spectacular. P.S. You can hear my dog, Moonie, chewing her bone toward the end of this episode. Trust me, you don't want to miss that. Support this podcast
Today we're going to talk about writing letters to our future selves, and what to do as far as writing accountability in the pandemic age we find ourselves in. Support this podcast
This is the fourth class in the Writing 101 series. Now that we know how to create a character, let's talk about how to create emotional journey via conflict within the story to create a character arc that readers will remember and relate to. Support this podcast
Do you feel like you have an idea, but it's not unique enough for your first novel? Let's dispel some myths together and get your closer to being able to write. Support this podcast
This is the second episode in the Writing 101 series. Explore how you can go from a story idea to a basic inkling of what your plot will entail. I walk you through a real story idea to plot exercise where I make up a new story idea on the fly. Hint: castles are involved. Support this podcast
It's time to think about your story goals and glorious glimmer (AKA your story idea) as you examine how to start writing. And if you don't know yet, we'll talk about ideas that will help you figure out what your glorious glimmer is if you don't have one yet. Support this podcast
How can you balance your life as an artist and your life as a human person? We're going to talk about that using three different examples (one did a great job) and also how I approach the precarious balancing act that is my life as a writer, mom, wife, and business owner in these unprecedented times. Support this podcast
I was thinking about how we write regarding the everyday, and why we can and can't do certain things. I admit some super strange about myself in this episode regarding the types of podcasts I used to listen to. Can you guess what kind of podcasts they were? Support this podcast
I'm mostly going to talk about Ready Player One, but I also mention a few other examples where literature battles against film. Listen up and let me know which medium you prefer. P.S. The Amy Adams movie I couldn’t remember the name of was Arrival, which is based on a short story by Ted Chiang titled “Story of Your Life.” (I know, shame... Arrival is SUCH a great film. My bad.) Support this podcast
I'm going to tell you why the sleeper film, Stranger Than Fiction, is the thing I use to refill my creative potion, and why you should watch it, and pay attention to the wonderful characterization that drives the plot of this ironic and funny 2006 film written by Zach Helm. Support this podcast
If you haven't built up your writing endurance yet, here's an idea of how to do it. Do I talk about college sports in this episode? Yes. Yes I do. Support this podcast
Children are such interesting creatures. How can we include them in our writing without stereotyping them or making them seem one-dimensional? Support this podcast
Do I use embarrassing slang in this episode to prove my point? Hekka yeah I do. Support this podcast
The truth is, that the most authentic characters are based on real people with actual characteristics. The only way to get real depth in writing is either through adding experience, or interviewing people to get insight into the experience you want to write. In today's episode we take a look at different characters who achieve this level of complexity and the authors who wrote them. Support this podcast
How to address writer's block (AKA writer's fatigue) and how to overcome it. As Hogarth says in the film Iron Giant, "You are who you choose to be." I may confess to sometimes locking myself in the bathroom to meditate for five minutes in this episode. Support this podcast
When you get the cover wrong, you are likely to get angry reviews and turn readers into mortal enemies. Find out why in this episode, where I once again mention that I won't be writing about horses anytime soon. Support this podcast
Yesterday I was playing "What if the worst thing that can happen, happens?" and I think the answer will help you as battle forward through your writing journey. Support this podcast
Why miscommunication as a plot device drives me crazy (in books, film, and real life) and how you can give your story and characters more depth by making them emotionally healthy. Support this podcast
How are Accounting and writing related? Find out in today's episode where we examine what imposter syndrome is, how to overcome it, and why we must overcome it. Support this podcast
Finding balance is so important, not just because of what adults consume for entertainment, but what children consume for entertainment as well. Warning: I talk a lot about alien invasions in this one. Support this podcast
In this episode we go over why things like font choice and formatting matter to the reader, and how authors can prove the to reader that they care about the reader's time. Support this podcast
Why representation can't be the only point of a book, and how to avoid the editing pitfalls Kann couldn't seem to avoid. Still, I loved this book. P.S. The book I was referencing by Kara Swanson is titled The Girl Who Could See. Support this podcast
What I did to get the money for my ISBN pack, and what you can learn from that. In addition, we talk about why you do or don't need an ISBN for your book. Also, a quick note on why you won't see Expensive Words on Amazon's new podcasting service. Support this podcast
Join me as I explain why the crisis of having my family want to stop watching a movie 75% of the way through ended up with a lecture to my kids about trusting the storyteller. Support this podcast
When you are a creative person, you constantly have to work hard, because when you’re lazy, the other creatives notice. Here is my story of noticing, and why I don't want to be noticed for these types of mistakes, and how that can itself be a burden sometimes. Support this podcast
Why do subtle moments stay with us? How do these small moments matter for the reader, the character, and the actual real life? Support this podcast
Today we're going to look at a section of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear and discover the importance of being able to work through boredom. Support this podcast
Have you ever made a mistake? A big mistake? Well, I did, and an Amazon reviewer nailed me for it, but they also made a mistake. Find out what these mistakes were, and how you can move forward when you make one. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/sasquatch-illusive-or-elusive Support this podcast
Spoiler Alert: Though I try not to give away the finer plot points, I do give away the ending of this story. It is a difficult yet inspiring read made up of all expensive words. Support this podcast
Why do we need to listen, how can we listen, and how do we apply these ideas to characters in our stories? Also, what happens when we disagree with the person we're listening to? Support this podcast
Trigger warning: This episode contains the discussion of objectification, pornography, and sexual assault. Today we're going to talk about A Field Guider to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe and why his protagonist, Norris Kaplan, really made a few female readers angry. Support this podcast
Join me as I walk you through the process I use, as I write a book in real time. Today we talk about the process. Support this podcast
Looking at both Meet the Robinsons and Educated by Tara Westover, we examine why complicated villains are more satisfying to read and to write. Support this podcast
When we think about future goals, are we realistic? Do we just want fame, or do we want to project our voice? And if we want to project our voice, why? Is it because we want to feel validation? When you write from a place of seeking validation, you can’t use the expensive words you have because all of your motivations are fear-based. When you are afraid, you are mentally blocking yourself from using your own experiences to reach into the lives of others. Support this podcast
Christopher Nolan is a masterful storyteller, and his newest film Tenet is another solid proof of that fact. Listen to my impressions and how impressed I was by this new time-loop story. Support this podcast
Find out why my feelings of worthlessness froze me as an artist, and how I was able to start creating from a healthier emotional place. Support this podcast
If you're a perfectionist like me, you're going to love this episode. Learn why I freaked out over a simple PDF and why I'm not going to let feeling uninspired keep you from writing. Support this podcast
If you've ever wondered what a copyeditor does, and how you can find a good one, this episode is for you. Support this podcast
Today we take a quick look at "Flashlight" by Susan Choi and A Crime in the Family by Sacha Batthyany so that we understand what showing looks like, and we also discuss why authors fall into the temptation to tell. Support this podcast
The Suspension of Disbelief is something that all of us understand, but we don't all know what it's called. When is something a suspended disbelief, and when is it a plot hole? Find out, and find out what this means to you as a writer. Support this podcast
What is the best way to endear your main character to your readers? Check out the example of Miles Morales in the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Support this podcast
What does agency have to do with writing? And if we have more agency than other people, what should we do with it until we can change that. Also, is suffering really good for us, and if it is, does that mean we should ignore the suffering of others? And what about white privilege? How, as writers, do we deal with that? Things are about to get real in this episode of Expensive Words. Support this podcast
Who is Kristin, how did she become a writer, and what's a developmental editor? Also, what does the word "expensive" mean in the context of expensive words? Support this podcast
How the idea of expensive words came into existence. An origin story. Support this podcast