My Gen X Journal: Recent Episodes
Tom Leveen
Practical advice on the art, business, and craft of storytelling; fiction audio dramas and readalongs; book and movie reviews with an eye toward learning by critique. Looking back at the late '80s and early '90s to see what our generation has learned, what we're getting right and getting wrong, and above all, being part of a chosen family.
My novel THOSE WE BURY BACK is a haunted house story...but it's really about grief. Take a listen.
Feeling stuck in your creative journey? In this video, we dive deep into common challenges faced by writers and creatives and explore practical solutions. From breaking down the silos of your different life roles to managing the impact of external factors on your creative process, we cover it all.Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate through tough times and stay on track with your creative goals. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more tips on boosting your creativity and overcoming obstacles!
Imagine Sir Anthony Hopkins, most known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in Silenceof the Lambs.
Now, Sir Anthony Hopkins was oncejust Tony Hopkins, starting like all of us. He was 17 or 18, doing showswherever he could. In one play, he worked with Sir Laurence Olivier, consideredthe greatest classical actor of his generation. Hopkins, playing a minor role,mustered the courage to ask Olivier for advice on his performance.
Imagine Sir Laurence at his makeup table. Hopkins asks for advice, and SirLaurence turns and says:
"When you speak, you are the star."
Just this morning on my walk, I brushed a hand over a short pine tree and came up with the following sentences on the fly, which might open a novel someday:
Despite their name, pine needles are actually soft,almost silky, to the touch when caressed the right way. Rub them the wrong way, and theyโll stick you. My mom was the same way.
Will it win a literary award? No, but itโs a vivid image, ainโt it?
In this episode, learn to go outside to improve your description.
If you find this episode helpful, I am positive you'll get a ton of use from my book on improving dialogue, available at Amazon and other retailers:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WZWMW5W
https://books2read.com/u/bWZY2z
Thanks for being here!
Pro tip: You don't get writer's block... :)
Here's a quick 16-minute bit about how to crush logjams in your writing!
If this is helpful, may I point you to STORYCRAFT...ten hours of hanging out with two successful authors, talking about everything from story structure to traditional publishing contracts and more!
https://tomleveen.store/b/storycraft
๐ฌ Crafting the Perfect Opening Line for Your Novel ๐
In this video, we delve into the art of writing captivating first sentences for your novel.
Description:In this tutorial, we explore how to write a first sentence that hooks readers and agents alike. Using examples from my own writing, we compare different approaches and discuss the nuances that can make your opening line stand out. Whether you're aiming for traditional publishing or self-publishing, crafting an engaging first sentence is crucial. Learn how to attract your target audience and make a strong first impression!
Key Points:
- How to craft a compelling first sentence
- The difference between functional and captivating openings
- Tips for establishing genre and setting quickly
- The significance of the first page for grabbing attention
๐ Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more writing tips!
Visit fictionmentor.com for additional resources and advice. ๐โจ
๐ Unlock Your Character's Journey: A Writing Exercise ๐In this video, I'm sharing a powerful exercise to give depth and dimension to your characters. Whether you're working on a short story, novel, or series, this exercise will help you create memorable characters.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:20 - Describing Your Protagonist at the Beginning01:05 - Sensory Details: Going Beyond Appearance02:10 - Repeating the Exercise for the Ending03:15 - Establishing Your Character's Journey04:08 - Using Sensory Details Effectively04:46 - ConclusionDon't just describe what your character looks like; delve into what they taste, smell, and feel like. By the end of your story, your character should have transformed, and these sensory details will help you show that journey.๐ For more writing tips and exercises, visit FictionMentor.com! ๐Let me know in the comments if you found this exercise helpful, and don't forget to subscribe for more writing advice and inspiration! โ๏ธโจ
A group of teens crashes a new home built in the Sonoran desert, only to wake the next morning and find the house surrounded by a billion desert insects, arachnids, and snakes, which swarm any human trying to leave...
I'm not sure what a "meet-cute" is, and I don't think this is one...but it's quick story about one way to ask that special person out. Or commit a felony. Whichev. Enjoy!
In this bone-chilling micro-horror story, a seemingly innocent doll becomes a nightmarish presence in a little girl's life. Tune in for a spine-tingling tale that explores the unsettling world of a child's imagination turned into terror.
Read for you by Tina Edwards.
In a world where self is king, how can she overcome the cruelty?
This very short piece about life in the big city starts pretty bleak, but I promise you'll smile by the end. That's kind of my thing. :) Also in this episode, a very quick chat about metaphor and theme.
I came up with this horror short while glancing in a mirror this morning. That doesn't maybe speak well of me... In any case, enjoy this forray into the macabre, plus a quick lesson on whether or not aspiring novelists ought to write short stories.ย
Never Abandon the Blissful Value of Saying What Can't Be Said -- make a mixtape for someone you love today. :) This is a short story about a man who can't speak his heart to the person he loves, followed by a quick exposition on the inspiration and purpose of the story.
Giving a mixtape lets a person know you see them, you hear them, and youโre thinking thoughtfully about them. It demonstrates gifting them with your most precious commodity: Time.
nanowrimo #writingtips #writing
In this episode, award-winning novelist Tom Leveen walks through the importance of writing everything down.
How strong is your plot? Sign up here to find out! https://www.fictionmentor.com/signup/
For more personalized access and help with your writing, join Patreon! http://bit.ly/leveen_patreon
Need help right away? Check out Fiverr: http://bit.ly/leveenfiverr
writing #nanowrimo #writingtips
Join award-winning author Tom Leveen each day for a look at critical aspects of the first draft of your manuscript--for National Novel Writing Month and beyond!
How strong is your plot? Sign up here to find out! https://www.fictionmentor.com/signup/
For more personalized access and help with your writing, join Patreon! http://bit.ly/leveen_patreon
Need help right away? Check out Fiverr: http://bit.ly/leveenfiverr
Part of my mission at FictionMentor.com is perform audiobooks of different genres and critique them, so that you and I both can not only enjoy the story, but learn aspects of the writing craft as we go.
In this episode, we begin with my fantasy novel A Tribe Of Kassia, in which an irreligious desert elf develops crippling panic attacks after his village is destroyed and betrothed kidnapped. Teaming up with a zealous minotaur monk -- himself a reformed mercenary -- is the only chance to save her.
For more in-depth help with on the art, business, and craft of your writing (no matter the genre or platform), sign up for just $5 a month at patreon.com/tomleveen and join our growing community there!
If you're in a bind and need immediate help with you fiction, check out my services on Fiverr.
Don't forget to grab your download on the 7 Things Your Plot Needs at fictionmentor.com.
With nine novels out at traditional publishers like Random House and Simon & Schuster, I've gotten a lot of rejections on stories. What makes the first few pages stand out and land a deal?
Most of it is stuff you have no control over, like maybe it just didn't "click" with the agent or editor. (That is totally valid!) What you can control is introducing your main character, Voice, tone, and major conflict in those first ten pages. Many novels do it in the first page.
Grab a PDF download of the 7 Things Your Plot Needs at https://www.fictionmentor.com
For help ensuring your first page is fantastic and ready to submit, go to https://www.fiver.com/tomleveen
Writer's Block is a myth. If you are writing fiction with the plan of getting paid to do it, there is no such thing as Writer's Block. I don't want to perpetuate the Tortured Artist mythos, but let's be honest...a lot of us creatives bring emotional baggage to our art, business, and craft. For writers, sometimes that gets interpreted as Writer's Block. Sometimes...you have to let it go for a second.
I'm Tom Leveen, award-winning author of nine original hardcover novels with imprints of Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Abrams, and Sky Horse, as well as a former writer for the Spawn comic book series.ย
This is FictionMentor.com. You can learn more about me right here on Linktr.ee.