The Write Inspiration: Recent Episodes
Nicole J. Persun
Cultivate a healthier relationship with your craft and learn how to write unputdownable fiction. Currently on break | Look for Season 2 in spring 2022 Welcome to The Write Inspiration, the podcast designed to motivate, educate, and empower fiction authors of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for motivation, tools to sharpen your writing and editing skills, or seeking publishing and marketing tips in an ever-changing business—you’re in the right place. I'm your host, Nicole J. Persun — I’m an award-winning and internationally bestselling author with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and Instruction. Whether you’re looking for motivation, tools to sharpen your writing and editing skills, or seeking publishing and marketing tips in an ever-changing business—you’re in the right place. This podcast is like an MFA in 15-minute increments. Not only will I offer practical tips for various elements of craft, my hope is to also provide you with a more philosophical benefit as well—namely, a healthier relationship to your writing. Because writing should be a joyful practice, not a struggle. Learn more at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
Great dialogue is about power struggles, emotions, back story, tension, subtext, and so much more. Today’s episode is the first of two episodes dedicated to all the stuff your characters say out loud. For Part 2, we’re going to dig into how your character’s intentions alter what they say, how they say it, and what they choose to keep to themselves.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com. Shout-out to my Chapter Tier Patrons, Jennifer and Catherine, for their generous contributions.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Great dialogue is about power struggles, emotions, back story, tension, subtext, and so much more. Today’s episode is the first of two episodes dedicated to all the stuff your characters say out loud. Part 1 focuses on your character’s linguistic fingerprint and how to develop their lexicon.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com. Shout-out to my Chapter Tier Patrons, Jennifer and Catherine, for their generous contributions.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Whether you write women’s fiction or science fiction, thrillers or high fantasy, world building is an essential aspect of creating a full, rich story. But setting is nothing without someone to experience it, and setting cannot be adequately rendered without considering the people who inhabit it. On today’s episode, we’ll discuss the 5 major elements of world building and how character and setting intersect on the page.
Join my two-part online class on dialogue with San Miguel Literary Sala, July 19 & 21: https://sanmiguelliterarysala.org/product/fiction-workshop-with-nicole-persun/
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com. You can become a patron of The Write Inspiration podcast here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod. Shout-out to my Chapter Tier Patrons, Jennifer and Catherine, for their generous contributions.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
A story isn’t a story without conflict and tension. Today, let’s delve into the world of conflict and tension to learn what they are, how they differ, and how to use both to make your story strong and engaging.
Technical difficulties abound, so thank you for bearing with me as I continue to sort out my sound/mic issues! I am a writer, not a sound engineer, so thanks for understanding.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
The Write Inspiration is on Patreon! You can become a patron here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod And speaking of: shout-out to my Chapter Tier Patron, Jennifer! Thank you, Jennifer, for your contribution to the podcast.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
By request, we are jumping into the overwhelming world of editing — and hopefully dispelling some of your anxiety toward the process. This episode focuses on the fundamentals: how to get started, how to stay organized, questions to ask yourself for any given scene in your story, and how to not lose your mind. Plus, an introduction of my favorite method: The Focused Draft Approach.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to kick in a couple dollars a month to support the creation of this podcast, you can become a patron on Patreon here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod And speaking of: shout-out to my new Chapter Tier Patron, Jennifer! Thank you, Jennifer, for your contribution to the podcast.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
When it comes to streamlining your writing process, a basic knowledge of plot structure is essential. In today’s episode, I wanted to go over some basics of structure — from the hero’s journey to the three-act structure. We'll also talk about plotting versus writing by the seat of your pants (aka “pantsing”) and the whole spectrum of writing processes in between. But the heart of this episode is all about trusting your instincts and your characters.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to support the creation of this podcast with your dollars, you can now find The Write Inspiration on Patreon! You can become a patron here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod And speaking of: shout-out to my new Chapter Tier Patron, Jennifer! Thank you, Jennifer, for your contribution to the podcast.
RESOURCES:
- Structure visuals: https://www.thewriteinspirationpod.com/resources/episode-07-story-structure-visuals
- Save the Cat by Jessica Brody, story structure guide: https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Writes-Novel-Writing/dp/0399579745
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Stakes are the basis of reader investment. You can have a strong character and clever plot, but without something at stake, readers won’t care about the outcome of the story. Stakes are about tension, conflict, risk, emotion, and so much more—long story short, they’re the backbone of your story. In today’s episode, we define story stakes and discuss how to raise the stakes to keep readers hooked.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to support the creation of this podcast with your dollars, you can now find The Write Inspiration on Patreon! You can become a patron here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod And speaking of: shout-out to my new Chapter Tier Patron, Jennifer! Thank you, Jennifer, for your contribution to the podcast.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
We’ve all heard the familiar writing rule: Show, Don’t Tell. As a concept, it has great intentions, but in practice, it’s vague at best. Today we’re going to explore the many meanings of Show, Don’t Tell—and introduce a much more intuitive alternative to addressing Show, Don't Tell's structural implications.
Enjoying this podcast? Make sure to subscribe! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to support the creation of this podcast with your dollars, you can now find The Write Inspiration on Patreon! You can become a patron here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod And speaking, of: shout-out to my new Chapter Tier Patron, Jennifer! Thank you, Jennifer, for your generous contribution to the podcast.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
What makes a character memorable? What makes a character compelling? What makes a character three-dimensional? Most importantly, how does an author achieve these qualities on the page?
Character development is a well-covered topic, filled with formulas, character sheets, questionnaires, and personality tests. Yet even the most well-planned characters can fall flat on the page. In this episode, we explore the four pillars of what makes a character memorable—and the one thing that novice authors overlook when developing their characters.
As a brand-new podcast, I could really use your help in spreading the word! Make sure to follow me on your podcast listening app and, if you enjoyed this episode, tell your writer friends about it. Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to support the creation of this podcast with your dollars, you can now find The Write Inspiration on Patreon! You can become a patron here: patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Hey first-draft perfectionists! This one is for you. If you love to start projects only to get caught up in polishing that first chapter over and over and over again—you might find my Writing Forward philosophy helpful. This is a tried-and-true technique for finishing projects.
As a brand-new podcast, I could really use your help in spreading the word! Make sure to follow me on your podcast listening app and, if you enjoyed this episode, tell your writer friends about it. Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
If you’d like to support the creation of this podcast with your dollars, you can now find The Write Inspiration on Patreon! You can become a patron at patreon.com/thewriteinspirationpod.
If you’d like to learn more about Kate Sweeney’s psychological study mentioned in this podcast, the paper is called “Flow in the Time of Covid-19: Findings from China” and was published in March of 2020.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
We all know the feeling: the words have stopped flowing, the character has stopped talking, and you can’t “see” the setting anymore. What’s a writer to do? In this episode, we’ll discuss 4 ways to get un-stuck during the writing process and conquer writer's block once and for all.
As a brand-new podcast, I could really use your help in spreading the word! Make sure to follow me on your podcast listening app and, if you enjoyed this episode, tell your writer friends about it. Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Starting a new project can be daunting, so I’ve developed a handful of tools to help set you up for success, from minimizing distractions to measuring your story’s viability before you start writing.
Some of these tips might feel obvious or rudimentary for authors who already have a few novels under their belts, but this episode is filled with good reminders and a few surprising tips you might not have considered. Whether you've decided to finally write your first book or you're hoping to start your tenth book on the right foot, these tips will come in handy.
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As a brand-new podcast, I could really use your help in spreading the word! Make sure to follow me on your podcast listening app and, if you enjoyed this episode, tell your writer friends about it. Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing!
Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Write Inspiration! I thought we’d kick off the brand-new podcast by talking about I N S P I R A T I O N — and more importantly, the secret to maintaining inspiration long term.
As a brand-new podcast, I could really use your help in spreading the word. Make sure to follow me on your podcast listening app and, if you enjoyed this episode, tell your writer friends about it! Have a topic request for a future episode? Please reach out to me at thewriteinspirationpod.com.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing.
PS. Special audio-appearance from my cat, Emmie, who will likely interrupt many more podcasts to come.
Welcome to The Write Inspiration, the podcast designed to motivate, educate, and empower fiction authors of all skill levels. Allow me to introduce myself: I’m your host, Nicole J. Persun.
For more information about me and my brand-new pod, head to thewriteinspirationpod.com.
Thank you so much for listening — and keep writing.