Great scenes are the foundation upon which modern novels are built. In Episode 60, we talk with Margaret Lucke about writing compelling scenes and avoiding unnecessary exposition or explanation.

Listen to the episode here on the website. Or tune in to The Write Approach on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

The Write Approach, Episode 60: The Importance of Scenes in Novel Writing with Margaret Lucke

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.

Margaret Lucke’s website: https://www.margaretlucke.com/
Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/
J. W. Judge’s website: https://jwjudge.com/

We talk a lot on this podcast about maintaining reader interest. One of the keys to doing that is setting the right stakes for your novel. Susanne Dunlap joins us for Episode 59 to discuss how to set and maintain tension in our novels to keep the reader engaged and drive the story forward.

You can read more of Dunlap’s perspective on this topic in her article “How High Stakes Keep Readers (and Viewers) Invested,” which is where we first encountered her work.

Listen to the episode here on the website. Or tune in to The Write Approach on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

The Write Approach, Episode 59: Creating and Holding Tension in Your Novels with Susanne Dunlap

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.

Susanne Dunlap’s website: https://www.susanne-dunlap.com/
Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/
J. W. Judge’s website: https://jwjudge.com

Writing is hard. Writing humor is even more so. In Episode 58, Joni B. Cole visits to give us tips for writing humor more effectively and with more consistency. It’s important to note that you don’t have to be a “humor writer” to have funny lines, scenes, or characters. Humor is an intrinsic part of the human experience. For writing of any ilk to feel authentic to our humanity, humor is a natural component.

You can also check out Joni B. Cole’s article, “Find the Funny: 8 Tips on Writing Humor“.

Listen to the episode here on the website. Or tune in to The Write Approach on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

The Write Approach, Episode 58: The Intrinsic Connection between Humor and Humanity with Joni B. Cole

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.

Joni B. Cole’s website: https://www.jonibcole.com/
Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/
J. W. Judge’s website: https://jwjudge.com/

Sometimes podcast episodes choose us. As J. W. Judge was scrolling through Threads, he came across a statement by author Kyra Davis that was simultaneously honest and encouraging and disconcerting:

“I’ve been relatively successful as an author. “Relatively” because I’ve occasionally struck gold but it has frequently been a struggle. I’ve made the NYT list, there have been yrs when my royalties have been 150-350k, & yrs when they’ve been 10-20k. There have been times when my publishers have literally toasted me with champagne & others when they’ve declined to give me a new contract.The lowest advance I’ve ever accepted ended up being for my highest grossing book. The publishing industry is rife with uncertainty, but uncertainty is the price we pay for possibility.So to my fellow authors, struggling, successful or in between the two, hang in there with me. As long as you keep writing your possibilities are boundless.”

This episode of The Write Approach, which touches on humor and hope and hard times was born out of that social media post.

Listen to the episode here on the website. Or tune in to The Write Approach on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

The Write Approach, Episode 57: Coping with the Volatility of an Author Career with Kyra Davis

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.

Kyra Davis’ website: https://kyradavis.com/
Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/
J. W. Judge’s website: https://jwjudge.com/

The Write Approach returns in 2024 with more practical discussions for authors. We start with interviewing Deborah Williams about making your story relatable to readers. You protagonist is likely going to bring different experiences to the table than your readers have ever experienced. Still, it is imperative that the reader is able to make an emotional connection with the protagonist, which you achieve through relatability. In Episode 56, Deborah Williams gets into the weeds about things authors can do to achieve that. It’s also important to note that being relatable is not the same as being likable.

We first encountered Deborah Williams by reading her article, What It Means to Make Your Story Relatable.

Listen to the episode here on the website. Or tune in to The Write Approach on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Amazon Music, and Audible.

The Write Approach, Episode 56: Making Your Story Relatable with Deborah Williams

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel.

Deborah Williams’ website: https://mannahattamamma.net/
Barbara Hinske’s website: https://barbarahinske.com/
J. W. Judge’s website: https://jwjudge.com/