Story Coaching

I've been hinting at my obsession with mirror moments. These are parallels that exist throughout a complete story, which highlight the shifts our main character makes and helps readers appreciate and embrace the massive growth that our hero takes on.In this podcast episode, I'm finally breaking down all of the mirrors that exist and how to use them to tell our incredible story.

Part 3 of our deep dive into the turning points of story structure, let's look at our critical turning points, the Inciting Incident and its mirror, the Refusal.This audio was originally recorded with slides. To watch this podcast, visit:theWritable's YouTube ChannelThe Story Coaching Facebook Group

We all know that main characters must be fully realized, but how much development work do we really need to do on these background characters?In today's segment, we'll go through my process for developing these characters, including how to know how much detail we really need, and the rapid way to build a supporting cast that fits the main story.Are you looking to connect with others on the writing journey and dive  deeper into the story writing process? Check out the all new WriteNow 2.0!http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

Are you stuck in a writing slump? In today's episode I guide you through 12 Principles for Success in Writing. We've all been there--staring at the blank screen. Most of us have received unasked for criticism. And many of us have experienced the doldrums of having a creative career. So, what do we do when the weeks are rough? Here are some grounding principles we can use to help us get back on track and regain momentum.Are you looking to connect with others on the writing journey and dive  deeper into the story writing process? Check out the all new WriteNow 2.0! http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

As we continue our study of the 9 turning. points of Universal Story Structure, let's look at the Internal Turning Points: the. Moment of Self-Determination and the Unexpected Failure.Links:Learn complete story structure and write your novel today: Write NowView this episode with video and slides: theWritable YouTube ChannelWatch similar episodes recorded live every Saturday: Story Coaching Facebook Group

Today we are talking about the importance in research in fiction writing. In this segment, I give you three key phases of research and walk you through how to incorporate them in your story. Want to dive further into the story writing process? Check out WriteNow 2.0! http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

How do you take something you admire or are inspired by and make it your own? Today we are discussing twisting tropes and how we can use these inspiring moments as jumping off points for creating our own moving fiction pieces. Want to dive further into the story writing process? Check out WriteNow 2.0! http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

Every great story is based around 9 turning points. Each of these moments shapes the story and the character in a specific way. Hit each of these points, and you will have a. story that readers can't put down. Miss them, and you may have a draft that just doesn't quite work. without any obvious. reason why.To start off our study of these 9 turning points, join me in this episode as we talk about the 3 Major Turning Points: the Key Event, the Midpoint, and the All Is Lost.Links:Learn complete story structure and write your novel today: Write NowView this episode with video and slides: theWritable YouTube ChannelWatch similar episodes recorded live every Saturday: Story Coaching Facebook Group

In this segment, we are taking another listener's request to talk about dialogue. One of the greatest purposes of dialogue is to advance the plot. It is a fantastic way to balance all the narration and description of the story. Tune in to learn new ways to create compelling dialogue for your characters.Want to dive further into the story writing process? Check out WriteNow 2.0, launching soon!http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

Feeling stuck? Building a successful writing career is all about mindset. Join me as I discuss some of my favourite writing 'hacks' to keep you motivated and enjoying this thing that we love called writing.

In this episode of the podcast, we are discussing foreshadowing and how to track various elements throughout the story to create a believable and relatable climax for your reader. How do you take all the little subplots and reoccurring elements of your story and weave it through the storyline? Listen in with us and learn how back engineering can help you create more satisfying resolutions.Want to dive further into the story writing process? Check out WriteNow 2.0, launching soon!http://courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration/

In this episode, I share with you how to navigate goal setting, two types of goals that are crucial to your writing, and understanding what you can control in your writing routine.  "So today, I really wanted to share some of my philosophy on goal-setting. What are the things in your control? What are the things not in your control? Looking at the mindset stuff. How you can actually mentally prep yourself to sit down and really get into the mindset of writing...the real work!"Listen in to learn more! ------Do you want to learn more about the writing process and start planning and plotting your own books?Check out my website for course offerings, writing resources, and upcoming workshops. We also have some FREE writing materials available for download, so be sure to check those out as well. Happy Writing!-Charlotte

In this episode, I share with you how to navigate writing and editing the layers of scene when you are feeling stuck in your story.  "There are twelve layers that I really think about when I'm starting to get into scene. The reason I decided to talk about this today is because I was going through a recent scene in my current work in progress...and I got stuck and I really had to break it down to figure out why the scene wasn't feeling right..."Listen in to learn more! ------Do you want to learn more about the writing process and start planning and plotting your own books? Check out my website for course offerings, writing resources, and upcoming workshops. We also have some FREE writing materials available for download, so be sure to check those out as well. Happy Writing!-Charlotte

In this episode, I share with you how to use your character's goals, motivations, and values to add conflict and depth to your story. Goals, Motivations, and Values are ultimately what move each character in your story, and understanding how they can work for and against your characters provides rich payoffs for your characters and your reader. Listen in to learn more! ------Do you want to learn more about the writing process and start planning and plotting your own books? Check out my website for course offerings, writing resources, and upcoming workshops. We also have some FREE writing materials available for download, so be sure to check those out as well. Happy Writing!-Charlotte

In this episode, I share with you how to create richer worlds and stronger characters in your story by focusing on some key components of world building often overlooked. Tune in! ------Do you want to learn more about the writing process and start planning and plotting your own books?Check out my website for course offerings and upcoming workshops.Happy Writing!-Charlotte

"The Villain is always someone so interesting to me because it really is the villain who creates the challenge for the hero to get through." -Charlotte MacFarlaneTune in this week to unlock Seven Key Considerations we need to consider when we write our villain or antagonistic force.Want to learn more about the writing process? Be sure to visit our website.Did you learn something that will help you in moving your writing forward? We'd love to hear about it. Leave us some feedback below! Happy Writing!-Charlotte

The stronger the foundation of your story, the faster you can write, the better you can write, and the less fixing is required after. I've tested this time and again, and it's always better to take the time in the beginning to really understand the story before I jump into actually writing it. In this episode, I share with you my planning process that has helped me write multiple books quickly without sacrificing creativity, originality, or quality.------If you want to learn more about the process and start planning and plotting your own books  with step by step instructions for deep understanding and strong stories, check out my upcoming workshops:Character Development WorkshopWorld Building WorkshopPlotting Workshop

In this episode, I share my editing process, from start to finish, and how I polish a first draft into a publishable manuscript.------The better foundation your story is built on, the easier editing becomes. That's why I've put together a series of workshops to help you plan and plot a breakout novel, which you can then use to write and polish a breakout story of your own.Check out the details for the first workshop here:Character Development Workshop

Is time the #1 thing holding you back from taking the next step in your author career? We could write so much more if we just had those 8 hours a day back instead of going to that pesky day job. In this episode, we talk about what you truly need to have in place before quitting your career to follow your writing dreams, and how my experience working 80 hours a week in my non-writing career actually made me a more productive writer.---PS, my group novel-writing mentorship, Write Now, is open until Nov 15. It's a great way to learn the craft of novel writing while being supported fully on your author journey. And as a special bonus, you get complimentary enrolment in three upcoming full length workshops on Character Development, World Building, and Plotting.Get all the details and join Write Now today: courses.thewritable.com/write-now-registration

In this episode, I share the essential features that I believe we need to have for an immersive and memorable world, along with examples from some of my favourite fiction.And, if you're ready for more, I'm giving away tickets to my upcoming Character, World, and Plot Workshops over on Instagram. To enter, Follow @thewritable in Instagram. Like one of the contest posts, and tag two writing friends. You can do this once a day on each of the posts until Nov 10!

Looking for a way to bring your character off the page? The way that I have designed characters has changed over the years. In this episode, let me tell you one of the simple things I've started doing that has made the biggest difference for creating characters that really come alive.>>> Don't forget to join the Story Coaching Group on Facebook to take advantage of free mini workshops on Character Development, World Building, Plotting, and Advanced Plotting. Replays will probably be taken down in the next week or so, so don't miss your chance!

Subplots give a story depth, providing opportunities for twists and turns, and most importantly build a character's believable belief change. But how do we create subplots, and what's the best way to weave all your storylines together to create a standout story?In this episode, I'll outline my process for writing subplots.-----For more on plotting and subplots, join our free mini workshops Oct 23, 24, 30, and 31.Join the Story Coaching Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/328301768167978

Every book has an ending, but a good ending will mean the difference whether readers are looking to read your next book or not.In this episode, we discuss the three main factors you need to consider in order to create your unforgettable ending as well as touch on how to accomplish this in the planning phase.If you want more help planning, download the Story Planning Guide here. I am also planning to open up my group mentorship in the next few weeks. If you want to keep up with news about that, make sure you are on the mailing list. The easiest way to do that is to download the Story Planning Guide, or send me an email.

Everyone is talking about writing goals--they're good to have. It's important to stay motivated and stay focussed. Big goals give us something to work towards, while daily goals keep us showing up and putting words on the page. But did you know, I once shut my writing down completely by setting the wrong goals. In this episode, I talk about what kind of goals work and what doesn't, and what to do if you are finding your creativity hampered by your need to succeed.------Because everyone could use a little help navigating the world of writing, author careers, and working towards big goals, I've decided to open up five free author clarity calls. We talk for half an hour and chat about your goals and your plan to get there. Essentially, you get to pick my brain for half an hour and (if I'm doing my job right) get some clarity on what's important, what isn't, and where to go next.If you'd like to take advantage of this, shoot me an email: crmacfarlane@thewritable.comHappy Writing!

Quintessential advice, but what does it really mean? And how do we do it? Don't you need to tell some things in order to show some things?Listen to this episode to hear why I don't really like this advice, what I want you to do instead, and how to make your writing better by understanding what Show don't Tell really means.Key Takeaways:- Telling is for sharing visual information. Showing is about letting the reader interpret what it means.- Using a phenomenon called mirroring, reader's can put themselves into the scene with just a handful of micro-cues. - Slow down the prose and give the reader multiple small pieces so they can put things together, rather than blurting it all out at once. You will have much more impact.---------For more writing advice, check out the Storytelling Seminar Bundle at courses.thewritable.com/storytelling-seminars.

Some stories benefit from multiple main characters who each share their POV at different points in the story, and others get diluted and lose their coherence. How do you know what your story needs? And how do you write an effective ensemble piece?

Writing books is one thing, but finding readers is another. In this episode, Charlotte takes through a high-level view of finding readers and building a career from your writing.*Plus you get to hear from our lovely border collie*

After a brief hiatus, struggling with mental and physical health issues, we're back. This episode is part very Canadian apology and part deep motivation and mindset work.Topics covered:where I've been...Imposter SyndromeRewards (and why humans so often don't reward themselves the way they should)and The Importance of Showing Up for Yourself

Ever been told to scrap a character from your novel completely? Don't worry, me too. We've all created a character that we this is awesome, but no one else seems to like. Why? How do we figure out what it is that people don't like, and how to we fix it to give the character the reader-adoration that they deserve?The Pick Up The Pen Challenge is now available on demand! You can access 5 days of video lesson content and exercises for free here.

You've heard of character arcs before, but do you really know how to use them? In this episode, we'll be talking about positive, negative, and flat arcs: what they are, who should have one, and how to use an arc, along with universal story structure, to plan your entire novel.If you haven't already, don't forget to download your copy of the Story Planning Guide.

Listen to my conversation with award-winning fantasy author, K E Barron, as we talk about world building. Katie's Champion Series is set in a complex world of her own making. She tells us how she conceived the different races, complex history, and various gods and religions, as well as some tips for creating worlds of our own.Katie's Author WebsiteKatie's Amazon Author Page

The novel planning process seems like it should be straight-forward and intuitive. After all, we are natural-born storytellers. But there is much more that goes into planning that bestselling novel, especially if we don't want to spend years writing and re-writing it.In this episode, we go over my novel planning process, so that you too can start taking your books from ideas to finished stories in as little time as possible.If you want access to many of the planning questions I ask myself, plus an outline of this process, download my free Story Planning Guide.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Story Coaching Podcast. Let's kick it off with Common Writer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them!-----Like these 10 Writer Mistakes and my tips to avoid them? Download the free printable.Some resources mentioned in this episode were the Story Planning Guide and the Pick Up The Pen Challenge. 

It's the age-old stone wall on creativity that affects writers new and old: writer's block. In this episode, we talk about the psychology of writer's block, how we manage to escalate it from a little problem into a full on stoppage, and most importantly, how to move through it.--------Don't forget to download your free copy of 10 Questions to Break Through Writer's Block.Have a question or topic you'd like to have covered in the next season of the Story Coaching podcast. Send me a note in the comments or directly to CRMacFarlane@thewritable.com.

Good fiction is filled with twists and turns. Multiple events come together, creating spectacular conclusions. But how do we keep all of these different storylines straight? And how do we ensure that our subplots are enhancing our main storyline, instead of taking away from it?Check out this episode of the Story Coaching Podcast to learn why you need to be using subplots in your fiction, and how to create multiple storylines that weave together in meaningful ways.-------Don't forget to download the Story Planning Guide, or, for more comprehensive help putting your novel together, check out the Write Now Program.

What is a Story Coach exactly, and do you need one for your writing career?In this episode, we talk about what a story coach can do for you, and how to figure out when and if you need one in your author career.-------Interested in hiring a Story Coach? Get the 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Story Coach to help you get the most out of your coaching experience.

Every good story follows a specific structure. Think of it like a backbone--we all have one, even though we can look totally different on the outside. The thing is, a person without a backbone would be a weird-looking blobby mess.So how can we use Universal Story Structure to keep our stories form looking like weird, blobby messes? Check out the latest episode of the Story Coaching podcast to learn more.-----For a deeper look at Story Structure and help planning your novel, check out the free Story Planning Guide.

Writing can be a hard gig, so why not do everything you can to make it easier on yourself, right? For me, the biggest overnight boost in creativity I ever found was switching to a dedicated writing software.In this episode, I'm going to talk to you about how writing software changed my workflow for the better, and why you too, even as a beginner, should be seriously considering a dedicated writing software.----You can download a free Scrivener trial (that's the software that I use and recommend!) by visiting thewritable.com/writing-resources

As new writers, we can be tempted to put so much into our characters that they become overwhelming. Or maybe you've gotten some feedback and they're flat and boring. Characters are so important to getting readers to connect to good fiction, but there are a lot of misconceptions out there about what makes a good, 'likeable,' character. Let me break down those misconceptions and show my unique Theme-based planning strategy for creating compelling characters, no matter what kind of story you're writing.------Don't forget to download the free Story Planning Guide when I take you through finding your Theme, and using the process of Theme-Based Story Planning to create your characters, world, and story conflicts.You can also sign up for the free Pick Up the Pen Challenge if you want a guided experience talking more about character creation and putting your character on the page.Correction: I referenced Lindsay Buroker's Star Kingdom series, but was really thinking about her Fallen Empire series. Both are great, if you want fun stories and really interesting characters.

For many of us, we know we want to write more, but we just don't see how. After all, life is busy with work and family and other priorities. Or for some us, even though we sit down for an hour to write, the ideas just don't come through.How does the professional writer push through? How do we take our daily word count from 500 or 1000 up into the multiple thousands? Check out Story Coaching Episode 6, "Writing More in a Day," for real practical advice on getting more words on the page.------Don't forget to download the Free Author Planning Guide to help you set big goals, visualize your success, and break it down into a daily habit.

Several years ago, a friend and I coined the term, "The Messy Middle." It was a time when we were both stuck, mired in the complicated storylines of the Second Act and wondering how we would ever get through.I didn't know then what I know now, which is that the middle has a purpose. It has a very specific function, that actually makes it the most important part of the story. And once we understand that purpose (discussed in this episode), writing the middle becomes much more clear.-------Stuck in The Messy Middle? Don't forget to download the free Story Planning Guide or the 10 Questions to Break Through Writer's Block.

For some, simply putting the pen to the page to start writing their story can be the biggest hurdle of all. We can feel the pressure of perfection, the need to get it just right. On top of this, we know that the way we start our story determines whether a reader will keep going or put it down on the shelf. That beginning part is crucial.In this episode, I'm talking about how to start. The mental game of putting the pen to the page. And how to do it in a way that guarantees you'll have a fantastic story by the end.-------If you've been waiting to start writing, don't forget to sign up for the Pick Up The Pen challenge. This is a 5-day, entirely free, hands on experience where I take you through writing a scene, focussing on the 5 key elements to writing fiction that people actually want to read, and the #1 difference between struggling writers and bestselling authors.

All too often, I hear new writers asking, "Is this idea any good?"I think what they're really asking is, "Is this worth my time? Will people want to read this?"And honestly, there's no way for me to know.  But there is a simple way for you to tell. Check out episode 3 to learn the one difference between good and bad story ideas.----Ready to start tackling your big idea? Download the FREE Story Planning Guide. www.thewritable.com/story-planning-guide

What's the real difference between you and those big-name authors? Is it talent? Luck? Inspiration? Or is it something different? Something, maybe, that we all have, but many of us haven't reached for yet?In this episode, C R MacFarlane discussed what it takes to become an author, and the #1 thing holding you back from all your wildest writing dreams.Check out the free Author Planning Guide.

Welcome to Story Coaching, the podcast to help you write your first book or your best book. Author and Writing Coach, C R MacFarlane, takes us on a journey, discussing not just the 'hows' of putting words on the page in a sensible order, but also the 'whys'--the inner questions (and sometimes uncomfortable answers) every writer has to face as they turn their story from idea into finished manuscript.In today's episode, we answer the question, "What does it really take to write a book?"Ready to start writing, or learn a few tips and tricks for creating powerful fiction? Join the Pick Up The Pen Challenge www.thewritable.com/pick-up-the-pen.