The Every Day Novelist
Summary: The Every Day Novelist delivers a new 3 to 30 minute episode each day discussing writing craft, discipline, publishing, and business, all geared toward helping you achieve a professional pace (four to twelve or more novels in one year) in your writing. The direction of the show is steered by your questions, ideas, and disagreements.
- Visit Website
- RSS
- Artist: J. Daniel Sawyer
Podcasts:
Today we explore the different things it might mean when someone complains your story is “predictable,” or when you default to that description with a story you’re trying to enjoy. Resources mentioned:LOST“…All You Zombies…” by Robert A. HeinleinPredestination (film staring Ethan Hawke)LooperWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëSoulless by Gail CarrigerThe Force AwakensThe Last JediPulp FictionThe Usual SuspectsThe Sixth SenseThe VillageBattlestar Galactica (reboot series)The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Jim asks: What do you think of the idea of writing the first draft free-form, then using story structure guides to help in revising and editing? Resources Mentioned: The Story Solution by Eric Edson The Anatomy of Story by John Truby The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 1 episode 8) Film Courage (YouTube Channel) Sponsored by Archivos
Nichole asks:Should I avoid anthropomorphizing or personifying body parts and other such things?
Ed asks:How do sexual taboos work in a shame based society? How much is internalized “don’t do this” vs. “don’t get caught”? Sponsored by Archivos
Tim asks:If you were going to set up a fiction preorder, what is the shortest timeframe you’d schedule for it?
Caine asks:On episode 1063 of The Everyday Novelist you stated the following: “If you lead with analysis beyond at any layer beyond the practical, your asking for years and years and years of spinning your wheels, it will not work” I feel strongly that I’m in this zone right now. I’m spinning my wheels, if the above is not the exact issue, then it’s a large portion of what I’m going through. Can you please go deeper into this point? What exactly is happening (in a general sense, since you don’t live in my head)? How am I contributing to it? What do I do to stop it? Sponsored by Suave Rob
Nichole asks:What value can you get converting a first person narration to third? What are the obstacles? Sponsored by Archivos
Herb asks:How would you handle writing your storylines as separate novels?
Nichole shares an ingenious time management hack for getting more elbow room for her writing.
Tim asks:I’ve had some trouble writing steadily lately, as I understand you’ve been having issues with that, as well (Thanks for the NaNoGang 2022, regardless). How would you go about rebuilding a habit or writing steadily as of now?
Simon asks:What are your thoughts on keeping your cover to the conventions versus standing out a little?Resources:By Darkness Forged by Nathan LowellThe Resurrection Junket by J. Daniel Sawyer Sponsored by Archivos
Tim asks:Could you describe your current approach to a long series? For context: I’m getting ready to launch a new project of many shorter books. Sponsored by Archivos
Herb asks: I know that stealing from two sources versus one is the difference between being inspired and plagiarizing, but what good old “I could have told that tale better.” I can’t be the first new writer to be inspired in part by watching some movie or reading some book and thinking “That’s a good idea, but here is how you tell it.” I know it has lead to classics in film. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is a perfect example of remaking a bad movie. Is filing off the serial numbers and writing your version of a badly done novel a valid choice for an author looking to publish? DuneHercules (myth)Samson story (Book of Judges Chapters 13-16)Conan (film and original books by Robert E. Howard)Star WarsFlash GordonThe Hidden FortressLa Morte D’Artur by Thomas MallorySponsored by Archivos
Nichole asks:Do you have any writing books/websites or YouTube Channels that you would recommend?Any recommendation for books/websites/youtube channels on writing Science Fiction and fantasy? Fiction Writing Master Class by William CaineEmpire of the MindLiterature Devil YouTube Channel — Episode on Rey Skywalker and Fixing ReyCollative Learning by Rob AgarWriting to Sell by Scott MeredithWriting Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott CardWriting the Blockbuster Novel by Albert ZuckermanThe Heroine’s Journey by Gail CarrigerThe Secrets of the Heinlein Juvenile by J. Daniel SawyerRobert’s Rules of Writing by J. Daniel SawyerBecoming an Every Day Novelist by J. Daniel SawyerDrawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing by David FarlandWriting Excuses (First few seasons)Brandon Sanderson’t BYU lecture seriesFilm Courage YouTube channelCinema Therapy YouTube Channel Sposored by Archivos
Nichole asks:What are your most memorable writing sprints? Throwing LeadDown From Ten, podcast or paperbackAnd Then She Was GoneSecrets of the Heinlein JuvenileThe Coffee Service short story or podcastPsyhco IV: The BeginningHadrian’s Flight
