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John Helps You Write Better

John Helps You Write Better

300 episodes — Page 2 of 6

S18 Ep 45When was the last time you celebrated a win?

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about celebrating victories. If you've had any wins, they count.

Oct 14, 202410 min

S18 Ep 44Installing and uninstalling software in your head

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about what you've got in your head.

Oct 9, 202410 min

S18 Ep 43What you believe

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In today's episode, let's talk about belief.

Oct 8, 202415 min

S18 Ep 42The danger of 77.63

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about seventy-seven dollars and sixty-three cents.

Oct 7, 202417 min

S18 Ep 41How to build an action scene

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how you're writing action beats.

Oct 3, 202421 min

S18 Ep 40How to build better dialogue and tension

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In today's episode, let's talk about talking.

Oct 2, 202416 min

S18 Ep 39The switch you have to flip in your head

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the difference between thinking you're writing to make them happy and your writing making you happy.

Oct 1, 20249 min

S18 Ep 38To do lists, Costco, and your writing

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about getting things done and what Costco can teach us about how to do things.

Sep 30, 202411 min

S18 Ep 37Talking about haves and have nots (sort of)

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about some have and have nots that maybe come up in your creative process.

Sep 26, 202423 min

S18 Ep 36Please do not watch the new Matlock

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In today's episode, I would like to save you a whole hour of your life and tell you why you should avoid the new version of Matlock.

Sep 25, 202426 min

S18 Ep 35Warcraft and Writing, part 2

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In today's episode, I keep talking about the worst warlock in an MMO and how it parallels your writing journey

Sep 24, 202412 min

S18 Ep 34Warcraft and Writing, part 1

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the parallels between my not-so-great MMO playing and you working towards your publishing goals.

Sep 23, 202416 min

S18 Ep 33Answering "Where do I start?" part 3

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In today's episode, I conclude the three-part answer to "Where do I start?"

Sep 19, 202417 min

S18 Ep 34BONUS!! What are people looking for in your first pages?

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In this BONUS episode, I want to talk to you about what you need to do in your first few pages, no matter what you're writing.

Sep 18, 202432 min

S18 Ep 32Answering "where do I start" part 2

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In today's episode, I continue to answer the question "Where do I start?"

Sep 18, 202415 min

S18 Ep 31Answering "Where do I start", part 1

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In today's episode, I answer the question "Where do I start?" which a lot of writers ask me and I feel like I don't answer clearly enough. Until now.

Sep 17, 202414 min

S18 Ep 30Are you "professional" ?

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In today's episode I want to talk to you about how loaded and vague the word "professional is and how you need to kick it out of your thinking as a writer.

Sep 16, 202411 min

S18 Ep 29The help goes where the help needs to go

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In today's episode I want to talk to you about what exactly the help you ask for from an editor looks like and how it works.

Sep 12, 20249 min

S18 Ep 28Asking for help makes a difference

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about asking for help with your work.

Sep 11, 202410 min

S18 Ep 27Why you don't need Nano part 2

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In today's episode, I continue to point out reasons why you need to yeet NaNo to the curb.

Sep 10, 202410 min

S18 Ep 26Why you don't need NaNoWriMo, part 1

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about ditching NaNo for good.

Sep 9, 20249 min

S18 Ep 25Please put your ego down a little. It's getting in the way.

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In today's episode I want to remind you that you need to be open to all kinds of feedback - even the stuff that says you're maybe not as good as you think you are.

Sep 3, 20248 min

S18 Ep 24WORKSHOP AUDIO - What you need to know about Publishing

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This past weekend I spoke at the virtual Story Valley Writing Conference. Here's the audio from the Sunday workshop and Q&A all about publishing.

Aug 27, 20241h 19m

S18 Ep 23WORKSHOP AUDIO! How to Build Characters

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This past weekend I was fortunate enough to speak at the Story Valley virtual Writing Conference. Here is the audio from Saturday's panel on building characters.

Aug 26, 20241h 5m

S18 Ep 22Who's a good writer?

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In today's episode, I want to ask you to look at your definition of "good" when you talk about someone being a "good writer."

Aug 13, 20246 min

S18 Ep 21A challenge for those of you about to publish traditionally

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In today's episode, I'm issuing a challenge to any author about to publish their work traditionally and go out on submission.

Aug 12, 20248 min

S18 Ep 20What to do when your expectations aren't met

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In today's episode, I want to tell you about the road construction that isn't happening and how that can mean something to your writing.

Aug 5, 20247 min

S18 Ep 19The Writers Chat for 7.30

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In this week's Writers Chat, it's 13 answers for 13 questions, including how to start a horror story, when you have enough beta readers, and how to prove that you're a good writer.

Jul 30, 20241h 7m

S18 Ep 15What to look for in a writing community or writing space

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the groups you join when you're a writer.

Jul 30, 20249 min

S18 Ep 14Don't rush to your end goal

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you shouldn't rush to fame you're expecting as an author.

Jul 24, 202410 min

S18 Ep 15How To Build An Audience

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In this longer episode, I'd like to talk to you about building an audience.

Jul 23, 202445 min

S18 Ep 13Please ask questions

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the importance of asking questions.

Jul 23, 20249 min

S18 Ep 12Are you sure you need a SFW account and an NSFW account?

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In today's episode I'd like to speak to those writers who are on the fence about making separate accounts for their SFW writing and their NSFW art.

Jul 22, 202410 min

S18 Ep 11Is serialization right for you?

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about Kindle Vella and serialization.

Jul 11, 202414 min

S18 Ep 10You have to do your best

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In today's episode I want to remind you that you have to do your best, not your fastest.

Jul 10, 202411 min

S18 Ep 9Control your mind, not the reader

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the impact you can have on your reader.

Jul 9, 20248 min

S18 Ep 8Let's talk about plot twists.

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In today's episode, I have a few things to tell you about plot twists.

Jul 8, 202410 min

S18 Ep 74 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Plot

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in today's episode, here's the audio from yesterday's YouTube video all about mistakes in your plot

Jul 3, 20241h 1m

S18 Ep 6How about a marketing tip?

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In today's episode, I've got some marketing advice for you.

Jul 2, 20248 min

S18 Ep 5Are you reading carefully?

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In today's episode I want to talk to you about why people are always telling writers to read more.

Jul 1, 202410 min

S18 Ep 4I need you to try marketing

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your approach to marketing.

Jun 27, 202410 min

S18 Ep 3How to write a book in less than forever

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your writing schedule.

Jun 26, 202410 min

S18 Ep 2Say No To Hyperbole

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why your preferred language for hyping up writers and books might not be helping.

Jun 25, 20246 min

S18 Ep 1So ... about that conference...

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the weekend I just had.

Jun 24, 202413 min

S17 Ep 26Hey, it's time to stop pants-ing

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you need to be more organized.

Jun 20, 202411 min

S17 Ep 25No, you don't want to be a short story writer

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about those short stories you're thinking about publishing.

Jun 19, 20249 min

S17 Ep 24I'd like you to swim upstream

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about chasing trends and trying to be an individual like all the other people doing the exact same stuff.

Jun 18, 202411 min

S17 Ep 23Rejection is a part of this whole endeavor

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In today's episode, I'd like to talk to those writers who are maybe thinking that the rejections they got are more personal than professional.

Jun 17, 202412 min

S17 Ep 22Don't let the naysayers stop you

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the people who won't like your work and how you can't let them stop you from writing.

Jun 11, 202412 min

S17 Ep 21Yes, you really need an editor, not just software

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In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you need a human editor and not just software to help you write your book.

Jun 10, 202411 min