Writer Syndrome podcast

42:17

Life has a way of getting in the way. It can take our best intentions, writing or otherwise, and throw them into the void, never to be seen again. It happens to everyone, so how do you get back into it and meet your goals? In this episode, Russ and Tim suggest methods to regain focus so you can get back into writing like you were never away.…

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Tension & Suspense 51:22

for 23 dage siden51:22

51:22

What is tension? What is suspense? These key ingredients keep readers turning your pages and wondering what will happen next. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss tension and suspense and explore how these tools can work together to create a compelling narrative.

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Coincidences In Storytelling 45:50

for 5 weeks siden45:50

45:50

Every story will have at least one coincidence to kick off the plot. After that, as a writer, you're asking your audience to continue to suspend disbelief to move the story along at the cost of losing them. In this episode, Russ and Tim talk about coincidences, how many are too many (spoilers: more than one), and get into Deus Ex Machina, and Tim voraciously defends Lord of the Rings.…

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Get The Ball Rolling 32:49

for 7 weeks siden32:49

32:49

We're getting the ball rolling...on a new year! It's our first episode of 2025, and we're diving into idioms. We'll be "tackling" them throughout the year, exploring their history, usage, and how they could be used in writing.

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2024 Year-In-Review 45:00

for 9 weeks siden45:00

45:00

Goodbye 2024! In this episode, Russ and Tim look back at their respective writing goals for the year and grade how they did. Spoilers: everyone got an A+, even if they didn't deserve it. Happy New Year, everyone, and thank you for listening.

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Book Swap: The Troop / The Killing Floor 44:57

for 11 weeks siden44:57

44:57

Book swap! In this episode, Russ and Tim trade books from their favorite genres and give a review. Russ read Nick Cutter's The Troop while Tim read Lee Child's The Killing Floor.

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What To Leave Out 48:12

for 13 weeks siden48:12

48:12

Is that an adverb? Ditch it. Overly verbose exposition? Delete. Detailed descriptions of everyday objects? Get rid of it! In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss killing their darlings and reflect on what they left in their novels and why.

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Epilogues 32:03

for 15 weeks siden32:03

32:03

Epilogues—who needs them? Isn't your story already over? In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss how epilogues are used, why they exist, and whether or not you should use one.

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Prologues 48:56

for 17 weeks siden48:56

48:56

To prologue or not to prologue? That is the question. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss the ins and outs of prologues, what makes a good one, and why people don't like them.

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Mistakes & Expectations 42:36

for 19 weeks siden42:36

42:36

Have you ever made a mistake that kept you up at night? Or maybe you set an expectation that you couldn't quite meet? In this episode, Russ and Tim explore their own writing mistakes and expectations, how they recovered from them (if they did), and how they adjusted to maintain writing productivity.

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Influences 52:55

for 21 weeks siden52:55

52:55

Who or what influences you and your writing? Influences can come from anywhere and are important in shaping the stories we tell. This episode Russ and Tim get into the authors, movies, art, music, and even family, that influenced their stories.

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Self-Censorship 41:45

for 23 weeks siden41:45

41:45

We're not fans of novels getting censored, but what happens when you're the one doing the censoring? There is a fine line between being true to the vision of your story and being shocking or sultry just for the sake of it. In this episode, Russ and Tim talk about how they self-censored their own work based on genre, reader expectations, and what they learned through the process.…

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Book Titles 36:30

for 25 weeks siden36:30

36:30

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Title your book wrong, and you may lose out on potential readers. Is your title intriguing enough? Is it too similar to others? Does it fit within your genre? In this episode, Russ and Tim tackle these questions and explain why they named their first novels and what they did.…

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Pop Culture References 46:25

for 27 weeks siden46:25

46:25

Pop culture references are a fun way to build on a character, setting, and world within your story. Yet too many references can ruin your reader's suspension of disbelief. So, where's the line? How much is too much? In this episode, Russ and Tim reflect on how they used pop culture references in their first works and the lessons they've learned.…

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Character Names 40:37

for 29 weeks siden40:37