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.
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
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 Read more…
What’s in a name? Character names can allow readers to peer into and gather insight into what makes them tick. Does your protagonist need an epic name? How about your villains or secondary characters? Russ and Tim get into naming Read more…
Symbolism is yet another tool in the author’s toolkit for enhancing a story. Whether it be big-picture themes, character behaviors, or a setting, symbolism is a great way to enrich a reader’s experience. In this episode, Russ and Tim chat Read more…
