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Lisa Montanaro ON: How to Use Real-Life Experiences to Inspire Memorable Fiction, Writing in Multi-POV and Dual Timelines, and Crafting Secrets in Storytelling
If you have real-life experiences that have shaped you, but you want to write a fiction—not nonfiction—story, then don't miss this episode. In this conversation, I talk to the mesmerizing author and public speaker, Lisa Montanaro, about her heartfelt debut, EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WAS TRUE. This is a jam-packed conversation, filled with invaluable insights on writing and publishing fiction, like: How Lisa transitioned from being a published nonfiction author to a fiction author Finding the balance of writing fiction inspired by real-life events—i.e. how she used her real-life experiences to inspire her debut and also how she had fun making up plot points and character arcs for her fiction story Writing tips for writing multi-POV and a dual timeline Why secrets are so important in storytelling, and when and how to reveal them Her decision to publish with a small publisher (and advice on how to pick your own publishing path) And that's only the beginning! By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a strong grasp on how to craft a fiction story pulled from your personal experiences, how to sketch characters before putting them into high-stake conflicts and situations, writing tips that can help you write mult-POV and/or dual timeline, and questions that can help you decide what publishing path is best for your writing endeavors. Plus, you'll want to order a copy of Lisa'a debut pronto! Don't forget to bring a notepad to this episode. There's so much to learn! Important Links for this episode >> Buy EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WAS TRUE by Lisa Montanaro Check out Colage and how it can support adult children of LGTBQ parents Connect with Abigail and Lisa: Instagram: @abigailkperry | @lisa.montanaro Abigail's website Lisa'a website Wondering what you should you listen to next? Learn more about writing secrets from literary agent Allison Hunter in her episode: Allison Hunter ON: What Makes a Great Beach Read, How to Use Comps, and Why Secrets are Imperative in Fiction
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1:07:41
First Chapter Deep Dive: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (with Savannah Gilbo)
Do you love historical romance? Do you want to learn what makes a first chapter capture a reader's (and literary agent's!) attention? Then you need today's episode. In today's episode, book coach and developmental editor Savannah Gilbo returns for a deep dive into the uber-popular, time-traveling romance, OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. This conversation is jam-packed with insightful tips on how to pull readers into your story with world-building, set ups, and memorable, interesting characters without slowing the pace. Some other topics Savannah and I explore include: How to write an intriguing opening (and scenes) with what can sometimes feel like less intense stakes How many scenes are in this first chapter, and why each models a well-structured scene How to plant set ups and share meaningful backstory without dragging down the pace Plus, more! By the time you finish this episode, you'll know how to identify and answer some important questions that first chapters need in order to set up reader expectations. You'll also take away a handful of tools that you can use to tighten and polish well-structured scenes. So pick up a notebook and get ready to learn! P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love the Lit Match podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, I'd greatly appreciate if you took a minute or two to rate and review the show. Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're super insightful to me. Thanks in advance! Books mentioned in this episode: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon The Writer's Guide to Beginnings by Paula Munier Story Grid by Shawn Clyne Follow Abigail and Savannah: Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo P.S. Don't miss Savannah's podcast, FICTION WRITING MADE EASY!
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1:00:27
Diagon Alley Deep Dive: Scene Analysis of Chapter 5 in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
If you're unsure how to write or analyze well-structured scenes in your novel, you need today's episode. Today, book coach and developmental editor Savannah Gilbo returns for a deep dive and scene analysis...only this time, it's extra special because it not only features a chapter from one of our favorite books, it is also the book Savannah analyzes in her Writer's Guide: The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Story Grid Publishing). When writers reach out to Savannah about this writer's guide, they often as her, "How many scenes are in the Diagon Alley chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?” Well, today Savannah and I take a deep dive into this very chapter, which was quite a challenge to break down!Listen to our conversation to hear us discuss the ins-and-outs of the major events and details that happen in Diagon Alley, which includes topics like how many scenes are in the chapter, exceptional world building details, and conflicts that come close to causing Crisis questions, but only one actually does this. Some other topics we explore are teaching points like: How to analyze your scenes from three different perspectives—the reader’s perspective, the character’s perspective, and the author’s perspective A quick trick for determining if your scenes work (and how to identify which areas of your scenes need work once you’ve written them) *Spoiler alert!* Why we chose to analyze this chapter as one 6,500-word-long scene versus a bunch of smaller scenes (and how the structure of this scene works) The purpose of the smaller moments within the scene that are arguably significant (and move the scene) forward but aren’t technically “scenes” Our final thoughts on writing a scene like Diagon Alley By the time you finish this episode, you'll go from scrambling to put a scene together (or understand how your favorite scene in a bestselling book works) to feeling confident about how you write scenes in your story or analyze them in masterworks. Plus, if you like this episode, you’ll probably LOVE Savannah's book, The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Story Grid Publishing). Click here to order a copy for your bookshelf >> Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love the Lit Match podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, I'd greatly appreciate if you took a minute or two to rate and review the show. Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're super insightful to me. Thanks in advance! Links mentioned in this episode: OrderThe Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone— Click here Watch the video interview on Story Grid’s YouTube channel Follow Abigail and Savannah: Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo P.S. Don't miss Savannah's podcast, FICTION WRITING MADE EASY!
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50:06
Zoe Norvell ON: Everything You Need to Know About Book Covers (and How to Find the Perfect Designer for Your Story)
If you've written a book and are in need a book cover, this is a super important episode for you to hear. In this conversation, I talk to the brilliant book cover designer, Zoe Novell, who is also the founder of the one-of-kind book designer directory, available on her website, I Need a Book Cover. In this special conversation, Zoe and I cover a range of invaluable and interesting information about book covers, including hot topics like what makes a book cover stand out, book cover trends based on their genre, key factors to consider when choosing imagery, color, and typography for a cover—and, how to find (and hire!) the best designer for your book. And these are only some of the huge takeaways you’ll get from listening to Zoe. By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a better grasp on why book covers are so important, what to consider when designing a book cover or hiring the ideal designer for your book, and how to use Zoe’s premier directory filled with hundreds of dedicated, full-time, and freelance book cover designers who are consistently adding extraordinary work to adult, trade book genres. What are you waiting for? Listen to our chat now! Connect with Abigail and Zoe: Instagram: @abigailkperry | @zoenorvell Abigail's website Zoe's websites: Zoe Norvell, I Need a Book Cover, I Need a Book Interior Wondering what you should you listen to next? Learn all about book contracts from literary agent Kate McKean on this episode — Kate McKean ON: Demystifying Book Publishing Contracts
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1:00:50
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: A Complete Breakdown of the Main Plot Line
If you're planning your novel or have a finished draft and don't know where to begin with revisions, you need to hear this episode. This is a special two-part discussion with the brilliant book coach, developmental editor, and author Savannah Gilbo as she breaks down the main plot line—or the big picture—in J.K. Rowling's debut and phenomenon, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (HPSS). In today's high-level discussion, Savannah and I chat about some foundational knowledge that can greatly benefit you when outlining, writing, and revising your book, such as understanding your content genre, the 5 Commandments of Story Telling (Story Grid), and how to identify the main scenes that govern your story. This pieces pulled from this episode come from an interview Savannah and I did with Story Grid for their YouTube channel, which you can watch here. To do this, Savannah and I first explore the 5 main scenes that make up the global story in HPSS. After, we zoom-in and dissect what we call the skeletal structure of HPSS; in other words, the 20 key scenes that make up the story's main plot line, split into the beginning, middle, and end (also known as Act I, Act II Part I, Act II Part II, and Act III). By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a better grasp on how to use plot and structure to test the strength of a story, all of which is modeled in a masterwork that changed history. The key points made in this discussion also pull from Savannah's recent book, THE WRITER'S STUDY GUIDE: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, which you can purchase by clicking this link. What should you listen to next? Check out Savannah and my analysis of the first chapter in HPSS: First Chapters: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Connect with Abigail and Savannah: Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
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57:18