How to Write Fiction: Alone in A Room With Invisible People TM: How to Write Fiction

Halloween - The Missing Tales!

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 01:12:33 +0000

We invite you to cozy on up to your listening devices for another two stories for our Halloween Special! There are two stories that had been mistakenly left on the pumpkin carving table! You can imagine how this has horrified me so!

Just as with the two main episodes, these authors used Holly’s Free ‘How to Write Flash Fiction that Doesn’t Suck’ course, and submitted their Halloween-themed stories.

Beginners and pros alike have joined in to give you hours of tales of the macabre, scary, goofy, quirky, sad and funny!! If this is the first one you've heard, go a check out parts one and two for there is a story for everyone - all in bite size, delectable chunks, just like your favorite pieces of Halloween candy! So carve out sometime on Hallowe'en to feast on candy & these stories!

If you liked what you heard, you can find the Author List (alphabetical by story), links and music on the show notes at www.alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

3rd Annual Halloween Special: Listener Edition - Episode Two - FINAL AIARWIP Episode

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 05:00:00 +0000

We invite you to cozy on up to your listening devices for part two of our Halloween Special! This spooky and spoopy, cute and morbid, heart-warming and heart-ripping extra EXTRA special episode of Alone in a Room with Invisible People is sure to have a story or two fitting your tastes... be they for sweets or gore!

Writers and listeners of the podcast have once again given us some wonderful and entertaining stories to behold in our third and final annual holiday podcast! Enough that you'll be getting one episode today and another on All Hallow's Eve itself!

Using Holly’s Free ‘How to Write Flash Fiction that Doesn’t Suck’ course, our authors have submitted their Halloween-themed stories. Beginners and pros alike have joined in to give you hours of tales of the macabre, scary, goofy, quirky, sad and funny!!

There is a story for everyone, all in bite size, delectable chunks, just like your favorite pieces of Halloween candy! So carve out sometime on Hallowe'en to feast on candy & these stories!

If you liked what you heard, you can find the Author List (alphabetical by story), links, music and sound attribution on our show notes at www.alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

3rd Annual Halloween Special: Listener Edition - Episode One

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 05:00:00 +0000

We invite you to cozy on up to your listening devices for part one of our Halloween Special! This spooky and spoopy, cute and morbid, heart-warming and heart-ripping extra EXTRA special episode of Alone in a Room with Invisible People is sure to have a story or two fitting your tastes... be they for sweets or gore!

There is a story for everyone, all in bite size, delectable chunks, just like your favorite pieces of Halloween candy! So carve out sometime on Hallowe'en to feast on candy & these stories!

If you liked what you heard, you can find the Author List (alphabetical by story), links and music in our Show Notes at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com

How to Create a Story of Any Size using the Artifact

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) are covering The Artifact. We take on one way of creating this item, but we did something unique - we switched drawings! So: Holly created something from my sketch and vice versa. We go through many questions, building these artifacts and the stories (and worlds) they inhabit.

If you want to play along, download the worksheet FREE (no email required) from our website here! You can also take and create your own artifact for fun - but we HIGHLY suggest making your own.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

Lazy Worldbuilding Workshop - Live and on the Fly

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) are taking on worldbuilding in a "lazy" way. We'll cover six different genres in our spur-of-the-moment worlds and show you how simple - and FUN - worldbuilding can be!

If you want to play along, pause after we give our basic start and write out how you would take the world and story along. Come into the forums and share with us anything you came up with, either using our starts or just on your own!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

Character Creation Workshop - Live and on the Fly

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) put each other in the hotseat while showing how to create character from scratch and with nothing but a situation to go on.

We'll show what character is and is not while having fun. If you want to play along, pause after we explain the situation and create your own character and their story!

Show notes at AIARWIP.com.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

How to Plan a Series with an Octopus Map

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) cover a much, muchrequested topic: the Series Octopus Map! We go through what it is and how to do it, using Holly's Longview Chronicles series map as an example as well as one I created - and left a few spots blank so listeners could see how we filled them in.

Use your Octopus Map to write a series that WORKS from start to finish!

Download your worksheet and Holly's Longview Chronicles Octopus Map (offered as a demo of how to do this) HERE:
Free Octopus Map Worksheets

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

How to Worldbuild for Short Stories and Flash Fiction

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the basics of worldbuilding for short fiction. We'd love to help folks submitting to the Halloween Flash Fiction episodes and the three examples are flash fiction, but this is something that focuses on worldbuilding for all short fiction.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Create Culture for Short Stories and Flash Fiction

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the basics of culture for short fiction. We'd love to help folks submitting to the Halloween Flash Fiction episodes, but this is something that focuses on culture for all short fiction.

Want to submit a story to the Halloween episodes? Read the rules here and send us your work!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Revise - The Big Basics

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the basics of revision in general but with an eye towards helping folks who wish to submit to the Halloween Flash Fiction episodes.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Flash Fiction for Halloween - Finished Examples, Tips and Off the Cuff Ideas

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) want to get you ready to write and submit to the Halloween Episode! Holly goes through two examples of her Flash Fiction, we talk a bit about what a good flash fiction story needs and then we go through a couple of prompts which include a genre and a random word from Holly.

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Create a Hero, Antagonist AND Villain that FIT - WORKSHOP

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

How do you create a hero and villain that are perfectly at odds? How can you create an antagonist that pushes the bounds of conflict for the main character? How can you get the most out of these three important roles?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle has created a workshop (no download this time) and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go through it live! After the questions are asked (this is a pause and jot down episode) we'll go over our answers. What will you come up with?

If you want to share with us what you got, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing! No purchase or ownership of courses necessary!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Your Writing Questions - Final AMA

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction Questions! Or more accurately, how we do things.

In this final AMA installment, Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) answer your writing questions! How do you deal with a perfect idea in your head but the words just are not coming out right? Do you get jealous of other writers and how does one deal with jealousy? Can you talk about internalizing your process?

And more!

If you don’t hear yours answered – or you have one you didn’t submit - head on into the forums or email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com. We might be done with the AMA but we still want to answer your writing questions.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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From The Archives: Holly Lisle on Fiction – Part Three (Final)

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Due to behind-the-scenes issues, today’s episode is the final installment of the Holly Lisle On Writing – Holly’s original 2006 podcast. The last half was never edited and published, so this will be a treat for long-time Holly followers as well as new listeners.

Holly covers all sorts of questions from listeners: how does age affect publication, how to create unique works, what "idea fiction" is and isn't, how to deal with an inner critic, how to get into depth on a character and what a conscience means and doesn't mean (and how to get really in depth about this because it doesn't mean a character is good just because he/she has a conscience) and more. Lots more!

The regular podcast will return next week (8-18-20).

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Show notes can be found at alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

Emails: show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com and rebecca@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

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AMA – Part Three (Answering Your Questions)

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this third AMA installment, Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) answer your questions! If you don’t hear yours answered – or you have one you didn’t submit head on into the forums or email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

AMA - Part Two (Answering Your Questions)

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this second AMA episode, Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) answer your questions! If you don't hear yours answered - or you have one you didn't submit head on into the forums or email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

AMA - Part One (Answering Your Questions)

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) answer your questions! If you don't hear yours answered - or you have one you didn't submit head on into the forums or email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How Fiction Writers Can Use Poetry for - not in - their Fiction

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Poetry has many uses!

Poetry can be difficult - to write, to understand and to share with others. However it can also be so very useful to those who do not even publish the poems they've written!

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how you can reap major benefits from writing in poetic prose without sharing word one! So tune in as Holly shares her tips, tricks and poems and we talk a little about how you can become a better writer in any genre while working on poetry.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Write Animal Points of View in Your Fiction

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

Whether you want to write a couple of scenes from an animal's perspective, a short story from only their point of view or an entire book or series about nothing but animals and their lives, this episode and worksheet (found here for free, no email required) is intended to help get into the mind of the animal you want discover more about and, of course, to share with your readers.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how writing animals is different from other characters, how to create enough of the backstory to fit whatever level of importance your character will have, what important points to focus on when doing the actual writing and more.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Writing Naked - How to Put Yourself on the Page Honestly and Well-Disguised

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Being Naked and Proud

Only you can truly see through your eyes... that is until you put them on the page through your characters. And then everyone can see it. For better or for worse - and sometimes both - you're revealed in ways even you were not aware of.

Being naked on the page is being honest, is showing others who you are, why you believe the way you do, what you think is important and how you want the world to be. In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how to write true to yourself, why you'd want to put the best, worst, and ugliest parts of ourselves out there for the world to consume and what we as writers get out of it.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Creating Your Personal Writing Space: Physical, Mental and Investigatory

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

We are such strange creatures. We desire comfort and chaos, routine and inspiration. In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the importance of creating space in your life for your art. We go into each of the three types of space in detail and why they're important.

If you're lucky enough to be able to do all three, they can only help in aiding in the building of your writing habit. Consistent efforts to create and maintain your space will benefit you to creating the life you want to live.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Build a Story Based on Your Sweet Spot Map: SPM Series, Part Four - Final

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:04:19 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Stories using both the Editor and the Muse!

For three weeks we have been talking Sweet Spot Map. From building a one, to building a world and then building your characters. In the fourth and final installment, we go over how to use the map for story building.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how to take what you've written down on your map and to find key conflicts, mixing and matching over and over to fine-tune your story. Using examples from both of our works and maps, we'll go over how to find the conflict in the parts you love (and hate) most.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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AIARWIP: Technical Difficulties... Temporary Placeholder

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 01:21:01 +0000

Becca is experiencing an internet outage. As soon as her provider gets her service back up, she'll get the podcast to you.

Please hang with us. We have a really fun episode this week we think you'll love.

Holly

How to Build a Character Based on Your Sweet Spot Map: SPM Series, Part Three

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Build Characters using the Muse's input!

Two weeks we went over building a Sweet Spot Map, last week we went over building a world. This week we go over how to use the map for character building.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how to take what you've written down on your map and build the characters that will inhabit your worlds, using examples from both of our works. Anything on these maps can be used to build characters you've just created or enhance ones you've had around for a while. We go into how much to include, how to look at different sections in more than an obvious way and drawing from your own life.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Worldbuild Based on Your Sweet Spot Map: SPM Series, Part Two

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Build your Fictional World using the Muse's input!

Last week we went over building a Sweet Spot Map. This week we go over how to use the map for worldbuilding.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how to take what you've written down on your map and build the world from it, using examples from both of our works. We'll show you how almost anything can be turned into a worldbuilding element, how to pick out the important parts and how to navigate your way through your muse's more incoherent ramblings.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Build a Sweet Spot Map Workshop - Part One

Tue, 26 May 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Unleash Your Muse and Get Creative, Unexpected and Motivating Ideas

Our listeners have been asking for this episode since we first started referencing the Sweet Spot Maps. We are now taking on a four-parter on the topic with personal examples of how we use it in our work.

What is a Sweet Spot Map? What is it used for? How do I build one and why do I want to?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the technique and how Holly has altered the basic mind map to work on a deeper, more personal, more fiction-focused level. This helps to develop ideas and cultivate a closer connection to your muse while also creating links you might not have found otherwise. Learn over the next four weeks how powerful and multi-faceted this tool really is.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Workshop: How to Find and Fix Scene Problems

Tue, 19 May 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we're reading four scenes volunteered by four different writers, and demonstrating not just where the scenes work work and where they fall apart... BUT exactly how you can check your own scenes using the process we demonstrate.

Need to know why your test readers aren't thrilled by a scene you thought was going to rock their worlds?

Download your worksheet (free at alonewithinvisiblepeople.com, no email required), listen in, and follow along while you discover where things went wrong in your own problem scene... and fix each issue.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Series Fundamentals: How NOT to Break Your Series

Tue, 12 May 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

Since we spoke so heavily last week on PRO-Indie and PRO-Series, Holly thought it was important to discuss some incredibly important series fundamentals - elements of your series that you do not want to mess up.

What promises do you want to make? What is the difference between what is important to you and what is important to the reader? What will cause your reader to go from love to hate for your main character in the span of a series? How do keep track of what your series core is - the thing you never, ever break?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how NOT to break your series in this first episode of series fundamentals. Next week we'll do our official 100th episode (we don't count The Introductions as an episode) AMA (ask me anything).

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Series Fiction VS Stand Alone Book

Tue, 05 May 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Which is best for building a readership and making a career from writing? Series Fiction? Or Stand Alone novels?

The best choice may come down to personal preference for each writer but, as far as building a readership and making a living from your fiction, there is no competition.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the question from a listener and Holly-student regarding what the best choice is for authors today. We'll break down the best options, why they're the best options and what varieties exist within series fiction, as well as breakdown Holly's future marketing plan for her own series fiction - including the pros and cons.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Use Chapters as Structure Elements

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Define a Chapter in Your Written Works

What goes in a chapter? Is there a best way to use them? Are there different ways to use pacing, scenes and chapters together? What are my options?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the weirdness of The Chapter. What is it? What should it include? What should you do - or not do? Do I have to even include chapters in my work?

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Character Voice - Distinguishing Your Characters

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Why do people tell me all of my character’s sound the same and what can I do about it?

Ah… character voice. We’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve written a few stories and published or shared them. Or even the first draft of a novel. Either way you’ve got trusted writer friends telling you your characters “sound the same” or are missing a distinct “voice”.

What can you do?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss Character Voice (not to be confused with your voice), what it is, what it is not and what you can do to work it into your work in a way that deepens and enriches the final product.

What does your characters’ dialogue say about them without them spelling it out? How can mixing it up create deeper, more interesting characters? What is specialized dialogue and why do we have to be so damn careful with it? How does being the weirdo eavesdropping on others help you out as a writer?

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Creating Titles and How to Choose the Right One

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 05:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

Some people are naturally good at coming up with names for their projects.

This episode is not for them, but if they'd like to drop into our podcast forums and help out, we'd love to hear their take on this!

For the writers out there who struggle to come up with titles that get the book into a reader's hands but also evoke an almost magical desire to read the subject matter, we hear you and we're going to do our best to discuss the subject matter today!

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss titles, how to dig deep to create ones that fit, the importance of maintaining objectivity on what you've created and talk about a few examples here and there.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say, your own opinions or helpful tips? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Internal Conflicts - How to Do Them Well

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

The Internal Conflict. This can be either the driving force of an entire series... or the doom of your book (and anywhere in between, but that's less dramatic).

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss a question posed by a listener regarding internal conflicts, common problems with how they're written and how to do them justice while driving the plot ever onward!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Process - What is it and How Does it Effect My Writing?

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: What is Process and can I change it? How does Process effect my writing?

Have you been struggling with writer's block? Maybe you've got a ton of Hard Drive Zombies and you just can't seem to finish anything. Or maybe you've been writing a long time, have a decent amount of established work... and now what you've always done is failing you.

You're not alone.

So many writers have writers have run up against the agony that slams you full body into a brick wall when your process suddenly just stops working. Some writers don't know what process is in general, much less can define their own.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss several different processes she has worked through when creating several different works of fiction including different genres and a collaboration. So listen and then jump into the forums to let us know: What is YOUR process? Has it changed? Has it ever failed or is it staying strong? What do you do: cling to process and force it to the end? Or drop it at even the hint of Muse Resistance?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Fear of Bad Writing, Is a Scattered Draft Finished, Changing a Process You Love

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

Who doesn't worry at some point that they're going to bomb with their fiction? Many writers put off publishing, revising or even creating for fear of a lack of skill.

If you're a non-linear writer with scattered scenes, how do you know if you technically have a first draft?

Should I change a process I love if I feel it's not getting results I think I am supposed to be getting?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss several questions emailed to us by two writers who feel their issues were not common enough to warrant a post in the podcast forums - but these are very, very common issues! Let's get to working on some solutions together.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Write Fiction: Boring Writing, Flashbacks, Dream Premonitions and Pre-Climax Info Dumps

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Listener's Questions!

How can I know if the writing is boring to just me as the writer or to everyone? How do you write flashbacks, dreams, and premonitions well and are they necessary for your main character to gain information when you're limited by point of view? How do you avoid an info dump when the character has no information but needs it to figure everything out?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss all of these questions in depth. If you feel you're still lost, please come into the forums and let us know!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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From The Archives: Holly Lisle on Fiction - Part Two

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction

Technical difficulties have left us in a bit of a lurch, but we're not leaving you without content. In today's episode we are republishing more of the much-requested Holly Lisle On Writing - the episodes 4 and 5 from Holly's original 2006 podcast.

In this blast from the past Holly answers questions from listeners and readers covering collaborations, world building, languages, themes and more. We'll have updated links on anything possible in the show notes at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com

The regular podcast will return next week (3-17-20).

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Too Many Writing Ideas - How to Focus on the Story

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: With so many ideas, how do I know which ones are best?

If you're stuck in overwhelm on a current novel or story, surrounded by the ideas coming at you from everywhere, this episode addresses just that. When we're writing fiction, ideas flood in. The more you write, the more ideas you get. So how in the world can you tell the difference between a good idea that supports your work and a bad one that derails it?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the overabundance of ideas, what to do with them, how to tell if they're good for a current work or not, and how to maintain your focus on the current story.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Know if Your Idea is the Right Size for Your Story

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Story Ideas VS Fiction Length

Two common scenarios, each is one side of the same coin: 1. you're writing a short story that won't end or 2. you've run out of steam with your current novel. The short story is too involved, while the novel isn't involved enough.

So how can you tell whether or not your story matches the length of the work you want to write?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss just this question, providing you with a few examples (real and imagined) as well as questions to ask yourself if you find you're running into this very familiar problem.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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The Process of Revision: Flash Fiction Example

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:35:17 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Example of How to Revise

Man... revision. Whew. 'Nuff said, am I right?

Revision can feel like you're stumbling around in a room the size of a football stadium, one with booby-traps and sharp objects, big, hard furniture - and you're blindfolded. Did I mention you're also trying to find a particular object in this quest?

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss what revision is (and what it is not - hint, editing) and we'll break it down into very basic steps. We'll use flash fiction examples written especially for this episode. You'll hear the first drafts, the revised but still rough versions and listen as we try and help each other out with our stories. If you work on this yourself, please share your work in the forums!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Write Holiday Based Stories

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Write Holiday Centric Fiction!

Have you ever wanted to write a story surrounding an upcoming holiday, but feel locked into certain tropes? Have you ever struggled to put your own spin on a piece of work you want to write for a specific holiday? Maybe you want to create a new take on the celebration or focus the darker side of any number of these "special" days.

In this episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how much fun writing holiday-based fiction can be, how to go about it in an easy and orderly way and how to find what matters to you in each and every holiday.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Burn Out or Writer's Block in Writing Fiction and How to Overcome It

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Beat Burn Out

Most everyone has - or will - face burn out. You're tired of even looking at the work you've been chipping away at. You want to go hide in a corner or maybe you just push yourself harder at this big, unmovable force. Either way you want it done and done yesterday.

But burn out isn't what you think it is. This is a signal from the Right Brain Muse and/or Left Brain Inner Critic that all is not well that should be.

In this episode Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) help to show how to recognize burn out, where we as writers need to ask questions and how burn out can actually be a key to making your work better and more you than it was before.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Include a Theme in Your Fiction and Characters

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Working with a Theme in your fiction and characters!

Most writers at one point in their lives struggle with theme. What is theme? How do I incorporate it into my story? How do I tie that in with my characters in actions and thought? How do I make sure my point comes across? Can I show different parts of the theme without seeming incoherent?

In today's episode Author and Fiction Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) cover all of this with an example that Holly comes up with and builds upon live.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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What is Telegraphing and the Truth About Writers' Groups

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: What is Telegraphing in Fiction and What are the

What is Telegraphing and the Truth About Writers' Groups

What the heck is telegraphing? And should I join a Writer's Group? How do I choose one? What are things to look for? What are red flags to watch out for? How can I contribute to one?

This week Author and Writing Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) answer two questions from our listeners. We've got more coming and very soon, but if you've got a question you want to send to us privately you can either respond to the weekly email (if you're signed up for the episode notifications) or email us at show@alonewithinvisiblepeople.com.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Should I Quit Writing This Thing?

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Know if You're Struggling for Good Reason or If Your Book is Killing Your Joy.

It's not always a flaw in your character or a lack of self-disipline - sometimes it's just the story. So then the question becomes: How Can You Tell the Difference?

Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) explain the method of looking deep into both yourself and your writing to find the cause of your struggles. With real life examples we'll show you the difference between the thing we all eventually come to know as truth - WRITING is actually HARD - and the thing many of us might face more than once in our lives - Writing THIS THING is WRONG for me.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Overcoming Focus Issues in Writing: Attention, Overwhelm and Scheduling Problems

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

Do you have issues with keeping the focus on your fiction? Maybe you're overwhelmed with all you have to get done? Or is the inconsistency of your schedule (or lack thereof) getting in the way?

If you're suffering from any kind of attention issues, we understand! In this episode, Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) cover different issues writers face when it comes to putting words on paper and getting work done. There are a million things vying for your attention at any point in time - let's focus on the ones that point us in the direction of our dreams.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Writing Goals Workshop: Setting Goals for the New Year

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Writing Goals and Resolutions (or UNresolutions to Holly) and How To Set Them!

If you have always wanted to: write and finish that novel in your head, self-pub a bunch of your short stories, finally finish the one big revision that is driving you nuts and submit the damn thing, get a chapbook of poetry out...

Whatever your writing goals, we've got you covered in how to set them, how to work on achieving them - and we've also set up a support system!

Author and Teacher Holly Lisle goes over her plan for the year, and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) come up with different examples to have Holly walk me through. We'll show how to set achievable goals, how to track them, and where to find support all year long as you attempt to keep focused.

The year 2020 is going to bring personal upheavals as every year always does. It's not going to take it easy on you just because you want to finally make this your year. So let's set some goals, get clear on why we want to achieve them and what good they'll do! Let's keep the focus on taking action on our dreams instead of letting them stay dreams.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Turn What You Love into What You Write

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Take Your Obsessions and Spin Unique Tales to Tell!

In this episode Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) break down how to create fiction out of the things in life you truly love or have an obsessive interest in.

We not only show you how to find ways to hone in on what you can write about passionately - we also show you how to combine loves and create unique twists and combinations to create a truly different perspective for your future works.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Nail Your Endings

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Write the Best Ending... and Discover the Wrong Ones.

If you're a writer odds are you have struggled with an ending or two. Maybe you didn't have a clue how to end a work. Or maybe you have something that just doesn't feel right.

Trying to "nail" an ending is hard work - even the best of writers can become frustrated when it comes to tying everything up and creating a resolution that both pulls together the threads of your story and satisfies.

So whether you're at a complete loss at the finish line or you just need a little help fine-tuning things during your revision, Author and Teacher Holly Lisle has got a few questions that might help you cross that finish line in first place.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Expand Your Story Idea: Flash, Short Story and Novel Examples

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Build onto Existing Stories and Ideas with examples!

Do you have an idea you love, but it's not really long enough for the word count you or a publisher wants? Or did you start writing a novel to find you've only got the meat for a short story?

Join Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and myself (host, Rebecca Galardo) as we both build from a single prompt. Holly creates live while I built mine the night before the recording the episode. Holly creates three different ideas (a flash fiction storyline, a short fiction story line and what could be a novel or series storyline) while I take the same idea from the one prompt and add bits and pieces to it to create all three length storylines required.

Added request: If possible, come up with your own work and share with us in the forums. We love to see what you guys come up with.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Start Building a Language, Culture... and Story Ideas Workshop

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to get story ideas while building a Language and Culture!

What can you create with ten sounds and three words? The in-depth start to an entire world! The same with creating a belief like like an every day item is Sentient and Evil!

Join Author and Teacher, Holly Lisle, and her daughter (writer and host, Rebecca Galardo) as they spawn ideas that thrill them from just the tiniest of worldbuilding!

Special Note: Never were the type to be interested in creating a language? COOL! I (Rebecca) was the same! Please: give it a go anyway. Try it out. It won’t take long and the worst case scenario - you’ve completely a unique writing exercise you don’t have to ever do again and you maybe got a story idea out of it. Your Muse (Right Brain) needs stimulation and the Inner Critic (left brain) is the one telling you "I don't do languages." or "That's not for me." and "You don't need them in your genre/writing/work."

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Worldbuild Fast - Workshop

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Workshop with Us While We Build Worlds in Around 5 Minutes (or less!) a Piece.

Are you the type of write who, like Holly, can spend endless hours - days upon days, weeks upon weeks, and more - world building? Or are you the type of writer, like Rebecca, who ends up writing characters speaking and doing things in a barely there setting? Perhaps you're the type of writer who is a middle grounder, who does some world building but all of these writers can still wonder: have I done enough?

Today's episode is all about world building fast. If you tend to overbuild, underbuild or just wonder if you've really done enough, this episode is for you. Even if you're confident in what you've done, this might be a new approach to building stories and worlds that you haven't tried yet.

Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) walk through prompts from our own brains, surprise prompts from each other and then collaborate on two ideas - creating no less than 6 rich worlds and story ideas in under an hour.

Join us in this week's episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Listeners' Questions on: Which Idea is Best, Hitting Word Count and Why We Don't Name and Shame

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Today we cover three different questions our listeners have asked -

1. How Do I Know Which Idea is Better? What happens when the Muse is giving you more than one idea or keeps coming up with different ways your story could go?

2. How do I Hit Word Count without Padding? How do you create target word count goals for individual scenes?

3. Why are you guys always saying you don't play the Name and Shame Game when some people have acted in ways that deserve consequences?

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and get to typing!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Plot Twists that Fit

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How to Find Twists that Fit Your Story

Afraid of “anvils and aliens” intruding on your historical romance? Finding your sweet YA has suddenly become horribly R-rated? Maybe you've tossed a few spells into that Sci-Fi book you've been slugging along on. Or perhaps you keep introducing new characters because your Muse says "Oh, here, this guy will TWIST things up!"

You know when something you've written doesn't fit, sometimes intuitively and sometimes it's just plain obvious. Coming up with twists that fit the story and the world is not always easy. In fact, most of the time it can be downright difficult.

(This week's episode also features a Halloween Story Rebecca left out of the Special Episodes by accident - ENJOY!).

Join us in this week's episode and as we answer this question, talking process, Muse, Inner Critic, letting go, limitations and how to chase that damned slippery twist.

If you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Who Are Your 10 Most Influential Writers and Why?

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Do you know what your most influential authors have done for you? For your work?

In this week's episode Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) delve into our top ten (well, okay, it's more than that, sorry) authors and point out why and how they influenced our lives and our work.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and get to typing!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Second Annual Halloween Special: Listener Edition - Part Two

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

This year our Halloween Special is a two parter with the second part airing today, on the spookiest of holidays! Happy Halloween to our listeners from your AIARWIP family!

Writers and listeners of the podcast have once again given us some wonderful and entertaining stories to behold in our second annual holiday podcast! Enough that you'll be getting one episode today and another on All Hallow's Eve itself!

Using Holly’s Free ‘How to Write Flash Fiction that Doesn’t Suck’ course, our authors have submitted their Halloween-themed stories. Beginners and pros alike have joined in to give you over 2 hours of tales of the macabre, scary, goofy, quirky, sad and funny!!

There is a story for everyone in this batch, all in bite size, delectable chunks, just like your favorite pieces of Halloween candy! So carve out sometime on Hallowe'en to feast on candy & these stories!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! And if you liked what you heard, you can find the Author List (alphabetical by story), links and music in our Show Notes at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com

Second Annual Halloween Special: Listener Edition - Part One

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Using Holly’s Free ‘How to Write Flash Fiction that Doesn’t Suck’ course, our authors have submitted their Halloween-themed stories. Beginners and pros alike have joined in to give you over 2 hours of tales of the macabre, scary, goofy, quirky, sad and funny!!

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! And if you liked what you heard, you can find the Author List (alphabetical by story), links and music in our Show Notes at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com

How to Write Funny: Putting Humor into Fiction - Workshop

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: A Workshop to Help Add Humor to Your Stories

Humorous writing can sometimes seem like a either a born talent or a sudden - sometimes seldom given - gift. It might feel that way when you're plodding along in a scene and something hilarious happens. Rest assured this is your Right Brain - your Muse - and humor is yet another skill you can learn, a muscle you can work out and build over time.

In this episode I (host Rebecca Galardo) ask questions from Holly's free worksheets (found in the show notes for this episode at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com) and Holly's walks us through her plot and different possibilities to add humor. You can listen along and we'd love to see what you'd come up with for Holly's ideas (join us in the forums) or take the worksheet to your current work and see how you can retrofit it.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have any questions for us, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Workshop - How to Build Plot Arcs

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: A Workshop on Creating Story Arcs for Novels

You might know how to write a scene, but what about story or plot arcs? How do you tie in those larger story elements within the book while also working on the other parts of the scenes? How do you plan those? How do you include more than just the minimuma scene needs without going overboard with exposition on your larger-than-a-single-scene-level conflicts?

This episode was inspired by a great question in the forums after How to Keep Your Scenes on Target.

Download the free workshop, print (or save ink and answer the questions with pen in a notebook) and get to writing!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have any questions for us, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Advice for Fiction Writers: What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction:

This week Author and Teacher Holly Lisle answers a question that is familiar to most of us. What would you tell your younger self?

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have an answer for us, join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

What are Common Traps for Aspiring Writers?

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: The pitfalls for beginning authors... There are a lot, but Holly has seven that she wanted to cover

How do you learn from writers you love without stopping yourself from putting words on the page? How important is the perfect first line when writing first draft? How does revision come into play? Talent VS skill? How is research a pitfall? Why being SAFE is a trap? How is "process" not always "process"?

There are a lot of traps to fall into when it comes to the world of writing fiction and even more advice in this episode on how to avoid a handful of them.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Procrastination in Writing Fiction - Outlining

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Do you find yourself trying to get the outline of a story or novel perfect before you write? Do you feel stuck in a synopsis before beginning your work because you don't have it all figured out... so you don't get to the action writing fiction part?

In this week's episode I (host, Rebecca Galardo) and Author and Teacher Holly Lisle discussion outlining as a form of procrastination as well as planning your fiction and where your best ideas come from. We go over how you can tell if you're working or if you're procrastinating, what you can do about it, how you can work with or around outlining stories... and most importantly how to find what works for you.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

How to Keep Your Scenes On Target

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write: How do I keep my scenes cohesive and get to the point? How do I not lose sight of what the scene is supposed to be?

Today I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss writing scenes with Author and Teacher Holly Lisle. What is getting in late and leaving early when it comes to scenes? How do you know what to cut and what to leave in? How to you even know what is integral to a scene and what to write in the first place? What are the elements that are absolutely necessary in a scene?

Holly's got the answers to these and more!

So grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

Share, rate and subscribe for weekly episodes! Good reviews help us find more writers like us!

Pen Names - Why and Why Not?

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: When is a pen name or pseudonym in fiction writing a good idea? Can it be bad for your career? And how?

There are many good, valid reasons for having a pen name (or several!) and we discuss these. There are good reasons to not have one either. So how do you know if it's right for you? How do you know if it a pen name will help your sales instead of hurting them?

In this week's episode, I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the pros and cons of pen names with Holly Lisle, as well as learning from the mistakes she's made over her almost 35 years in writing.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Write Relationships in Fiction: Besties and Buddies

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:29:26 +0000

How to Write Fiction: How do I capture the important relationships between both friends or even best friends?

Sometimes when we're writing relationships, friendships and best friends in fiction can often feel obligatory and empty. At times when reading or writing, these characters can feel likeeclones of each other - or at the other end of the spectrum, people who would never, ever be even casual aquaintances, which will irritate a reader to no end, unless there is a reason keeping them together.

So what can we as writers do to create realistic friendships while maintaining that "they'll never get together - it's not sexual" tone? How important are friendships in fiction? What can we do as the author of the story to create a better book with deeper, more meaningful friendships?

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

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How to Write Fiction: Twists and What They Are

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Twists and What They Are

When many writers hear the word they think plot twist, or twist ending and that's about it. Did you know that every good, meaningful scene has a twist? Or that every scene should have one?

In today's episode Author and Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) explain the tricky definition of a "twist" and then go through the 11 Questions you can ask of every single scene to find one. Twists are always about knowing how to ask better questions.

This episode contains a spontaneous and live workshop. We each set up three very basic scenes, then work through both the obvious - and boring - options and then create ways to bring about different kinds of twists into play. Join us and learn to find the twist in every single scene you write.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Fiction Writer Money Talks: Paid Markets VS Free Markets

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Fiction: Where to publish and why? Writers worry about pay, sure, but sometimes there is more value in a smaller, non-paying market. How can this be?

Answering another question by a listener, Author and Fiction Writing Teacher Holly Lisle gives us the breakdown in today's episode - and it's a big one. You as a writer need to know the values of both paying and free markets. They're not always what you'd expect. There is genuine value in smaller markets that cannot even pay with copies. And there are huge drawbacks to the big paying markets.

So join us in this episode and find out what all there is as well as how to stay safe: the things to look for in contracts, how to spot scams and how to make sure the market you're looking at is as good as it seems.

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

Check out our website alonewithinvisiblepeople.com for the Show Notes and transcriptions of the episodes (working from first to last, so it might be a while for this episode).

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Find Your Book-A-Likes... And Why.

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

What are "Book-A-Likes"? How will they help you in the long run? How do they help you with your marketing? To find your readers and make a career out of writing?

How do you know what books out there are your book-a-likes without having to read everything in the genre in which you believe you're writing?

In today's episode Author/Teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss this topic in depth - based on a question from a listener. Also, stay tuned for a message about the upcoming 2019 Halloween Special: Listener Edition!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

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Workshop - How to Build Novel Tie-Ins Using Flash Fiction & Short Stories

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Free downloadable worksheets at AloneWithInvisiblePeople.com.

Today's episode is another workshop! You guys asked and Holly delivered.

Based on a question from one of our listeners, Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss how to use your short fiction (flash fiction or short stories) to your advantage. Whether you want to give an existing readership something to chew on while they wait for your next book, start building a readership before your big novel comes out, work on a hard drive zombie, create something new or just do background, this workshop can help you out.

So print off the pages, play the episode and share what you got with us in the forums!

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Perfectionism: Part Two - Revision

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The second part on our heavy hitter, PERFECTIONISM. If you didn't listen to last week's episode - Please, go back and listen before you get into this one.

Holly and I (host Rebecca) talk about Perfectionism in revision - what this looks like and how it can affect your writing, future and actions. How many times should you revise a novel? What are the essentials to a good story? What are the fears that haunt you during the revision or publication process? Are you worthy and what does that even mean?

More importantly, what is the cure for all of this?

Join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

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Perfectionism: Part One - First Draft

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Today exactly marks ONE YEAR since our first episode was released! So we take on a heavy hitter.

PERFECTIONISM.

Holly and I (host Rebecca) have been eager to share this two-parter topic with you!

So very many people struggle with Perfectionism in their writing - many are not even aware of it. If you've pined over just the right word, the right description, struggled over the dialogue not being just quite right, the very words stifling your creativity... You might have a problem with perfectionism.

This week we talk about a topic brought up in our forums and touch on the upcoming 2nd annual Halloween Special: Listener Edition before we get into the real meat: What is perfectionism, what are the symptoms and why, and what is the cure?

So join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

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Answering Your Questions - Volume Two (Mini)

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Holly and I (host Rebecca) dive back into the many pages of questions that we’ve gotten (and continue to get) from our listeners while preparing another two parter on a different topic.

Today we look at choosing a specific POV and issues with limitations as well as how to describe creatures to readers without exposition or lengthy bits of wordage. These two questions were a lot of fun for us both to answer.

So join us in this week’s episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Answering Your Questions - Volume One (Mini)

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The first in many episodes, (we have over a full year's worth of questions!) Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) start diving into the many pages and pages of questions that we've gotten (and continue to get) from our listeners.

This week we cover several topics including motivation on bad days, how to connect with a story you're losing interest in, the ideas we have and where the true value is in them, how to ask yourself the right questions and so much more!

So join us in this week's episode and if you have a question for us join us in the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and get to typing!

After the episode: Have something to say? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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30 Minute Worldbuilding Workshop

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In today's episode we are answer another request - another new worksheet! Many of our listeners have asked for another free worksheet (which can be downloaded with one click at https://www.alonewithinvisiblepeople.com/downloads/) and workshop. Holly uses her current Ohio series as a base and I (Rebecca) worked from scratch but... well, you'll see.

So grab the worksheet, dive right in with us and start building your world in 30 minutes! Or more... Or less!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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From the Archives: Holly Lisle on Writing Part One

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In today's episode we are republishing the much-requested Holly Lisle On Writing - the first three episodes from Holly's original 2006 podcast.

Holly covers tips of all kinds: what to look for in an opener, motivational odds for writers looking to publish in the traditional market, how to test accents, tips on the many ideas you'll have and what to do with them while you're working on something else, revision, and begins her talks on trilogies. She pulls examples from her own works as case studies.

The regular podcast will return next week (7-2-19).

Featuring Spenser the Cat.

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Taming the Wild Middle - How to Prevent (Plot) Explosions

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Taming the Wild Middle - How to Prevent (Plot) Explosions

Okay, so we listened to a good portion of our audience when they downloaded the episode 'How to Write Middles for Fiction' and then said - I HAVE THE OPPOSITE PROBLEM!

So what happens when ideas are coming at you from every angle? What is PACTS and how can it help you tame the runaway beast that has become your novel? How do you narrow it down to just good ideas? What if all of the ideas you are getting are good?

Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) discuss the topic of the ever-expanding and growing middle and how you can narrow your focus, what to prioritize on and what you can do with the extra ideas. We also explain why it's a good thing to keep your book lean versus following every thread down each and every path.

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Event Writing Part Three: Follow Through

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Summer of Fiction Writing has a lot of writers setting goals and beginning on their paths towards completion! Even if you're listening to this for NaNoWriMo, Script Frenzy, 3 Day Novel or something else, this is fully applicable.

This episode covers Follow Through, both as in finishing the even and on taking something with you. What do you take with you after the event? We cover that.

In this episode, Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) will discuss not only how to learn from the events, but how to get “paid” by them (and we’re not talking money), how to use objective standards to view your goals and define success as well as know if you're on track?

We’ll also go over how to adapt goals, what “bleeding on the page” should be and should not be and how to find your sweet spot within the event.

Enjoy the final part of the three-part series, all surrounding event writing!

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Event Writing Part Two: Process

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:08:46 +0000

The Summer of Fiction Writing has begun! Or perhaps you're listening to this for NaNoWriMo, Script Frenzy, 3 Day Novel or something else. Either way, you're event is under way! How exciting!

But how do you know how to define what you need to get done? What about that middle-of-the-run slog? How do you stay focused?

In this episode, Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) will discuss the second and biggest part of event writing: process. We'll discuss the most important aspects of the process of EVENT WRITING as well as cover the questions above including keeping the magic and motivation going. We're here for you doing your event!

Enjoy this second part of a three-part series, all surrounding event writing!

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Event Writing Part One: Preparation

Tue, 28 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to do NaNoWriMo? Maybe you've done it and felt like a failure? Maybe you've heard of the 3 Day Novel and you really want to try it. Or you're looking at Holly's Summer of Fiction Writing and wondering what wonderful, amazing thing you can create in three months.

In this episode, Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) will discuss the first part of event writing: preparation. We'll discuss what you need to do in order to first decide if an event is for you, how to prep yourself for success, what goals you need to look at, what actions you'll need to take beforehand and more!

Enjoy this first part of a three-part series, all surrounding event writing!

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When Do You Know it's Time to Go Indie? - How Should I Publish My Fiction?

Tue, 21 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Trad Pub (traditional publication) VS Indie.

It's a well known conflict at this point, because there are pros and cons to both. There is the credibility of Trad Pub versus the control of Indie. There is the Publisher handling the marketing, cover and copy versus the writer handling all costs and/or work.

But there is more to it than that.

In this week's episode Holly and Rebecca discuss what pros and cons are there for both Trad Pub and Indie for both beginning authors and authors already working within the traditional industry.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Muse Toys - How to Connect with Your Muse

Tue, 14 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

What does fighting space pirates have to do with connecting to your Muse? How about climbing on top of a car? And why would you even do that? How about "guilty pleasure" tv, films or music?

In today's episode, author and teacher Holly Lisle and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) talk about how we connect with our Muses, what kind of tools are in our different toolboxes and how everything above helps us create new stories, work out story twists, break past those places where we're 'stuck' in the writing and more. We talk about where ideas come from and how to make your own Muse happy.

At the end, if you want to see that picture I spoke of, check out the Show Notes for this episode on our website: alonewithinvisiblepeople.com

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How to Write Endings for Fiction

Tue, 07 May 2019 14:08:31 +0000

Writers want to make their endings powerful, meaningful, satisfying and yet leaving the reader wanting more and more of their works. But many times we're at a loss, especially if something is going wrong with the words on the page.

This week Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go over what differentiates weak endings from strong ones and how you can dissect your own. We provide examples as well as discuss previous works, using these as case studies.

If you want to get the ending that doesn't just scratch that itch but has your reader (maybe potential editors) screaming "YES!" listen in to this episode.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Write Middles for Fiction

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to Write Middles for Fiction

If the beginning is the most intimidating the middle is the slog, the quicksand, the Wall that runners hit. What do I include is still in question. What happens with the conflicts? Where did my steam go? Why am I STUCK?

This week Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go over what differentiates weak middles from strong ones and how you can dissect your own. We provide from-scratch examples as well as discuss previous works, using these as case studies.

Most every writer on the planet has hit that Middle Mountain. Do you have a better name for it? Please share. Until then, have a look at what Holly has to say about not just fixing the problem, but getting excited and having fun diving into that middle!

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How to Write Beginnings for Fiction

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

How to start your book... Oh, jeez! Who doesn't lock up a bit from time to time thinking about the beginning? It can be intimidating thinking about the first page! What do I include? How do I show the world, engage the reader in the conflicts? What is the best way to introduce my characters and get the story rolling?

This week Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go over what differentiates weak beginnings from strong ones and how you can dissect your own. We provide from-scratch examples as well as discuss previous works, using these as case studies.

We also discuss briefly a few important topics at the beginning of the episode, especially questions that Holly has once again been getting from listeners regarding the level of education as a limitation on their future as career authors. I think you'll be encouraged.

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Hard Drive Zombies

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Holly has them. I have them. You have them.

Everyone has them.

We've been in the middle of the zombie apocalypse for as long as there have been writers! The Undead live as ideas stumbling around in the dark corners of your hard drives, starving, searching for life-giving sustenance.

This week Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go over our own zombies, what to do with them, whether you should resurrect them or have mercy and kill them off (remember, the BRAIN!)... and we also have a challenge for you.

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How to Build Your Writing System

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Holly gets asked all the time: "How do you consistently show up to work and get words on the page?" "How do you get to the 'butt in chair' mindset and do it enough to create so many finished works?" "How do you create a routine that gets you progress even on days when the last thing you want to do is write?"

This week Holly and I (host, Rebecca Galardo) go over our own writing systems and the processes we use to consistently create. Each step will show you how to find your own way of doing things. Holly breaks down what a writing system is into a clear, manageable sequence of tasks and ideals that will help you apply values and principles into your life to build your own writing system.

As you listen, write down your own preferences and ideas. What would make a better environment for you? What would help you stay consistent on an every day basis?

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How to Write Surprises and Mysteries in Any Genre - Part Two

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The much needed follow up on 'How to Write Surprises and Mysteries in Any Genre' is here! Holly takes on a Sci-Fi Romance while I (host Rebecca Galardo) take on a straight genre Romance. The first episode on this topic is pretty much required listening before taking on this one. The following is the basic premise of both of these episodes together:

"Have you ever read a book that kept surprising you with twists and turns you didn't see coming but once read you couldn't unsee the clues? How about the opposite - guessed the twist from the start? If you aspire to write great mysteries in your novels and avoid at all costs the obvious surprises, this episode could give you the tools to do just that.

I (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle discuss how to plan surprises and mysteries while leaving room for your muse to play. Without over-planning, spontaneous twists that even shock you as the author can come into play!

Get the free worksheet on our download page at AIARWIP.com/downloads (no email requested, no obligation whatsoever)."

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How to Brainstorm Ideas from Scratch - A Workshop

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Staring at the blank page can be scary, frustrating and it's easy to walk away from writing to do anything that seems easier. Dishes, video games, an entire spring cleaning, taking apart an engine... Who knows.

Brainstorming ideas can be fun, invigorating and inspiring! And you don't have to "wait for inspiration" or the "perfect mood" to hit. You can put yourself in that mood very easily.

So follow along with Holly and me as we go through 6 of 10 prompts, doing two ideas each from scratch for these prompts and always making sure to cover what Holly refers to as the Four P's. We'd love for you to join us in the forums and share some of your odd, fun, funky, beautiful, heartbreaking or cheerful story ideas!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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When are Collaborations A Good Idea?

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Collaborations.

It's alien subject for many authors. Even the concept can be a bit foreign. Writing is a solo effort. You're in your mind, working with your characters in your world. Already they can be so hard to control! So what benefit comes from sharing a world, a page, and a cover with another writer?

It's not what you're thinking. It has nothing to do with snagging a duo with a bigger name author, gathering up thousands of new readers and the big bucks - in fact, those don't typically work out as expected.

Tune in as Holly and I discuss the many pros (and the many cons) of collaborations. It might be just what you needed to hear to convince to write with another person - or to keep your invisible people to yourself.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Writing to Market VS Selling Out

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

From Rebecca: I believe this is a 'must listen to' episode if you are aspiring to write for a living. There are always exceptions to every rule - but the exceptions are few and far between.

In this episode we cover the difference between 'Writing to Market' and 'Selling Out' - and how it can vastly affect your writing career.

Holly reveals a mistake that she has been committing the entire 30+ years she has been writing professionally and has only just found - one that she believes is the answer to why the majority of her work has never sold as well as expected. She's about to make a big change to her future works and she wants to share this with our listeners in order to reach those with similar goals who might also be making this mistake.

If you're looking at dismal sales or piling up rejection slips no matter what you've tried, it could be as simple as what she has found. Could be. Maybe not.

As always, this podcast is 100% free. This episode is not an attempt to sell you a system, an ebook, a course, a counseling session, etc. There is no silver bullet, no guarantee - ever - and anyone promising those things is a salesman looking for a buck.

Rising tides lift all boats and if you're committing the same writing mistake as Holly, she wants to help.

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How to Write When You Don't Feel Like Writing

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Every writer has been there. You are not alone. Even the seasoned pros have their bad days - or weeks. If writing is your dream, a stalemate with the screen is something you can get over.

Perhaps it's just a muse strike... but there might be more to it. Maybe there is something amiss with the work itself that is causing your stagnation. Or perhaps it's a personal issue.

In this episode Holly and Rebecca discuss various reasons why you might be having a harder time sitting down to get those words written - and what to do about it.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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Competition VS Cooperation Between Writers

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Scathing crits, passive aggressive comments from a 'friend' or mean-spirited reviews can all rile us up. But what exactly is behind a lot of this?

The desire to destroy others.

In this episode Holly delves deep into the ever-present 'elephant in the industry' and sets forth her flag in the underground fight for bringing other novelists and writers up - supporting them as your people instead of looking at them as a stepping stone from which to reach the top.

Many writers are out there fighting the good fight for themselves and each other. Join us. Be a part of the solution and keep readers coming back for more.

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How to Write Sex and Romance in Any Genre

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Sometimes sex or romance - or both - adds to fiction. The question is, when?

I (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle discuss when sex and romance adds, when it detracts, and how to write it well. Characters, plot and genre come into play, but so do you. You are the most important part of this. While we describe what sex and romance is to us, that is only our part of the equation. What is it to you and the stories you are itching to tell?

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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How to Write Surprises and Mysteries in Any Genre

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 16:15:15 +0000

Have you ever read a book that kept surprising you with twists and turns you didn't see coming but once read you couldn't unsee the clues? How about the opposite - guessed the twist from the start? If you aspire to write great mysteries in your novels and avoid at all costs the obvious surprises, this episode could give you the tools to do just that.

Get the free worksheet on our download page at AIARWIP.com/downloads (no email requested, no obligation whatsoever).

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the FREE forums at HollysWritingClasses.com (no purchase or ownership of courses necessary) and share with us.

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11 Common Stereotypes: How to Make Them (and others) Real People - Part Two

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +0000

The conclusion to the two parter on stereotypes:

I (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle discuss stereotypes that we've all seen in fiction: on the page or screen. The Evil Villain, Selfless Hero, Badass Chick, Tough Guy, Angsty Teen, Comic Relief, Henchmen and more.

You might have other examples and that's fine! Holly offers a system of questions and answers to show you how YOU can take a stereotype - ANY stereotype - from a bland cliche to a deep, well-rounded character.

In Part One we dove into the first few characters. In this episode we speed it up but still show the make up of the stereotypes left on the list, how to look deeper into characters that require more and ways to show their differences. We'll wrap it up with a more concise focus on the process as well as sharing the one rule you'll need to remember when dealing with any character. We also have a brief discussion of specifically using stereotyping and cliches to play with the reader's/viewer's expectations.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the forums for FREE at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us!

11 Common Stereotypes: How to Make Them (and others) Real People - Part One

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000

In this two parter, I (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle discuss stereotypes that we've all seen in fiction: on the page or screen. The Evil Villain, Selfless Hero, Badass Chick, Tough Guy, Angsty Teen, Comic Relief, Henchmen and more.

We'll show you what makes up these particular stereotypes and how to look deeper into characters that require more. Next week, we'll wrap it up with the other half of the examples, the one rule you'll need to remember when dealing with any character and a discussion on how you can use stereotyping and cliches to play with the reader's/viewer's expectations.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the forums for FREE at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us!

Living Inside Your Story - Connecting to Your Characters and Fiction

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000

I, (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle discuss YOUR story and the impact of using what you've lived through - both good and bad - as well as your own beliefs and objective observation in order to create deeper, richer stories.

Many writers face the struggle of feeling their story ideas lacking in interest, conflict, mystery or a unique voice. You worry over what you have to say - is even important or interesting? Will anyone care?

Holly can help you find a way to connect with your story through life events and then put yourself in the path of having the story come to you. Details in your life matter and even if you think your 'everyday life' holds no magic, look closer. You, your life and perspectives can be unique, you just have to know what to look for.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us.

Connecting to Your World - Worldbuilding Extras

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Alone in a Room with Invisible Peopleis a podcast focusing on topics related to writing, revising and publishing fiction.

I, (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle talk about worldbuilding again, this time how you as the writer can connect with your creation! Your world can be big or small, set in any genre and at any time - doesn't matter. There are no stipulations when it comes to creating a realistic, living, breathing world.

If you're concerned your words will leave readers feeling flat, uninterested and as if the characters are just moving along in a gray, dull blur - have a listen to this episode. Holly can help you to find what's missing, how to bring your worlds to life and - maybe most important - how to create a connection between what you've created and your readers.

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us.

Learn Your Genre – How to Dissect a Novel You Love

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Learn Your Genre – How to Dissect a Novel You Love

I, (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle talk about her method for dissecting good novels - that you love - and breaking them down in order to learn the genre you want to jump into.

Whether you are wanting to write in a genre you have always loved or you need to learn a new one relatively quickly, Holly has done both and lays out a clear path to success in this episode.

Find out: how to spot the best parts of a genre, when you can leave out bits and how to add what matters to you into your work.

Listen to the episode, then hop on over to our site, print out the free worksheets (no email is asked for and there are no requirements or restrictions in order to download them) and get to work!

After the episode: Have something to say? A question to ask? Jump into the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us.

Goal Setting - and Goal KEEPING - for Writing Fiction

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Goal Setting - and Goal KEEPING - for Writing Fiction

I, (host Rebecca Galardo) and Author/Teacher Holly Lisle go into Goal Setting and KEEPING for the fiction writer.

This is not about breaking out your planners or purchasing a $40 goal setting book or taking an expensive (or free) online course. It's not about vision boards or huge aspirations and big dreams coming true without knowing a single step to get there.

This is about finding the right goals, breaking those goals down, getting leverage, setting achievable targets and working towards them consistently, as well as how to reward yourself for reaching them!

When everyone is setting lofty year-end goals or scoffing at those "suckers setting New Year resolutions", you can be mindful and strong and achieving wins from Day One.

After the episode: Have tips for our listeners on goal setting that have worked for you? Jump into the forums at HollysWritingClasses.com and share with us.