Firsts in Fiction Podcast – Collaborative Writing

Firsts in Fiction – Your first stop for learning to write better fiction!

This week, we have special guests Alton Gansky and Cindy Sproles to discuss the collaborative writing process.

Subscribe and leave a thumbs up!

Links
Cindy Sproles: http://www.cindysproles.com/
Alton Gansky: http://www.altongansky.com/

The FIF website: http://aarongansky.com/category/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstsInFiction
Stitcher Page: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/firsts-in-fiction-podcast/firsts-in-fiction?refid=stpr

Aaron’s Website: http://aarongansky.com/
Heather’s Website: http://heatherluby.com/
Citron Review: http://thecitronreview.wordpress.com/
Steve’s Website: https://stevemclain.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstsInFiction
Aaron’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/adgansky
Steve’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevemclain
Heather’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/HDluby

April 27, 2014 0

Join the Firsts in Fiction Crew Live, April 22, at 8:00 PM PST

Just letting you know that we have a show scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, at 8:00 PM PST that you can join live on Google Hangouts. The description and link is below.

Link to the event: https://plus.google.com/events/c9scbu157iprra9rvvhvlev6lso

Firsts in Fiction – Your first stop for learning to write better fiction!

This week, we have special guests Alton Gansky and Cindy Sproles to discuss the collaborative writing process.

Subscribe and leave a thumbs up!

Links
Cindy Sproles: http://www.cindysproles.com/
Alton Gansky: http://www.altongansky.com/

Aaron’s Website: http://aarongansky.com/
Heather’s Website: http://heatherluby.com/
Citron Review: http://thecitronreview.wordpress.com/
Steve’s Website: https://stevemclain.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstsInFiction
Aaron’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/adgansky
Steve’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevemclain
Heather’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/HDluby

April 21, 2014 0

Firsts in Fiction Podcast – Internal Conflict

Firsts in Fiction – Your first stop for learning to write better fiction!

This week, we return to our discussion about conflict and consider internal conflicts.

Subscribe and leave a thumbs up!

Links
The website: http://aarongansky.com/category/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstsInFiction
Stitcher Page: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/firsts-in-fiction-podcast/firsts-in-fiction?refid=stpr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstsInFiction
Aaron’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/adgansky
Steve’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevemclain
Heather’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/HDluby
Citron Review: http://thecitronreview.wordpress.com/

April 21, 2014 0

Firsts in Fiction – Constructive or Critical?

Firsts in Fiction – Your first stop for learning to write better fiction!

This week, Steve and Aaron take a look at the difference between self-doubt and self-criticism–two very different things. One is destructive, the other productive. Learning to tell the difference is an essential skill for writers. This week, we did a live cast on Google Hangouts, and the video is available on YouTube!

Subscribe and leave a thumbs up!

April 14, 2014 0

It’s Time to Break the Rules

Firsts in Fiction has continued to create new content for your learning and enjoyment. Don’t miss our latest episode, where Aaron Gansky and I finish up our two part series on breaking the rules. See the article on IO9 that inspired this episode here.

Play the Episode: http://aarongansky.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/e35morewritingrulesyoushouldbreak.mp3%20

Show notes are here.

March 31, 2014 0

The Point of Point of View

Firsts in Fiction is back again! This week we ponder the point of point of view. Which is right for your story or novel? First person? Second person? Third person?

Show Notes and Player on Aaron’s Website:
http://aarongansky.com/the-point-of-point-of-view/

Listen on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/firsts-in-fiction-podcast/firsts-in-fiction

Listen on iTunes: https://t.co/66Q2gb8FM9

November 25, 2013 0

5 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block

Like most people, I suffer from writer’s block from time to time. I usually find that I’m tired, bored, or stressed when I can’t bring myself to write. It usually takes some work to get into the mode, but I’ve devised a list of some simple tips that won’t take too much effort to get you beyond that block.

Write a different part of the book, or switch it up and write on another project for a while. This is when it’s good to have a couple projects you’re working on, so you can switch between them when one of them isn’t working for you.
Listen to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. Click Here to Listen. After listening, just try to be uninspired.
Freewrite about anything that comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be about your current project, or anything in particular; it just needs to be something. Write about a television show you just watched, or a conversation you just had. This is to get you into the mode of writing.
Exercise. Okay, nevermind… This does take a bit more effort, but getting the blood flowing can do wonders for your brain! So maybe you could just try it.
Listen to Podcasts about writing to get you fired up. This works wonders for me. Here are a couple recommendations:

Firsts in Fiction: Click HERE to find it on Stitcher or Go to the Site (This is my podcast)
Writing Excuses: Go to their Site

November 7, 2013 0

Top 5 Writing Tools for Your Fiction

In case you missed it, we published a new episode of our weekly podcast, Firsts in Fiction. It goes up every Monday. This week, Aaron and I discuss our favorite writing tools for getting the job done. We highlight the top 5, and then spend some time on the other great tools out there. Give us a listen and let us know what you think!

Listen on Stitcher (Be sure to give us a thumb’s up)

Listen on iTunes (Be sure to give us a good review)

Listen and See Show Notes on Aaron’s site

November 5, 2013 0

The Human Element in a Metahuman World – Firsts in Fiction

Hey everybody! We’ve just put up a special, bonus cast on Firsts in Fiction. Aaron and Nathan discuss writing heroes and story centering around the comic book greats. How to create a really compelling story, bringing in the human element in a metahuman world. This cast is coming to you in addition to our normal weekly release–it’s just an extra for your enjoyment.

Listen on Stitcher

Listen on iTunes

Listen and See Show Notes on Aaron’s site

November 1, 2013 0

Distilled Insight: Writing Powerful Stories – Pride and Prejudice

What makes our stories pull on the reader’s mind and heart?

“Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

In Pride and Prejudice, this is our first introduction to Mr. Darcy as the prideful man of higher social class. His words sear a lasting impression into the mind of the reader, and Elizabeth, our protagonist. These words plant a seed of contention between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. It is such a surprise to a new reader, then, when it is learned that the two are destined to love each other.

The story excels because it creates the ground for an arc from bad, that goes to worse, and then finally, when tension is at its highest, it goes to wonderful. The reader realizes that this man is actually perfectly suited to Elizabeth and the two are meant for each other. What was once loathing for a character has transitioned into love. Jane Austen takes you from one end of the spectrum to the other. Lesson: the further the contrast, the better the payoff.

October 28, 2013 0

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