Episodes

  • Episode 251 - Jeff and Laura Q&A
    Nov 18 2024

    In this episode, Jeff and Laura come together for a Q&A. Questions from the Dialoggers included: ---How do you keep track of everything for long, complex stories with elaborate world building?

    ---How do you make a novel's opening scene engaging while also needing to establish 'the new world'?

    ---Considering how expensive audio books are to produce, at what point should an indie author jump on it?

    ---What are some good tactics on how to improve your prose and more clearly find your voice?

    ---How do you make necessary transition scenes interesting without changing the plot?

    ---I want to take part in promotions/giveaways that help build my email list and give me reviews, but I have my books in KDP select which means I'm not supposed to give away free books. Do I take my books out of KU? Thoughts on which one would be more beneficial? Is it just unheard of that new authors don't have their books in KDP select?

    ---How is a book description different from a blurb? I'm struggling with this because I feel like I just nailed the blurb, but now I need book descriptions for when I have my book in a promotion. I looked up the difference so I'm familiar with the definition of a book description, but are there tips for writing one to make it different from the blurb?

    ---Can you offer titles similar to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and TV shows similar to Nobody Wants This? The more, the merrier. I haven't laughed this much in years! Love it!

    ---Any tips on summarizing the passage of time in between conversations. I generally handle the passage of time by changing scenes, but in certain examples I would end up with rather small scenes. Situations I have run into in the past follow the pattern: start with a conversation, summarize a non-trivial activity that would take too long to relay in real time, then end with another conversation.

    For more on the craft of writing or to get coaching, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    2 hrs and 6 mins
  • Episode 250 - Deep Perspective and the Middle of Your Story - Office Hours with JP
    Nov 11 2024

    In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch IX holds Office Hours with three authors. Office Hours are times when authors and hangout with a Dialogue Doctor Coach and ask questions they have. In this episode, JP and that authors discuss what to do when the middle of your book starts to fade, how do you keep someone interested in your character as you build out the character's problem overtime, ways to provide depth of perspective, and more.

    For more on writing or to book a coaching session with JP, come to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Episode 249 - Structuring Dialogue and Emotional Flow with Dillon Mesquitta
    Nov 4 2024

    In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Dillon Mesquitta to talk about Dillon's work in progress. They discuss the structure of Dillon's dialogue and look at the emotional flow of Dillon's characters.

    For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Episode 248 - Building a Difficult Character with Carol Painter
    Oct 28 2024

    In this episode, Jeff sits down with author Carol Painter to talk about her work in progress. They discuss a difficult character who's story ends in tragedy. They discuss the character's negative choices, how the character is going to change, and how that builds into the themes of the book. They then look at scenes together in which the character is making choices.

    If you want more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr
  • Episode 247 - A Joint with JP - Examining the Dip by Seth Godin
    Oct 23 2024

    In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coaches Jeff Elkins and JP Rindfleisch IX discuss "The Dip" by Seth Godin. Jeff walks JP through the book and they talk about how it should inform author's decision and shape (or not shape) and author's mindset.

    For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Episode 246 - Scene Beats with Laura Humm and Dennis Kurlas
    Oct 21 2024

    In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach Laura Humm sits down with author Dennis Kurlas to talk about a scene in Dennis' work in progress. They talk through the beats of the scene. They discuss how to keep an emotional flow through the beats, why beats should be deleted, and how to keep beats rolling from one to the next. Also, Jeff talks about his time at the annual conference for the Maryland Writers Association and what he learned from the weekend.

    For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Episode 245 - Author Mindset with Honoree Corder
    Oct 16 2024

    In this episode, Jeff talks with thought leader and inspirational thinker Honoree Corder. They discuss accepting yourself and your work, the power of visualization, having rigor and discipline with your art and life, why marketing is a necessity, and why authors shouldn't be a afraid of it.

    To find more about Honoree and engage deeper in her thought, check out https://honoreecorder.com/

    For more on the craft of writing, go to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Episode 244 - Plotting Your Story with JP Rindfleisch IX and Payton Lyle
    Oct 14 2024

    In this episode, Dialogue Doctor Coach JP Rindfleisch the IX holds and Ask Me Anything session with Payton Lyle. After hearing what Payton wants from her story, JP breaks down her story with her.

    They talk about her Story Hypothesis, her characters' growth arcs, deepening the romance, and much more. Get your copy of the Story Hypothesis here: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Hypothesis-Missing-Fiction-Puzzle/dp/1958924121

    For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

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    1 hr and 4 mins