Are You Killing the Tension? 3 Common Mistakes Writers Make With High-Stakes Scenes
Avoid these high-stakes pitfalls! Writing coach Kevin T. Johns reveals 3 common mistakes that flatten tension—and how to fix them fast.
How to Escalate Conflict Without Losing Control: A Writing Coach’s Proven Method
Discover writing coach Kevin T. Johns’ proven method for escalating story conflict while keeping control of your narrative and structure. Perfect for thriller, mystery, fantasy, and more.
Pantsers, Planners, Principles, and Tactics
Being a fiction author has got to be just about the only profession in the entire world where people honestly believe you can find success by making things up as you go along. These writers (often the same group who believe success is all about natural talent alone) declare themselves proud “pantsers.” Their confidence is propped-up by people in the…
When the Writing Stops Being Fun
It’s November 19. If you’re participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMO), you’re about to finish up your third week of writing. By this point, you have almost certainly experienced a dip in enthusiasm. I’ll bet those first two weeks were exciting. You were pounding out words and making progress. You were moving through Act I…
Jennifer Blanchard on being a Multi-Passionate Author — The Writing Coach 077
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #77 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Jennifer Blanchard. Jennifer a multi-passionate author, screenwriter, blogger, and coach who is on a mission…
How to Write a Eulogy: A Writer’s Guide to Honouring a Life with Emotional Truth
Writing a eulogy is one of the most emotionally demanding forms of writing. In this heartfelt article, writing coach Kevin T. Johns shares six essential steps to help writers craft a meaningful, memorable tribute.
Guest Host Lori Puma Interviews Kevin T. Johns — The Writing Coach 072
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. Episode #72 of The Writing Coach podcast features our first ever guest host, Lori Puma. Lori Puma is a Story Grid Certified editor who helps writers…
Lisa Cron, Fight Club, Anthony Bourdain, and the One True Way to Write a Book
About 2200 years ago, the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes sat down for a bath, watched the water rise, and in doing so discovered a method for measuring mass. As legend has it, Archimedes was so excited he ran down the street naked shouting “Eureka!” If you’re lucky, every once in a while you’ll experience an…
Angela Ackerman on Going with Your Gut — The Writing Coach 069
Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. In episode #69 of The Writing Coach podcast, I speak with Angela Ackerman. Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The…
“Lori Meyers” in Four Acts
Recently, while revisiting NOFX’s classic 1994 album Punk in Drublic, I was struck by the power of the song, “Lori Meyers.” “Lori Meyers” is a deep track, positioned as the 12th song of the album. Few would consider it a hit when compared to other masterpieces on the album, including “Linoleum,” “Don’t Call Me White,” and…
