Episode 173: Make your reader feel smart, with Jessica Brody

Episode 173 March 26, 2022 00:48:15
Episode 173: Make your reader feel smart, with Jessica Brody
The Creative Writer's Toolbelt
Episode 173: Make your reader feel smart, with Jessica Brody

Mar 26 2022 | 00:48:15

/

Show Notes

Suppose you discovered that nearly all of the great stories written conform to a particular structure, a structure that would help to guide you in your writing and that, subconsciously at least, your readers are expecting to see in your work.

This is the contention of my guest today, the writer and creative writing tutor, Jessica Brody. Jessica took the classic screenwriting text “Save the cat” and applied it to the process of writing a novel, producing the appropriately titled “Save the cat writes a novel”.

In our conversation, Jessica and I explored the key beats in the 15 beat structure, why pacing is so important, how you create a problem, a want, and a need for your protagonist, and why it’s important to make your reader feel smart. 

This was a fun and informative conversation I hope you enjoy listening to it, here it is.

Other Episodes

Episode

January 07, 2016 00:16:30
Episode Cover

Episode 53 - Perfecting the devil. How to create a deliciously wicked antagonist

This episode is all about the protagonist's nemesis, the antagonist. Traditionally seen as 'the bad guy' the antagonist's real function in a story is...

Listen

Episode

March 22, 2014 00:21:56
Episode Cover

Episode 6 - The serious business of writing something funny

This is the last of the five techniques for showing not telling - and arguably it's the hardest one to do. Humour is a...

Listen

Episode

November 16, 2019 00:38:42
Episode Cover

Episode 150 - 'Trust the truth; trust your writing.' A conversation with the Pope's Astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno

Do you trust your work? Do you trust yourself enough to let your work go wherever it wants to go, to be authentic? That’s...

Listen