The last episode of the current season! Pilar talks about what she's gained from taking part in previous NaNoWriMo s and encourages anyone who's been thinking of writing a novel to try it too. What is NaNoWriMo https://nanowrimo.org/ Communi

You Create When You Start Writing

Aug 18th, 2019 18m 59s

In today's episode, Pilar talks about: Why she's stuck. How the story's changed once she got writing, and how the idea can develop. What's she learned from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman What's she's incorporated from Sc

Making a Character Active

Jun 30th, 2019 20m 46s

Pilar has realised that all her character was doing was living in the past, but she has a couple of things she's going to try to make the character more active. Following feedback from her writing coach, she now needs to almost go back to the

Writing Fiction vs Writing Non-Fiction

Jun 2nd, 2019 12m 25s

You'd think it's obvious, but it's taken Pilar quite a while to realise the main difference between writing a non-fiction book and writing a novel. Pilar recommends Anne Janzer’s excellent book on writing non-fiction, "Writing to Be Understoo

Why Do We Write?

May 19th, 2019 14m 22s

Why do we write? I struggled so much during the re-write that I almost threw it all away and gave up this "I want to write fiction" thing. Why I didn't: I hate dropping stuff before giving it a proper go - that's why I went to drama school I'm

Do Not Wait for Inspiration, Bad Habits and Dialogue

May 5th, 2019 15m 26s

Pilar updates listeners on her writing retreat and how it's difficult to explain to people who don't write that writing is not driven by inspiration. She shares her struggle with technique and the bad writing habits she's discovered. This epi

Working through Feedback

Mar 24th, 2019 16m 38s

I've finally received some feedback, at a micro and macro level. Lots to think about regarding character, supporting characters and the level of trauma the character is carrying with her at the beginning of the story, and what's triggered by t

Not Writer's Block but Writer's Discomfort

Mar 17th, 2019 18m 40s

Today I share how I'm struggled to write a scene which was hard for the character to go through. The writing journal has been very useful in identifying where I need to pay attention to next in the story. How shall I incorporate all the subpl

Discovering a story through journaling

Mar 10th, 2019 18m 19s

Having never "journaled" before, Pilar has started a writing journal to help her identify the bits that need fixing. She came across this idea when listening to the podcast How do you write? with Rachel Herron Connect with Pilar over at www.

Editing for Point of View

Mar 4th, 2019 10m 20s

Pilar has started working with a coach, and so now the hard work begins! She talks about how she's made some changes after considering the character's point of view. Recommended book: On Editing. How to edit your novel the professional way by

WM26 Finding the holes in the story

Feb 24th, 2019 14m 40s

In this episode, Pilar talks about how she's working on the structure of her novel and the holes she's identified. She recommends the book On Editing. How to edit your novel the professional way by Helen Corner-Bryant and Kathryn Price For m

WM25 One Piece at a Time

Feb 17th, 2019 14m 6s

I'm back with Season 3 - after a month of struggling to build the story for the current novel, I've dug out a piece from a year ago and decided to work on that instead, hopefully with an editor... In this episode, Pilar talks about her fiction

WM24 How do you like to write?

Jan 20th, 2019 15m 59s

In this episode, Pilar reflects on something she read in Becoming a Writer about paying attention to the kind of style you like writing in. She comes back to the lack of need of describing a character's physical appearance, after listening to

WM23 Picking Up Writing Mid Novel

Jan 13th, 2019 16m 27s

In today's episode: Pilar shares how to get into the habit of writing, and how to be aware of the context that helps you to do your best writing. Advice from Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand She's heard some wonderful advice over at the St

WM22 Borrowing from a TV series and working with a copy editor

Jan 6th, 2019 15m 17s

Another short episode: Pilar mentions a device she quite liked from Duel en Ville How she's started working with an editor through reedsy.com She recommends Nick Hornby's novel 'Juliet Naked'. Link to books on writing:https://trello.com/b/3LUW

WM21 My character was too passive and why do we need to create art?

Dec 9th, 2018 14m 51s

When writer's block comes from not wanting to dive into the emotional world I'm trying to create... There is of course the voice that whispers, will they believe the superhero story you're trying to create? Actually, it doesn't matter that muc

WM20 I Wish My Characters Would Drive me Mad

Dec 2nd, 2018 9m 4s

Well, I really wish my characters had a life of their own and were destroying my plot, but, it's not really happening - though, as I was recording for this episode, I realised that yes, one of them has thrown in something unexpected. Today's

WM19 Dialogue is not just people talking

Nov 25th, 2018 10m 53s

I've discovered some of the reasons why it's been so hard to get writing today - I hope it's of some use to you too! But it's not all about how difficult I'm finding it, I also have some advice about when to use dialogue - or what to look out

WM18 Why I'm abandoning NaNoWriMo but not my story

Nov 18th, 2018 13m 51s

I've decided to abandon NaNoWriMo and I briefly explain why. However, I'm not abandoning my story, or this podcast, as it's all great fun. I also explain why. If you want to have a look at what I'm learning, check out my Trello board https://t

WM17 How dark will you go?

Nov 11th, 2018 10m 35s

I've discovered a new feature in the Remarkable tablet, thanks to the NaNoWriMo forum! I talk about that and also about finding the truth in your story, your characters and painfully, in your villain. How much are you willing to go through for

WM16 Steam's running out - already!

Nov 9th, 2018 6m 11s

The blocks I'm coming across - to do with plot and characters, (what else!) and what I'm enjoying most. Plus, my NaNoWriMo word count - I'm falling behind... but there's still time to catch up!

Using plot structure to guide the character

Nov 6th, 2018 8m 12s

Days 5 and 6 of NaNoWriMo: How I realised my character was being totally reactive and what I did about her. Plus, reflections on the how the mind of superheroines work.

Going in a different direction

Nov 4th, 2018 9m 5s

Realising that I had paid not attention to the setting, I did so, and went off in a completely different direction! Plus, there's no need to say "she thought" when you're in someone's point of view.

On creating a villain, and the lies that superheroes tell

Nov 3rd, 2018 14m 59s

I've caught up with the word count! Today I share what I've learned about villains and antagonists, a little device I used to help time pass, and the meaty theme behind the superhero story. Check out the Trello Board https://trello.com/b/3LUWi

On point of view, word count and first block

Nov 2nd, 2018 8m 59s

Day 2 of NaNoWriMo. I've come up with the mentor's story, but I'm a bit stuck with the villain. And I tell you about a device I've learned from Big Little Lies.