Words We Write

by Kim & Renee

Stupid Work Is Stupid

April 12, 2022 Renee K Nelson Uncategorized Comments Off on Stupid Work Is Stupid

When present me sat down on the couch and opened my computer …. nothing would happen. Planner that I am, I pulled out my calendar and faced the hard...

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Writing Believable Characters

March 14, 2022 Kim Smuga-Otto Uncategorized Comments Off on Writing Believable Characters

Writing Believable Characters I liked the plot, but I just couldn’t get into this book. The main characters weren’t believable.  It’s one of those critiques that is hard to...

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Accepting Rejection

December 7, 2021 Kim Smuga-Otto Uncategorized Comments Off on Accepting Rejection

Accepting Rejection What comes after the final draft? Years ago, I had the pleasure of hanging out with science fiction author Joan D. Vinge as she regaled us with...

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ReTreat Yourself

December 2, 2021 Renee K Nelson Uncategorized Comments Off on ReTreat Yourself

ReTreat Yourself Last summer, over a year into the pandemic, my writing process got stale. I had started the pandemic with a goal: write my memoir. And I did...

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The Writer’s Last Journey: Heroes, AI, and the Future of Writing

March 12, 2025
Season 3
Episode 26
 admin Words to Write by Podcast 00:48:03 Comments Off on The Writer’s Last Journey: Heroes, AI, and the Future of Writing

In this episode, we're finally putting the Hero's Journey to rest and bidding farewell to Christopher Vogler's “The Writer's Journey.” And by “putting to rest,” we mean cramming the...

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Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

March 5, 2025
Season 3
Episode 25
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:37:05 Comments Off on Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

An Interview with Lia Riley Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey insists all stories follow the Hero’s Journey template—but does this actually...

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End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

January 22, 2025
Season 3
Episode 24
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:55:53 Comments Off on End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eleven: The Resurrection&Stage Twelve: Return with the Elixir Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Just when you thought you had the Hero’s...

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Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

January 9, 2025
Season 3
Episode 23
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 01:11:14 Comments Off on Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage 9: RewardStage 10: The Road Back Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Remember family road trips? When you’re...

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Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

January 1, 2025 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:31:38 Comments Off on Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

Empowering the Powerless:Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Horror stories and the hero’s journey – a match made in...

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Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

December 18, 2024
Season 3
Episode 21
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:57:32 Comments Off on Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eight: The OrdealStage Nine: The Reward Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Think you know where your hero’s...

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The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

December 11, 2024
Season 3
Episode 20
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:31:37 Comments Off on The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

The Road to ArmageddonAn Interview with Summer H. Hanford Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter How do you craft a journey worthy of...

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Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

December 4, 2024 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:49:00 Comments Off on Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Six: Approach to the Innermost Cave Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Remember how we’ve occasionally side-eyed Christopher...

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The Writer’s Last Journey: Heroes, AI, and the Future of Writing

March 12, 2025
Season 3
Episode 26
 admin Words to Write by Podcast 00:48:03 Comments Off on The Writer’s Last Journey: Heroes, AI, and the Future of Writing

In this episode, we're finally putting the Hero's Journey to rest and bidding farewell to Christopher Vogler's “The Writer's...

Play Episode

Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

March 5, 2025
Season 3
Episode 25
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:37:05 Comments Off on Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

An Interview with Lia Riley Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey insists...

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End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

January 22, 2025
Season 3
Episode 24
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:55:53 Comments Off on End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eleven: The Resurrection&Stage Twelve: Return with the Elixir Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey...

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Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

January 9, 2025
Season 3
Episode 23
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 01:11:14 Comments Off on Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage 9: RewardStage 10: The Road Back Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide...

Play Episode

Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

January 1, 2025 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:31:38 Comments Off on Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

Empowering the Powerless:Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Horror...

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Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

December 18, 2024
Season 3
Episode 21
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:57:32 Comments Off on Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eight: The OrdealStage Nine: The Reward Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide...

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The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

December 11, 2024
Season 3
Episode 20
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:31:37 Comments Off on The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

The Road to ArmageddonAn Interview with Summer H. Hanford Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to...

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Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

December 4, 2024 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:49:00 Comments Off on Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Six: Approach to the Innermost Cave Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide...

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Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

November 27, 2024
Season 3
Episode 18
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:29:47 Comments Off on Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

An Interview with Kristen Tate Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Looking for...

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Tests, Allies, and Enemies, Oh My!

November 20, 2024
Season 3
Episode 17
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:48:16 Comments Off on Tests, Allies, and Enemies, Oh My!

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Six: Tests, Allies, and Enemies Subscribe to our Newsletter What really happens between “accepting...

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Crossing the Threshold

November 13, 2024
Season 3
Episode 16
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:59:33 Comments Off on Crossing the Threshold

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Four: Meeting with the Mentor&Stage Five: Crossing the Threshold Subscribe to our Newsletter So...

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Writing Your College Application Essay

September 19, 2024
Season 3
Episode 15
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:23:15 Comments Off on Writing Your College Application Essay

In today's episode we take a break from discussing and analyzing creative fiction to examining possibly one of the...

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Answering the Call to Adventure

September 4, 2024
Season 3
Episode 14
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:55:45 Comments Off on Answering the Call to Adventure

How do you shift your book’s hero from their nice, cozy ordinary world into the adventure? According to Christopher...

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Workshop: Plotting a Murder with Colette Clark

August 29, 2024
Season 3
Episode 13
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 00:27:20 Comments Off on Workshop: Plotting a Murder with Colette Clark

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Does the mystery genre follow...

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You are Now Leaving the Ordinary World

August 21, 2024
Season 3
Episode 12
 admin The Writer's Journey, Words to Write by Podcast 01:08:51 Comments Off on You are Now Leaving the Ordinary World

If you have read even just the first part of a blog post on the Hero’s Journey, you know...

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