Rephonic
Artwork for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

James Thayer
Character Development
Fiction Writing
Writing Fiction
Character-Driven Stories
Writing
Scene Writing
Dialogue Techniques
Phrases Notebook
Writing Techniques
Creative Writing
Storytelling Techniques
Dialogue Writing Techniques
Plot-Driven Stories
Common Writing Errors
Anne Of Green Gables
Ernest Hemingway
Story Structure
BCBC Plotting
Charles Dickens
Character Voice

Hosted by James Thayer, the podcast is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft a novel. It presents a set of tools for large issues such as story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted') and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine. The New York Times Book Review has said Thayer's "writing is ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes189Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

Latest Episodes

Kurt Vonnegut said we should "Start as close to the end as possible."  What did he mean?  How can we do so?  Here are thoughts on this famous piece of advice from a legendary novelist.  Also, avoiding the word "not" to give our sentences more energy.... more

Is your writing time becoming a grind?  If so, here are some things that may reduce the grind and maybe even make  writing fun.  Also, here are thoughts on how we might write a sentence that is a timeless truth told in lovely language, an immortal se... more

We writers should consider giving readers what they want.  Well, what do they want?  Here is a discussion of the five things readers want in a novel.  Also: the dual timeline plot structure.  And F. Scott Fitzgerald's seven tips on writing.

Support ... more

Thoughts are interior, in our minds.  But there are ways to show--to give evidence--that reveal to the reader what our character is thinking.  Also, here is an important ingredient that many writers forget when describing a character.

Support the sh... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Host

Jim Thayer
Host and author, offering practical writing advice with a focus on creative techniques and narrative structure.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Incredibly good

    I love the show. I’m writing a book and the advice

    In this podcast has proven truly crucial.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Happykittyonthemoon
    United States2 months ago
  • Super helpful, but…

    Please come to the point. And make that point the same as the title.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    cletzerismyname
    United States3 months ago
  • I finally had to unfollow

    I couldn’t do it anymore. The manner of speaking - on a PODCAST - is stilted and unnatural. Like he’s having a heard time reading what he wrote. Such a monotone drone that all the words blend together and it just serves as background noise.

    I’ve read several books on the craft, certainly not a ton. I’ve lost count of how many episodes of this pod I’ve finished and attempted to finish, and I get nothing new from this podcast. Clearly, this is the pod form of his book? I understand the purpose f... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Dumbname25
    United States3 months ago
  • Advocates for using AI

    I’m immediately out on any writing advice from someone who would advocate for using AI. Keep it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jorobe
    United States4 months ago
  • Concise and useful advice

    The advice is focused and examples are provided to illuminate each point. Insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cookie meister
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Offers both encouragement and critical insights making it highly valued by many listeners.
Listeners feel like they're receiving a mini writing course from an experienced author.
Humorous elements woven into discussions resonate with the audience.
Provides actionable writing advice with clear examples.
The content can sometimes feel repetitive after many episodes.
The host's delivery is calm and engaging, conducive to learning.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#234
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#88
Denmark/Education
Apple Podcasts
#95
Finland/Education
Apple Podcasts
#170
Sweden/Education
Apple Podcasts
#202
Russia/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 186 - Showing--not telling--what a character is thinking.
Q: What would be the best writing practice when it comes to writing chapters we are not happy with?
It's suggested to finish the chapter and move on, making notes about what might need improvement for later.
Episode 182 - Things to think about as we write the end of our story.
Q: Do you have advice on getting over that editing dread?
Editing is a necessary part of the writing life, and while it may be tedious, it's essential for improving the manuscript.
Episode 176 - Inventing a fabulous title.
Q: What is your opinion on how to edit your first draft?
The editing process varies widely among writers, with some editing heavily and others editing very little or not at all, as individual preferences and methods differ significantly.
Episode 159 - A surefire way to generate plot, the sidekick.
Q: How do bad novels get published?
A good story, weakly told will do better than a weak story, well told; publishers prioritize a compelling story above all.
Episode 158 - A lifetime's writing advice reduced to one minute.
Q: Have you ever lost confidence in your writing ability? How do you get out of a funk and feel more confident in your abilities?
Thayer discusses how he rarely questions his ability to write anymore but has faced difficulties in finding publishers, emphasizing that persistence is crucial for success.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

What is Essential Guide to Writing a Novel about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a comprehensive and practical approach to novel writing, focusing on various aspects such as story development, scene construction, and character engagement. It offers listeners actionable advice solidified through insightful literary examples and personal anecdotes from the host, aimed at both new and seasoned writers. Across episodes, the exploration of various writing techniques, like crafting compelling dialogue, integrating humor, and creating engaging openings, is paramount. The host encourages aspiring authors to refine their skills and embrace the creative process, making the content suitable for anyone looking to enhance their fiction writing.

Where can I find podcast stats for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Essential Guide to Writing a Novel and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Essential Guide to Writing a Novel get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Essential Guide to Writing a Novel have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Essential Guide to Writing a Novel has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Essential Guide to Writing a Novel are there?

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel launched 4 years ago and published 189 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Essential Guide to Writing a Novel?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Essential Guide to Writing a Novel. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days