Literary Work in Progress

1.14 Inciting Incidents

literarywip — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 00:01:00 -0600

Inciting incidents: what they are and how to effectively choose one. Kristen, Cameron, and Caitlin discuss their own writerly inciting incidents (how they started writing) and then talk about they ways inciting incidents affect the rest of the story, specifically using examples from RED RISING by Pierce Brown, THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Krisoff, LAST STAR BURNING by Caitlin Sangster, and JURASSIC PARK the old and fabulous movie that Cameron has been fixated on for a few episodes now :)

If you'd like to submit your work to be critiqued by the Literary WIP team . . . hold your horses. This is the last episode of the season, and we're going to be changing some things next year. Please stay tuned for announcments about how and when to submit. We're really excited about next season and can't wait to share!

The submission featured in today's podcast (as well as tons of other writing tips and writing advice to help polish your first chapter so it's beautiful and sparkly enough to catch agent attention) can be found on our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

Peace out, happy holidays, and good luck in the trenches!

1.13 Romantic Subplots with Erin Beaty

literarywip — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Romantic Subplots! The best AND the worst! How do you keep your romantic subplot from feeling like…a plot point? We talk about building relationships in books and how to help your characters come together instead of shoving them together.

We talk exhaustively about the relationships in Maggie Steifvater’s THE RAVEN BOYS, Leigh Bardugo’s THE SIX OF CROWS, THE WINNER’S CRIME, by Marie Rutkoski, Stranger Things, Firefly and lots of other awesome books and TV shows.

For this week’s submission or to submit your own work to be critiqued, check out our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

To learn more about our guest, visit her website: http://www.erinbeaty.com/

1.12 Plot Types and Formulas with Kate Watson

literarywip — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 15:00:15 -0600

Want to know where your book fits on a bookshelf? We do too, and so do the agents and editors reviewing your query letters. With guest Kate Watson, we chat about why it's important to know where you fit into your genre and how it can help your writing.

You can find out more about Kate Watson and her books here: http://www.katewatsonbooks.com/

If you're interested in Blake Snyder's Save the Cat beat sheets, you can find them here: http://www.savethecat.com/beat-sheets-alpha

If you'd like to see Jami Gold's beat sheets adapted for different genres, they're here: https://jamigold.com/for-writers/worksheets-for-writers/

Want to see today's submission? It's on our website: https://literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

If you'd like us to review your first chapter, check out our submission guidlines on the website.

Enjoy today's episode? Leave us a rating in comment in iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks!

1.11 Character Motivation and Stakes with Mckelle George

literarywip — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 08:45:48 -0600

With special guest Mckelle George, the Literary WIP team talks about how to make a story move forward by establishing stakes and motivation.

We had some technical difficulties on the recording for this week…so, sorry in advance.

You can check out this week’s submission or submit your own work to be critiqued on our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.10 Tropes with Karen M. McManus and Emily R. King

literarywip — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 00:06:19 -0600

Caitlin and Cameron talk tropes with Emily R. King, author of THE HUNDREDTH QUEEN and Karen M. McManus, author of ONE OF US IS LYING.

This is our first submission which has officially SURVIVED THE QUERY PROCESS. If you’d like to follow the author’s journey now that she’s agented, you can follow her on Twitter here: @CassaCassaCassa or check out her website: https://ginger-and-sage.org/

If you’d like to submit your first chapter for some advice on how to attract agent attention, you can check out our submission guidelines here: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.9 World Building

literarywip — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 23:59:54 -0600

The Literary WIP crew discusses our own approaches to world building during the planning process as well as thoughts on how to keep things consistent and thought out if you are a discovery writer.

You can see the submission featured in this podcast or submit your own work to be critiqued here: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.8 Making Promises with Tracey Neithercott

literarywip — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Caitlin is up to no good, Cameron works too hard, Kristen makes a mean sweet potato fry and Tracey will not fold laundry for a kingdom. Tracey Neithercott joins the Literary WIP team to discuss what it means to make promises in your first chapters and how to make sure you’re making the right ones.

If you want to look at the submission from today, you can find it here: https://literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast/episode-8

If you’d like to submit your work, you’ll find guidlines on the Literary WIP website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.7 Why and How to Use Concrete Details

literarywip — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Find out much more about Cameron Harris than he wants you to know! Caitlin, Kristen, Dan, and Cameron chat about what concrete details are and why they’re important. We then critique a submission about a boy who has a little trouble with hallucinations.

If you’d like to submit your work for a critique, check out our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.6 Character Sympathy with Tricia Levenseller

literarywip — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan, and Tricia discuss how to make characters sympathetic (and why that’s a thing you want to have happen), then critique a submission about a girl who isn’t too fussed about super villians destroying her city.

1.5 Yes, You Really Do Need A Writing Group

literarywip — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, and Dan discuss why writing groups are so helpful, and ways you can avoid having a toxic experience. They then critique a submission about a young man who runs away from home to develop his illegal Lakewalking talent.

You can find today’s submission or find out how to submit your own work to be critiqued by the Literary Work In Progress Team on our website: https://literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

1.4 Show, Don’t Tell with Emily R. King

literarywip — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan and special guest author Emily R. King chat about how to show instead of tell. They then critique a submission in which a young lady stows away on a train only to find out it’s a circus train, and the circus knife-thrower needs a new assistant.

1.3 Pacing with #1 NYT Bestseller Aprilynne Pike

literarywip — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan and guest author Aprilynne Pike talk about the do’s and don’ts of pacing. They then critique a submission about a girl who has a perfect life, but something terrible is about to happen to her.

1.2 Point of View

literarywip — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:07:05 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, and Dan discuss different kinds of point of view and how to stick to them. Then they critique a submission about a world where going out in sunlight after you turn sixteen means you get eaten by ghosts.

1.1 Where to Start Your Novel

literarywip — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:47:59 -0600

Caitlin, Kristen, Dan, and Cameron discuss how to decide where to start your novel. Then they critique a first chapter about a monk who discovers she isn’t quite what she thought she was.