If your opening goes boom but your hero can shrug and carry on, that’s fireworks, not story. In this episode I breaks down the real job of an inciting incident - to bind your protagonist to an obligation that costs something now and points the story arrow.Here's what you'll learn:What “binding” means in plain English and how to spot it fastThe five ways a moment can stick Bond, Irreversibility, New stakes, Direction, PressureA spoken mini-exercise you can even do while walking the dogA quick diagnostic to fix fake incidents that are loud but optionalA simple before and after that turns a limp delivery into a clock-ticking crisisWe'll also look at:Pride and Prejudice Darcy’s slight and Lizzy’s promise to herselfLegally Blonde Elle’s public vow to Harvard LawA Streetcar Named Desire Blanche’s choice to stay and concealWant help binding your own opening? Start here and visit https://www.thebookcoach.co
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12:07
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12:07
Because > And Then: Building Stories with Causality (feat. Pride & Prejudice + Knives Out)
And then” isn’t a plot, it’s a queue. In this craft-forward episode, we swap “and then” for the more muscular because / but / therefore and show how tight causality turns scenes into story. You’ll get a clear, jargon-free framework for chaining choices to consequences, plus two case studies that prove the point: a mini-autopsy of Pride & Prejudice and a contemporary comparison with Knives Out.In this episode you’ll learn:Why causality (not act labels) is the real backbone of structureHow to convert event beats into decision beats with costsThe Because/But/Therefore test to expose sagging “and then” sequencesA quick Coincidence Audit (allowed to enter a story, never to exit it)A repeatable Scene Ledger: Goal → Opposition → Outcome → New Problem → Forced Next Action
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9:40
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9:40
Whose Eyes, Which Truth? Mastering POV in Your Novel (with Live Rewrites)
POV isn’t just a grammar choice - it’s the engine that controls intimacy, suspense, and what your reader knows when.In this craft-deep episode, we demystify point of view by breaking it into three practical dials (access, scope, and distance) then walk through the pros and cons of first person, third limited (close and deep), free indirect style, omniscient, objective, second person, epistolary, multiple-POV, and stream of consciousness.To make it real, we take a baseline scene (Edward at Inkerman hearing Pendleton’s voice) and rewrite it in each POV, showing exactly what changes on the page and how those changes shape reader experience, for better and for worse.You’ll learn how to pick the right lens for a scene, avoid head-hopping and tense drift, trim filter words for immediacy, and keep character voice aligned with era and education.Ideal for both first-time novelists and seasoned writers tuning their instrument!
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23:55
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23:55
Author Brain vs. Editor Brain (and When to Use Each)
Stop polishing your first paragraph into oblivion. In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we split your process into two clean modes: Author Brain for discovery and Editor Brain for decision—used at different times for different jobs. You’ll hear a live “before/after” paragraph where we draft messy, then run a tight verbs-and-cuts pass that sharpens pace and tension without killing momentum. We’ll also set up a simple 30-minute loop you can run twice to produce real pages today.You’ll learn:The core jobs of Author Brain (invent) vs. Editor Brain (select)Why separating them in time stops stalls and unlocks flowThe TK tactic and “Again:” restart to keep drafting forwardHow a verbs-and-cuts pass lifts energy, clarity, and pace fastThe one-line scene change test to confirm forward motion
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9:19
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9:19
Becoming the Person Who Writes
Stop waiting for motivation. Start acting from identity. In this mindset kickoff for Master Fiction Writing, we shift the sentence that runs your day from “I want to write a book” to “I’m a person who writes.” You’ll hear a simple, athlete-style routine (warm-up, reps, cooldown), examples, and a 10-minute drill that makes writing easier to start than to avoid.You’ll learn:Why identity beats motivation for consistent pagesThe 3 design levers: place, time, triggerA tiny training loop: warm-up → reps → cooldownHow to separate Author Brain (draft) from Editor Brain (revise)The Minimum Viable Session: 10 minutes or 100 words—streaks over heroicsThe Creative ID Card: I write [genre] on [days] at [time/place] for [minutes] because [why]By the end, you’ll have a posted Creative ID Card, two sessions on your calendar, and tomorrow’s first 'ugly' line already typed!
With 25+ years in theatre, media, and coaching, I’ve honed the art of storytelling. Now, I’m thrilled to share that expertise with you on “Master Fiction Writing.” Whether you’re crafting memorable characters or building gripping plots, each episode is backed by examples from literary pros. Recognised as a top book coach, my mission is to help your stories shine. Ready to master the craft? Subscribe today!
Österreich