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!
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10:05
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10:05
Open Strong, Close True: Drafting Your First and Final Scenes
Your novel’s bookends do the heavy lifting. In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, we pair Step 16 (Writing the Opening Scene) and Step 17 (Writing the Closing Scene) to help you start with momentum and finish with meaning. You’ll learn what a scene is (and why something must change every time), how to centre your protagonist’s thoughts and feelings, and a simple timer method to draft three different openings and three different endings - fast. Then we “mirror test” your bookends so the final scene proves the belief shift you promise on page one.You’ll learn:The four-beat scene engine: Want → Friction → Choice → ChangeHow to draft rough, 5–10 page scene sketches using TK placeholdersThree alternative ways to start (and end) the same story—by designThe “rhyme, don’t repeat” rule for opening/closing scenes that landLeave with a clear opening, a true ending, and a direction for everything in between.
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