The Novel Writing Podcast
Writing a novel doesn't have to take decades. Author and Tally Ink coach Colleen Mitchell provides authors with bite-sized mindset tips, encouragement, inspiration, and tips for the writing process. So grab a cup, cozy up, and let's get to writing! The Novel Writing Podcast is a production of Tally Ink.Â
Mastering the Outline, with E.A. Winters
E.A. Winters, indie author of 9 books, joins me to discuss her outlining process.Â
Developed over the last five or six years, E.A. has reached the point where her outlines are keystone to writing fast, relatively clean first drafts.
She openly shares her author journey and advice that has helped her hone her outlining skills over the years.
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Take the Wri...Literary Sins: DIY-ing EVERYTHING
Every indie author wants to save money on the process, but can you really DIY *everything*?
If you're looking into DIY-ing everything from editing to formatting to cover design, there are some things to consider.
Not all DIY is created equal, and there are some things that actually suffer from DIY-ing in the long term.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up...3 Tips to Confidently Approach Your First Draft
There are an infinite number of tips that writers could attempt to keep in mind while writing their first drafts.
Every writer's toolbox is different, but if these 3 tips work for you, they could become your go-tos for first drafts....
Especially if you want to get yours done in the next 60 days.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-D...Literary Sins: Improper Research
Did you research those little details enough?
There's a delicate balance between too much and just right, but at the opposite end of the spectrum is not even bothering with research....Â
Research that would ensure you're not making mistakes an expert would notice.
Check out the full episode on why it's important to research even the minor details.
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Take the...How to Avoid Flat, Static, Mary Sues
How do you know if your main characters have the best characterizations to be a main character?
If you've ever scratched your head over what it means for characters to be flat or round, static or dynamic, (and what the heck a Mary Sue is) then this episode is for you.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Ch...Do You Need a Pen Name?
Are you thinking about using a pen name for your books?
Not every author will choose to use one, but a nom de plume can be an attractive choice depending on your circumstances.
In this episode, we talk about the top 5 reasons authors use pen names, pros and cons of using them, and a few things to consider when choosing and establishing a pen name.
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How to Know Your Book’s Age Group
Do you know what age group your book falls into?Â
Figuring out the difference between children's books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, and adult can be difficult to navigate.
While knowing your age group is important for marketing and pitching down the line, it can also drive your writing decisions in the first draft.
Listen in to learn more!
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How to Write Fight Scenes, with Carla Hoch
Do you struggle with writing realistic fight scenes?
Never fear, Carla Hoch is here!Â
Carla, author of the Fight Write books, joins us to talk about common mistakes new authors (and experienced authors, TBH) make when writing fight scenes, and how to fix them.Â
Connect with Carla on Instagram @fightwritecarla, or online at fightwrite.net.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz...3 Ways to Strengthen Your Plot
Are you struggling with a saggy middle?Â
Figuring out to fix it can feel daunting if you don't have a place to start.
Try these 3 ways to strengthen your plot!
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Join The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Facebook Group Follow the 60-Day Challenge on Instagram Leave a review on App...Publishing Myth #2: Indie = Success
If you don't go traditional, you're probably an indie author.Â
While indie has become 1000% more accessible than it was even just 10 years ago, it's not without its downsides.
The fact that it's easy to hit publish on Amazon now does not mean you're going to rake in the big bucks a day or a month later.Â
In this episode we're breaking down why it's a myth that going indie means you'll be successful.Â
As we'll see... any path as an author requires more than just hitting a button on the internet.
How Many Books Should Be in Your Series?
How do you decide how many books should be in your series?
It's not as simple as picking a number out of the air.Â
In this episode we cover what a series is versus what it isn't, how to understand how much story you have, cutoff points, and questions to ask yourself to help decide if the number you're thinking is the number you'll end up with.
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W...
What Makes Characters Memorable?
What makes a character memorable?
It's more than just what they look like, who they are, or what they say.
Check out these six techniques for crafting memorable characters, which you can do before you even start writing the first draft!
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Join The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Facebook Gr...How to Actually Finish Your First Draft
Many writers, both newbies and veterans alike, struggle to finish first drafts.
So what's the magic formula for actually writing "The End"?
Spoiler: There is no magic formula, but The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge is pretty darn close.
Listen in to see if you're heading down one of the three paths that don't lead to a finished draft, and how The 60 Day Novel Writing Challenge can get you on the right track.
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Publishing Myth #1: Traditional = Success
Many authors want to be traditionally published because of the percieved prestige that comes with the name of a Big Publishing House.
Unfortunately, the publishing industry has changed A LOT in the last 20 years, and it's no longer a guarantee that signing with one of the Big 5 Traditional Publishers will make you big money.
In this episode, we're breaking down the first myth in publishing, which is the idea that traditional = success.
To dive deeper into the results of the DOJ vs. Penguin Random House trial referenced in this episode, listen to the...
Literary Sins: Infodumping in the Published Book
Don't publish the infodump!
It's easy to infodump even when you don't mean to, which is why editors and critique partners are so important before publishing.
While infodumping is part of the normal drafting process, authors should take care not to let it bog down the final draft.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Jo...What is an Unreliable Narrator?
What is an unreliable narrator?Â
Writers and readers alike use this moniker often without understanding what it really means.
In this episode, we break down what an unreliable narrator is, the best genres that make use of them, pros and cons, and four examples of characters in popular literature who are unreliable narrators.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The...Literary Sins: Random Character to the Rescue
As a reader, how do you react when a random character comes to the rescue during the climax?
Odds are, you probably feel cheated.
In this episode, we break down this literary sin and how to avoid committing it.
Click here to find out if our Coaching & Critique Group is the right fit for you!
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Take the Writing Persona Qu...10 Productivity Tips for Writers, PART 2
Struggling with being a productive writer?
We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity.
All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block.
This episode covers the last 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025!
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10 Productivity Tips for Writers, PART 1
Struggling with being a productive writer?Â
We all fall into distraction traps and periods of low productivity.Â
All productivity tips are like tools in a toolbox, and having multiple is a great way to break out of writer's block.
This episode covers the first 5 of 10 productivity tips for writers to keep in mind as we start 2025!
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Take the Writing Pers...How to Achieve Your Writing Goals in 2025
Are you ready to hit 2025 running toward your writing goals?
If not, do not fear!Â
This episode covers 5 essential tactics for planning a successful writing year, no matter what your goals are.
2025 is right around the corner, and before you know it you'll be striving toward your next writing achievement.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Da...Reasons to Write the Blurb Early
The blurb is one of the hardest and most hated parts of an author's life... at least that's what it seems like!
In this episode, we break down why writing the blurb early is actually the smartest thing to do.
Blurbs don't need to be perfect or finalized immediately, but they should exist for the reasons discussed here.
Need help with your blurb? Check out our Coaching & Critique Group, where we hold Blurb Workshops and provide personalized feedback on your blurb drafts!
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Recommended Writing Craft Books
Where do you start when it comes to books on writing craft?
A simple search on Amazon for "writing craft books" brings up over 70,000 results.
This episode covers the books that I recommend over and over for writers inside the Challenge or our Coaching & Critique group.
From story structure and theme to tropes, genres, and beyond, use this episode as a starting point for building your writing craft library.
Visit tallyink.com for links to all of the books mentioned in this episode.
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...
Literary Sins: Too Many Characters
Have you committed this literary sin?
Having too large of a cast, or introducing too many characters at the same time, can lose readers and make them forget important details.
This, our second installment of the Literary Sins Series, addresses the problems of a large cast and offers solutions for how to fix them.
Check out the 5-Day Character Development Challenge at tallyink.com.
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What...
Thoughts from Author Nation
Are you curious about Author Nation and whether you should go next year?
This episode covers who Author Nation is for, what kinds of sessions were offered, my overall takeaways, and some favorite sessions.
I also talk about what I would do differently next time.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Join The 60-Day No...The College Analogy for Avoiding Overwhelm
Do you get stressed and overwhelmed whenever you look at everything it takes to publish a book, whether you're pursuing self publishing or traditional?
You're not alone. I see this in a lot of authors, especially the ones working on the first or second draft.
This episode presents a different way to filter your perspective so you can stop freaking out and get back to work on your book.
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<...Switching from Writing to Editing
How do you know when it's time to switch from the writing mode to the editing mode?
What even is the difference between them?Â
In this episode I share a different way to think about this that allows us the freedom to move from one to the other with ease.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Wri...If You are a Creative Powerhouse
Writer's Block Bonus Category - Creative Powerhouse!
Halie calls this result a TRIPLE THREAT! AKA, nothing really slows you down.
Or does it?
Creative Powerhouses aren't immune to bumps in the road, and this episode covers why.
To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to best deal with it.
Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-block-quiz-embed
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When You Have More Than One Story Idea
What do you do when you have more than one story idea floating around in your head?
Do you work on just one?Â
Write multiple at once?
Something in between?
Like most writing questions, the answer is "it depends".
This episode breaks down how to approach your writing decisions when you have more than one idea, and whether you should complete a project before moving on to the next one.
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If You Have Difficulty Prioritizing
Writer's Block Category #3 - Difficulty Prioritizing
When your to-do list is miles long and keeps growing every second, it can feel irresponsible and indulgent to write.
But the truth is that your writing is important, and creativity is a form of self care.
This episode covers the paradox of choice and different methods for prioritizing your life so that writing remains towar the top of the list.
To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to best deal with...
This or That: Outliner or Discovery Writer
Are you a Discovery Writer or an Outliner?
Which one is better than the other? Which one SHOULD you write in?
If these terms give you strong feelings one way or the other, make sure you listen through the end of this episode!
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge Join The 60-Day Novel Writing Ch...If Distractions Abound for You
Writer's Block Category #2 - Distractions
The shinies, the doomscrolling, the accidental 5-hour YouTube rabbit trails... all distractions.
When you pay attention to something that's NOT the thing you're supposed to be paying attention to, that's called a distraction.
This episode covers how to handle distractions.
To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to best deal with it.
Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-block-quiz-embed
Send us a text
<...Literary Sins 1: Head-Hopping
Have you committed this literary sin?Â
Head hopping, or jumping from one POV to another in the same paragraph, scene, or chapter, can throw readers off as to who's really telling the story.Â
This can pull a reader out of the narrative, and a confused reader is more likely to close the book!
This, our first installment of the Literary Sins Series, addresses what head hopping is, how to spot it, and how to avoid it.
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If You Have Limiting Beliefs
Writer's Block Category #1 - Limiting Beliefs
AKA, the things we believe about ourselves that do nothing but keep us from our full potential.
And spoiler alert, nobody is forcing us to believe these things.
So what counts as a limiting belief, and how do you deal with them?
This episode covers just that.
To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz will diagnose your writer's block and how to best deal with it.
Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60...
The Writer’s Block Quiz
Ever wonder what kind of writer's block you're most susceptible to?
Or what to do about it when you can't get yourself to write?
While we will all experience some form of writer's block at some point, there are different types and tools to break through when you're stuck.
To find out your primary blocker, take our Writer's Block Quiz! This quiz from Tally Ink will diagnose your writer's block and how to best deal with it.
Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-block-quiz-embed
...
This or That: 3rd Person or 1st Person
Should you write your book in first person or third person?Â
What even are those POVs and what does it mean to write in one or the other?
If POV confuses you or you're just not sure which one you should use in your novel, this episode is for you.
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up for The 60-Day Novel Wri...If You Are an Inspired Introvert…
Are you an INSPIRED INTROVERT?
This episode is for those writers who tend toward solitude and writing on their own, but could really benefit from sharing their work... if only they could conquer the fear of feedback.
Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Si...Pareto’s Principle (80/20 Rule for Writing)
Pareto's Principle is the idea that 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes.
We can use this principle to improve our writing lives, especially with the first draft.
Listen in to find out how you can apply Pareto's Principle to your idea generation, your time spent on writing versus marketing, and finding the time to write your novel.
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Take the Writing Persona Qu...If You Are a Chaotic Creative…
Are you a CHAOTIC CREATIVE?
This episode is for those writers who have brain explosions of ideas all the time, jump from story to story, navigate uncharted creative territory, but have trouble finishing a project.
Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up fo...To Prologue or Not to Prologue
Quick, what do you think about prologues?Â
If you're thinking as a writer, your answer might be "YES, I LOVE THEM!"
But as a reader, maybe not.
Prologues are the other oft-maligned pseudo-chapters along with epilogues, but prologues might actually do you more harm than good.
Executing a good prologue is more than just writing a good scene, and this episode talks about both the reasons to avoid including them, but also how to think about prologues if you decide that your story needs one.
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If You Are a Community Creator…
Are you a COMMUNITY CREATOR?
This episode is for those writers who thrive with a writing group or critique partner, having accountability, but also a place (or person) with whom to share writing wins and struggles.
Not sure what your writing persona is? Take the quiz here!
https://www.the60daynovelwritingchallenge.com/writers-quiz
Send us a text
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Take the Writing Persona Quiz! Sign up...
