A few weeks after I started my book, the writing rabbit hole truly felt more like a labyrinth, I wasn’t sure I would find my way out. I needed a helping hand and it was at this point I came across a podcast on Spotify. I am delighted to say this podcast has already given me endless breakthrough moments on my novel writing journey, I can’t imagine writing my book without it.

The podcast is called ‘Essential Guide to Writing a Novel’ by James Thayer. I am not affiliated to James Thayer or Spotify in any way, but I hope it will help you on your writing journey too, if you decide to listen to it. The podcast is widely available, not just on Spotify.

I find it’s best to only listen to one episode at a time, and to then take some time to process. I think about how to apply the learning to my own book.

‘Episode 5 – Creating compelling characters’ was particularly informative and practical for me. I had quite a clear picture in my head of the 3 main characters in my story, but after listening to episode 5, I realised they needed more thought and development, I hadn’t given enough consideration to some elements. James Thayer talks about making sure your main character is ‘kind when it counts’, which I felt I had already captured well for my demure leading character Martha, but he also suggests the character needs to be ‘active, not passive’, and I reflected there was work to be done there. I will talk more about Martha in a later blog and how I am developing her persona.

If you are quite a few chapters into writing your book, you may find James Thayer’s podcast will make you question or amend your writing so far, almost like an early editing tool. Please be prepared for this potential backtracking. This has been a tricky learning point for me, as I am quite methodical, I like to finish a chapter and move onto the next – this does not work when writing a novel! New ideas come to light, twists and turns unfold in unplanned ways, plot holes arise…going back to make amendments seems unavoidable for any dynamic writer. I’m adapting!

At the end of each chapter, John Thayer says the simple but effective words ‘Keep tapping those keys’. When stuck at a dead end in the writing rabbit hole, it takes real strength of mind to find your way out of the darkness. You have to keep going, keep writing, keep tapping those keys, and if you do, you’ll eventually start moving towards the light. Its a great feeling when you do.

If you do decide to listen to ‘Essential Guide to Novel Writing’, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and welcome you to leave a comment below. Or maybe you have found other podcasts that have aided your writing journey? Comments and sharing of resources is encouraged and appreciated on here 🙂.