A podcast about writing - from start to finish

Using Save the Cat! Writes A Novel as a jumping off point, Russ and Tim do a deep dive into the Act I story beats, and reference how this methodology was useful in crafting their own works.

Writer’s block…

Do your characters have the right motivation? Proper motivation is necessary if you want your characters to make believable decisions that lead toward their goals, even if those decisions are flawed. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss internal and Read more

The work doesn’t stop once you launch your book. If you want to be read, you need to promote your book to the world. In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss marketing, social media, advertising, and Russ’ plan for promoting Read more

The day has arrived! Russ has launched his debut novel, HOST. Tim asks how Russ feels, what happens next, and what improvements he’ll make as he ramps on book two. Also, go buy HOST so Russ can be a little Read more

Cover art is often your first chance to make an impression on the reader, so you better make it a good one. In this episode, Russ and Tim chat about the cover art process, how Russ approached it for his Read more

Are you original? Do you need to be? In this episode Russ and Tim chat about comps, what they are, why they’re useful, and how not to get derailed when you don’t feel original. Resources: How to Find Compelling Comps Read more

Join hosts Russ and Tim on an exciting journey as they explore the fascinating world where writing and AI intersect. From AI-generated story prompts to overcoming writer’s block, discover how artificial intelligence can revolutionize the creative process. Get inspired and Read more

He said, she smiled, they replied. Dialogue tags and action beats are one of many tools a writer can use to distinguish characters and create dynamic scenes. This episode Russ and Tim chat about lessons learned with dialogue tags and Read more