SW 136 INT “WHAT IS LitRPG?” Interview with KEVIN SINCLAIR, author of the Creation’s Bane novels!   “DAMN FINE SPACE OPERA!” — James Wolfhampton    Get your copy of STARCHILD today! http://starchild1.jwashburn.com  * * * Today I’m excited to introduce Kevin Sinclair! He writes LitRPG, which I had heard about, but before I read his book, I’d never read the genre (unless you count Ready Player One). God of the Feast was a blast to read, and it’s a wonderful introduction to LitRPG. You also may learn a thing or two about the genre in this episode.   Let me point out a ..read more

START WRITING Podcast: “How to write in someone else’s world,” an interview with William C. Dietz, author of Star Wars, Halo, StarCraft, Hitman, and Mass Effect novels!   “DAMN FINE SPACE OPERA!” — James Wolfhampton    Get your copy of STARCHILD today! http://starchild1.jwashburn.com  * * * I’m a fan of the StarCraft videogames, and I recently read a spin-off novel called HEAVEN’S DEVILS. I had somewhat low expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised and even impressed. William C Dietz delivered vivid characters, great descriptions, and a thoughtful, smart story. It was ..read more

Subscribe to THE INFORMANT to get a free copy of STEALING INDIANA JONES! http://theinformant.jwashburn.com    Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Kindle: http://stealingindy.jwashburn.com  Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Audible: http://stealingindyaudio.jwashburn.com    * * *   WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://www.youtube.com/@JWashburnauthor    LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM: https://kite.link/start-writing    In this episode, B.C. Walker talks with us about these:  Writing and researching historical fiction ..read more

Subscribe to THE INFORMANT to get a free copy of STEALING INDIANA JONES! http://theinformant.jwashburn.com    Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Kindle: http://stealingindy.jwashburn.com  Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Audible: http://stealingindyaudio.jwashburn.com    * * *   WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://www.youtube.com/@JWashburnauthor    LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM: https://kite.link/start-writing    This episode Bill Gifford talks with us about the following:   Is writing voice innate? The six-year ..read more

AUDIBLE: http://stealingindyaudio.jwashburn.com/ KINDLE: http://stealingindy.jwashburn.com/ NEWSLETTER: http://theinformant.jwashburn.com/ EMAIL: me@jwashburn.com   SW SPECIAL  STEALING INDIANA JONES: An essay on inspiration and death and how George Lucas hijacked the greatest stories of our time. † “[Stealing Indy] will pique your intellect and break your heart.” — James Wolfhampton   In 1990, a six year old boy stole something from his neighbors. A small book.  The ultimate Indiana Jones treasure—a Grail Diary.  It promised everlasting life, but because it was stolen ..read more

Subscribe to THE INFORMANT to get a free copy of STEALING INDIANA JONES! http://theinformant.jwashburn.com  Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Kindle: http://stealingindy.jwashburn.com  Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Audible: http://stealingindyaudio.jwashburn.com  * * * WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/vY3Q0CpGEWw     * * *  Rob MacGregor wrote the novelization of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and we discuss how he added depth to that story than you don’t see in the film.  Then we talk about the 6 original Indiana Jones novels that ..read more

Start Writing interview with author Max McCoy:  CAN INDIANA JONES TIME TRAVEL?    Subscribe to THE INFORMANT to get a free copy of STEALING INDIANA JONES! http://theinformant.jwashburn.com    Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Kindle: http://stealingindy.jwashburn.com  Buy Stealing Indiana Jones on Audible: http://stealingindyaudio.jwashburn.com    * * *   WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/Ac1czjZ2-F4      In this episode, we ask questions of Max McCoy, author of four Indiana Jones novels, including The Philosophe ..read more

SW INT 130 Rennie Saunders talks SHUT UP & WRITE In this episode, we talk to Rennue Saunders, founder of Shut Up & Write, and organization designed to give writers camaraderie and motivation to complete their writing goals.  Watch the interview video here: https://youtu.be/GE_sfjl6SYE    * * *   LET’S BE FRIENDS: If you have questions, EMAIL US: pleasestartwriting@gmail.com  Support us on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/StartWritingPodcast  And buy our books! JOSEPH BENDOSKI: https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Bendoski/e/B06XX7LYKL   J WASHBURN: http ..read more

SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 10) EDITING TOGETHER WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals): https://youtu.be/sXd0yr0rJQE  Episode 10 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel teach about getting feedback from peers and readers. First, Raiders of the Lost Ark is an excellent example of how to cut all but the best stuff. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time shows us that the mundane can be made magical with very small tweaks. Harry Potter Illustrated has tons of typos, which means it’s okay to not have perfect copyediting. The different levels of editing are CONTENT, CHAPTER, and COPY ed ..read more

SW SPECIAL J‘s Beginner‘s Guide (part 8) SUBPLOTS (Joe’s favorite episode)   WATCH ON YOUTUBE (with cool visuals):  https://youtu.be/RqHtsXX3SAg   Episode 8 of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE to Writing a Novel teaches you how to do subplots. First, we review PLOT CLOCKS. Then we look at a model called SUBPLOT RAINBOWS. We follow along with how J.K. Rowling outlined the Order of the Phoenix. We see how the innovative MUSICAL PLOT STAFF works for organizing multiple viewpoints. And finally, we look at three short tips, which are (1) get a good editor, (2) start with the smallest plottable sto ..read more