In order to pull readers in to your story, you need to give your characters not one, not two, but THREE problems to overcome. This gives you multiple angles for your characters to deal with and show both inner and outer growth. In this episode, we discuss the use of the Triangle Method (I made this up) of giving your characters problems and how the…

In this episode of the series on How to Stick Your Landing, we address the question of how your characters make decisions, techniques to figure out how they make their decisions, and why this is important to your story (hint: you cannot get from point A to point Z without bringing your reader through all the other points along the way!) For more in…

A good ending (happy or sad but mainly EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING FOR YOUR READER) has to be earned. This week we embark on that journey of making sure we stick the landing of our writing projects, giving the reader all the feels and the emotional bang for their buck. Establishing the misbelief or deep fear of your character is the foundation of this p…

In this episode, I give you a simple exercise to discover the driving essence of your book so that you can convey a powerful story or life-changing message to your readers. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, this episode will help you hone in, not only on what makes your story unique, but you'll also know which parts of your book aren't worki…

In this episode, we continue our conversation about self-care and the "Concentric Circles of Creative Needs". We are exploring the ideas of our social and esteem needs (accountability, being seen, sharing our work with others) as well as what self-actualization means for us as writers and creatives. I think I ranted a bit less in this one. Maybe. F…

How can we practice creative self-care and why is it important ? In this episode we explore a new version of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (The Concentric Circles of Needs in this conversation) and how they apply to our creative work and practice. For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditorial.com You can email me at christine@la…

How can we draw readers into the world we're creating and delight them with new ideas to discover? Epigraphs, or the quotes (sometimes real, sometimes made-up) are a great way to add depth and layers to your story. Whether fiction or non-fiction, using quotes, song lyrics, (or poems! I forgot to mention poems!) at the beginning of your chapters or …

So, you want to build immersive worlds for your readers to explore but what if you give too much information, or not enough? This episode focuses on how to world build effectively by leading your reader deeper into the world you've created without overwhelming them or pulling them out of the story. For more information you can check out my website …

Of course, I can't say everything there is to be said about representation in your book but in this episode, I give examples of things to avoid when trying to represent different groups as well as ideas on how to do representation well. Bottom line: we're all here and we all deserve to be seen, understood, and have our stories told. I'm sure this w…

Some characters must die! But who should you kill and how can you a) make it meaningful and effective for your story and b) give an emotional payoff to your reader? In this episode of The Developmental Edit we talk about how to kill your characters as well as things to avoid when it comes to fictional body counts. For more information you can check…

Last weekend I went to a storytelling workshop led by Elizabeth Lord and in this episode, I share my big takeaways from the workshop. I give examples as well as a simple exercise you can do to make your writing connect more powerfully with your readers. For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditorial.com You can email me at chri…

The act of writing is mundane but that's where the magic happens. It's an important part of the creative process. For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditorial.com You can email me at christine@lastpageeditorial.com Or follow me on Instagram @lastpageeditorialPar Christine Petty

In this episode, we discuss how to use the Pixar Storytelling Formula as a non-fiction writer, knowing your why, and a simple exercise to get clarity on your non-fiction book. For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditorial.com You can email me at christine@lastpageeditorial.com Or follow me on Instagram @lastpageeditorial…

What happens when you finally start doing something you've said you wanted to do (like, write a book for example, or start a podcast) and then life gets messy, dramatic, complicated, or you just plain don't feel like it? In this episode I'm looking at this annoying part of the creative process and offering my 3 suggestions for how to work with this…

What do all Pixar (okay, Disney, but you know what I mean) movies have in common? They follow the same formula for storytelling. Based on the Hero's Journey but with their own special brand of magic, Pixar movies can give writers a jumping off point for crafting their own stories. Using examples from Coco, Moana, Wreck-It Ralph, and Zootopia (among…

Of all the archetypes, the Trickster is one of my favorites. In this episode, we explore what makes a Trickster, how to write a Trickster, examples from stories you may be familiar with, as well as why the Trickster is one of the most powerful archetypes you can include in your story. For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditor…

What should you do before you send your manuscript to an editor? What is a sample edit and how much does it cost? (Answer: Sample edits are usually, though not always, free.) What is it like working with an editor and how can you pick the right editor for you? For more information you can check out my website lastpageeditorial.com You can email me …

What is a developmental edit and why might you need one? How is developmental editing different from other types of editing or even beta reading? An introduction to the podcast and your host as she explains why a developmental edit might be just what you need to take your book to the next level. For more information you can check out my website las…