Episode 281 - Using Relevance to Save Your Darlings with Liesel Hill

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Liesel Hill discusses USING RELEVANCE TO SAVE YOUR DARLINGS, including the importance of integrating emotional connection and subconscious storytelling to retain seemingly irrelevant scenes by making them essential. Topics include multi-tasking in scenes, pacing, evoking emotion, character arcs, purposeful character deaths, maintaining continuity in series, and avoiding unnecessary plot elements.
 
Liesel Hill is a USA Today best-selling author of 4 genres. She teaches authors to craft stories using the principles of energetics and transformational human psychology, and by tapping into one's individual subconscious creativity.

Episode Links

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theprolificauthor
https://www.instagram.com/6figurestoryteller/
https://www.tiktok.com/@6figurestoryteller
https://www.youtube.com/@fictionauthorbusinessschool
https://lff.kit.com/10ppsminicourse

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Liesel Hill about the often-debated topic among writers: "killing your darlings." Liesel Hill is a USA Today best-selling author who provides a nuanced perspective on this longstanding writing guideline, challenging traditional notions while emphasizing the importance of emotional resonance and story relevance.
 
Matty opens the conversation by recounting how "kill your darlings" is often a “battle cry” for writers, suggesting that authors should remove scenes they are emotionally attached to if they are not advancing the story. Liesel Hill suggests a reevaluation of this advice, advocating that instead of merely discarding these scenes, authors should explore ways to integrate them effectively into their narrative. She argues that scenes dear to the writer often hold an emotional connection that can potentially engage the reader as well.
 
Liesel provides a perspective that involves tapping into one's subconscious creativity. By leveraging the subconscious, authors can generate scenes with intrinsic emotional value, which makes them worth preserving if they can be made relevant to the narrative. "If there's something that is lighting you up about the story that you really love," Liesel says, "there's no reason that the reader would not feel the same way."
 
The discussion also covers how determining the relevance of a scene is crucial. Liesel and Matty agree that scenes should be integral to the main conflict or character arc. Scenes offering a deep dive into character backgrounds or internal dialogue need careful consideration to ensure they serve the overarching plot. Liesel suggests that newer authors often fall into the trap of creating scenes that do not push the narrative forward, resulting in potential fluff that might need cutting.
 
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around multitasking in storytelling. Liesel and Matty both stress the importance of making scenes serve multiple purposes. By weaving several narrative threads into a single scene, authors can maintain pacing and deepen story complexity without overburdening the narrative. Liesel offers insights into maintaining pacing by ensuring that scenes do double duty—advancing the plot while developing character interactions or foreshadowing future events.
 
They delve into specific examples, such as the challenge of writing scenes that were the initial inspiration for a book but may no longer fit as the story evolves. Matty shares her personal struggle with deciding whether to keep or discard scenes that initially stirred her imagination, particularly those that no longer align with the book's direction. Liesel suggests that a high-level understanding of the story's structure can help authors anticipate potential misalignments before they become problematic, allowing them to better manage narrative flow.
 
The pair transitions to discussing character arcs, particularly in series novels where characters grow over time and influence one another's stories. Liesel discusses her approach in her own high fantasy series, which involves juggling multiple point-of-view characters. This approach can be daunting, requiring careful planning to ensure characters influence one another even if they are separated by the narrative distance.
 
Towards the end of the podcast, Matty and Liesel explore the concept of relevance and intentionality in character development. They discuss the pitfalls of keeping characters in a story without purpose, underscoring that every character should contribute to the narrative meaningfully or face "retirement" from the storyline—either metaphorically or literally. Liesel mentions that shock value alone is an insufficient reason to kill off a character, advocating that every significant action, including character deaths, should be deliberate and woven into the narrative fabric to justify its impact.
 
Finally, Liesel speaks to the importance of emotional storytelling and how authors can offer readers an emotional journey that results in catharsis. She suggests that emotion is the core of storytelling and what ultimately hooks readers, leading to a satisfying reading experience. Liesel emphasizes that authors who master this emotional connection will cultivate a dedicated readership. The conversation closes with encouraging authors to draw from their subconscious, allowing the wealth of their experiences and emotions to mold stories into engaging and cohesive narratives that resonate with readers.
 
Overall, this podcast episode provides nuanced insights for authors grappling with the idea of killing their darlings, suggesting that the real focus should be on relevance, emotional impact, and enriching the narrative tapestry. Liesel Hill's perspective offers a refreshing take that could help writers preserve the heart of their stories while ensuring every element serves the greater narrative purpose.

Episode 280 - Insider Tips from Writing Contest Judges with Clay Stafford

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Clay Stafford discusses INSIDER TIPS FROM WRITING CONTEST JUDGES, including what judges look for in submissions, such as originality, strong voice, and proper pacing. Clay shares insights into the judging process, highlighting the necessity of engaging the reader early, avoiding errors, and understanding the contest’s goals and audience. They discuss the importance of submitting polished work, ensuring the right contest fit, and the potential benefits of feedback from critique groups and editors. Clay also emphasizes the value of leveraging contest wins and placements to build a writer’s career.
 
Clay Stafford is a bestselling and award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright; film and television producer, director, showrunner, actor; book, film, and stage reviewer as well as public speaker. He has sold nearly four million copies of his books and has had his work distributed in sixteen languages. He is founder and CEO of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference and a contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine with his online column, “Killer Writer.”

Episode Links

https://claystafford.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ClayStaffordOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/claystafford/
https://x.com/ClayStafford
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claystafford/

Referenced in episode:
Episode 271 - Tapping into Your Author Voice with Tiffany Yates Martin

Summary

This week on The Indy Author Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Clay Stafford about the art of crafting submissions for writing contests and the nuances that come with it. The discussion revolves around the key aspects judges look for across different contest formats, whether short or long fiction, and how writers can effectively prepare their work for submission.
 
Matty kicks off the conversation by highlighting Clay's extensive experience, noting his role as a bestselling author and founder of Killer Nashville, among other accolades. The episode delves into the criteria contest judges seek, such as originality, creativity, and a strong narrative voice. Clay emphasizes the importance of a distinctive voice, one that is authentic and engaging, as a hallmark of great writing.
 
The conversation touches on the importance of matching submissions to the right contest categories and understanding the platform where work will be featured. They explore scenarios where a piece may not align with the contest's core focus, like entering a mystery contest with a non-mystery entry. Clay underscores the necessity of writers thoroughly reading guidelines and selecting the right category for their entries, as misplaced submissions often get disqualified regardless of their quality.
 
Listeners are urged to consider the pacing of their stories, recognizing the difference between rushing through events and rambling without purpose. Clay explains that sometimes works feel compressed when they shouldn't be, and authors should trust in the natural pacing of their stories. Engaging and meaningful pacing helps keep the reader invested in the narrative.
 
Matty and Clay also discuss the value of revisions and feedback before submitting to contests. Clay advises writers to vet their work with friends, writing groups, or even professional editors to ensure the piece is polished to its best potential. He suggests writers should be their harshest critics before sending work to a contest, thus minimizing glaring errors that could easily eliminate an entry early on.
 
The episode further explores the strategic approach to contest entry. Rather than writing specifically for a contest, Clay argues for writers to create authentically and then seek contests that fit their work. This method helps maintain the integrity of the story and potentially increases the chances of finding a natural contest fit.
 
Another key point discussed is the reaction to contest rejections. Both Matty and Clay agree that rejection isn't always a reflection of the work's quality, noting that numerous factors, including subjective judge preferences and contest constraints, play a role. Therefore, receiving a "no" should not discourage writers but instead should be seen as a learning opportunity.
 
Finally, the podcast highlights the importance of making the most of contest wins or placements. Clay encourages authors to leverage contest success in their marketing efforts, using accolades as a tool to separate themselves in the crowded literary marketplace. Authors should celebrate and publicize these achievements, utilizing them as steppingstones to further opportunities.
 
In summary, this episode is rich with insights for writers looking to refine their craft for contest entries. Matty and Clay guide listeners through understanding contest criteria, perfecting narrative voice, ensuring proper category alignment, and the strategic use of contest recognition—all vital elements to succeeding in writing competitions.