When Your Manuscript is Too Long

Do you ever feel tempted to throw in the towel on your creative projects just to feel the sweet relief of freedom from responsibility? In this solo episode of The Write Anyway Podcast, mindset coach Sue Campbell dives into why that feeling of relief might be a trap—and how it can sabotage your creative goals and personal growth.Sue breaks down:The two types of relief: circumstantial relief and engineered relief, and why they feel so good (but aren’t always good for you).How your inner saboteur can mislead you into giving up on valuable projects in exchange for short-term emotional comfort.The long-term cost of avoiding discomfort in your creative journey—and how it leads to abandoning your creative potential.Why tolerating discomfort is essential not just for writing, but for becoming the person and artist you want to be.Learn how to reframe discomfort as a necessary step toward growth and discover what might be waiting for you on the other side of creative resistance.Subscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter for mindset and marketing tips at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe.

Struggling with your manuscript despite reading every writing craft book? Developmental editor Lori Puma reveals what 70+ writing books left out. Learn about Story Foundation, the Invisible Story, antagonist networks, and scene sequencing. Perfect for first-time novelists facing common problems like lack of conflict, repetitive plots, or manuscripts that won't come together despite multiple revisions. Includes tips on creating dynamic antagonists, building cause-and-effect chains, and troubleshooting story problems. Get Lori's free ebook "What Craft Books Left Out" at loripuma.com. Keywords: writing craft, developmental editing, story structure, novel writing, antagonist development, scene structure, first novel, writing advice, manuscript revision, plot development.00:00 - Introduction: Why traditional writing books might not be enough01:00 - Meet Lori Puma: From editor to craft book detective02:00 - Story Foundation: The missing piece for first-time novelists03:00 - Symptoms of story foundation problems05:00 - The Invisible Story: What happens off the page07:00 - Common antagonist mistakes and how to fix them09:00 - The Princess Bride example: Antagonists vs. antagonists11:00 - Shaping sequences: Creating cause-and-effect chains12:00 - How to get Lori's free ebook and connect

Do you ever feel like your creative life is disconnected from the rest of your existence? Author, editor, and writing coach Bill Kenower introduces the concept of "The All-Day Artist" —not about writing all day, but about bringing the spirit of creativity into every aspect of life.In this illuminating conversation, Bill shares:Why limiting creativity to just writing time holds us backHow to apply the skills we learn as writers to navigate life's uncertaintiesA practical approach to overcoming boredom by using creative listeningThe importance of following what feels effortless and interestingWhy caring about how you feel is essential to both writing and livingStrategies for developing trust in your creative instinctsThe critical difference between writing for yourself versus writing for othersBill Kenower is the author of "Fearless Writing" and hosts two podcasts: "Fearless Writing" and "Author to Author." His weekly essays can be found at Author Magazine (authormagazine.org).Whether you're struggling to integrate your creative practice with daily life or looking to bring more authenticity to your writing, this episode offers valuable insights for writers at any stage of their journey.Find Bill online at williamkenower.com for coaching services, podcast links, and more.Subscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe for weekly writing insights and marketing tips.

Sue Campbell shares insights from her recent webinar on boosting productivity for writers. Drawing from her experiences as a mindset and book marketing coach, Sue covers key productivity philosophies, identifies different productivity tendencies, and presents two foundational productivity systems: the Autofocus System and Monday Hour One. The episode also highlights tools, both analog and digital, to support these systems and emphasizes the importance of mindset in achieving writing goals. Additionally, Sue introduces her Goal Getter School, a program aimed at helping writers accomplish significant milestones through custom project planning and consistent coaching. Listeners are encouraged to identify their biggest productivity challenges and are offered actionable advice to overcome them.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:25 Meet Sue Campbell: Your Productivity Coach02:09 Setting the Stage for Productivity10:53 Understanding Productivity Tendencies17:36 Exploring the Autofocus System22:05 Time Blocking with Monday Hour One27:33 The Concept of Blissipline28:02 Pros and Cons of Time Blocking28:45 Analog Tools for Time Blocking30:40 Digital Tools for Time Blocking33:27 Introduction to Goal Getter School36:08 Goal Getter School Structure and Benefits42:54 Q&A Session54:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Developmental editors Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez break down what your first page must promise—and how to deliver it for your ideal reader. From raising the right questions to dodging common traps (info dumps, action-for-action’s-sake), you’ll get practical ways to craft an opening that compels page turns and signals the book you actually wrote.What you’ll learnWhy your first page is a promise—and how to make the right oneHow to define and hook your ideal reader (not “everyone”)When to open with action vs. narration, and why “start in action” is often misappliedRaising mystery and intrigue without confusing the readerThe truth about “show, don’t tell” on page oneWhere the inciting incident belongs (and when it doesn’t)Avoiding info dumps while still orienting the readerWhen to stop polishing page one—and when to return to itSimple exercises to sharpen your opening (including hand-copying a favorite first page)How to tailor your opening for agents and genre expectationsTimestamps00:00 — The problem: “My first page isn’t hooky enough”01:00 — Who’s your ideal reader? Hint: probably you04:00 — The first page as a promise of the reading experience05:00 — Do you really need to open in action?06:00 — Orientation vs. info dump (especially for SFF)07:30 — Must the inciting incident be on page one?08:30 — Mystery vs. confusion: walking the line10:00 — Intrigue through specific, telling details11:00 — Do protagonists need to be likable?12:00 — “Show, don’t tell”: what the rule actually means14:00 — The trap of overworking your opening15:00 — Write the draft first; promise precisely later17:00 — The power of your first ~300 words18:00 — Discovery writing and changing stories19:00 — Craft exercise: hand-copy your favorite first page20:00 — Making your promise clear—and pitching the right agentsTry thisPull three novels you love. Hand-copy their first pages. Mark where they raise questions, slip in exposition, and introduce desire or problem.Rewrite your first 300 words to:Gut-check: Does your first page promise the book you actually wrote?MentionedUrsula K. Le Guin (on word choice and deliberate narration)Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl (compelling “unlikable” protagonist)“It was a dark and stormy night” (Bulwer-Lytton) as an example of permissible tellingQuote“Your job as a fiction writer is to raise questions. Why I turn the page is because there’s a question in my mind.”LinksSubscribe to the Write Anyway newsletter: [email protected] & Platforms and the Happily Ever Author ClubIf this episode helped you rethink your opening, share it with a writer friend and leave a rating—it helps more writers find the show.

Sue Campbell, a mindset coach for writers, reveals the hidden inner narratives that quietly sabotage creative progress — and shows how to rewrite them so you actually sit down and finish your work. This episode is full of practical, moment-by-moment strategies: how to surface limiting beliefs, neutralize them, and replace them with believable, emotionally motivating alternatives. If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll write tomorrow,” or “I hate social media,” this episode gives you the tools to change the story and get writing — even if it’s just one sentence.Who this episode is for: Writers who feel stuck, procrastinate, avoid revision, dread marketing, or want concrete mindset tools to finish a book and grow an author platform.Why listen:Learn why the story you tell yourself matters as much as the story you’re writing.Get a simple, repeatable method to expose and loosen limiting beliefs.Walk away with tactical moves you can use immediately: journaling prompts, a “one sentence” rule, and mindset reframes for tech and marketing resistance.Key takeaways:Two stories: the book you’re crafting and the story you tell yourself about your ability to write it. The latter often undermines the former.Writing your thoughts down reveals hidden beliefs; reading them aloud turns vague resistance into actionable insight.Don’t rely on hollow affirmations. Create rewrites that feel believable and carry emotional weight — even if the first step is neutral (“maybe this could help”).Use low-friction actions (e.g., one sentence) to defeat procrastination and build identity as someone who shows up.With technology and marketing fears, aim for “just enough” competency to move forward rather than perfection.Memorable quotes:“The story that you tell yourself as a writer is just as important as the story you’re writing.”“Your inner saboteur is laying out a binary that you can’t possibly do both at the same time.”“One sentence today can become a stepping stone to a much bigger writing session.”Resources mentioned:Sue Campbell / Happily Ever Author Club: storypath.me/heaWrite Anyway Newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribeIf this episode moved you, try the one-sentence rule for the next three days and notice how it changes your momentum. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a writer who needs to rewrite their inner story.

Is your novel bursting at the seams? Developmental editor Anne Hawley reveals how she cut 100,000 words from her historical novel – and how you can trim your manuscript without losing its heart.Anne shares battle-tested strategies for identifying and eliminating excess content, including:How to know if your manuscript is too long for your genreFour major areas to target for significant cutsWhy "killing your darlings" is so emotionally challengingSmart techniques for preserving cut contentWhen to keep your longer manuscript despite industry pressuresPlus: Learn why "the reader needs to know this" might be your biggest obstacle to a leaner, stronger story.Whether you're writing fantasy epics or middle-grade fiction, these practical tips will help you craft a manuscript that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.Subscribe to our newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribeJoin the Happily Ever Author Club for more resources: Is your novel bursting at the seams? In this episode, developmental editor Anne Hawley reveals how she cut 100,000 words from her historical novel – and how you can trim your manuscript without losing its heart.Anne shares battle-tested strategies for identifying and eliminating excess content, including:How to know if your manuscript is too long for your genreFour major areas to target for significant cutsWhy "killing your darlings" is so emotionally challengingSmart techniques for preserving cut contentWhen to keep your longer manuscript despite industry pressuresPlus: Learn why "the reader needs to know this" might be your biggest obstacle to a leaner, stronger story.Whether you're writing fantasy epics or middle-grade fiction, these practical tips will help you craft a manuscript that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.Join the Happily Ever Author Club for more support and resources: storypath.me/heaSubscribe to our newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Write Anyway podcast, Sue Campbell interviews Neroli Lacey, an accomplished author known for her “delicious fiction for clever women.” They discuss the successful launch of Neroli's latest book, The Perfumer's Secret, covering her marketing strategies, the importance of building a brand and community, and the unexpected joys of marketing. Neroli shares her journey from resisting marketing to embracing it, her experience with a hybrid publisher, and how she built a mailing list of over 3,000 subscribers. Additionally, they delve into the significance of a long-term vision for a writing career and the importance of balancing creative work with marketing efforts. The episode is rich with insights and actionable tips for both seasoned authors and aspiring writers.00:00 Introduction to Indie Publishing00:16 Meet Neroli Lacey: Author and Journalist00:58 The Perfumer's Secret: A Successful Book Launch03:00 Marketing Strategies and Challenges09:48 The Impact of a BookBub Deal12:56 Building a Community of Writers14:38 Growing an Email List17:32 Balancing Writing and Life26:25 The Importance of Mindset and Coaching28:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Are you an ADHD writer struggling with traditional writing methods? In this episode, ADHD coach and developmental editor Rachelle Ramirez shares proven strategies to help neurodivergent writers move from blank page to finished manuscript.Key Topics:[00:01:00] Rachelle's personal journey with ADHD diagnosis[00:05:00] Why traditional writing systems often fail ADHD writers[00:09:00] Task initiation vs motivation - understanding the real challenge[00:12:00] The Interest-Based Approach to writing:[00:19:00] Adapting strategies when they stop workingKey Takeaways:Your brain isn't broken - traditional systems weren't designed for youOrganization strategies for the ADHD mindPractical techniques for task initiationFour ways to reignite interest in your writing projectAbout Our Guest: Rachelle Ramirez is a developmental editor and ADHD coach who brings both professional expertise and personal experience to help neurodivergent writers succeed.Resources Mentioned:Mel Robbins' 5-4-3-2-1 techniqueADHD Writer Accelerator Program[Free ADHD Writers Webinar]Connect With Us: Subscribe to our newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe for weekly writing insights and tips.

In this episode of Write Anyway, developmental editors Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez dive deep into the often misunderstood concept of point of view (POV) in storytelling.Key topics covered:Why POV is more than just choosing between first and third personHow time, distance, and narrative purpose influence POV choicesThe relationship between genre and POV selectionCommon challenges with first-person present tenseThe concept of narrative distance and its impact on storytellingUsing POV to create irony and humor (featuring examples from True Grit and Huckleberry Finn)The importance of understanding who your narrator is speaking to and whyFeatured book examples:True Grit by Charles PortisThe Merlin Trilogy by Mary StewartThe Hunger GamesJane EyreThe Great GatsbyPractical takeaway: Study the POV choices in your favorite books to better understand how successful authors handle narrative perspective.Connect with Anne:Find her novel Restraint on AmazonSubscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe