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“You are okay and you are enough. Despite what other people may tell you, you are enough and you deserve to be here.”-Alyson Noël
We have #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning, author Alyson Noel on the show today! Alyson has published 23 novels including: The Immortals, The Riley Bloom, and The Soul Seekers series.
We get really up close and personal in today’s episode. Alyson shares her experiences struggling with grief and how she coped with it through writing. Alyson also shares how to push through difficult times when you’re feeling stuck.
We go into detail about how to create dynamic personalities for your characters, where to find inspiration for story ideas, and how to create a flexible writing outline to keep your progress on track.
This episode especially hits the spot if you’re coming across some challenges in your first draft. Fellow NaNoWrimo participants will definitely want to savor Alyson’s words of advice. We really dive deep into the topic of surviving the first draft, how to eliminate the pressure of perfection, and how to structure scenes so that you can avoid dead spots.
PS. Do you know anyone who’d appreciate a big push through their first draft? Please share this episode, it may really be of help!
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“You need to actually live a life, if you want to write about people living a life.” -Alyson Noel
“It’s really important to take the leap.” -Alyson Noel
“That first draft is your opportunity to make a big ol’ mess, to use your delete key liberally.” -Alyson Noel
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
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- Where to find inspiration for great story ideas for writing fiction
- How to break down boundaries to craft compelling characters
- How to create dynamic personalities in your characters
- Create a flexible outline to keep your writing process on track
- How traveling can inspire new ideas for your writing
- How to write the first draft of your novel without the pressure of perfection
- How to structure the scenes in your story to avoid dead spots in your writing
- How Alyson learns from the moments in life where she felt stuck to propel forward towards her dreams
- How to productively cope with rejection as a writer
Learn More About Alyson Noël
Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning, author of 23 novels including: The Immortals, The Riley Bloom, and The Soul Seekers series.
With 9 New York Times bestsellers, and over 8 million copies in print, her books have been translated into 36 languages, sold in over 200 countries, and have made the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, NCIBA, and Walmart Bestsellers lists, and have won numerous awards such as: the National Reader’s Choice Award, NYLA Book of Winter Award, NYPL Stuff for the Teenage, TeenReads Best Books of 2007, Reviewer’s Choice 2007 Top Ten, appeared on the CBS Early Show’s “Give the Gift of Reading” segment, and selected for Seventeen Magazine’s “Hot List” and Beach Book Club Pick.
Chosen as one of OC Metro magazine’s “20 Women to Watch,” she’s been nominated for the Orange County Business Journal’s “Women in Business Awards” as well as their “Excellence in Entrepreneurship” award. The dramatic rights for The Soul Seekers are optioned to Cheyenne Enterprises and Traziende films; the dramatic rights to Saving Zoë are optioned to actresses/producers Ellen Marano, Vanessa Marano (Switched at Birth), Laura Marano (Austin & Ally), with Jeffrey G. Hunt (Vampire Diaries, Gotham) directing; dramatic rights to The Immortals are optioned to Gil Adler (Valkyrie, Constantine) & Jason Rosenberg.
Her new YA series, Beautiful Idols, beginning with Unrivaled, had a global release in 17 languages and 200 countries on 05.10.16. Her new MG, Five Days of Famous, is set to debut 12.13.16.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, she’s lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan and is now settled back in Southern California.
Alyson’s Recommended Books & Resources:
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne and Steven Pressfield
