The Author's Mind

Story Structure, Villains & the Hollywood Rules That Make Novels Unputdownable

What do Hollywood screenwriters know about story structure that most novelists never learn? In this episode, two professional authors pull back the curtain on the rules that actually make fiction work — from writing villains that terrify readers to the editing secrets behind the world's greatest novels. Richard Sparks (40+ years as a professional scriptwriter, the man who wrote the sketch that launched Rowan Atkinson's career) and Gerald Everett Jones (11 published novels, 20+ book awards, Hollywood-based author and publisher) join Shilo Creed for a no-fluff conversation on the craft that separates published authors from aspiring ones. In this episode: * Why a stronger villain automatically creates a stronger hero — and how to use that to your advantage * The "set up and payoff" rule that is the heart and soul of every great story structure * What screenwriting disciplines teach you that novel writing alone never will * How Pride and Prejudice — arguably the greatest novel ever written — was shaped by its editor, and what that means for YOUR manuscript * The "backward integration" technique: how to plant seeds earlier in your draft once you've discovered a plot point later * Why P.G. Wodehouse needed 300 pages of notes before writing a single word of his "effortless" prose * Dan Brown's single most important rule for keeping readers hooked on every page * What "keeping the reader's suspended disbelief sacred" really means — and what happens when you break it ---------------------------------------- 🔗 Guest Links Richard Sparks — richardsparks.com [http://richardsparks.com] Gerald Everett Jones — geraldeverettjones.com [http://geraldeverettjones.com] Puerta Books and Media — Gerald's publishing imprint 📚 Books Mentioned Jonathan's Journal by Gerald Everett Jones — Gerald's new historical fiction novel The Light in His Soul: Lessons from My Brother's Schizophrenia — co-authored by Gerald Everett Jones and Rebecca Schaper Richard Sparks's New Rock fantasy series Referenced Works: * The Hero with a Thousand Faces — Joseph Campbell * The Art of Dramatic Writing — Lajos Egri * Aristotle's Poetics * Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen * Invisible — Paul Auster * Under Milk Wood — Dylan Thomas * Murder on the Orient Express — Agatha Christie 📖 Resources Dan Brown's Writing Masterclass — masterclass.com [http://masterclass.com] National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — nami.org [http://nami.org] ---------------------------------------- The Author's Mind gives aspiring fiction writers direct access to the thinking and craft of professional authors. No theory — just real experience. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Writing for Every Brain: The Dyslexia Episode Every Author Needs

Most authors never think about dyslexic readers — and they're leaving a massive audience on the table. Dyslexia expert and professor Russell Von Brocklin breaks down exactly how the dyslexic brain processes fiction, and what you can do right now to write stories that reach every reader. In this episode, you'll learn: * How the dyslexic brain actually processes text (and why your current structure may be losing these readers) * The "specific-to-general" narrative technique that keeps dyslexic readers locked in * Why audiobooks aren't optional — they're essential — and what separates a great narrator from a good one * How to use AI to build better outlines, refine your antagonist, and even decode publishing contracts * The real story behind dyslexia as a "superpower" — and the Shark Tank data that proves it Russell spent his career guiding parents and students from guesswork to a real game plan. His program produced results three times more effective than leading dyslexia transfer programs — at less than 1% of the cost. If you write fiction and you've never thought about the dyslexia audience, this is the episode that changes that. 🔗 Connect with Russell Von Brocklin: dyslexiaclasses.com [http://dyslexiaclasses.com] 📚 The Author's Mind — More Resources: New episodes every week for fiction writers who want real craft, not theory. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@theauthorsmind-shilocreed [https://www.youtube.com/@theauthorsmind-shilocreed] ---------------------------------------- ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — Why dyslexic readers are your most overlooked audience 1:10 — Russell's story: how he "solved dyslexia" 2:11 — The law school breakthrough that changed everything 3:11 — Program results: 3x more effective at 1% of the cost 4:00 — Inside the dyslexic brain (the neuroscience) 5:20 — Writing as a measurable output: what that means for authors 16:19 — How to write a book blurb that actually works 20:13 — Casey's story: 8 grade levels in 6 months 22:09 — How many Shark Tank investors are dyslexic? (The answer surprises) 23:11 — Dyslexia as a superpower 34:57 — Reed's story: from 11th to 64th percentile in 8 months ---------------------------------------- #dyslexia #writingtips #fictionwriting #authorsofyoutube #writingprocess #dyslexic #storytelling #writingadvice #selfpublishing #booktok

A Reader Told Her: 'You'd Sell More Books If You Were a Man

> A reader bought ALL SIX of Danielle Orsino's audiobooks — then told her she'd sell more if she were a man. Here's what that reveals about the brutal reality of being a female fantasy author today. Danielle Orsino (author of The Legacies of Light and Dark series, Hall of Fame martial artist, and former nurse) joins The Author's Mind to talk craft, combat, and the industry bias no one wants to admit exists. In this episode: * 🥋 The martial arts secret behind her fight scenes — Danielle holds black belts in ITF Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Wushu, MMA, and boxing. She physically films her fight scenes from multiple angles on her phone before writing a single word — and it shows. She even worked on a WWF Super Bowl commercial with The Rock. * ✍️ She's a "chaos writer" — no outlines, no plotting — and yet she's delivered 6 books in a complex mythic dark fantasy world. Her martial arts discipline is what keeps the chaos structured. * ⚔️ How to write realistic fight scenes — why she never puts more than 4 people in a fight (because she's actually done group sparring), how to write from both attacker and victim perspectives, and the body mechanics most writers get completely wrong. * ⭐ How to survive bad reviews — the "yearbook picture" mindset, the Henry Cavill method, and why Goodreads is not always an author's friend. * 🚹 The gender bias in fantasy publishing — why female Fae writers get automatically lumped into "romantasy" and "smut," what it costs in sales, and whether writing as D.M. Orsino would have changed the trajectory of her career. * 🌍 Building worlds readers can't leave — why her books aren't "fast fantasy," how she compares to old-school Dune and Brandon Sanderson (not Sarah J. Maas), and how she uses maps, artwork, and playlists to deepen immersion. * 💌 Building a loyal reader community — how a cozy mystery author sending 10,000 birthday cards changed how Danielle thinks about newsletters (including her puppies Carlos and Penelope, who now have their own fan base and character cameos). * 🏥 Going public with a health crisis — how myasthenia gravis and early onset inclusion body myositis forced Danielle to step back from appearances, and why she eventually chose to share it with readers. New release: 📖 A Fool's Journey (Volume Two of The Legacies of Light and Dark) — available now. ---------------------------------------- 📚 Find Danielle Orsino's Books: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org [http://Bookshop.org] 🔗 Connect with Danielle: * Instagram: @DMOrsinoAuthor [https://www.instagram.com/dmorsinoauthor] * TikTok: @DMOrsinoAuthor [https://www.tiktok.com/@dmorsinoauthor] * Website & Newsletter: dmorsino.com [http://dmorsino.com] ✉️ Suggest a guest or topic: Shiloh@shilohcreed.com [Shiloh@shilohcreed.com] ---------------------------------------- The Author's Mind — No theory. No workshopping. Just the real craft and process of working authors.

Book Marketing for Authors: Is AuthorsXP Worth It?

Book marketing for authors doesn't have to be a guessing game — and AuthorsXP might be the most underrated tool in your author marketing arsenal. In this video, Shilo Creed (42 novels, 1.4M copies sold) gives you an honest, experience-based breakdown of how it actually works. In this video: ✅ How AuthorsXP helps you build a targeted reader email list ✅ Getting genuine book reviews without chasing readers down ✅ The author marketing tips and tricks that professional authors use to sell more books ✅ Whether AuthorsXP is worth your time and money — no fluff, just real results f you're figuring out how to market a book — whether you're indie or traditionally published — this is the hands-on breakdown most writing channels won't give you. No theory. Just what works. 🔗 Learn more about AuthorsXP: https://www.authorsxp.com [https://www.authorsxp.com] ---------------------------------------- 📌 New here? Subscribe for direct access to the thinking, process, and craft of today's professional authors.

How to Write a Novel with Confidence: The Author Mindset No One Teaches

What if the biggest obstacle between you and a finished novel isn’t your plot, your characters, or your writing skills—but your own mindset? In this episode of The Author’s Mind, I’m talking with award-winning suspense author S.R. Fabrico about the real inner game of writing fiction. Stacey went from secretly printing her first 80,000-word manuscript on a copy machine as a Christmas gift for her husband… to becoming a multi-published author. She’s sharing the mindset shifts, habits, and hard-won truths that helped her keep writing when fear, doubt, and perfectionism told her to stop. In this conversation, you’ll discover: ·        The counterintuitive secret to finishing your first draft (why your first draft is supposed to be “crap”) ·        How to write suspense and build tension that keeps readers turning pages ·        Why even experienced authors still struggle with perfectionism—and practical ways to push through it ·        How to separate your self-worth from your writing so critiques don’t destroy your confidence ·        What to do when you feel like quitting your novel, and how to give yourself a real chance to succeed Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:30 – How S.R. Fabrico accidentally became a novelist 08:45 – “Your first product is going to be crap”: the truth about first drafts 15:20 – Using dance and choreography principles to build suspense on the page 22:10 – Perfectionism, failure, and why not finishing is the only guaranteed loss 28:00 – “What you do is what you do. It’s not who you are”: protecting your self-worth 32:45 – Practical mindset tools to keep writing when you’re scared 38:00 – Final advice for writers who are afraid to start—or finish—their book If you’re a fiction writer who wants to finish your novel, grow your confidence, and develop a resilient author mindset, this episode is for you. Connect with S.R. Fabrico: Website: SRFabrico.com [http://SRFabrico.com] Social: @SRFabrico_author Subscribe to The Author’s Mind for more real conversations with working authors about author mindset, novel writing, fiction writing tips, suspense writing, and the craft of telling powerful stories. #AuthorMindset #NovelWriting #FictionWritingTips #FinishYourNovel #WritingTips #SuspenseWriting #OvercomingPerfectionism #WritingMindset #FirstDraft #WritingCommunity Find Shilo's books here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFV59FRQ?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771886025&sr=1-1&ref [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFV59FRQ?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771886025&sr=1-1&ref] Looking for her other pen names? Check them out! Elysian Hunt ~ Clean Rom Coms https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFZ4P281?binding=kindle_edition&ref [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFZ4P281?binding=kindle_edition&ref] Quinn Knightly ~ Medieval action adventure https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4YMGZL?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771885958&sr=8-1&ref [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4YMGZL?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771885958&sr=8-1&ref] C.R. Fulton ~ Middle grade chapter books that are wholesome: https://bakkenbooks.com/collections/the-campground-kids-collection [https://bakkenbooks.com/collections/the-campground-kids-collection]