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Education
John Adamus
John Helps You Write Better is your all-in-one better-than-college help and advice in writing and publishing your books. It's all about giving you the career as a successful author you've always dreamed of.
Total 310 episodes
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What to look for in a writing community or writing space

What to look for in a writing community or writing space

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the groups you join when you're a writer.
09:1630/07/2024
Don't rush to your end goal

Don't rush to your end goal

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you shouldn't rush to fame you're expecting as an author.
10:1524/07/2024
How To Build An Audience

How To Build An Audience

In this longer episode, I'd like to talk to you about building an audience.
45:0323/07/2024
Please ask questions

Please ask questions

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the importance of asking questions.
09:4023/07/2024
Are you sure you need a SFW account and an NSFW account?

Are you sure you need a SFW account and an NSFW account?

In today's episode I'd like to speak to those writers who are on the fence about making separate accounts for their SFW writing and their NSFW art.
10:5722/07/2024
Is serialization right for you?

Is serialization right for you?

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about Kindle Vella and serialization.
14:1811/07/2024
You have to do your best

You have to do your best

In today's episode I want to remind you that you have to do your best, not your fastest.
11:3710/07/2024
Control your mind, not the reader

Control your mind, not the reader

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the impact you can have on your reader.
08:5709/07/2024
Let's talk about plot twists.

Let's talk about plot twists.

In today's episode, I have a few things to tell you about plot twists.
10:2308/07/2024
4 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Plot

4 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Plot

in today's episode, here's the audio from yesterday's YouTube video all about mistakes in your plot
01:01:0703/07/2024
How about a marketing tip?

How about a marketing tip?

In today's episode, I've got some marketing advice for you.
08:5702/07/2024
Are you reading carefully?

Are you reading carefully?

In today's episode I want to talk to you about why people are always telling writers to read more.
10:1401/07/2024
I need you to try marketing

I need you to try marketing

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your approach to marketing.
10:1827/06/2024
How to write a book in less than forever

How to write a book in less than forever

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about your writing schedule.
10:5426/06/2024
Say No To Hyperbole

Say No To Hyperbole

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why your preferred language for hyping up writers and books might not be helping.
06:3525/06/2024
So ... about that conference...

So ... about that conference...

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the weekend I just had.
13:3724/06/2024
Hey, it's time to stop pants-ing

Hey, it's time to stop pants-ing

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you need to be more organized.
11:2720/06/2024
No, you don't want to be a short story writer

No, you don't want to be a short story writer

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about those short stories you're thinking about publishing.
09:5419/06/2024
I'd like you to swim upstream

I'd like you to swim upstream

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about chasing trends and trying to be an individual like all the other people doing the exact same stuff.
11:1818/06/2024
Rejection is a part of this whole endeavor

Rejection is a part of this whole endeavor

In today's episode, I'd like to talk to those writers who are maybe thinking that the rejections they got are more personal than professional.
12:4717/06/2024
Don't let the naysayers stop you

Don't let the naysayers stop you

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the people who won't like your work and how you can't let them stop you from writing.
12:4811/06/2024
Yes, you really need an editor, not just software

Yes, you really need an editor, not just software

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why you need a human editor and not just software to help you write your book.
11:2710/06/2024
You prepare as you go

You prepare as you go

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about preparation. I want to talk to you about this sense that you're scared of what's coming next and what to do about it.
10:1106/06/2024
About those 100 things you've started and never finished...

About those 100 things you've started and never finished...

In today's episode, I'd like to talk about your ever-growing pile of ideas you never work on or finish.
13:0805/06/2024
Get It Out Of Your Head If You Want It To Become Real

Get It Out Of Your Head If You Want It To Become Real

In today's episode, I want to tell you that keeping your plans in your head is keeping you from accomplishing them.
10:2004/06/2024
I'm making a thing!

I'm making a thing!

In today's very short episode, I'm announcing work on a new project.
03:3003/06/2024
I need you to stop only making up your story and start feeling it too

I need you to stop only making up your story and start feeling it too

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how you need to do more than just make up things on the page.
11:4329/05/2024
Make progress in writing by writing just one sentence

Make progress in writing by writing just one sentence

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about the value of writing one sentence.
07:4228/05/2024
My Dinner With Capitalism

My Dinner With Capitalism

In today's episode I want to talk to you briefly about my ongoing struggle with being a guy who sells things.
08:0527/05/2024
Theme, Part 3: Why theme needs to matter to you as a writer

Theme, Part 3: Why theme needs to matter to you as a writer

In today's episode I want to wrap up my thoughts on theme by pointing out why it should matter so much more to you that you have a theme and are using it effectively.
11:2123/05/2024
5 Things To Be A Successful Writer (listen to me when you need a boost)

5 Things To Be A Successful Writer (listen to me when you need a boost)

In this very special episode, I want to talk to you about being successful.
50:4822/05/2024
Theme, Part 2: Why themes matter in publishing

Theme, Part 2: Why themes matter in publishing

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why publishing (especially traditional publishing) really wants you to have themes in your work.
13:0622/05/2024
Theme Part 1: What is it, where does it go?

Theme Part 1: What is it, where does it go?

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about what a theme is and where it goes in your story.
12:3121/05/2024
You need structure. I'm sorry, you just need to learn some writing basics.

You need structure. I'm sorry, you just need to learn some writing basics.

In today's episode, I want to talk to those writers who say things like "I don't really have a three-act structure" or "I'm a discovery writer."
07:5320/05/2024
How to Organize Your Story

How to Organize Your Story

In this week's Writers Chat, I want to help you organize your story. From the beginning. Yes really. All the way to the finished draft.
01:17:2115/05/2024
What happened to the craft of writing lately?

What happened to the craft of writing lately?

In today's episode, I want to kinda be an old man yelling at clouds and talk about a problem I see proliferating in writing.
11:0615/05/2024
Is a comic writer a "real" writer?

Is a comic writer a "real" writer?

In today's episode I want to talk to you about who is or isn't a real writer.
06:4613/05/2024
Your characters need to be challenged

Your characters need to be challenged

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how you're challenging your characters and why you should if you're not already.
12:2309/05/2024
More stuff is not necessarily cooler.

More stuff is not necessarily cooler.

In today's episode I want to talk to you about that bad writer habit of not challenging your character while also giving them huge accomplishments.
07:5308/05/2024
Even more writing exercises to help you write better

Even more writing exercises to help you write better

In today's episode, I've got some writing exercises to help you organize your characters, your themes, and the depth of your story. It gets crunchy but it will help you.
01:13:0407/05/2024
Please stop making diss tracks against yourself.

Please stop making diss tracks against yourself.

In today's episode, I want you to quit rap battling yourself. It's not helping. And you deserve all the help and love and support you can get.
13:1507/05/2024
How to organize your own continuity (landscaper edition)

How to organize your own continuity (landscaper edition)

In today's episode I want to talk to you (while the landscapers fly a jet out my window) about managing your work's continuity.
09:3506/05/2024
How to deal with continuity and big messes of story

How to deal with continuity and big messes of story

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about how you find your footing in big complicated series and amid all the many moving interwoven parts.
08:5502/05/2024
I have a few thoughts about X-Men 97

I have a few thoughts about X-Men 97

In today's episode, can we talk about some teens?
15:2701/05/2024
Everything You Might Want To Know About Writing A Scene

Everything You Might Want To Know About Writing A Scene

In this week's stream, let's talk scenes. Here's how to build them, what goes into them, what they need, and several kinds of them.
01:14:1130/04/2024
Rejection is what you make of it.

Rejection is what you make of it.

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about rejection and what it means for you (and how that doesn't mean quitting)
10:3230/04/2024
Doubt happens, here's what you can do about it.

Doubt happens, here's what you can do about it.

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about self-doubt.
10:4729/04/2024
A quick note about TikTok

A quick note about TikTok

In today's episode, I want to ask you a question about what's next.
08:3725/04/2024
Give your characters some goals to help the reader feel like things matter

Give your characters some goals to help the reader feel like things matter

In today's episode, I want to talk to you about why your characters need goals and what that looks like for your story.
10:3924/04/2024
Listen to this if you want help describing things in writing

Listen to this if you want help describing things in writing

In this week's Writers Chat, we should talk about description. How to write it, what the point is, how to make it work.
01:09:0123/04/2024