Sign in

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
Go to
How do you measure success?

How do you measure success?

In today's episode, I want to talk about success.PATREON - http://patreon.com/johnhelpsyouwritebetterPOWERED BY DESCRIPT. (Descript is the software I use to not only record podcasts, but edit them as as easily as a Word or Google doc, and create transcripts of every stream!)
11:1818/09/2023
Oh heavens no, don't be unrealistic (gasp!)

Oh heavens no, don't be unrealistic (gasp!)

Okay, can we stop trying so hard to be realistic please?
09:5314/09/2023
Saying more about "writing what you know"

Saying more about "writing what you know"

POWERED BY DESCRIPT Today let's go back to talking about writing what you know and why it's maybe not the best maxim to write by.
11:5613/09/2023
Your voice is your greatest tool for your work

Your voice is your greatest tool for your work

More than your software or your coffee or your genre or your outline, no single tool is going to help you be the writer you want to be (or the writer you're capable of being) like your voice will.
15:1412/09/2023
It's so important that you're curious

It's so important that you're curious

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. You've got to bring curiosity to your work. Here's why.
09:5711/09/2023
Marketing Day 5: How To Market Effectively

Marketing Day 5: How To Market Effectively

The last day of marketing week, so let's give you one thing to think about going forward
20:3408/09/2023
Marketing Day 4: A Marketing Strategy For You

Marketing Day 4: A Marketing Strategy For You

More Marketing than you can shake a stick at. Here's a strategy to employ.
20:3207/09/2023
A congested Writers Chat for the week of 9-6

A congested Writers Chat for the week of 9-6

Welcome to my kitchen, let's have a Writers Chat.
01:08:2506/09/2023
Marketing Day 3: marketing as an opportunity

Marketing Day 3: marketing as an opportunity

Marketing week marches on. Is Marketing an opportunity?
14:0406/09/2023
Marketing Day 2: Marketing isn't sleazy

Marketing Day 2: Marketing isn't sleazy

More marketing week goodness. Let's answer the question -- "Is marketing sleazy?"
14:1905/09/2023
Marketing Day 1: Marketing is a Conversation

Marketing Day 1: Marketing is a Conversation

It's Marketing week! So let's start with what marketing is and what it isn't.
17:0004/09/2023
So you want to build a world for your story...

So you want to build a world for your story...

In this workshop, it's all about worldbuilding. How do you make a world more than just some object descriptions? How do you tie your world to your characters and plot? Find all that and more in a little over one hour.POWERED BY DESCRIPT
01:15:1601/09/2023
A contemplative and honest Writers Chat for 8/29

A contemplative and honest Writers Chat for 8/29

POWERED BY DESCRIPT, the best way to produce any podcast EVER. In this week's Writers Chat I talk about discipline, switching genres, publishing speed, believing in yourself, book pricing, and writing communities. TIP THE PODCAST - https://johnhelpsyouwritebetter.captivate.fm/support
01:36:3729/08/2023
Let's dive back into Fantasy

Let's dive back into Fantasy

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Ages ago I talked about the narrative construction for fantasy. How about we dive deeper and talk about spots to pay attention to as well as red flags?
01:36:0125/08/2023
The power hour-ish Writers Chat of 8.22

The power hour-ish Writers Chat of 8.22

Powered by Descript, the best way to record a podcast, ever! In today's Chat I talk about Batman, Dave Matthews Band, genres, innovation, fear, bad habits, and passive voice.
01:27:2922/08/2023
It's important that you say something.

It's important that you say something.

POWERED BY DESCRIPT.You're writing whatever you're writing, creating whatever you're creating - but are you saying anything? Here's why that's so important.
10:2122/08/2023
How are you taking care of yourself?

How are you taking care of yourself?

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Self-care is more than sleeping in and moisturizing.
07:0721/08/2023
A question about titles and originality

A question about titles and originality

POWERED BY DESCRIPT Today I answer a question about titles, ethics, and originality.
13:3717/08/2023
Why are you in a hurry?

Why are you in a hurry?

Have you ever thought about why you're going so quickly? Or wanting to? You got somewhere to be? b2Y54UuGtYKF4uRI4mgr
14:3216/08/2023
The Writers Chat of 8.15: A Chat of business and design

The Writers Chat of 8.15: A Chat of business and design

POWERED BY DESCRIPTDon't look now, but this Writers Chat covers things like agents, newsletters, social media engagement, syllables, and large battles. b2Y54UuGtYKF4uRI4mgr
01:20:5615/08/2023
The power of a feedback loop

The power of a feedback loop

Today I want to talk about how you talking to and about yourself.
13:5715/08/2023
So let's talk about customers real quick....

So let's talk about customers real quick....

POWERED BY DESCRIPT - Tonight we talk customers. This is the audio from the "6 Customers You Need To Know" workshop.
52:2415/08/2023
How to tell why you're rejected

How to tell why you're rejected

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. We all get rejected. Some of us make an obsession out figuring out why, and others of us conclude that because we've been rejected, we must not be good enough. Let's talk about that.
13:1114/08/2023
On purpose.

On purpose.

If you're listening to this episode, please click this link: https://johnhelpsyouwritebetter.as.me/freeappointmentI love you all.
23:4111/08/2023
BookTok isn't all that great

BookTok isn't all that great

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Hey you know that BookTok thing that all the kids are talking about? Can we take a look at that for second?
10:4110/08/2023
Your writing is not a pile of stats

Your writing is not a pile of stats

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Today, let's talk about why AI and techbros are bad for art, and why your book isn't baseball.
16:2709/08/2023
The expressive and personal Writers Chat of 8/8

The expressive and personal Writers Chat of 8/8

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Looking for a Writing Community? Try Story Valley. In today's Chat, I talk about feedback loops, rejection, antagonists, Enemies to Lovers, and taking one step at a time.
01:41:3108/08/2023
Being A Person On Social Media Is Okay

Being A Person On Social Media Is Okay

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. So ... how are you on social media?
11:2807/08/2023
3 things to 2 know about 2 person scenes

3 things to 2 know about 2 person scenes

In today's episode we go maybe 2 fast and 2 furious through some finer points of 2 person scenes.
13:3103/08/2023
And behold, an antagonistic force

And behold, an antagonistic force

In today's episode I talk about a different kind of antagonist
08:5102/08/2023
The Writers Chat returns! The Writers Chat for 8/1

The Writers Chat returns! The Writers Chat for 8/1

It's back! The Chat! Here! Now! 13 answers to 13 questions. Come for questions about AI, stay for questions about how to say something in your writing. This one's a killer.
01:47:0501/08/2023
You've got to think outside the box

You've got to think outside the box

In today's episode, I want us to talk about the box and how you want to be outside it.
10:2401/08/2023
What desperation for sales means

What desperation for sales means

In today's episode, I have a few things to say about being desperate for sales.
08:1331/07/2023
Organization wins. Period.

Organization wins. Period.

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Today, I'm talking about how you have to organize or you're making everything harder on yourself.
08:1627/07/2023
Go take a look at your closet

Go take a look at your closet

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Have you looked at your closet lately? Have you thought about what your closet says about your writing?
07:2926/07/2023
Have you given some thought to your legacy?

Have you given some thought to your legacy?

Today I want to talk to you about your legacy and how you build it.
09:0124/07/2023
Any 2 will do

Any 2 will do

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. In today's episode, let's talk about soclal media.
10:3620/07/2023
Are you mad at the dishes? Really?

Are you mad at the dishes? Really?

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. In today's episode, I want to tell you a story about the dishes in the sink and how they got me thinking about the last break you took away from your writing.
08:0219/07/2023
Take a look at the obstacle course

Take a look at the obstacle course

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. It's time we talk about your career-long view as well as your right-now view of how you're writing and what you want to be doing. Welcome to the Obstacle Course
09:5617/07/2023
The 1 thing writers do that bothers me

The 1 thing writers do that bothers me

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Are you doing the one thing that writers do that bothers me to no end?
11:5314/07/2023
Active versus Passive scene types

Active versus Passive scene types

POWERED BY DESCRIPT.Time to talk about the two types of scenes -- active and passive. What are they good for? Why use them? Is one better than the other?
09:3113/07/2023
How are you connecting your scenes?

How are you connecting your scenes?

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. In today's episode, I answer the question - how do you connect scenes to one another, why is this scene next to that scene?
12:0512/07/2023
Let's talk a little more about mysteries

Let's talk a little more about mysteries

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Today, I have a few more things to say about mystery writing.
41:4304/07/2023
Your guide to making better romance

Your guide to making better romance

POWERED BY DESCRIPT. Today, I dive back into the ideas and construction of romance. This one's long, but worth it. If you have any questions find me on Twitter @awesome_john or email me at [email protected]
01:03:3503/07/2023
Adventures in the land of chuffah!

Adventures in the land of chuffah!

In today's episode, Dick and Jane want to have a picnic. But not just any picnic, an *interesting* picnic. Get ready for this one, it goes places.
23:2930/06/2023
Contradevelopment versus dropping stuff

Contradevelopment versus dropping stuff

In today's thrilling episode, I talk a lot about the difference between doing something and failing to develop it versus doing something and then going in completely the opposite direction. Time for some writing advice!
14:3429/06/2023
How to build and use (and resolve!) tension

How to build and use (and resolve!) tension

The writing podcast you should probably tell more people about is back with an all-new episode where i spent a whole lot of minutes talking about tension: what it is, what to do with it, and how to use it better than you're using it. Put this in your ears please!
25:2928/06/2023
Pavel was a better Chekov.

Pavel was a better Chekov.

POWERED BY DESCRIPT - In today's episode I talk about Chekov. Not his wessels, the playwright with all the guns named after him.
10:1119/06/2023
Are you serious? part 2

Are you serious? part 2

Like Lance Storm, I need to be serious for a moment...
19:3916/06/2023
Are you serious, part 1

Are you serious, part 1

This podcast is brought to you by believing in yourself and is powered by Descript and the letter "let's make nachos"
08:5815/06/2023