In this episode, Jeff is joined by Dialogue Doctor Coaches JP Rindfleisch IX and Laura Humm. They talk about life and catch up with one another after the holiday. Then they answer random questions together. It’s a fun (and sometimes silly) episode.
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AI Summary of the Content of the Episode
This coaching call features Jeff Elkins, JP Ryan Flesh the IX, and Laura Hum, covering upcoming community events, personal writing updates, and a series of creative exercises designed to improve craft.
Community Announcements and Master Classes
Jeff begins by encouraging listeners to join the Dialogue Doctor community, which offers benefits like bi-weekly Zoom calls, writing prompts, and “Learning from the Masters” articles. He highlights an upcoming six-hour master class titled “Engineering Emotion,” scheduled for February 6th and 7th, which will teach eight ways to manipulate scene emotion. Additionally, Jeff announces plans for a craft-focused writing conference in Baltimore set for late August.
Personal and Professional Updates
The participants share recent successes and media recommendations:
- Jeff Elkins: He reports being in a positive headspace, working on a new editing contract for an enjoyable book, and recommends the novel Six of Crows.
- Laura Hum: She recommends the show Stumble and discusses the show Land Man, though she and the others critique the current season’s lack of plot.
- JP Ryan Flesh the Ninth: He shares that he finished the draft for the final book in the Leia Aman series, which gained notoriety after a co-writer handed a copy to Joe Jonas on stage. JP has a very busy year ahead with six scheduled releases, including short stories and two newly contracted novels.
Creative Exercises: “Weird Questions” with Writing Applications
The group transitions into a “weird questions” game, where they attempt to tie random scenarios back to helpful advice for writers:
- Meeting a Ghost: JP is identified as the most likely to meet a ghost, having had “weird” experiences in the past. From a writing perspective, the group notes that interacting with a “historic ghost” provides excellent details for characterization.
- Finding a Dead Body: The group discusses their immediate reactions to finding a body in a hotel, ranging from calling the police to asking for a new room. Jeff explains that writers should use such scenarios to practice realism in character reactions; characters often feel “contrived” when they act only to serve a plotline rather than reacting as a real person would.
- Finding Found Money: Jeff and JP discuss how they would spend $10,000, with Jeff focusing on practical home repairs and JP planning a European tour. They conclude that trying new things and traveling is vital for writers to gain “emotional experiences” they can later translate into their characters’ journeys.
- Radioactive Vegetables: The coaches choose superpowers based on vegetables (e.g., turning things pink or “super saltiness”). This exercise helps writers practice thinking outside their own perspective, which is necessary to prevent every character from sounding exactly like the author.
Reflections on Growth and Mindset
The call concludes with a serious discussion about the past year and future goals:
- Advice to Past Selves: Laura and Jeff both note that last January was a difficult time for their mental health; their advice to their past selves would be that “it’s all going to be okay.” JP reflects on his layoff from a day job as a “blessing in disguise” that allowed him to pursue a full-time creative career.
- Mindsets to Leave Behind: Jeff is focused on overcoming self-doubt without becoming a narcissist. JP wants to stop the habit of jumping on every new opportunity and instead focus on what makes him happy. Laura expresses a desire to relinquish her “control freak” tendencies and be more comfortable with others taking the lead.
Jeff ends the session by noting that all three participants have open coaching slots available for writers seeking one-on-one sessions.