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Your First Fifteen Pages

Your First Fifteen Pages

Sandra O'Donnell/Judd Vowell

This podcast is for beginning writers AND for those who have a pile of thanks but no thanks rejections sitting in their inbox. It is for the novice writer with an inkling of a book idea AND for those who've heard crickets from the queries they've sent out. It is for those who dream of being on a bestseller list or winning a major book award AND for those who want to write the best book possible and to see where it takes them. Hosted by Sandra O'Donnell and Judd Vowell, Your First Fifteen Pages is the help you need to make your book a success. As a book coach and literary agent Sandra knows what it takes to go from a good story to a great story and from being an unsigned writer to an author with an agent and a book contract. Judd's writing journey began with a dystopian trilogy, that didn't take Amazon by storm, but did garner a small following. Judd shares his writing experience and how his writing has changed since discovering Your First Fifteen Pages and through his work with Sandra.In each episode of Your First Fifteen Pages, Sandra and Judd unlock the mystery of what it takes to capture and hold the interest of agents, editors, and ultimately readers. We show you how to perfect your first fifteen pages and use them as the foundation for the rest of your story. If you are struggling with a manuscript, we show you how to fix problems and move your writing forward. If you are a new writer, we show you how to get started and make your first novel agent worthy from the start.
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Top 10 Your First Fifteen Pages Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Your First Fifteen Pages episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Your First Fifteen Pages for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Your First Fifteen Pages episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Your First Fifteen Pages - 8B: Setting and Worldbuilding continued
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04/23/19 • 37 min

In this episode, we talk about the 7 Deadly Sins of World Building based on an article by Charlie Jane Anders and we go through the elements of setting.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 7: Story Arcs and Organizing Devices
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03/27/19 • 63 min

In this episode, we talk story arcs and other ways to organize you story. And help you discover ways to use arcs and organizing devices to create a better, more coherent narrative.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 6: Plot and Structure

Episode 6: Plot and Structure

Your First Fifteen Pages

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03/15/19 • 44 min

In this episode, we discuss the three types of plot. Mini Plot, which is driven by a character's internal conflict. The Hero’s Journey, which takes your characters on a quest. Anti-Plot, which breaks all the Rules. We’ll discuss how to know which plot best for your story and how plot helps you to keep your novel on track and meet the expectations of your readers.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 4: Reading to Write

Episode 4: Reading to Write

Your First Fifteen Pages

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02/24/19 • 55 min

In this episode, we talk about why you need to read to be a better writer. We discuss books on craft and how to identify and read the books in your genre to learn from the authors who have come before. Reading for craft is one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolbox.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 1: Writing 101 - Story Ideas

Episode 1: Writing 101 - Story Ideas

Your First Fifteen Pages

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02/15/19 • 52 min

In this episode, we discuss where story ideas come from. We look at where Liane Moriarty got the idea for The Husband’s Secret and talk about how Judd came up with the idea for Powder House. And, we’ll discuss how to know if the idea you have can sustain a book.

For detailed show notes, worksheets, mini classes and more, go to our Patreon page at patreon.com/yourfirstfifteenpages and subscribe! And for more about the process Sandra uses to guide writers check out Your First Fifteen Pages: An agent's guide to writing a book editors will publish and readers will buy! Available on Amazon.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 10 - Interview with Author Robert Bailey
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06/12/19 • 74 min

In this episode, we talk with Robert Bailey, the author of the incredibly successful McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers, published through Thomas & Mercer. Join us to hear all about Robert's tumultuous path to publishing.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 9: Writing Nonfiction

Episode 9: Writing Nonfiction

Your First Fifteen Pages

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05/29/19 • 69 min

Up to this point, all the topics we’ve covered apply to both fiction and nonfiction. In this episode, we’ll talk about how writing fiction diverges from writing nonfiction. There plenty for nonfiction writers to take away from all the episodes but this show is all about the memoir and nonfiction.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 8A: Setting and World Building
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04/09/19 • 53 min

Does your story begin in a kitchen or on a suburban street? Is it set in a dystopian world you have to create or is it set on a plantation in the pre-Civil War South? Some of these settings require very little detail to conjure an image of place in the reader’s mind. Others require the writer to create a world using specific language and details. In this episode, we’ll talk about setting and world-building and how to use each to elevate your story.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 5: Find the Why of Your Story
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03/05/19 • 64 min

Whether you are writing literary fiction or historical fiction, police procedurals or YA, before readers will fully invest in reading your story, to get them past those crucial first fifteen pages, you need to show the reader WHY they are reading. In this episode, we discuss how you find the WHY of your story and how that becomes the basis for your inciting incident.

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Your First Fifteen Pages - Episode 3 - Genre and Conventions

Episode 3 - Genre and Conventions

Your First Fifteen Pages

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02/17/19 • 42 min

Every murder mystery has a dead body. Every thriller a villain. Every love story a meet cute. And, every genre has elements that readers expect to find in stories billed as a particular genre. In this episode, we’ll talk about genre — what genres are, why its important to find yours and what the conventions are for each. Hint: to get an agent or editor interest in your story or help readers find your self-published book, you need to know your genre.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Your First Fifteen Pages have?

Your First Fifteen Pages currently has 12 episodes available.

What topics does Your First Fifteen Pages cover?

The podcast is about Fiction, Publishing, Writing, Writers, Podcasts, Books, Education, Nonfiction, Arts, Authors and Creative Writing.

What is the most popular episode on Your First Fifteen Pages?

The episode title 'Episode 10 - Interview with Author Robert Bailey' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Your First Fifteen Pages?

The average episode length on Your First Fifteen Pages is 51 minutes.

How often are episodes of Your First Fifteen Pages released?

Episodes of Your First Fifteen Pages are typically released every 9 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Your First Fifteen Pages?

The first episode of Your First Fifteen Pages was released on Feb 8, 2019.

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