Vocabbett - Fun Vocabulary & History Stories
Painlessly improve your vocabulary for the SAT, ACT, and life itself with the Vocabbett podcast! Utilizing research-backed, story-based strategies, host Erica Abbett will walk you through the best tips and tricks for painlessly improving your vocabulary for a stress-free test day. Covering everything from etymology (a fancy word for "Greek and Latin roots") to the best day to take the test (it's probably not what you think!), the Vocabbett podcast promises to be uniquely entertaining and educational. If you're ready to painlessly improve your vocabulary and English skills, let's dive in!
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Season 2 Finale (And a Peek Behind the Scenes!)
02/25/2021
Season 2 Finale (And a Peek Behind the Scenes!)
After around 20 episodes, season 2 of the Vocabbett podcast is coming to a close! I’d gladly continue it forever, but I was recently accepted to UCSD’s college counseling program. Since they operate on a quarterly system, I’m able to start my first class in March! I honestly don’t know exactly how the college counseling certificate will play into the future of Vocabbett, but as I discuss in the podcast, I do want to turn Vocabbett into a profitable, sustainable business, and while I’m having a blast with what I’m currently doing, it’s not exactly self-sustaining. In episode 76, I dive into various ways I could grow Vocabbett moving forward. You can listen below or on your favorite podcast player. And if you have any ideas or thoughts about all this, please, let me know! Seriously, just shoot me an email at [email protected].
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Margo Durrell - Quite the Character
02/23/2021
Margo Durrell - Quite the Character
If you’ve seen , you’ll undoubtedly remember the slightly dotty daughter in the series, Margo. When I finished the show (a slightly heartbreaking moment – I hope they release a new season in the future!), I was exceptionally curious about what happened next for the family. Though the show offers a fictionalized account of the Durrells’ lives, the characters were based on real people. To think of them in the clutches of World War II… For episode 75 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share more about the remarkable life of Margo Durrell. You can listen below or on your favorite podcast player! - Episode Correction: Thanks to a listener for pointing out that I was in error on the publication date of "Whatever Happened to Margo." It was originally published in 1995, and she didn't pass away until 2007 -- therefore, it was very much NOT a posthumous publication! Referenced In This Episode:
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Cleopatra's Little Sister
02/16/2021
Cleopatra's Little Sister
We've all heard of Cleopatra, but how many people know she had a little sister -- and a pretty remarkable one at that? Arsinoe IV was about ten years younger than Cleopatra, but my guess is that, had their ages been reversed, we'd all know Arsinoe and it would be, "Cleopatra who?" At around 12 years old, she was commanding an army and outwitting Julius Caesar! Listen to episode 74 of the Vocabbett podcast to learn all about her. And as promised, here is the link to the episode of "Drunk History" about her for those who want to watch! I said it in the podcast, but I'll say it again here: there is a lot of profanity in this video! It's hilarious if you don't mind that sort of thing, but there are about 1,000 swear words in 10 minutes and some PG-13-level vulgarity. Consider yourself warned!
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Endlessly Exiled...But She Still Didn't Quit
02/11/2021
Endlessly Exiled...But She Still Didn't Quit
When most of us think of suffragettes (a.k.a. women who fought for the right to vote), we think of Susan B. Anthony or Emmeline Pankhurst. We should, however, also be thinking about the extraordinary Nazek al-Abid! In the latest installment in our “forgotten women” mini-series, we explore the story of this remarkable woman. Exiled countless times for voicing (and acting upon) her beliefs, she never stopped fighting. Get the whole story in episode 72 of the Vocabbett podcast! (By the way, because her name is transliterated from Arabic, it’s sometimes spelled “Naziq” or “Nazik.” None are incorrect; I just went with what was on the Syrian stamp!) - Read More: ‘Forgotten Princesses’ article I reference throughout the episode:
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18th Century Heiress-Turned-Pirate? (Vocabulary-Boosting History)
02/09/2021
18th Century Heiress-Turned-Pirate? (Vocabulary-Boosting History)
“18th century heiress turned pirate” may sound like the tagline of a cheesy romance novel, but remarkably, it’s a fairly accurate description of the indomitable Anne Bonny. A few episodes into our “Forgotten Women” mini-series -- where I sneakily boost your vocabulary by telling you about some people you probably didn’t learn about in school -- we’re shedding light on one of the most famous female pirates from the so-called “Golden Age” of piracy. It’s a story you won’t want to miss! You can listen for free on your favorite podcast player, or tune in over at Vocabbett. Referenced in this episode:
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The *Other* British Warrior Queen
02/04/2021
The *Other* British Warrior Queen
If you’re an Anglophile (lover of the English) like me, you’ve probably heard of Boudica, the warrior queen who took on the Romans. But did you know that there’s *another* British warrior queen with an equally fascinating tale? Around the 8th century, Viking raiders were taking over regions of England left and right. Alfred the Great dreamed of not only fighting them off, but uniting England under one king. Sadly, he died before seeing his dream come true. Alfred’s daughter, Aethelflaed, leaped onto my radar in The Last Kingdom (available on Netflix, though very violent, so don’t watch unless you have a parent’s permission). I loved her storyline (from season 2) so much, I couldn’t help but Google what happened to her later! Obviously not everything from the show is true, but later in life, she went on to do extraordinary things. Aethelflaed took on the Vikings, negotiating with them when possible and fighting them when it wasn’t. She was a shrewd tactician, and knew exactly which roads and river passages to attack to make the battle as swift as possible. It got to the point where her enemies (the freaking Vikings) would surrender without a fight! Learn more about this amazing woman in episode 71 of the Vocabbett podcast! Quoted & Referenced in This Episode:
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The Powerful Woman Behind 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'
02/02/2021
The Powerful Woman Behind 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'
“Mary had a little lamb…” Be honest. Did you go, “little lamb” again after you read that? Those five words are so catchy, they were the first words Thomas Edison ever recorded in the phonograph (making them the first words ever recorded on a machine). Not only that, but they were also some of the first words Alexander Graham Bell spoke into the telephone! It’s astonishing to me that a mere century (or so) after her death, Sarah Josepha Hale — the creator of this nursery rhyme — has faded into obscurity. It would be one thing if her accomplishments had also faded, but we’re still hugely impacted by her legacy. And I’m not just talking about ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’ In fact, if you’d asked Sarah to list what she was most proud of, “Mary had a little lamb” probably wouldn’t even make the first page! The only reason I know about this woman is that I’m lucky to be (very) loosely related to her. But it got me thinking, how many other stories of remarkable women have been forgotten? In episode 70 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share the (very abbreviated) story of Sarah Josepha Hale in a new “Forgotten Women” mini-series. I’m still boosting your vocabulary throughout; I’m just finding new, fun stories to incorporate while doing it! : ) You can on your favorite player, and I’ve included a sneak peek of the members’-only podcast accompaniment below. if you haven’t already!
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Kudos & Magical Glory
01/28/2021
Kudos & Magical Glory
I don’t remember the first time I heard the word “kudos,” but I distinctly remember thinking that it was 1970’s slang. How wrong I was! I only found out last week, though, that “kudos” goes all the way back to the days of Homer, meaning “magical glory” in ancient Greek. This means, if someone says, “kudos, you did a great job at the game,” the original meaning was more like, “Magical glory! Man, you’ve been blessed by the gods. Great job.” How cool is that? There’s a fierce battle raging among linguists about this word (something I’d love to see in person). I go into details in episode 69 of the Vocabbett podcast!
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The Beak Where People Speak
01/26/2021
The Beak Where People Speak
Amid the recent inauguration news, I kept hearing the word “rostrum.” “As he approaches the rostrum tomorrow…” “Donald Trump began his term from the same rostrum…” “In his inaugural address Wednesday, delivered from a …” Obviously this word wasn’t crucial to my understanding of what was happening, but being the inquisitive sort, I needed to know all about it. A rostrum is basically a podium. There are subtle differences, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a podium. That’s not the good bit, though. The good bit is what comes before the definition, the story of how we got the definition. Like so many others, this story goes back to ancient Rome (and their fighting preferences). Learn all about it on episode 68 of the Vocabbett podcast!
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Changes to the SAT - What No One's Talking About
01/21/2021
Changes to the SAT - What No One's Talking About
With colleges dropping the SAT left and right — and the recent announcement that they’re — it’s normal to feel a reluctant pang of sympathy for a dying rite of passage. Here’s the thing, though: The College Board (the organization that runs the SAT) is stronger than ever. Most people don’t know that the AP program is also managed by The College Board, so while people celebrate the end of a standardized test…we’re unwittingly letting them standardize the entire high school curriculum. I’m not against AP’s. There are some great AP courses! But when one organization has so much power, there are bound to be issues because we don’t all want the same thing. I dive into this issue in greater detail in episode 67 of the Vocabbett podcast. I’d consider it a must-listen for students, parents, and educators!
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'An Era of Schadenfreude'
01/19/2021
'An Era of Schadenfreude'
Imagine not knowing how to say that you're tired. It wouldn't make sense, right? And yet there's an emotion that most of us experience all the time, whether we want to or not...but we awkwardly don't name it. If you don't know the word "schadenfreude," you're not alone. In fact, the very history of this emotion is full of people who didn't want to bring it into the English language! Schadenfreude is when you're happy about, or interested in, the misfortunes of others. In more practical terms, it's when you laugh at a video of someone falling, read all the details of some scandal, watch reality TV, or (let's be honest) read the news. How often do they report "man gets his mail" without some catastrophe attached to it? It's been said that we're currently living in an era of schadenfreude because, when you think about it, many of our forms of entertainment focus on reveling in someone else's misfortunes. It's created some new moral conundrums that I find fascinating! Get all the information in episode 66 of the Vocabbett podcast.
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Why We Call It Soccer (When Everyone Else Calls It Football!)
01/14/2021
Why We Call It Soccer (When Everyone Else Calls It Football!)
You may already know that what we in the U.S. call “soccer,” most of the rest of the world refers to as “football.” But do you know why we call it soccer when almost no one else does? Is it just some cowboy American thing? A refusal to go with the flow? The story behind the soccer vs. football debate is fascinating, and I share it in episode 65 of the Vocabbett podcast! Take a listen below or on your favorite podcast player. Until next time! - Referenced in this episode: 'The English Game' on Netflix
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Don't Be a Blatherskite
01/12/2021
Don't Be a Blatherskite
Blatherskite - “A person who talks at great length without saying much of sense.” Basically, a blatherer. What a great word. Definitely my favorite word du jour. Do you know what makes this word even better? The amazing route it took to reach our fair shores. Originally a pseudo-Scottish insult, the word became popular through a song, Maggie Lauder, that was popular with American troops during the Revolutionary War! You’ve GOT to listen to episode 64 of the Vocabbett podcast, which features a popular modern rendition of the song. And if you’re not yet a Vocabbett member, sign up to get access to the accompanying video! https://vocabbett.com/signup! - *Listen to the whole 'Maggie Lauder' song!* (It's live, and starts around 30 seconds in) - Referenced in This Episode: The Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon and Louise Lockhart ( - Amazon Associate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no added cost to you)
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Theseus THE Pig + Helen of Troy
01/07/2021
Theseus THE Pig + Helen of Troy
If you're a fan of Greek history, you're probably familiar with the story of Theseus and the minotaur. But did you know that the word "academy" traces its roots all the way back to that story? To be more specific, "academies" are etymologically named in honor of the man who saved Helen of Troy from having to become Theseus' wife! We think of Theseus as this great Greek hero, but if you've ever been in any of my history classes, you know he's a total pig. From abandoning Ariadne on an island to kidnapping Helen of Troy (from the temple where she was praying, no less)...he's no good, folks. Tune into episode 63 of the Vocabbett podcast for the ins and outs of this fascinating story!
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The Juicy Tell-All Novel That Changed the WORD
01/05/2021
The Juicy Tell-All Novel That Changed the WORD
The WORD, get it? Haha, wordplay. You tend to hear the word "anecdote" in two contexts these days. Either it's a fancy stand-in for "story," or it's a disparaging adjective, as in, "you only have anecdotal evidence." But did you know the root of the word anecdote is far more salacious? It goes back to the juiciest tell-all novel of the Byzantine empire, when a respected historian basically published the "Gossip Girl" of Justinian's court after his death. While he was alive, he secretly documented all the scandals: whom the generals' wives were secretly seeing, the pious empress's threats to have people executed, the emperor's fondness for lying and wasting money, that sort of thing. After his death, he released the story under the title "Anekdota," which roughly translates as "not to publish." It's sort of the equivalent of "Confidential" or "Top Secret," a title sure to pique a person's interest! Over time, the word "Anekdota," and later "anecdote," came to be more associated with these personal stories of Justinian's court than the original meaning ("not to publish"). For more details on this story, be sure to tune into episode 62 of the Vocabbett podcast!
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''Crazy' Moon Words + A Writing Tip
12/31/2020
''Crazy' Moon Words + A Writing Tip
We're all probably familiar with the legends of werewolves and madmen emerging from the dark on a full moon...but did you know that this legend is so pervasive, it actually made an impact on the English language? Yes, my friends. The word "lunatic," among others, is directly pulled by the Latin root luna, for moon! In episode 63 of the Vocabbett podcast, I dive into some of the theories as to why this occurred, and I also share a brilliant writing tip from Neil Gaiman's Masterclass. Referenced in this episode: https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-do-we-still-believe-in-lunacy-during-a-full-moon
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Why the Months Make No Sense
12/29/2020
Why the Months Make No Sense
Have you ever looked at the calendar and thought, “Well, that makes no sense”? October starts with “oct,” but it’s not the 8th month. November starts with “nov,” but it’s not the 9th month. December starts with “dec,” but it’s not the 10th month. I always encourage people to pay attention to the Greek and Latin roots, but sometimes, they can mislead you! That’s why stories are such a great (and important) part of improving your vocabulary – they explain the inconsistencies. And this story, as with so many others, begins in ancient Rome. You see, when the ancient Romans first implemented a calendar, it had only ten months, plus a bunch of “off” days before the calendar started back up. It makes perfect sense when you think about why they created the calendar in the first place. The calendar was primarily used to plan farming and agricultural activities, and there were two months a year where you couldn’t do much to the soil. The calendar began in March (in honor of Mars, the god of war). So to the ancient Romans, the numbers matched up perfectly! The biggest change wasn’t adding January and February, though. I explain it all in episode 60 of the Vocabbett podcast!
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Season 1 Finale!
10/13/2020
Season 1 Finale!
After a hot 59 episodes, it’s time to put the Vocabbett podcast on hiatus to write ! The podcast WILL be back. I LOVE doing it; I just need all the creative energy focused on one goal at the moment. Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to the entire backlist at vocabbett.com/season-1. See you in a bit!
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*This* Should Never End for Writers (Not What You Think!)
10/08/2020
*This* Should Never End for Writers (Not What You Think!)
We’ve talked , , , and more in this . But amid the technical tips, one very important component of writing can get overlooked: love of the craft. If you want to be a writer, you must enjoy writing! I’ve mentioned before that this series is modeled after the writing process of Barbara Mertz a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters. I was able to research her creative process for my Master’s, and do you know what stuck with me more than anything else? How much fun she was having! Of course there were difficult days, but this is a woman who clearly loved her work. Her joy is evident at every stage of the process. In her for The Seventh Sinner for instance, she wrote: “The crux of the plot—ha—is the numeral VII, which must come to haunt all the characters, including the heroine, so that when she sees the scrawl in the victim’s blood, it never occurs to her that it could be anything but a number…” I love that little “ha” at the beginning! It’s just so telling. Amelia Peabody, Elizabeth Peters’ primary protagonist, goes so far as to say that paradise would be a continuation of the life she loves with those she loves beside her. A source tells me Mertz felt the same way toward the end of her life. Think about that for a second: that heaven would be a continuation of this life. How many of us can say that? I think it’d be pretty hard to do if you don't love your work! Whether you want to be a writer or something else, that sense of fun and enjoyment is an incredible goal. The ultimate goal? Making your life so amazing that heaven could be a continuation of the life you’re already living.
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Unconventional Editing Advice
10/06/2020
Unconventional Editing Advice
The resounding writing advice today tends to be, “Just get the words on paper. You can edit it later. You can’t edit a blank page. All first drafts are garbage anyway…Just get your word count and keep going!” I can virtually guarantee that if you take this approach with essays, you’ll end up with a garbage product or you’ll have to re-do it. For books? Well, my experience is largely the same. The editing process is BRUTAL when you play fast and loose with the first draft. So, contrary to popular opinion today, I would argue that it’s OK to write a more measured first draft and save yourself a headache in edits! This doesn’t mean every word needs to be perfect before you write it down. The big difference is that you work with the sentence/scene a bit longer, moving on when you feel satisfied (for now), rather than just writing the first thing that pops into your head. It definitely makes editing easier, but I think it might make your overall process faster, too! In episode 57 of the Vocabbett podcast, I dive into the drawbacks of this process. Listen below or on your favorite podcast player!
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Writing and...Popcorn?
10/01/2020
Writing and...Popcorn?
If you're following along and , you're probably into the actual drafting process. Woohoo! While exciting, I'll be the first to admit that this can be a uniquely intimidating time. It's one thing to have an outline; it's another thing to stare down the barrel of 300-odd blank pages. So today, I'm letting you in on what I think is the easiest way to populate the various scenes in your book (it's also the method I use for short stories!). Called the popcorn method, it's actually quite simple. You start with a "kernel" — an observation, quote, line — something that starts as a jumping-off point. From there, you just let that kernel "pop," and follow where it goes! For instance, here was the kernel for from episode 10: Like a mad scientist, but with history (modern Boudicea describing her dad) There aren't many people who'd name their child Boudicea today. What kind of life might this girl have? What kind of nicknames would she get at school? How does she feel about history? That little kernel created a 7-odd page story, and if you listened to episode 10 of the Vocabbett podcast, you know that it could go on! Another kernel I've been hanging on to? Coastal avocado I can't remember where I heard this, but I wrote it down in my handy "kernels" doc, and these two words have exploded into a huge part of the sequel for . It's not describing a food in the traditional sense. Rather, it was the way someone described something that I might naively call "green." What type of person describes something as "coastal avocado" instead of green? What type of industry might they work in? How might they treat their assistants? And what might happen if a certain person (*cough*) goes to work for them? Little kernels like that are all over the place, and if you want to be a writer, it's time you start writing them down! Whether it's in a physical notebook or (my preferred method) my phone and then a Google Doc, what matters is that you capture these kernels for a rainy day. Starting with a kernel will make your final scene or story so much easier to create! Learn more about this technique in episode 56 of the Vocabbett podcast.
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Is Your Subject Your Subject? (Two Meanings!)
09/29/2020
Is Your Subject Your Subject? (Two Meanings!)
As we wrap up our , I have just a few more pieces of word-altering advice to give you! Today's advice has two meanings, and it's: is your subject your subject? Big Picture Are you telling the story from the right point of view? In drafting book #2, I realized my predetermined subject was no longer the only person with a gripping story to tell, and decided to have two narrators instead of the one I'd imagined. It's worth examining your story from a few perspectives before diving in! Line-by-Line This seems so obvious when you point it out, but I had no idea how often I made this mistake until learning this bit of advice from Rick Riordan! Whenever possible, try to make the subject of your sentence what you want your reader to focus on. Not only that, but try to make that word as strong as possible! For instance, he notes that "It was a beautiful day" encourages readers to think about a vague "it". Alternatively, "The sky was a brilliant blue" encourages people to think about the sky. A simple fix, but impactful! In the podcast, I talk about a story of my own where I made this swap, and was practically thunderstruck by how much better the sentence became. Listen to the entire episode below, or on your favorite player!
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How to Write Non-Boring Descriptions
09/24/2020
How to Write Non-Boring Descriptions
I'll never forget my experience listening to Frankenstein on Audible. I went to the store, got groceries, was driving home, and sweet Mary Shelley (or the narrator, at any rate) was still droning on about some mountain. Now, Mary Shelley is far more successful than I will ever be, so perhaps I shouldn't weigh in here, but I'm of the opinion that shorter descriptions are better. And that leads me into today's topic in our writing mini-series: how to write non-boring descriptions. Continuing in the tradition of getting expert advice, today, I have three gems for you from three different authors. Listen now to hear them all! - Referenced in this episode: bit.ly/ahead-of-her-time https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/how-to-make-your-setting-a-character https://rickriordan.com/about/advice-for-writers/
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The Golden Rule of (Creative) Writing!
09/22/2020
The Golden Rule of (Creative) Writing!
The most important piece of creative writing advice you'll ever receive? Show. Don't. Tell. You might have heard it before, but it definitely bears repeating! In a nutshell, here's the difference between the two... When you're telling the story, it sounds like: Sally was sad. When you're *showing* the story, it sounds like: Sally ate her popcorn on the couch, ugly-crying and shouting at the TV that love isn't real. - Now, it's a rather cliche example, but which one of these characters do you feel like you know better? And therefore, who are you more invested in? We've all probably read a book where we don't care if the characters live or die. Usually that's because the characters don't feel real. People care about real people. If you want people to invest in your story, you need to show them who they are! (By the way, this rule still applies when everything is magical or made up - to the reader, they should still feel real!) I dive a little deeper into this concept in episode 53 of the Vocabbett podcast. Listen now!
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How Helpful Are Character Sketches (And What Did Elizabeth Peters Do?)
09/17/2020
How Helpful Are Character Sketches (And What Did Elizabeth Peters Do?)
Well hello! If you’re new to Vocabbett, I help students through stories. Because of that, I tend to do a lot of writing. At the moment, I’m taking you behind the scenes as I write the sequel to ! Today, we’re talking about character sketches, and I’m continuing to draw on the for inspiration. Here’s what I found while researching her process: She did use character sketches early in her career, but stopped by 1992(ish). As she explained in her winter 1992-1993 newsletter: “I have to see my people in action before I know what they’re like.” -BARBARA MERTZ A.K.A. ELIZABETH PETERS One thing to keep in mind, though, is that by 1992, Mertz was a very proficient writer. She had also largely moved away from standalone books, focusing primarily on the Vicky Bliss and Amelia Peabody series for the rest of her career. It makes sense, to me at least, that you wouldn’t need to do character sketches on characters you already know! There is a flip side to this, though. While she may not have done pre-draft character sketches for her later books, I did find quite a few post-book character notes. It seems as though she went through her books after writing them, collating details for consistency. One of my favorite, about characters in the books, below! So, to recap: Character sketches can be helpful, but it seems like they’re more helpful with standalone books or the first book in a series. On the flip side, if you are writing a series, post-book character sketches may be helpful in keeping everything consistent! Get more information in episode 52 of the Vocabbett podcast! - Don't want to become a full-fledged , but still want to support the podcast? Pledge a few bucks a month on Ko-Fi!
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Writing Tips: Plotters vs. Pantsers
09/15/2020
Writing Tips: Plotters vs. Pantsers
In today’s installment of our , we’re diving into outlines! And, yes, I know outlines aren’t the most fascinating topic, so I’ll keep it short. : ) Here’s what you should know: not every author uses an outline. In general, there are two camps in the writing community: Plotters, who plot their novels in advance Pantsers, who follow where the book leads (writing “by the seat of their pants”) I’ve mentioned before that, in drafting the sequel to , I’m trying to base my process on that of Elizabeth Peters. She was a fanatical outliner. In on her writing process, she almost universally had multiple outlines for each book (a short 1-3 page outline, and a longer 7-15 page outline). Here’s what I’m doing differently, though. Rather than write a synopsis-style outline, as she did, I’m creating a chapter-by-chapter outline. Since I (officially!) decided to dually-narrate this one, I just find that it’s easier to keep track of things if I outline by chapter, rather than writing a miniature version of the story! What are your thoughts on outlines? For essays, I’m a firm believer in their necessity, but I’m not experienced enough with novel-writing to have strong opinions for books yet!
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Status Report on the Sequel to 'Ahead of Her Time' (With Details!)
09/10/2020
Status Report on the Sequel to 'Ahead of Her Time' (With Details!)
*SPOILERS AHEAD* – If you haven’t yet read Ahead of Her Time (which you can as a Vocabbett member!), start there and come back! - Fans of Noor & co, rejoice! I am starting to make real headway on the sequel to . In episode 50 of the Vocabbett podcast, I share where I am in the idea-formulating process, revealing some (non-spoilery) details about book 2. I also share some difficulties I’m facing, and how I’ve tentatively resolved them. Specifically, I grappled with the knowledge that “Cleopatra in the present day” is a pretty interesting hook…but then, is it still Noor’s story? When I utilized , asking my brain and the muse point-blank what the most interesting way to capture the story would be, the response was quite interesting! Into my brain dropped a rough outline for the first seven chapters of the book, and it’s dually-narrated by Noor and Cleopatra! There are still a lot of questions that remain, even within those chapters. For instance, what exactly is Cleopatra’s job going to be? I lean towards something in fashion, but not sure… The other big one to figure out? THE LOVE STORY. Who ends up with whom? I wish I knew. Get all this and more in episode 50 of the podcast!
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How a Bestseller Gets Ideas (With Inspiration From Elizabeth Peters!)
09/08/2020
How a Bestseller Gets Ideas (With Inspiration From Elizabeth Peters!)
Have you ever loved a book so much that when you finished it, you just sat in stunned silence for a moment? How did the author get these ideas? you ask. Maybe you turn to Google and find some witty response from the author, or nothing at all. For aspiring writers, this can be maddening! If each book is an invention, ideas are the schematics and blueprints. I want to know how you built this! Today on the Vocabbett podcast, we're diving into the "behind the scenes" of how authors get their ideas, drawing on the work of bestselling author Barbara Mertz, who is perhaps better known by her pen name "Elizabeth Peters." I was able to do original research on Mertz's creative process for my Master's degree, going through countless boxes of her notes, outlines, and manuscripts just after they donated by her estate. Most hadn't even been archived by the librarians yet! What I learned was invaluable for anyone who wants to write a book. It was like being a fly on the wall as a new product is being invented, and getting to take notes at the same time! How are bestselling ideas born? Tune into the Vocabbett podcast to find out!
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Writing Lessons Learned From 'Ahead of Her Time'
09/03/2020
Writing Lessons Learned From 'Ahead of Her Time'
Aspiring writers are often told to “write what you know.” It’s valuable advice, no doubt, lending verisimilitude to an otherwise unbelievable narrative. HOWEVER, here’s the problem: our lives rarely conform to a three-act structure. While writing what we “know” may leave us with good scenes, it often leaves us lacking in the plot department. That’s exactly what happened with me while writing . I can’t tell you how many hundreds of pages I had to re-write to turn my hodgepodge collection of scenes into a proper story! I’m starting to work on the sequel, but this time, I’m going about things very differently. One of the things I’m changing? I’m not going to rely quite as much on what I “know.” For book one, many of the scenes were pulled directly from my own life — some were even once blog posts or journal entries! I basically just changed the names. I had to do some fancy editing to turn all these real-life scenes into a workable story. This time, I’m starting with the story. Whatever “real” experiences or knowledge I can weave in, great. But the story leads. Not what I “know”! I dive more into what I’ve learned since writing Ahead of Her Time in episode 48 of the Vocabbett podcast. Listen now! - Referenced in this episode: (affiliate link)
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Want to Write a Book? Let's Do It Together!
09/01/2020
Want to Write a Book? Let's Do It Together!
I probably couldn’t pick a worse time to do this. Who has time to write a book amid all the back-to-school madness? Unfortunately, inspiration is striking at the moment, and , so I’m going to get started on ! But that’s the beautiful thing about the internet, isn’t it? You can write a book with me now, in real time, or come back to this series later! Over the next few weeks, as I get started on the sequel to , I’m going to pull back the curtain on every aspect of my writing process. Unlike last time, I’m going to be very methodical this go-round, basing my process largely off of Elizabeth Peters’. I was able to study her creative process for my Master’s, and I’m going to do my best to replicate it! As always, tune into the podcast for a much deeper dive!
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