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The Novel Analyst Podcast: Creative Writing Advice & Author Interviews

The Novel Analyst Podcast: Creative Writing Advice & Author Interviews

By Jed Herne

Hi! I’m Jed Herne, and I'm a fantasy author. My books include The Thunder Heist, Fires of the Dead, and Across the Broken Stars. Each episode I analyse a story to help you become a better writer. Sometimes I also interview other authors. Enjoy!
jedherne.com
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Q & A with Jed Herne - My favourite character, the books that inspired me to start writing, and more

The Novel Analyst Podcast: Creative Writing Advice & Author InterviewsMay 26, 2020

00:00
27:23
Introducing: Wizards, Warriors, & Words - my new fantasy writing advice podcast!
Aug 10, 202028:02
55. [Book Review] Shadows of Self - Mistborn 5 - by Brandon Sanderson
Jun 30, 202011:42
Q & A with Jed - why I write fantasy, why did I self-publish, and the state of the fantasy genre

Q & A with Jed - why I write fantasy, why did I self-publish, and the state of the fantasy genre

I was recently interviewed by Lavender Lass Books about Across the Broken Stars - my entry into this year's Self-Published Fantasy Book-Off, run by Mark Lawrence. This episode is the audio version of that interview. Enjoy!


Twitter: @JedHerne

Email: jed(at)jedherne.com

Jun 16, 202017:39
54. [Interview] Gabriel Bergmoser talks about The Hunted, adapting his book into a major movie, and how to write gripping stories

54. [Interview] Gabriel Bergmoser talks about The Hunted, adapting his book into a major movie, and how to write gripping stories

Gabriel Bergmoser and I sat down to discuss The Hunted (his latest thriller novel) in depth. This is the third time I've interviewed him, and somehow he keeps getting better. The Hunted is my favourite book of his and it was enthralling to dive into the mind of its creator. Enjoy!   

Buy The Hunted here:  https://www.gabrielbergmoser.com/novels.html  

@gobergmoser 

www.gabrielbergmoser.com  

------------------------------ 

Let me know what you thought on twitter: 

@jedherne  

------------------------------ 

And if you'd like to try my own books, check out Fires of the Dead - a fast-paced fantasy novella, perfect for fans of The Hunted: https://jedherne.com/firesofthedead/

Jun 02, 202001:39:60
Q & A with Jed Herne - My favourite character, the books that inspired me to start writing, and more
May 26, 202027:23
53. [Interview] Rob J. Hayes – Writing a Fantasy Trilogy, Overcoming Doubts, and The War Eternal

53. [Interview] Rob J. Hayes – Writing a Fantasy Trilogy, Overcoming Doubts, and The War Eternal

I chat with Rob for the second time to discuss his latest grimdark fantasy trilogy, The War Eternal. The trilogy follows Eska, a young magician struggling to reconcile her urges for revenge with her longing for human connection. The books include:

  1. Along the Razor’s Edge
  2. The Lessons Never Learned
  3. From Cold Ashes Risen

We also talk about overcoming doubts, Rob’s techniques for building captivating fantasy worlds, and which of his characters he’d share isolation with. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

My BookNest review of The Lessons Never Learned: https://bit.ly/jedreviews

Rob’s twitter: @RoboftheHayes

Rob’s facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHeresyWithin

Rob’s blog: http://www.robjhayes.co.uk/

***

My twitter: @JedHerne

May 12, 202001:01:00
52. [Interview} S. Andrew Swann - Lessons learned from publishing 26 fantasy and sci-fi books
May 05, 202051:06
51. Red Country by Joe Abercrombie - Concrete and Specific Setting Descriptions
Apr 28, 202028:04
50. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie - A Simple Way to Craft Compelling Characters
Apr 14, 202018:34
49. [Interview] Kate Heartfield - Interactive Fiction and The Magician's Workshop
Mar 31, 202048:16
48. The Magician's Workshop by Kate Heartfield - Lessons from Interactive Fiction
Mar 17, 202026:57
47. [Interview] Rob J. Hayes on Viking Martial Arts, Achieving Success as a Self-Published Fantasy Author, and Turning Messy Drafts into Great Stories
Mar 03, 202057:30
Fires of the Dead is FREE for the next 4 days!

Fires of the Dead is FREE for the next 4 days!

My fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, is free on Amazon for the next 4 days! 

Check it out here: https://amzn.to/32BIwjC

During its free period, it's reached:

  • #1 in Gaslamp Fantasy (Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Action & Adventure Fantasy (Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Alternative History

It's only free in eBook form, but you can download the free Kindle app to read it on any device or computer. Enjoy!

Feb 28, 202003:36
46. Never Die by Rob J. Hayes - Choreographing Excellent Ensemble Casts
Feb 18, 202023:16
Book Launch Party for Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne

Book Launch Party for Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne

Buy Across the Broken Stars here: jedherne.com/acrossthebrokenstars

Today's episode features the audio recording from my latest book launch.  Enjoy!

00:00 - 10:20 - Jed's thoughts on how to become more creature

10:20 - 21:12 - Jed reads scene 1 from Across the Broken Stars

21:12 - onwards - Q & A from the audience.

Feb 12, 202001:04:44
[Announcement] Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne is out today!

[Announcement] Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne is out today!

Buy a copy here: https://jedherne.com/broken

And if you buy a copy before midnight Feb 9th, email your receipt to jed.herne1@gmail.com  to receive free bonuses, including:

  • The unedited first draft (which was 20 000 words shorter than the final novel)
  • My original outline
  • A free companion short story
  • Other behind-the-scenes looks into my process.

Enjoy!

Full Blurb:

Leon has a secret. He was once an angel – a winged warrior sworn to protect Paya, a realm where people live on discs that float in space.

He failed.

Now, Leon’s a broken man, trying to forget the past. He thinks he’s the last angel. But then a young fugitive stumbles onto Leon’s doorstep. She’s an angel, too. And she has a riddle leading to a place where angels still live. Or so the stories claim…

Desperate for redemption, Leon begins a perilous quest through myth and folklore. But will Leon and the fugitive find their legendary destination? Or will Leon lose his last chance for salvation?

Brutal and gripping, this is a story about a flawed man’s search for forgiveness.

Feb 04, 202006:28
45. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin - Crafting a Slow-Burning Narrative
Feb 04, 202018:36
44. Master of Sorrows by Justin Call - Crafting Compelling Magic Systems
Jan 23, 202028:04
[Sneak Peek] - Chapter 1 of Across the Broken Stars - My Upcoming Space Fantasy Novel

[Sneak Peek] - Chapter 1 of Across the Broken Stars - My Upcoming Space Fantasy Novel

To celebrate the upcoming release of my epic space fantasy novel, Across the Broken Stars, I'm sharing chapter 1 of the book. The actual book releases on Feb 3rd, 2020. Click here to learn more: jedherne.com/acrossthebrokenstars

Leon has a secret. He was once an angel – a winged warrior sworn to protect Paya, a realm where people live on discs that float in space.

He failed.

Now Leon’s a broken man, trying to forget the past. He thinks he’s the last angel. But then a young fugitive stumbles onto Leon’s doorstep. She’s an angel, too. And she has a riddle leading to a place where angels still live. Or so the stories claim…

Desperate for redemption, Leon begins a perilous quest through myth and folklore. But will Leon and the fugitive find their legendary destination? Or will Leon lose his last chance for salvation?

Brutal and gripping, this is a story about a flawed man’s search for forgiveness.

If you are looking for an epic fantasy that has a unique setting, this is it.” – Kate Valent, Reedsy Discovery.

Jan 19, 202021:29
43. [Interview] Justin Call - Author of Master of Sorrows - board games, fantasy, and the creative life
Jan 07, 202001:01:36
8 Top Writing Lessons From 8 Years of Writing
Dec 24, 201928:04
42. A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix - The Triumph of Humanity
Dec 10, 201935:42
41. The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding - Nailing the Opening 48 Pages
Nov 26, 201932:04
40. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - Writing an Amazing Series

40. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - Writing an Amazing Series

For months, I’ve been struggling with how to write a series. See, most of my ideas come to me as stand-alone books, but this current project felt like something bigger than one novel. A few weeks ago, I had an epiphany. Now, I think I’ve cracked the code on writing a series. And today I’ll share it with you. Show Notes: Lessons from the Screenplay video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4x9mplwN3Lo My interview on A Writer’s Explorations  A huge Q & A writing talk I gave to primary school students My previous episode analysing Skulduggery Pleasant Book 6 – Death Bringer Derek’s 2010 blog article that I quoted The Anatomy of Story by John Truby Save the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder SEND ME A QUESTION: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com Or JedHerne.com/Question
Nov 12, 201933:09
39. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey - Grounding Stories With Characters
Oct 29, 201923:37
38 - Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson - Giving Readers Chills
Oct 16, 201933:10
[Announcement] Win a signed copy of Fires of the Dead + send me your questions!

[Announcement] Win a signed copy of Fires of the Dead + send me your questions!

Hey podcast! Use this link to enter the Fires of the Dead giveaway (closes Oct 30th):

jedherne.com/win

And use this link to leave a question for me to answer on the show:

jedherne.com/question

(There's also a text form, if you'd rather type instead of talking. However, I'll prioritise voice messages, since they're easier to play on the show). 

Fires of the Dead - available in all formats!

Paperback, Hardback, and eBook

Audiobook (narrated by me)

Oct 11, 201902:38
37 - Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling – Disguising Exposition
Oct 01, 201917:47
36 - [Interview] Gareth Hanrahan: World Building, Writing Advice, and Creating a Successful Writing Career

36 - [Interview] Gareth Hanrahan: World Building, Writing Advice, and Creating a Successful Writing Career

Stoked to interview Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer - which I analysed on the show just a few days ago. We had an excellent in-depth chat about his book, how writing for role-playing games has helped him as an author, and lots more. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

Gareth's top books/resources:

  • DECLARE, Tim Powers
  • Lavondyss, Robert Holdstock
  • Deep Work, by Cal Newport
  • Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey (more accessible version of Deep Work)
  • Hamlet's Hit Points, Robin D Laws
  • Storyteller Tools, M. Harold Page
  • House of Leaves 
  • Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer
  • 7 Wonders of the Industrial World (BBC Series)

My debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, comes out tomorrow! (Sep 20th, 2019). Read it here: https://jedherne.com/firesofthedead

Questions, comments, queries? I love hearing from you! I respond to every email sent to: jed.herne1@gmail.com

Sep 19, 201959:29
35 - The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan - World Building for Fantasy Cities
Sep 17, 201928:30
Special sneak peek! Chapter one of my debut fantasy novella, FIRES OF THE DEAD
Sep 10, 201915:19
34 - The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough - Creating Emotion
Sep 03, 201918:37
33 - A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. - Exploring Theme through Structure

33 - A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. - Exploring Theme through Structure

My debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, is available on amazon for pre-order! Get it here: https://amzn.to/31KMCUR

Or use this link to read a free sample chapter:  https://jedherne.com/dead/ 


A Canticle for Leibowitz is a 1959 post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel by Walter M. Miller Jr. It's often described as one of the first post-apocalyptic stories. Without it, there would be no Book of Eli, The Stand, or most other post-apocalyptic tales. Don't just take my word for it. It won the 1961 Hugo Award - one of science fiction's highest honours. Legendary scientist Carl Sagan described it as: "so tautly constructed, so rich in the accommodating details of an unfamiliar society that [it] sweep me along before I have even a chance to be critical".

It's a remarkable novel. I don't have the space in one episode to fully analyse it, so today I'm focusing on just one thing: how it uses an unconventional structure to explore the theme and emotionally gut-punch readers. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

Fires of the Dead, by Jed Herne - https://jedherne.com/dead/ 

 

Watch my YouTube channel for writing advice every weekday:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjB-qFoNxNbQq0S3boWxIA?view_as=subscriber  

Join my exclusive free Reader Club email newsletter to stay up to date with my writing projects:  https://jedherne.com/club/

Twitter: @jedherne

Email: jed.herne1@gmail.com

Aug 20, 201926:49
32 - Gabriel Bergmoser Interview - lessons learnt from book deals, movie deals, and becoming a full-time writer

32 - Gabriel Bergmoser Interview - lessons learnt from book deals, movie deals, and becoming a full-time writer

Gabriel Bergmoser is a Melbourne based author and playwright.  He's written the Boone Shepard trilogy (I analysed book 3 in this episode of the podcast) along with multiple plays. His latest novel is The Hunted (aka Sunburnt Country in the UK), which comes out in mid-2020 from HarperCollins. 

It was a pleasure to have Gabe back on the podcast to discuss his recent book & movie deals, along with other aspects of his life as a writer. Have a listen if you're interested in:


- Gabe's advice for being resilient and overcoming rejection;

- What it's like to get a huge book deal with a major publisher (& an equally huge movie deal!);

- The biggest writing lesson he learnt from finishing the Boone Shepard trilogy;

And loads more!

Show Notes:

16 - Boone Shepard - The Silhouette and the Sacrifice by Gabriel Bergmoser - Writing Awesome Endings

Gabe's review of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad

News about The Hunted and the film deal

Gabe's twitter account:  https://twitter.com/gobergmoser 

For writing advice every weekday, check out my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjB-qFoNxNbQq0S3boWxIA?view_as=subscriber  

For free sci-fi & fantasy stories, and to stay updated with my writing projects, join my free newsletter:  https://jedherne.com/club/ 

Twitter: @jedherne

Email: jed.herne1@gmail.com


Aug 06, 201901:01:58
[Announcement] I'm giving away 7 Joe Abercrombie novels for FREE!

[Announcement] I'm giving away 7 Joe Abercrombie novels for FREE!

Enter the free contest to win 7 Joe Abercrombie fantasy novels: http://bit.ly/firstlawgiveaway (Contest ends on 12th August, 2019, so get in quick!)

Join my email newsletter to stay updated with my upcoming book launch:  https://jedherne.com/club/

To build buzz for the launch on my debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, on September 20th, 2019, I'm giving away a paperback collection of Joe Abercrombie's amazing fantasy novels! I've discussed Abercrombie before, on the following podcast episodes:

2 - The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie - Characterisation through Contradiction

7 - The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie - Exploring Theme

Hit me up on twitter @JedHerne or email me at jed.herne1[at]gmail.com with any questions. 

Aug 05, 201902:37
31 - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Using the Relationship Axes to Create Interesting Character Dynamics

31 - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Using the Relationship Axes to Create Interesting Character Dynamics

Jul 23, 201915:18
30 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Writing Twists

30 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Writing Twists

After Dale from The Reading Gorilla podcast sent in a listener request, who was I to ignore it? This is an episode about Orson Scott Card's sci-fi classic, Ender's Game. Specifically, I examine how he crafted such an amazing twist. Enjoy!

And if you want to request an episode, or just have any feedback on the podcast, email me at jed.herne1@gmail.com, or download the free Anchor app to your phone, then search for 'The Novel Analyst Podcast,' and click the appropriate buttons to send me a voice message. 

Show Notes:

Check out my new youtube channel for writing advice every weekday:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjB-qFoNxNbQq0S3boWxIA?view_as=subscriber  

Join my exclusive free Reader Club email newsletter to stay up to date with my writing projects:  https://jedherne.com/club/

Twitter: @jedherne

Email: jed.herne1@gmail.com

Jul 09, 201914:60
29 - The Way of Kings - Stormlight Archive book 1 - by Brandon Sanderson - Crafting Epic Fantasy
Jun 25, 201917:28
Talk isn’t cheap - Quick Storytelling Tips 005

Talk isn’t cheap - Quick Storytelling Tips 005

Let me know what you think of these short bonus episodes by emailing jed.herne1@gmail.com.

Also, if you want free sci-fi and fantasy stories written by me, go to jedherne.com/club. It’ll let you join my brand new Reader Club, and when you do that I’ll send you 5 free short stories, plus exclusive bonus content.

Jun 17, 201901:11
28 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling - Meaningful Supporting Characters
Jun 11, 201917:39
… But really, I hated them - Quick Storytelling Tips 004

… But really, I hated them - Quick Storytelling Tips 004

Let me know what you think of these short bonus episodes by emailing jed.herne1@gmail.com.

Also, if you want free sci-fi and fantasy stories written by me, go to jedherne.com/club. It’ll let you join my brand new Reader Club, and when you do that I’ll send you 5 free short stories, plus exclusive bonus content. 

Jun 10, 201901:33
Truth in writing - Quick Storytelling Tips 003

Truth in writing - Quick Storytelling Tips 003

Let me know what you think of these short bonus episodes by emailing jed.herne1@gmail.com.

Also, if you want free sci-fi and fantasy stories written by me, go to jedherne.com/club. It’ll let you join my brand new Reader Club, and when you do that I’ll send you 5 free short stories, plus exclusive bonus content. 

Jun 03, 201902:49
27 - Skulduggery Pleasant - Death Bringer by Derek Landy - The Gap
May 28, 201916:42
Theme is not preaching - Quick Writing Tip 002

Theme is not preaching - Quick Writing Tip 002

Let me know what you think of these short bonus episodes by emailing jed.herne1@gmail.com.

Also, if you want free sci-fi and fantasy stories by yours truly, go to jedherne.com/club. It’ll let you join my brand new Reader Club, and when you do that I’ll send you 5 free short stories, plus some exclusive bonus content. 

May 27, 201903:14
Stay off the nose - Quick Writing Tip 001

Stay off the nose - Quick Writing Tip 001

Starting a new series! In addition to your normal Novel Analyst episodes, for the next month I’ll be posting a Quick Writing Tip episode every Monday. Let me know what you think and if you want more of them, email jed.herne1@gmail.com or hit me up on twitter @JedHerne.

Also, if you want free sci-fi and fantasy stories by yours truly, go to jedherne.com/club. It’ll let you join my brand new Reader Club, and when you do that I’ll send you 5 free short stories, plus some exclusive bonus content. 

May 20, 201902:57
26 - Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J. K. Rowling - Ring Structure
May 14, 201921:40
25 - Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - The Art of Setting Descriptions
Apr 30, 201934:19
24 - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams pt. 2 - How to Write Funny
Apr 23, 201921:26
23 - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams pt. 1 - Why Characters Don't Matter
Apr 16, 201915:29
22 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Finding your Perfect Prose
Apr 02, 201927:39