Podcast #092: How to Write a Novel (with Amber Royer)

June 20, 2019 by Kent Sanders | Leave a Comment

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Google Play

Over the years, I’ve heard the statistic that 8 out of 10 people want to write a book. Based on many conversations about writing, it’s probably true. Nearly everybody feels they have a book in them, and many of those would like their book to be a novel.

But how do you get it done? Where do you come up with story ideas? How do you ensure that your novel is structured well? What kind of writing habits do you need? Should you use a publisher, or self-publish?

I’m so thankful that my guest today, the accomplished novelist and writing teacher Amber Royer, is here to help answer those questions and give some much-needed guidance!

Amber Royer writes fun science fiction involving chocolate, aliens, lovesick AIs, time travel, virtual reality, and more. She’s the author of the CHOCOVERSE comic space opera series. By the way, the first two books in the series, Free Chocolate and Pure Chocolate, are available now from Angry Robot, her publisher.

Amber and her husband have also co-authored two cookbooks (one of which is all about chocolate), and she has a column through Dave’s Garden where she writes about cooking and gardening. She teaches creative writing in North Texas for both UT Arlington Continuing Education and Writing Workshops Dallas. And she says, “If you are very nice to her, she might make you cupcakes.”

In our conversation, Amber shares lots of wisdom about writing and creativity. Her insights include: how to produce a first draft, why the first few chapters of a book signal to the reader what kind of world it is, why the villain is the mirror of the hero, why some writers are afraid of success, and much more.

In the later part of the conversation, you’ll hear us talk about Avengers: Infinity War. We recorded this before Avengers: Endgame was released, although this episode is coming out afterward.