Writer Unleashed

Nanci Panuccio
  • 4.5 (2)
  • HOW TO
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Writer Unleashed is a weekly podcast for fiction and memoir writers. It's a deep dive into story techniques, writing craft, and the mindsets that help you write with unstoppable momentum and create stories readers can't put down.

  1. 23 HR AGO

    #267: What to Cut From Your Novel and What to Keep: 3 Questions to Help You Decide

    Every writer faces this moment: staring at a bloated manuscript, knowing something has to go, but terrified of making the wrong call. The usual advice—"kill your darlings," "cut ruthlessly"—doesn't help. You need a way to see what's actually weighing your story down. This episode gives you a diagnostic framework that takes the guesswork out of what to leave in, what to leave out.  Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    19 min

  2. 10 FEB

    #266: 3 Ways To Amp Up Romantic Tension In Your Story

    Many writers think romantic tension comes from obstacles keeping compatible people apart. A jealous ex. A misunderstanding. A job in another city. But that's not what makes readers ache for two people to get together. The love stories that work are doing something completely different.  In this episode, I'm breaking down the three ways successful love stories create tension that feels genuine instead of manufactured. This isn't about formulas or rules - it's about understanding why some romantic tension makes readers invested and other tension just makes them impatient. If you're writing romance, romantasy, or literary fiction with romantic elements, this reframe will change how you approach your love story. Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    26 min

  3. 3 FEB

    #265: First Encounters: 4 Ways To Signal Romantic Connection Without the Cliches

    The first encounter between your would-be lovers is not about instant chemistry or love at first sight. It’s where the emotional logic of your entire love story gets set. In this episode, we explore why admiration from afar creates fantasy but not connection, and why real engagement, even brief, awkward, or tense, is what makes two characters matter to each other. You’ll learn the three essential elements every strong first meeting needs and four practical approaches to writing first encounters that create tension, contrast, and forward pull. If your lovers’ first meeting feels flat, generic, or overly dependent on physical attraction, this episode will help you build a moment that feels charged, meaningful, and inevitable, without relying on tired romance shortcuts. Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    28 min

  4. 27 JAN

    #264: 5 Writing Blocks That Feel Impossible To Cross But Aren't

    Writers face blocks that feel insurmountable but aren't. Discover the 5 story barriers keeping you stuck - outlining traps, getting lost in the middle, perfectionism, comparison, and rejection - and how to cross to the other side. Confidence doesn't come before you cross the barrier. It comes from crossing it. Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    30 min

  5. 20 JAN

    #263: Why You Can't Finish Your First Draft (and the Simple Shift To Get It Done)

    Can't finish your first draft? Perfecting your outline for months? Staring at a blank page afraid you'll write something bad? These look like different problems, but they're all the same issue: you're focused on outcomes instead of process. This episode reveals why you're stuck, shows you how to convert paralyzing questions into productive ones, and gives you a concrete action plan to get unstuck. You don't need more courage or discipline. You need to ask different questions. Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    22 min

  6. 13 JAN

    #262: Finding the Story in Your Rough Draft (Even When It’s a Mess)

    You have material - notes, scenes, a rough draft. But you can't quite see the story yet. In this episode, I'll show you four simple questions to help you find the story that's already trying to emerge from your scattered material. No outlining, no  complicated organizational systems - just an intuitive way to see what your story is trying to become.  Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    20 min

  7. 6 JAN

    #261: 3 Pacing Mistakes That Kill Your Opening

    You've revised your opening five times. Cut hundreds of words. Tightened every sentence. But readers still lose interest before they finish Chapter One. The problem isn't your writing—it's pacing. Discover the 3 biggest pacing mistakes that kill your opening and what to do instead.  Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    16 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    #260: When Life Gets Busy: Staying Connected to Your Writing

    When life ramps up, writing is usually the first thing to slip through the cracks. Deadlines, family demands, celebrations, travel, and the general December swirl can leave you wondering if you should push harder, press pause, or feel guilty either way.  In this episode, we look at what it really means to stay connected to your story when time is scarce, and why your writing practice doesn’t have to fall apart just because your schedule does. You’ll learn 3 simple shifts that keeps your creative mind alive, even when you’re nowhere near your desk, and a few small practices that make it easier to return to your manuscript with more clarity instead of less. If you’ve ever worried about losing momentum during busy seasons, this one will steady you. Episode Web Page 10 Questions First Time Novelists Ask, and Encouraging, Practical Answers to Help You Finish Your Book Want to join a community of like-minded writers? Need inspiration and support? Join us in our private Writer Unleashed Community Facebook Group. It's totally free to join.

    28 min
See All (277)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Writer Unleashed is a weekly podcast for fiction and memoir writers. It's a deep dive into story techniques, writing craft, and the mindsets that help you write with unstoppable momentum and create stories readers can't put down.

Information

  • Creator
    Nanci Panuccio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    277
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Writer Unleashed
  • Show Website
    Writer Unleashed

You Might Also Like