The Better Writer Podcast

Olivia Bedford

You want to write great books, books just like the ones you’ve been reading and falling in love with all your life, but somehow your vision just isn’t showing up on the page. Don’t despair. It’s not about lacking talent or some magical creative spark. You just need to learn how fiction works and The Better Writer Podcast is here to help. On this show, we explore what it really takes to write a book that readers can’t put down: mastering story craft fundamentals, revising like a pro (and getting pro help), and building a writing process that fits your real life, not someone else’s Instagram-perfect writing routine. Hosted by Olivia Bedford, a former English teacher turned developmental editor and Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, this show has one goal: help fiction writers unlearn all the misguided, one-size-fits-no-one advice out there and replace it with strategies that actually make your stories work for your future readers. If you’re an aspiring novelist who’s ready to finally understand how fiction works—and maybe even get paid for your writing someday—you’re in the right place. Welcome, and happy writing! P.S. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and become a better writer, one episode at a time.

  1. Aug 4

    My Top 10 Craft Book Recommendations for Writers - Part 2

    Writing craft books have been an essential part of my education as a writer & editor. In this episode, I’m sharing the final 5 books in my top 10 craft books for aspiring fiction writers. Have a craft book recommendation to share? Hit me up in the DMs - I’m @oliviahelpswriters on Instagram! Here are the resources mentioned in this show - please note, this list contains affiliate links: My Bookshop.org shop (affiliate link): https://bookshop.org/shop/oliviahelpswriters7 Figure Fiction by T. Taylor: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781942167594DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781599639345Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781950830022Story Genius by Lisa Cron: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781607748892The Emotion Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi & Angela Ackerman: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9780999296349 Don’t miss my summer workshop series! Revision Mindset Workshop - August 4th, 4:30pm. Register here for $49: https://oliviahelpswriters.thrivecart.com/revision-mindset-workshop/Genre Expectations Workshop - August 11th, 4:30pm. Register here for $49: https://oliviahelpswriters.thrivecart.com/genre-expectations-workshop/Ideal Reader Workshop - August 18th, 4:30pm. Register here for $49: https://oliviahelpswriters.thrivecart.com/ideal-reader-workshop/Get all three workshops for $97: https://oliviahelpswriters.thrivecart.com/summer-workshops-2026/ Seeing this from the future? You can still purchase the recordings with the links above! Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time! For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/35

  2. Jul 28

    Top 10 Craft Book Recommendations for Writers - Part 1

    Writing craft books have been an essential part of my education as a writer & editor. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 of my top 10 books for aspiring fiction writers (the final 5 will be shared next week). Have a craft book recommendation to share? Hit me up in the DMs - I’m @oliviahelpswriters on Instagram! Here are the resources mentioned in this show - please note, this list contains affiliate links: My Bookshop.org shop (affiliate link): https://bookshop.org/shop/oliviahelpswritersThe Scene Book by Sandra Scofield: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9780143038269Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781733251129The Complete Art of World Building by Randy Ellefson: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781946995407Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781599632735The Anatomy of Prose by Sacha Black: https://bookshop.org/a/93888/9781913236007The Rebel Author Podcast: https://sachablack.co.uk/the-rebel-author-podcast/ Want to hear more from me? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Better Writer Weekly, here and get my Revision Kickstart Guide for free here: https://olivia-helps-writers.ck.page/94b0145ae9 Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time! For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/34 00:00 Why I Love Craft Books 03:55 The Scene Book by Sandra Scofield 05:22 Blueprint for a Book by Jennie Nash 07:46 The Complete Art of World Building by Randy Ellefson 13:52 Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell 16:29 The Anatomy of Prose by Sacha Black

  3. Jul 21

    How Writers Fail

    I’m a developmental editor & book coach who loves working with pantsers. Failure is part of the writing life. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the writers collecting rejections as they query, or the ones complaining about bad reviews from readers, or the ones who are silently waiting for someone–anyone–to take a chance on their book in the first place. In reality, there are things that we cannot control in our writing lives. But there are also many things that we can control. That’s what I’m talking about today. Four mistakes that writers make in their writing or revision process. Mistakes that keep them stuck when they could be more successful. The mistakes that keep readers stuck are: Getting too attached to their original ideas.Prioritizing the wrong things in revision.Trying to please everyone by watering down your ideas.Ignoring the weak spots in their writing craft.Listen to the full episode for all the details. Have a reaction to this episode? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Instagram @oliviahelpswriters! Want to hear more from me? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Better Writer Weekly, here and get my Revision Kickstart Guide for free here: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/revision-kickstart-guide Here are the other resources mentioned in this episode: Listen to the Brandon Sanderson writing lectures here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls0B5GiE2oMcLYListen to episode two of the podcast here: https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/2Check out my services for writers here: https://oliviahelpswriters.com/services Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time! For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/33

  4. Jul 7

    Got bad feedback on your book? Here’s what to do next.

    As a fiction writer, you know that feedback is essential. But you probably also know that even the smartest critique partners can end up giving you feedback that just doesn’t resonate. But what are you supposed to do next? Ignore the feedback completely? Grit your teeth and make the change because you respect the person giving it? How about a more a strategic approach? In this podcast episode, I’m going to give you a 5-step framework for strategically reviewing feedback you disagree with. Here are the steps: Take a break to process.Consider the source.Evaluate the feedback’s validity.Separate the diagnosis from the cure.Accept & implement OR reject and move on. Listen to the full episode for all the details and examples of my own experiences with less-than-stellar feedback. Want to work with me? Check out my services here: https://oliviahelpswriters.com/services Want to start your revisions on the right foot before anyone else even sees the draft? Grab my free revision kickstart guide here: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/revision-kickstart-guide Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time! For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/31. 00:00 Opening 01:05 Feedback Isn't a Mandate 04:35 Step 1: Take a Break 06:42 Step 2: Consider the Source 10:24 Step 3: Assess the Feedback's Validity 13:10 Assessing Feedback Validity 16:12 Step 4: Separate the Diagnosis and the Cure 22:31 Step 4: Accept & Implement OR Reject & Move On

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About

You want to write great books, books just like the ones you’ve been reading and falling in love with all your life, but somehow your vision just isn’t showing up on the page. Don’t despair. It’s not about lacking talent or some magical creative spark. You just need to learn how fiction works and The Better Writer Podcast is here to help. On this show, we explore what it really takes to write a book that readers can’t put down: mastering story craft fundamentals, revising like a pro (and getting pro help), and building a writing process that fits your real life, not someone else’s Instagram-perfect writing routine. Hosted by Olivia Bedford, a former English teacher turned developmental editor and Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, this show has one goal: help fiction writers unlearn all the misguided, one-size-fits-no-one advice out there and replace it with strategies that actually make your stories work for your future readers. If you’re an aspiring novelist who’s ready to finally understand how fiction works—and maybe even get paid for your writing someday—you’re in the right place. Welcome, and happy writing! P.S. Don’t forget to hit subscribe and become a better writer, one episode at a time.

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