Novel Deep Dive: Reverse Engineering Today's Bestsellers

Miranda Darrow
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Join freelance fiction editor & book coach Miranda Darrow as she sits down with authors, editors, and writing professionals to unpack today's bestselling fiction—not to review it, but to reverse engineer it. Each episode explores one writing craft topic through a single novel, from character voice, pacing, tropes, point of view, story structure, & more. Check if out if you've ever finished a book and wondered "How did the author pull that off?" Whether you're drafting your first novel or polishing your tenth, you'll leave every episode with new writing tips and examples you can see in action.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    The Overnight Guest - Writing Multiple Timelines While "Playing Fair" with Mystery Readers

    Kelly Malacko and I dive into Heather Gudenkauf's use of split timelines and multiple POVs to maintain tension and play fair within the mystery genre in her novel The Overnight Guest. This is a craft-heavy, spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction. 00:00 start 01:53 Intro 02:13 Q1 How much did you know about the story structure before starting 06:52 Q2 Discuss the three separate timelines 10:00 Q3 thoughts on the multiple POVs in the Y2k timeline 14:40 Q4 Tight or remote perspective in Y2K timeline 22:36 Q5 is Now timeline POV character Wily an unreliable narrator 28:47 Q6 Room timeline revealed 32:31 Q7 big mysteries from Room timeline, are they organic 37:06 Q8 which of the timelines added the most to the story 39:36 Q9 role of being a mother 46:11 Q10 list of suspects gets smaller 49:20 Q11 where there enough clues to figure out the killer 55:10 Q12 title meaning 58:40 Q13 recommendations for authors writing split timelines and POVs 1:03:55 END Follow me on all my social media pages:Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/Facebook: / miranda.darrow Instagram: / miranda.darrow X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_DarrowThreads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrowBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/miranda-darr... Check out Kelly Malacko's Substack here: https://substack.com/@kellymalacko?r=...Check out our Book Club Booster Kit. It's our list ofQuestions available at this link so you can play along. It's on the Novel Deep Dive tab of ⁠⁠⁠https://www.mirandadarrow.com/⁠⁠

    The Overnight Guest - Writing Multiple Timelines While "Playing Fair" with Mystery Readers

  2. Oct 13

    This House Will Feed: Researching Historical Fiction & Managing Trauma

    Author Maria Tureaud joins me to talk about her novel, This House Will Feed, a gothic horror set in Ireland during the Great Famine. Learn about interiority, historical research, and using care when encountering traumatic events in your research. ⁠00:00⁠ start ⁠01:00⁠ Does your internal editor micromanage? ⁠ 02:16⁠ What’s a developmental issue you caught in your own manuscript? ⁠ 04:44⁠ Writing voice for adult gothic horror compared to middle grade fiction? ⁠ 10:54⁠ How do you integrate historical detail without slipping into exposition? ⁠ 16:25⁠ What fascinating detail did you ultimately cut for the sake of pacing? ⁠17:43⁠ Your inspiration or comp titles when writing? ⁠ 20:30 Did you plan to show us the backstory in a series of flashbacks? ⁠28:26⁠ How to balance sliding those flashbacks in between scenes in the current timeline? ⁠30:22⁠ What was the biggest structural change between Draft 1 and the final version? ⁠33:18⁠ Did you end up killing a darling! ⁠ 36:28 What’s something you often tell clients that you had to remind yourself of? ⁠ 39:50 If a writer wants to elevate their gothic fiction this year, what craft skill should they focus on? ⁠ 44:24 What would you say to writers who are hesitant to tackle emotionally heavymaterial? ⁠48:35 Did writing this book change you as an editor? ⁠51:45 What’s one craft lesson you hope writers take from your journey with thisstory? ⁠56:53 End Follow me on all my social media pages: Website: ⁠https://www.mirandadarrow.com/⁠Facebook: / miranda.darrow Instagram: / miranda.darrow X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow⁠Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow⁠BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/miranda-darr..⁠.You can find This House Will Feed and her debut novel The Last Hope in Hopetownand all things about Maria at her website: ⁠https://authormariatureaud.com/⁠

    This House Will Feed: Researching Historical Fiction & Managing Trauma

  3. Sep 29

    Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Breaking the Fourth Wall Like a Boss!

    Author Jennifer Colwell and Miranda pull apart Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone to show how the author broke the fourth wall in a murder mystery and the writing craft in the humor displayed by the very voicey first person narrator who kept readers along for this wild ride. SPOILER ALERT - This video contains major spoilers for Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. 00:00 start02:35 Q1 does this over-sharing narrator spoil or enhance the suspense09:06 Q2 breaking the fourth wall how does it work for this story and does it break immersion14:17 Q3 how does the novel avoid becoming overly self-aware and smug despite the narrative tone25:35 Q4 how does past tense and hindsight allow for emotional framing28:20 Q5 Is Ernest an unreliable narrator30:45 Menu recommendations for book clubs reading this book33:25 Q6 How does the author create a character with a unique voice who readers want to believe despite telling partial truths45:20 Q7 Who killed whom now? The breakdown of all the backstory.1:04:36 Q8 What do authors risk when they break the fourth wall and how does breaking the fourth wall impact pacing and suspense1:08:26 Q10 Advice for writing a comedic tone and what aspects of this story might be hard to pull off for newer authors1:11:53 endFollow me on all my social media pages:Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/Facebook: / miranda.darrow Instagram: / miranda.darrow X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_DarrowThreads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrowBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/miranda-darr...

    Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Breaking the Fourth Wall Like a Boss!

  4. Sep 15

    Dungeon Crawler Carl - Writing LitRPG for a Wide Audience

    Dive into the writing secrets of Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. Learn how to build emotional stakes, balance humor with darkness, and develop unforgettable characters like Carl and Princess Donut, even in the most outlandish settings. Tips for writing Lit RPG and more with co-hosts Megan Manzano and Ayesha Ali and as always, Miranda Darrow, official Carl Superfan.SPOILER ALERT - This video contains major spoilers for the first book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. Ayesha’s website: https://writingpowerup.com/Megan's website: https://meganmanzano12.wixsite.com/md... 00:00 start02:07 Q1 How does the author establish credibility with this wild premise06:55 Q2 Game mechanics without overload13:15 Q3 Character agency when they're in a game20:29 Q4 Pacing27:06 Q5 Humanizing Princess Donut32:48 Q6 Use of Humor, emotional balance37:48 Q7 Power of relationships41:21 Q8 Worldbuilding without info-dumping47:36 Q9 Limitations imposed by the world building51:27 Q10 Writing craft takeaways55:25 ENDFollow me on all my social media pages:Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/Facebook: / miranda.darrow Instagram: / miranda.darrow X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_DarrowThreads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrowBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/miranda-darr...

    Dungeon Crawler Carl - Writing LitRPG for a Wide Audience

  5. Sep 1

    Just for the Summer - Maximizing Tropes in Romance

    Librarian and super-reader Ellie Dynek and Miranda go deep into Abby Jimenez's Just for the Summer where we explore her many uses of the central trope: they're both the last person to date others before they find their true love. These two date each other to break this curse, of course, and it impacts the character growth arcs, the plot, the pacing, pretty much everything. Romance writers, take note! SPOILER alert for the novel. This is a craft-heavy, spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction. Miranda’s  social media pages: Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/ Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow Threads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    Just for the Summer - Maximizing Tropes in Romance

  6. Sep 1

    Twenty-Four Seconds from Now: Character Growth Arcs in a Reverse Timeline YA

    Book Coach Gala Russ and Miranda dive into Jason Reynold's Twenty-Four Second from Now. Together we examine the impact of the story's reverse chronological story structure and its impact on the forward character growth arc of Neon, the main character and its impact on pacing and plotting.   SPOILER alert for the novel. This is a craft-heavy,spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction. Gala's website: https://galarussauthor.com/ Miranda’s  social media pages: Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/ Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow Threads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    Twenty-Four Seconds from Now: Character Growth Arcs in a Reverse Timeline YA

  7. Aug 31

    Missing White Woman - Social Media & Tech's Impact on Today's Thrillers

    Author Barbara Gene Cardin and Miranda  dive into Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett. Together we examine the impact of modern social media and technology in today's thriller novels and how that impacts pacing, stakes, and how the case gets solved. SPOILER alert for the novel. This is a craft-heavy,spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction. Barbara's website: https://www.barbaragenecardin.com/ Miranda’s  social media pages: Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/ Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow Threads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    Missing White Woman - Social Media & Tech's Impact on Today's Thrillers

  8. Aug 31

    Fourth Wing - Tips for Writing Romantasy

    Book Coach Sue Brown Moore and Miranda  dive into Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Together we examine the differences between writing romance genre and romantasy, talk about the pacing and proportion differences, and have tips for authors wanting to break into this very hot romantasy genre.  SPOILER alert for the novel. This is a craft-heavy,spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction. Sue Brown Moore's website: https://www.suebrownmoore.com/ Miranda’s  socialmedia pages: Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/ Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow Threads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    Fourth Wing - Tips for Writing Romantasy

  9. Aug 30

    The Will of the Many - Epic Worldbuilding without Info-dumping

    Editor MA Hinkle and Miranda dive into James Islington's The Will of the Many to explore how the author conveyed vast worldbuilding and an entire system of power distribution in this universe with huge blocks of infodumping or front-loading. SPOILER alert for the novel. This is a craft-heavy, spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they mightapply it in their own fiction. MA Hinkle's website: https://www.cheshirecateditorial.com/ Miranda’s  social media pages: Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/ Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_Darrow Threads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    The Will of the Many - Epic Worldbuilding without Info-dumping

  10. Aug 30

    Kill Your Darlings - Writing a WhyDunIt, a Mystery in Reverse Order

    Author Sophia Chang and I unpack Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson and its use of a reverse timeline in a murder mystery that’s less a whodunit and more a whydunit. SPOILERS for the novel. Together, we explore: How reverse chronology reshapes suspense and pacingBreadcrumbs, foreshadowing, and payoff in a backward narrativeCharacter arcs when time moves in reverseWhether a reverse-told thriller can still have a climaxWhat writers can learn (and what they should watch out for)This is a craft-heavy, spoiler-friendly discussion designed to help writers see how the technique works on the page—and how they might apply it in their own fiction.Sophia Chang'sYouTube:    / @authorsophiachang  Website: https://www.sophiachang.com/Substack: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ For updates, follow me on all my social media pages:Website: https://www.mirandadarrow.com/Facebook Page:   / bookmdediting  Instagram:   / miranda.darrow   X/Twitter: https://x.com/Miranda_DarrowThreads: https://www.threads.net/@miranda.darrow

    Kill Your Darlings - Writing a WhyDunIt, a Mystery in Reverse Order

  11. Trailer

    Novel Deep Dive - Trailer

    Welcome to Novel Deep Dive: Reverse Engineering Today's Bestsellers, the video podcast where we look beyond what makes a current bestselling novel memorable to discover how it works. Freelance fiction editor Miranda Darrow invites authors, editors, and writing professionals to reverse engineer today's bestselling fiction and uncover practical writing craft techniques writers can apply to their own stories. Every episode focuses on one novel, one writing craft topic, ranging from story structure to POV to character arcs and more. These discussions include plenty of spoilers—because sometimes the best way to understand a great story is to take it apart and see how it was built. This trailer explains the concept for this series and highlights the writing craft aspects we'll explore in some upcoming episodes from Season 1 including: Dungeon Crawler Carl Fourth Wing Just for the Summer Atmosphere The Will of the Many Missing White Woman and more! The first six episodes will be available September 1, 2026 with new episodes every two weeks all season.

  • 1 Trailer
    10 Episodes

Trailer

About

Join freelance fiction editor & book coach Miranda Darrow as she sits down with authors, editors, and writing professionals to unpack today's bestselling fiction—not to review it, but to reverse engineer it. Each episode explores one writing craft topic through a single novel, from character voice, pacing, tropes, point of view, story structure, & more. Check if out if you've ever finished a book and wondered "How did the author pull that off?" Whether you're drafting your first novel or polishing your tenth, you'll leave every episode with new writing tips and examples you can see in action.

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