The Quiet Alchemist

Morgan Liphart
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The podcast that transforms you into a better writer. Bite-size episodes each week with concrete, practical tips to improve your writing. We dive into all different literary forms, like poetry, short stories, and novels. Pull up a seat and let's get your pen making magic.

  1. 04/28/2025

    How to Write a Haiku – Poetry

    How to write a haiku. Today we're exploring the essence of the haiku. Haikus should have strong, striking images and contain a moment of insight inspired by an observation in nature. Haikus have three lines that follow a 5-7-5 syllable count. Together we also explore exactly why haikus are so powerful in helping us appreciate each moment of life as it unfolds instead of living in the past or the future.  Today's example haikus are authored by Matsuo Bashō, Elmedin Kadric, Germain Droogen-broodt, Martin Elster, and Daniela Misso. … Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    34 min

  2. 01/28/2025

    How to Outline Your Novel

    The best approach to outlining your novel. Whether your outline is a loose structure or a fully-detailed story map, it needs to have two components to be successful. Together we go through exactly what your outline needs to include to make sure your resulting draft is sellable to agents and loved by readers. … Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    32 min

  3. 01/07/2025

    Using Tarot Cards to Create Unique Characters – Novels

    How to use Tarot Cards to add depth and layers to your characters. Today we're exploring how to pull Tarot Cards to create backstory, traits, beliefs, interpersonal dynamics, and other characterization for the main characters in your novel. You'll learn exactly what Tarot Cards are and the three steps you can use to pull cards that develop your character's unique story.   Below are 21 questions to ask Tarot Cards about your character. … Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906 … 1.   How does your character perceive the world around them? What is the lens through which they look at the world? 2.   What is this character's relationship with their mother like? 3.   What is this character's relationship with their father like? 4.   What are this character's insecurities? 5.   How does this character handle conflict? 6.   Is there a gap between how this character sees themselves and how the world sees them? What is that gap like? 7.   What are this character's core values? (Pull multiple cards for this one.) 8.   Does this character experience loneliness? How does that shape their actions? 9.   What is this character like when they are in love? 10.    What does this character regret and how does that regret shape their current actions? 11.    How does this character handle failure? 12.    What is this character's relationship happiness? Are they happy? If not, do they believe happiness is even possible? 13.    How does this character define home? Do they feel they have ever found it? 14.    How does this character define love? Do they feel they have ever found it? 15.    What is this character's relationship to money? Does it control them or do they control it? 16.    What types of friendships does this character have? How does this affect their life? (Pull multiple cards for this one.) 17.    What is this character hiding? Are they hiding it well or not? 18.    How does your character feel about death? 19.    What relationship does your character have to the truth? Do they believe there is one objective truth or many valid subjective truths? 20.    How does your character define loyalty? 21.    What relationship does your character have with power and authority? Do they shun it? Do they want more of it for themselves?

    43 min

  4. 12/17/2024

    Writing Dialogue – Novels

    How to write dialogue that sweeps your readers into your story. Today we're exploring the essential components of dialogue. Effective dialogue should both aid in characterization and move the plot forward. We go through the most common mistakes new and intermediate writers make when crafting character dialogue, including how to correctly format dialogue and the best way to use dialogue tags.  Today's example novel is How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang. … Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    34 min

  5. 12/03/2024

    Adding Humor Into Your Writing – Poetry

    How to make readers laugh. Today we're exploring techniques for adding humor into your writing. Together we outline four proven models borrowed from the stand-up comedy work to inject humor into your work. Long live the humorous poem!   Today's example poem is Thank You for Waiting by Simon Armitage.   …   Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    33 min

  6. 04/16/2024

    Writing Consistent Characters vs Characters with Surprise, Duality and Contradiction – Novels and Short Stories

    How to make your characters feel so real they could walk off the page and into your world.  Today we're exploring whether consistency should be the holy grail of characterization or whether we should instead aim for writing characters that grow, change, and surprise the reader. We go through a writing exercise to break you out of cliches and take your characterization into exciting realms.   Today's example novel is The Ocean by the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.  … Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    21 min

  7. 03/26/2024

    The First Sentence – Novels and Short Stories

    How to make your first sentence sizzle and pop so the reader has to keep reading. Today we're exploring exactly how to craft a winning first sentence that will pull a reader into your book and never let go. I learned most of what I'm sharing today from James Patterson himself, so buckle up, it's going to be a worthwhile ride. … Find Morgan's Poetry Masterclass on how to get published here: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Find Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running, here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    39 min

  8. 03/05/2024

    Refrains – Poetry Writing Lesson

    How to create incredible poems using the power of refrains. Today we dive into exactly what makes refrains such a powerful tool in poetry and how to use them effectively in your writing. Two poetry prompts are also included to help you take this tool into your hands effectively.  Today's example poem is "She Had Some Horses" by Joy Harjo. … Find Morgan's Poetry Writing Masterclass on how to get published here: https://poetry-masterclass.thinkific.com/courses/poetry-masterclass Find Morgan's poetry chapbook, Barefoot and Running, here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barefoot-and-running-morgan-liphart/1138411141?ean=9781735957906

    23 min
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About

The podcast that transforms you into a better writer. Bite-size episodes each week with concrete, practical tips to improve your writing. We dive into all different literary forms, like poetry, short stories, and novels. Pull up a seat and let's get your pen making magic.

Information

  • Creator
    Morgan Liphart
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    The Quiet Alchemist