2025
The Ultimate Editing Game Plan: From First Draft to Final Polish
Episode #29 – In this episode, we’re breaking down our month-by-month plan for editing our novels, from big-picture structural changes to final proofreading. We’ll walk through each phase of the process, including macro edits, character development, worldbuilding tweaks, and polishing prose. Plus, we’ll share our strategies for staying on track, managing feedback, and avoiding burnout. Whether you’re deep in revisions or just preparing for your first big rewrite, this episode will give you a clear roadmap to take your novel from messy draft to polished manuscript.
2025 New Year: Finish Line
Episdoe #28 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan talk about the previous year of writing (2024) and how they did at finishing (or not finishing) their rough drafts. They discuss metrics from Spotify Podcasting and then discuss what topics they have in store for the year ahead.
2024
Fast, Fierce, and Fluid: Tips for Writing Fight Scenes
Episode #27 – Looking to craft fight scenes that grip your readers from the first punch? In this episode, we dive deep into the art of writing fast-paced, fluid, and fierce action sequences that leap off the page. Learn how to master cause and effect, engage all five senses, and structure dynamic fight scenes that keep your audience on the edge of their seat. Whether you’re writing hand-to-hand combat or epic battles, these tips will ensure your action scenes pack a punch!
Crafting Characters: The Impact of Trauma in Fiction
Episode #26 – Join us as we explore how trauma in fiction shapes characters and drives compelling narratives. We’ll discuss how these intense experiences influence motivations and actions, adding depth to any story. Whether you’re writing or reading, this episode offers key insights into the power of trauma in storytelling.
Totalitarian Nightmares: Unpacking the Best of Dystopian Fiction
Episode #25 – Join us as we delve into the chilling world of dystopian fiction. Discover the defining features of totalitarian regimes, surveillance societies, and the fight for individuality through classic and contemporary novels and films. Perfect for fans of dark, thought-provoking tales!
The Thrill of the Unknown: Using Suspense to Enhance Emotional Impact in Writing
Episode #24 – Dive into the heart of suspense with us as we explore how the thrill of the unknown captivates and moves readers. Discover the pivotal role of tension in storytelling, and learn how to masterfully weave anxiety, fear, and anticipation into your narrative to keep readers emotionally invested and turning pages.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: Health and Writing
Min-Episode #7 – Embark on a journey with the Writing On Caffeine Express as we delve into the vital station of “Health and Writing” in our quest for literary excellence. Join Jonathan Franzone as he explores how tuning your physical and mental health can sharpen your creative instrument to its finest. Discover ergonomic tips, mental resilience strategies, and the unsung heroes of nutrition and sleep that fuel your writing journey. Tune in to transform not just your health but your writing itself, and learn how to keep your creativity thriving.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: Writing Rituals and Warm-ups
Mini-Episode #6 – Step into the Writing on Caffeine express and let Ragan Franzone guide you through the enchanting world of “Writing Rituals and Warm-ups.” Discover how simple practices can transform your writing from a task into a treasured habit, unlocking the doors to creativity with each session. Tune in to learn the secrets behind turning pre-writing routines into a source of endless inspiration and see your writing flourish. Join us on this journey to make every word an adventure and every blank page a canvas waiting for your touch.
Inner Demons and Outer Storms: Balancing Conflict in Fiction
Episode #23 – In this episode, we dive deep into how the battles within a character’s soul and the turmoil they face in their world are crucial for gripping narratives. Discover with us how these conflicts drive the plot and foster profound character development and engagement. Together, we’ll explore strategies for weaving these dynamic tensions into your fiction, creating stories that resonate deeply with readers.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: The Role of Inspiration
Mini-Episode #5 – February 8, 2024 Dive into the heart of creativity with the latest episode of Writing On Caffeine, where Ragan Franzone explores the ethereal landscape of inspiration. Uncover how to nurture your creative environment and harness the whispers of inspiration that surround us, transforming the elusive muse into a steadfast companion on your … Read more
Building a Daily Writing Habit: Overcoming Writer’s Block
Mini-Episode #4 – Embark on a creative journey with the latest episode of Writing On Caffeine, where we tackle the writer’s age-old nemesis: Writer’s Block. Join us as we steer you through foggy stretches and stalled thoughts with practical, rejuvenating strategies to rekindle your writing fire. Tune in to discover how a mix of rest, nourishment, and clever tactics can get your story back on track and transform that daunting blank page into a canvas of possibilities.
Writing Inner Dialogue
Episode #22 – Dive into the unspoken universe of Inner Dialogue, where silent thoughts shape stories and reveal the soul’s whispers. Discover how this powerful narrative tool uncovers the hidden depths of characters, illustrating internal conflicts and unvoiced desires that propel the plot and bind us to the journey. Please tune in to unravel the art of silent conversation and learn how the quietest thoughts can echo the loudest truths in fiction and within ourselves.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: Tools and Apps for Habit Tracking
Mini-Episode #3 – Embark on a quest to perfect your writing habits with the latest mini-episode of Writing On Caffeine, where Jonathan Franzone equips you with the finest tools and apps to keep your literary engines churning. Discover the magic of habit trackers that transform your daily writing tasks into epic quests and the satisfaction of ticking off each day’s goal. Tune in to find your ultimate writing ally, and take a step closer to completing your novel.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: Setting Achievable Goals
Mini-episode #2 – Embark on a writer’s voyage with the latest mini-episode of Writing On Caffeine, where Jonathan Franzone guides you through crafting S.M.A.R.T goals to turn the dream of your novel into reality. Discover how to set milestones that are just as invigorating as your morning espresso, and learn to celebrate the small victories on your journey to becoming an author. Tune in, set your sights on success, and join us in laying down the words, one page at a time, towards the peak of your writing aspirations.
Building a Daily Writing Habit: The Power of Routine
Mini-Episode #01 – Dive into the heart of a writer’s journey with Jonathan Franzone in our first mini-episode of Writing On Caffeine, where we tackle the daunting quest of “Building a Daily Writing Habit.” Uncover the transformative power of routine and learn how to turn the blank page into a canvas of endless possibilities, one day and one word at a time. Tune in as we brew up some inspiration, share practical tips to conquer the inertia of creativity, and take the first steps toward making writing a natural part of your daily life.
Writing and the Role of Setting
Episode #21 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan talk about the role of the setting in fiction writing. What makes a good setting? What is the difference between a setting and a scene or world-building?
2024 New Year’s Dumbledore Debate
Episode #20 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan talking about the previous year of writing (2023) and how they did at finishing (or not finishing) their rough drafts (and the penalties involved with non-completion). They discuss metrics from Spotify Podcasting and then have a debate as to whether or not Dumbledore is a good guy. AND they discuss a giveaway to promote this podcast in the New Year!
2023
What Makes a Good Love Interest?
Episode #19 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan talking about the great universal language of love. Ah, l’amour. Specifically, we are continuing our study of fiction characters and diving into what makes a good love interest.
What Makes a Good Side Character?
Episode #18 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss what makes up a good side character. They also dive into some of their favorite (and least favorite) side characters and why they love or hate them. Spoiler Alert: Samwise Gamgee is the true hero!
What Makes a Good Protagonist?
Episode #17 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss what makes up a good protagonist (THE HERO!). They also dive into some of their favorite (and least favorite) protagonists and why they love or hate them.
What Makes a Good Antagonist?
Episode #16 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss what makes up a good antagonist. They also dive into some of their favorite (and least favorite) antagonists and why they love or hate them.
Merpeople Gene-splicing – A Live Plotting Episode
Episode #15 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan (and Avery) attempt to plot a new novel live. We dive into world-building, character-building, motivations, magic-systems, and merpeople genocide. We thought it would be a fun exercise so that our listeners could experience the goofy things we talk about and also see what it’s like to develop ideas for your stories.
Music and Writing
Episode #14 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss music and writing. First, we have to clear up exactly what that means, and then we embark on all the aspects: listening to music while writing or reading and writing music into your novel.
Let’s Talk About Magic
Episode #13 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss magic systems. We talk (again) about Brandon Sanderson’s laws of magic, and then we apply those laws to the magic found in various books, including The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Mistborn, and more.
Book Formats
Episode #12 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss book formats (i.e., hard cover, paperback, audio, ebook, etc.). They discuss the pros and cons of the various formats as well as what are their favorite formats. Finally, they talk about publishing prospects and things to think about in publishing their own novels.
Worldview and Writing
Episode #11 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss the impact of worldview on writing fiction. Is it possible to write without a worldview? Should we leverage our worldview to create more compelling stories?
What’s Your Point? (of View)
Episode #10 – In this episode, Jonathan and Ragan discuss point of view in writing fiction. There are generally four points of view: first person, second person, third person (limited), and third person (omniscient). We also read excerpts from some books demonstrating these various viewpoints.
Story Tropes We Love and Hate
Episode #9 – In this episode, we discuss our favorite and least favorite story tropes. Which story tropes are useful and compelling for a story? Which tropes drive us crazy and even cause Ragan to stop reading a book?
Interview with Author Austin Brown
Episode #8 – On this episode, Jonathan and Ragan interview author Austin C. Brown. Austin lives in Pensacola, FL with his wife and three children. He has written a memoir about the adventures of a postal worker, several theological works, and literary fiction. We discuss how to get writing done, what are good sources of inspiration, and the differences between writing fiction and non-fiction. Ragan even blows Austin’s mind with her aphantasia.
Developing Believable Characters
Episode #7 – In this episode, we discuss what is involved in developing believable characters. Who to write complex versus flat characters. How to develop a character over the course of your novel. Should you use character sheets and develop a backstory?
2023 New Year’s Writing Resolutions
Episode #6 – In this episode, we look at the 2023 New Year and make some resolutions about our writing. Basically, we are going to try to finish these novels! We also discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of what we read last year, and some options for reading this coming year.
2022
World-Building
Episode #5 – In this episode, we talk about world-building. Writing fiction involves placing characters into a world. What does that world look like? Is it modern-day Earth? Is it Medieval Europe? Is it some alien planet that looks nothing like Earth? How do people dress? What religions are involved? These are some of the writing topics we dig into.
Writing Dialog and Why It’s the Worst
Episode #4 – In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of writing dialog, including some of the difficulties we have encountered in our own writing.
Plotters vs Pantsers
Episode #3 – In this episode, we discuss how authors plan and write books. Specifically, we talk about the difference between plotters and pantsers. Plotters are authors who plan out their novels and outline the details of the book to varying degrees of specificity. Pantsers just write. Sit down and write!
Writing Accountability
Episode #2 – In this episode, we discuss writing accountability. One of the most difficult aspects of writing a book is the simple task of getting words on the page. Just write! In order to set ourselves up for success, we have attempted to put into place some accountability measures to make sure we accomplish our goal.
Why Write a Novel?
Episode #1 – In this inaugural episode, we discuss why we are attempting to write a novel. What motivates us?
