Hiring an Editor | LOL 092

Hiring an Editor | LOL 092

Author: Lex Starwalker December 16, 2024 Duration: 1:15:22
Today I return to the show after being completely demoralized by my experience hiring a “professional” editor for my novel Critical Balance. It was a terrible experience. I got conned, lost a lot of money, and have nothing to show for it except hard lessons learned. I share the red flags I ignored or overlooked and the mistakes I made in the hopes you can avoid having to go through an experience like this yourself.

Ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes as a science fiction novel comes to life? Lex Out Loud: Writing Science Fiction pulls back the curtain, offering a raw, ongoing audio diary from author Lex Starwalker. Currently deep in the process of crafting a third novel, Lex invites you into the workshop to witness the triumphs, frustrations, and daily decisions that shape a work of speculative fiction. This isn't a polished lecture series; it's a companionable, real-time exploration of the craft. You'll hear Lex think through plot tangles, wrestle with character motivations, and dissect the balance between scientific plausibility and compelling narrative. The discussions naturally extend beyond just writing novels, touching on world-building applicable to game masters and the broader joys and challenges found within the genre. Each episode of this podcast feels like a conversation with a fellow creator, sharing hard-won insights as they are discovered. If you've ever been curious about how stories are built from the ground up, or if you're looking for a thoughtful companion for your own creative endeavors, this is a space where process is celebrated over product. Tune in to follow the journey, episode by episode, as the book-and the writer-evolve.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Lex Out Loud: Writing Science Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Prewriting or Why I Started with a Prequel | LOL 030 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:39
Today I’m going to talk about some of the prewriting I did for these stories. I’ll talk about why I started writing a prequel before I wrote the main story, and why that ended up being the perfect approach for me to take…
Making Writing a Habit: Consistency is Key | LOL 029 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
Today I talk about how consistency is the key to finishing a novel, and how if you want writing to be a part of your life, your best path to success lies in making writing a daily habit.
Brute Force Writing: Conversations between Characters | LOL 028 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
Today I talk about a brute force writing hack to get you started or get you past a point where you’re stuck—a conversation between two characters. I also talk a bit about my philosophy on the writing and revising process…
Finding my Blend: Outlining vs. Discovery Writing | LOL 026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:03
Today I’m going to talk a bit about where I think I fall on the spectrum between discovery writing vs. planned writing. I’m starting to feel like I’m somewhere in the middle, so I’ll talk about how I’m approaching this b…
State of the Earth, Jobs in Space & Education in the Future | LOL 025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:28
I thought the perfect way to wrap up our first season on worldbuilding would be to answer the rest of your questions about the setting. Today I’ll talk a bit about the state of the Earth in the setting, jobs in space and…
Space & Tech News and Novel Word Counts | LOL 024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:27
This week I share what I’m reading, watching and playing. If you’re looking for a good mundane/hard sci-fi, I recommend Stowaway. I very quickly go over some exciting developments in space exploration and technology late…
Is Writing Better than Talking about Writing? | LOL 022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
Today I ponder the point at which reading about writing or listening to someone else talk about writing becomes less useful than actually writing. I also consider the length and frequency of this podcast’s episodes and a…
Brute Force Writing | LOL 021 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:04
This week I talk about brute force writing and how I used it to get started on this project when I felt a little stuck. If you’re stuck, whether at the beginning of a project or in the middle of it, maybe this method wil…