In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we dive into one of the trickiest (and most fun!) aspects of writing: dialogue. How do you make it sound real without being boring? How do you give each character a distinct voice? And what do you do when all your characters sound like…you?

We share our earliest (and cringiest) attempts at writing dialogue, the advice that’s actually helped us improve, and the pitfalls we still fall into. Plus, we shout out some of our favourite authors who nail character conversations and unpack what makes their dialogue so effective.

Timestamps:
00:20 – Intro
00:50 – Earliest memories of writing dialogue (and hilarious fails)
08:52 – Making dialogue sound natural (reading aloud, dictation, stealing from real life)
11:01 – Giving characters distinct voices (quirks, tone, education, personality)
13:55 – Common dialogue pitfalls we’ve fallen into

25:46 – The controversy of dialogue tags
31:45 – Little improv game: can you guess whose character is speaking?
35:46 – Books/resources that helped us level up
37:23 – Dialogue “rules” we’ve happily broken (and why it worked)
39:32 – Authors who nail dialogue according to us

Keywords: writing dialogue tips, character voice, realistic dialogue, novel writing craft, witty banter, subtext in fiction

Welcome to Season 4 of Daggers & Daydreams! We’re kicking things off with one of Helen’s favourite topics—worldbuilding. Whether you’re crafting an elaborate fantasy realm or setting your story in the “real” world, the way you build your world shapes your characters, your plot, and the entire reading experience.

We talk about what worldbuilding really means, how it differs across genres, and why even contemporary fiction needs it. We also dig into our own processes, what comes first (the world or the characters), the common pitfalls we’ve encountered, and whether you really need that fantasy map.

Finally, we share some of our favourite fictional worlds we’d happily live in…and the ones we’d run from screaming.

Timestamps
00:18 – Season 4 welcome & upcoming topics
01:33 – What worldbuilding means to us
02:44 – How the world impacts story and character arcs

04:31 – Why worldbuilding matters in all genres
10:26 – Differences in worldbuilding between fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary fiction
15:17 – Our personal worldbuilding processes
18:00 – What comes first: the character or the world?
23:16 – Do you really need a fantasy map?

26:42 – Pitfalls we’ve fallen into when worldbuilding
30:55 – Favourite worlds we’d want to live in and worlds we’d definitely avoid

34:05 – Top tips for Worldbuilding
36:46 – Closing thoughts

Keywords: worldbuilding tips, writing craft, fantasy writing, contemporary fiction, story setting, character development, novel structure, writing advice

In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we sit down with Carley Hoffman, YA dystopian author of Providence, the first book in a trilogy she began writing while still in high school. Now a college student, Carley is continuing to build her series while balancing life, studies, and a passion for storytelling.

We chat about her writing journey—from that very first story idea to turning it into a published novel—and how her process has evolved for book two. Carley opens up about the surprises (both good and bad) of indie publishing, what she’s learned about connecting with readers, and the tools that have made the biggest difference for her.

Of course, we couldn’t resist a few fun questions: which character she’d have dinner with, who she’d cast in a Providence adaptation, and the most surprising feedback she’s ever received from a reader.

Timestamps

00:18 – Intro & welcome to Carley Hoffman

02:19 – Has storytelling always been part of your life?

03:43 – Writing process: planner, pantser, or in-between?

05:38 – Writing book two: challenges & changes from book one

07:37 – A typical writing day & fitting writing around life

08:48 – Choosing the indie publishing path

10:19 – Biggest surprises about publishing her first book

12:46 – The most rewarding & most challenging parts of being indie

17:17 – Fun Q: Which character would you have dinner with?

18:15 – Most unexpected feedback from a reader

19:16 – Writing software preferences

20:20 – Writing quirks & surprising rituals

22:02 – Advice to her past self before publishing

22:55 – Outro

Keywords: YA dystopian, debut author, indie publishing, writing process, author interview, young adult fiction, Providence book series, writing advice for beginners