Alice’s pod is a gift. She provides detailed explanations of the core skills and the novel planning process.

Alice does a great job of unpacking the Storygrid methodology in ways that make it accessible and applicable to writers of all skill levels. She demystifies the editing process. She’s also very generous with tools that cover podcast material. Thanks Alice!

Very helpful for me - first time novelist/developmental editor. My feedback: spoilers are OK if they help me better understand what you’re teaching. Defining industry or well-used jargon and how they do or do not cross over with your jargon is helpful. Thanks

I haven’t been writing for a full year yet but I have been giving myself a crash course while writing and have finished a 100,000 word first draft and have struggled with self editing. this is the first podcast I have heard mention of anything about scene lists and this is a revelation to me. I might make all three versions just for memorabilia or teaser material or whatever. Maybe just for myself. Regardless, this will definitely help my editing. Thank you Alice!!! Great podcast too!

I am so grateful to Alice for this podcast. She imparts her editing wisdom clearly, eloquently and with such a kind and generous spirit. As a new writer, Alice’s insights and craft tips have been invaluable— not just for revising, but drafting as well. Highly recommend this podcast to writers of all levels. Thank you!

When I’m not in my writing chair, and I have to drive or do some mundane task, it’s such a treat to listen to your podcast. I feel I’m being nurtured during moments when I’m not able to write. Right now, I’m just exploring writing—I have no thoughts of publishing. That’s why I like the tips you offer that have to do with story and character development. The tips on revision help me as well. I tend to like the tips that focus on the story writing itself rather than the industry specific tips. I’m sure a lot of your listeners are like me—just tasting creative writing. I’d love to keep enjoying more of your advice on the writing process, especially fleshing out characters. Thanks so much for your great content. Have continued success.

I started listening about 6 months ago, working my way, through clusters of related episodes. I now have finished the whole thing. Every episode. I'm not a completionist--I wouldn't have done this if I hadn't kept discovering new takes on things I thought I knew, and valuable information in episodes for which I didn't think I was the target audience. I often listen while grocery shopping, and I have literally stopped my cart and pulled out my phone to jot down notes or leave feedback. Alice is StoryGrid trained, but conveys the concepts in a way that doesn't leave me paralyzed by theory. You don't have to be a StoryGrid fan to get a lot out of this podcast. You probably do have to have a deep interest in how stories work. Oh--and it helps if you love editing!

Alice is a great teacher. She explains concepts in concise and easy to grasp language while providing actionable advice.

I recommend this podcast to all my fellow writers. When I was staring at my first draft, lost as how to begin the revision process, this podcast gave me a framework. The scene structure episodes were especially helpful. Now it’s my go-to resource for editing advice that’s equally digestible and actionable. And I just finished my next draft :)

I discovered this podcast searching on Google while stuck in my writing process. I write picture books, but the information here is so unbelievably helpful, succinct, and inspiring. Thank you for creating this!

I enjoy listening to Ms. Sudlow as she teaches writers from an editorial perspective. She builds a mental framework and a vocabulary to understand story theory. She explains how writers can use that knowledge when editing their own work, or when working with an editor. She clearly understands and enjoys the coaching and teaching aspects of her job, and high she uses to good effect in the podcasts. Finally, she obviously can’t be every writer’s editor. Instead, and likely by conscious choice, she models and illustrates the characteristics of an editor who can dramatically help a writer. Writers could do a lot worse than find an editor with a similar attitude and find of knowledge as Ms. Sudlow. Her podcasts are clear and packed with utility; they are energizing, and supportive in attitude. I’ll continue to listen and appreciate her insights and reminders, which can help me maintain a productive writing mindset.

If you have the first draft of your novel written this is the perfect podcast for you. Alice is super passionate about developmental editing (the next major step after you’ve written the first draft). She knows what she’s talking about and spells out an easy to follow process. If you are struggling with how to shape a 300 page first draft into acts, scenes and chapters this is the podcast for you.

Alice gives advice that makes perfect sense, with real-world examples, and clearly loves writers and the process. Thank you.

Simple straight-forward writing advice with examples and practical exercises. Very grateful for Alice and Your Next Draft 💕

I found Alice’s podcast as I was beginning the second draft of my book and it’s become indispensable. She gives efficient and understandable advice on how to tackle editing from macro to microcosm in your story. It has saved me time and heartache! Highly recommend.

I’ve listened since the beginning, and I look forward to each new episode like no other writing podcast I follow. Alice does such a good job of delivering important, helpful content and is a wonderful at reinforcing information from previous episodes. She is to the point and doesn’t waste time- a resource I highly value. To Alice: thanks for your help :) you are greatly appreciated!

The StoryGrid method can be an overwhelming to understand and put into practice. Alice does a great job making these methods accessible and easy to implement. Plus, I love her voice. She feels like your personal writing cheerleader. Listening to one of her episodes always inspires me to write.

Alice offers excellent advice in a consistently concise and clear way. Her segments are easy to listen to as she keeps them to a manageable length and her enthusiastic delivery is very encouraging. She often provides helpful checklists to ensure you can easily practice what you’ve learned. Highly recommended!

One thing you forgot to mention about Notes to Novel is that it is not a good fit for discovery writers since a big part of her course focuses on outlining. It was not the best decision and I shouldn’t have spent my money there. Lesson learned.

Excellent. I find her episodes easily actionable. For beginning writers that want a clear defined path or series of steps, I think this is the podcast to start with.

I started listening to Alice’s podcast because the editing process, quite frankly, scares me. Alice has given me great ideas and tips to see how editing is an exciting and creative part of the writing process. I feel like I can approach editing more confidence and tools to use. Thanks, Alice!

Alice’s editing knowledge is a “pot of gold” and she’s sharing it here with writers, gold nugget by gold nugget! Each and every episode offers quick-to-the-point, easy-to-apply ideas, sure to help you make INVALUABLE edits to your next novel!

There are lots of podcasts for writers but not a lot about the revision process. Good news—Alice takes this on and—wait for it—loves revision! I especially appreciated the real time developmental editing session with Kim Kessler. It opened my eyes to how flexible I can be with a scene, brainstorming alternatives and making choices that best serve the story.

I am writing my second novel and still feel like I have so much to learn. Alice is a wonderful, clear guide on my first-draft journey.

I’m the type of person who can’t seem to go straight from A to B to accomplish any goal. I go from A to L, back to G, and then circle around Z a few times first. Alice helps to put focus where it needs to be. Now I am finally excited to get back into my work in progress that’s been frustrating me for far too long.

Alice explains editing in clear, practical terms and provides good examples that illustrate her points. Good information for improving your draft.

This podcast is giving me what I need to become a better writer and editor. I need this towards raising my understanding of what, how and why I can critique and improve my writing. Give this podcast a try!

I stumbled upon this podcast last week and have since listened to most of the episodes. Alice is so clear, thoughtful, and generous in how she shares her wisdom, and the podcast (especially the episodes about scenes) have already made a big impact on my writing. I’ve shared it with other writer friends and highly recommend listening!

Alice is the best. She’s knowledgeable, experienced, and best of all fun! I’ve learned so much from this podcast already. I hope Alice will keep them coming.

I see a lot of podcasts out there talking about how to write your first draft, but this concept really hit home - the what’s next information is spot on. Do I hire someone? Do I self-edit? Some combination of both? Great information for self-published authors who aren’t going to get the benefit of a traditional publishing company’s staff. Sometimes we just have to go it alone, and this podcast is a good place to start!

I’m only two episodes in right now, but both episodes have been so helpful in clarifying what different steps there are in a book writing process. This podcast has helped me to understand what stage I’m in and where my energy should be focused. It is very easy for me to want to correct or clarify one paragraph, but knowing that is not the stage I’m in gives me freedom to continue my discovery process. I may not be ready for my next draft, but I’m able to write more freely in the current one because of Alice’s information and encouragement.

As someone who is on the “next draft” of my novel, I am loving this podcast. As an experienced editor, Alice shares solid information on what to do once you finish your first draft. Alice gives actionable items every episode, and she speaks with passion from experience. You can sense she genuinely wants writers to embrace and enjoy the editing process as much as she does. If I had one bit of advice it would be that she speaks very fast and she could probably slow down just a bit so we can enjoy and follow at a slightly more relaxed pace. But I’m writing that off to her contagious energy, and perhaps a bit to new podcaster nerves. The first three episodes are a great start, and I’ll be following along until my next draft is published!

Alice breaks down editing into bite size pieces that are easy to understand. She’s right about taking the time to edit your story. I published my first book after finishing the 1st draft. HUGE MISTAKE! Alice explains why this is a bad idea and gives us an easy blueprint to self-publish your best book possible. She knows her stuff!