TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES [FICTION CARTEL]
Sometimes life walks up to you, smiles...then kicks you in the tenders.
Yeah,….I got nothing.
The sad thing is that we had this session planned, the questions in place, and the only person I knew of that wouldn’t be with us was Anne, who had hockey tickets with her husband.
Priorities, right? Who wouldn’t want to go to a hockey game?!?
That was okay…we had seven spots filled for the Fiction Cartel.
Then life snuck in.
Seven became six.
Six became five.
Five became four.
We ALMOST had five again, but then that dropped to three.
Noooooo problem.
Pivot.
Have fun and always be consistent.
…so we did.
Lisa and Jessica were kind to hold down the fort, while I dashed to be sick in my bathroom. This was one of those times when my weekly shot didn’t sitting well. I allowed myself to be sick, cleaned up, ran back…and we started the show.
It not only went well—it was wonderful, IMO.
When I woke up this morning, after a long and painful night, I sat down to edit the show and get it out to you.
…there was zero audio.
I had the video, but the mics did get recorded.
…which didn’t make ANY sense.
We fixed everything before we started.
We tested it.
Everything was running like clockwork.
So I ended up with video, but no sound.
I’m sorry, everyone.
…especially sorry to
Life happens…and that’s why we encourage you to join us live…to get the benefit of these conversations first hand.
SESSION NOTES: Tools for Writers
Fiction Cartel Session — November 3, 2025
This week’s Fiction Cartel turned into one of those nights where good conversation stretched far beyond the topic, and honestly…that’s when the best insights show up.
It was a smaller crew than usual, but the laughter came fast, the tangents were gold, and the lessons were practical.
The Writers Who Joined Us
Panelists Kummer Wolfe, Lisa, Jessica Buckley, and Jaime Buckley (that’d be me), discussed Tools for Writers…both the physical and digital…and how they affect our creative process, focus, and growth.
We were later joined by Ben and Lori, with a special cameo by Anne, who literally joined us live from a hockey game (because apparently, multitasking writers are unstoppable).
The Fiction Cartel members:
Panelists Kummer Wolfe, Deleyna Marr, and Jaime Buckley, discuss the tools used by writers.
Make sure to follow them on their substacks!
Subscribe to Kummer Wolfe’s World’s of Kummer Wolfe
Subscribe to Deleyna Marr’s Deleyna’s Drift
Subscribe to Jaime’s Life of Fiction
…and of course, a nod to last nights dedicated audience: Ben, Lori, Jessica, and Anne — thanks for showing up, wherever you happened to be.
Highlights of the Chat
Warm-Up Question: Free or Not Free?
We kicked off with a discussion about whether writers should rely on free tools or invest in paid ones.
Most of us started with free software…because that’s what we could afford.
But as Kummer put it:
“You eventually realize you’re spending more time trying to make free tools do what the paid ones were built to handle.”
Lisa shared how she transitioned from experimenting with freebies to using platforms like GoBrunch, which now powers her teaching and writing sessions.
My own turning point?
Back in 2004, I used casino winnings (yes, that story’s true) to buy my first custom PC and domain names…and my first paid tool was Scrivener, which I still use every day.
Creative Tools That Shape Us
Question: What tools do you rely on most during the creative phase — brainstorming, outlining, or worldbuilding?
Lisa surprised us by naming music as her key creative tool.
Her playlists set the tone for each project…not just as background noise, but as a rhythm that matches the heart of her stories.
Kummer agreed, adding that soundscapes and playlists drive emotional pacing in his work.
Meanwhile, I confessed my own ritual: playlists + incense.
Fifteen years of conditioning means a single spark of sandalwood and I’m ready to write.
On Story Structure and Continuity
Lisa walked us through how Scrivener and Scapple changed how she thinks about structure…giving her the flexibility to move ideas like puzzle pieces until they “click.”
Kummer shared his method for juggling multiple worlds on World Anvil, keeping continuity without drowning in details.
His tip? Focus on what the reader will feel, not what you can catalog.
And when I asked Lisa how she tracks lore for her upcoming “Spaceport” project… let’s just say everyone wanted to read it immediately.
Digital Tools That Make You Better (Not Just Faster)
Lisa introduced us to AutoCrit, a tool that analyzes fiction specifically for genre tone, pacing, and emotion.
Kummer, on the other hand, uses his voice to listen to his drafts…catching rhythm issues and clarity gaps by ear.
That sparked a great discussion on how hearing your work out loud rewires your editing brain.
I shared my ongoing love for ProWritingAid, despite constantly yelling at it for not understanding Dax’s slang.
We concluded that tools should serve your voice, not correct it out of existence.
Focus, Discipline, and Uncommon Tools
Kummer described how playlists and mood-based loops help him maintain focus — the right song can anchor an entire scene.
Anne, broadcasting from the stands, added a new favorite to everyone’s list: AmbienT-Mixer, a site that lets you design your own soundscapes (a tavern, spaceship, or thunderstorm, for example).
By the end, we were all plotting to create “writer rooms” based on specific vibes.
Hidden Gems
Lisa mentioned Sigil, a powerful open-source ePub editor.
Kummer brought up VulgarLang, a language generator for conlangs — which instantly blew everyone’s mind.
Jessica added her insight on how even the simplest tools, like Pages or a notebook, become “anchors for creativity” when used consistently.
Announcements
Before closing, we discussed the next evolution of the Fiction Cartel community:
New Community Rooms are being built under the JaimeBuckley.com network — including reading lounges and writing sprint spaces.
Anne will be hosting Writing Sprints soon.
Kummer will lead Book Reading Rooms for sharing works-in-progress.
And of course, the next Cartel topic is already brewing.
Next Session Preview:
“Finding Your Voice vs. Writing for an Audience”
How do you know when you’ve found it — and how do you protect it from everyone else’s expectations?
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OH NO!!! Im so sorry—that sounds like a nightmare. We move onward and upward, and the good news is that no wisdom was lost in the making of this podcast
Dang it! Serves me right for missing it.