#302 | The #1 Problem with So Many Novels

🎙 Lately, I've noticed the same problem arising in novel after novel: nothing happens. Literary or genre, doesn't matter. Too many stories mistake explanation for action, leaving readers trapped in narratives where characters are not making enough decisions. Let alone ones that matter. This episode breaks down why dramatic momentum comes from choice, consequence, and enactment—not endless exposition. Inside the Episode: (01:50) The Diagnosis: Unpacking the frustrating reality behind why so many hyped books fail: the simple, sweeping truth that nothing happens. (03:00) Action vs. Spectacle: Breaking down the difference between cheap explosions and actual dramatic momentum driven by characters making impactful choices. (04:40) The TV Series Bleed: How the structural format of modern streaming television has infected contemporary prose, leading to endless, repetitive explanation. (06:10) Exemplars of Enactment: Looking at masterclasses in action-heavy literature like My Brilliant F...