Impactful Storytelling: External Consequences vs. Internal Processing

Do you ever wonder what makes a good writer great? In this week’s writing podcast for authors, we dig into one of the most overlooked tools in self-editing: consequences and emotional processing. Whether you’re looking for book editing hacks, story pacing strategies, or help with editing fantasy novels, Episode 24 of the Story Savvy Series tackles it all. In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful ways to level up your writing—making sure your big story moments actually land. If you’ve ever written a scene that felt important but somehow fell flat, this one’s for you.
Developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell (hartboundediting.com) and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe (authorsalcove.com) team up to explore emotional fallout, plot consequences, and how to make character reactions feel real—without slowing down your pacing.
From plot twists to quiet turning points, you’ll get practical, down-to-earth advice for writing emotional characters, deepening your scenes, and making your story hit harder in all the right places.

They also discuss:
What makes a moment “big” in the first place
How to tell if a scene is missing impact
When it’s okay to delay consequences or emotional fallout
Why a small tweak can save a flat scene
What to do if a character’s reaction feels off
The balance between emotional weight and story momentum
If you want to write stories where every moment matters—and every turning point leaves a mark—this episode will help you get there.
Recommended Resources:
Hart Bound Editing Services – [https://hartboundediting.com]
Authors’ Alcove Membership Community – [http://authorsalcove.com]
Book Giveaway – [http://authorsalcove.org]

[00:00] Intro
[01:12] Checking for consequences in every scene
[03:50] Defining big events in a story
[05:25] When big moments don’t impact the plot
[07:01] Using consequences to strengthen weak scenes
[10:43] The importance of consequences and processing
[12:20] Making consequences appropriate in context
[14:53] Adding more external consequences
[16:53] Genre differences in consequences and processing
[20:35] Delaying consequences and processing
[28:16] External vs. internal follow-up for big events