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Sometimes it feels like we’re up to our ears in dark and gritty reboots, but what about lighter stories? It turns out they’re not just for kids, and we’ve invited Ariel back to talk about them. We discuss why light stories can attract a wider … read more »
What’s in a name? If you’re telling a story, a lot. Special guest Ariel returns to talk with us about how to name characters and what mistakes to avoid. We discuss how descriptive a character’s name should be, the value of using mundane-sounding names, and … read more »
Sometimes a sentence is very long, and it keeps going and going with commas in places that a period could be and extra clauses that don’t necessarily need to be there. Other times a sentence is short. Which is better? As is so often the … read more »
Some writers start every sentence with “there are,” others can’t stop italicizing, and still others write sentences that never end. We’ve all got bad habits in our writing, and this week Ariel returns to discuss them with Chris and Wes. Our hosts are all editors, … read more »
What’s this? Ariel has returned from the wilderness of freelance editing to grace our podcast yet again. She joins Chris and Wes for an in-depth discussion of emphasis in writing. How should writers make key passages stand out? How much is too much? Is bolding … read more »
Attending conventions is exciting, fun, and just a little overwhelming. As you wander in a sea of thousands of strangers who’ve all come together to enjoy something you’re passionate about, you may feel creatively invigorated and achingly lonesome at the same time. Approaching a crowded … read more »
Won’t someone please think of the children? With more and more speculative fiction for young audiences published each year, our kids are in grave danger. Science fiction and fantasy writing fills their heads with filthy concepts, inspires them to look outside the status quo for answers, … read more »
Ariel, Chris, and Oren describe the difference between showing elaborate spectacle and simply telling what happens. They discuss how showing can invoke deep emotions and contemplate when telling is warranted. Listen to hear how writers enhance storytelling with showing and telling. Read more »
Chris, Ariel, and Oren discuss transitions in writing and other media. They describe what transitions need to accomplish and various techniques for transitioning between scenes. While they’re at it, they debate whether Harry Potter should have died … Read more »
A scene where the pet dies will evoke an emotional response from any audience. Name one heartless fiend who didn’t cry when Hedwig died! But too often, authors treat pets as cannon fodder to toy with our emotions. The audience has wised up to this … read more »