Every week the Mythcreants geek out about spec fic and storytelling. You can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or with our xml feed: https://mythcreants.com/blog/category/podcast/feed/
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Castles, spaceships, and high tech cities are all great, but they can get a bit repetitive after a while. Fortunately, despite spec fic existing for centuries (at least) by this point, we’ve still only scratched the surface of all the possible settings out there. Today, … read more » 
You may have heard us say “nothing good happens in an interlude,” but why are we so fond of saying that? What does an interlude actually do to a story, and how does that relate to flashbacks? There are times when flashbacks are appropriate, but … read more » 
You know how the old saying goes: sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from a broken setting. Pretty sure it’s something like that. Anyway, this week’s topic is high magic! Specifically, how high magic will affect your world and what problems to look out for. We … read more » 
Writers sometimes struggle to portray other professions in stories, but it turns out they have trouble portraying their own profession as well. Fictional authors are always portrayed as rogue geniuses who love suffering and never practice or revise. Why is that, when it’s so unlike … read more » 
Uh oh, you wanted to have your characters go to a school for magic or discover the meaning of friendship on their quest, but because someone’s already written an article about it, you’re not so sure. That’s right, you’re thinking of using… a trope. It’s … read more » 
This week, we’re talking about wizards. Or at least, we were going to, but then we asked what “wizard” means anyway. Naturally, there were some strong opinions. Must wizards arrive precisely when they mean to? Are they defined by staves and point hats? Do they … read more » 
Parents: Most people have them, but they really get in the way when your underaged hero wants to have dangerous adventures and save the day. Perhaps the parents should just be dead? That’s certainly an option, but there are others, we promise! If handled correctly, … read more » 
Last week, we discussed the line that opens your story. Now, we’re talking about the line that ends it. Even the best story must reach its final page eventually, and it’s important to know what that last line is even for. Should it wrap up … read more » 
Due to the linear nature of spacetime, stories have to start somewhere. The first line is, by definition, a reader’s first encounter with your story, but is it really as important as all that? Yes and no. This week, we’re talking about opening lines. We … read more » 
You thought this episode would have a topic other than plot twists, but, twist, the topic is plot twists! On the one hand, everyone loves a good plot twist. On the other hand, plot twists tend to be one of the most contentious story decisions … read more » 
