When to Kill a Hero – or Not
A protagonist death can make the audience rage-quit. Is it worth it?
Latest in Dark Stories
Six Types of Downward Turning Points
Downward turning points make failure feel satisfying.
How to Create an Unhappy Ending
In a truly tragic story, the hero fails because they made the wrong choice.
Episode 337: Tone, Mood, and Atmosphere
Some character deaths are gruesome while others are slapstick comedy.
Episode 320: Exploitation and Appropriation
How do you know which stories aren't yours to tell, and why should you care?
Interview With the Vampire Shows the Strengths and Weaknesses of Adaptation
The movie isn't always worse than the book.
What The Black Company Teaches Us About Dark Stories
Audiences expect more from stories that feature distressing subject matter.
Why Storytellers Fail at Grimdark and How to Fix It
A thin garnish of gruesome tragedy won't make your story meaningful.
Five Stories Sabotaged by Their Tone
Both dark and comical elements can hinder a story.
Six Ways to Bluff That Your Hero Will Die
Many stories use the possibility that the hero will die to keep the story tense.
Five Common Problems With Dark Stories
Dark elements can help heighten drama, but if done poorly they'll just end up hollow.
When Dark and Gritty Is Just Exploitation
Tragedy can make for high drama, but appropriating it from someone else can do real harm.
Five Heroes With Dark Reflections
Five villains who said "We're not so different after all"—and were right about it.
Episode 89: Body Horror
Elly and Rhys are back this week, once again joining Oren to keep the podcast on course.
Seven Ways to Use Consequences in Stories
What your characters can learn from their mistakes—and how that learning can improve your story.
Creating Distinct and Grounded Anti-Heroes
What to consider when crafting your protagonist with a morally gray streak.
How to Use Lovecraftian Horrors in Your Stories
How to make your ravenous cosmic beastie strike terror in your readers' hearts.
Making Your Story Games Horrifying (in the Good Way)
How to make players tremble at the sight of your dice—and keep coming back for more.
Five Innovative Horror Stories to Read
These tales will get your spine tingling in new and exciting ways.
Four Elements That Kill Horror in Roleplaying Games
These safeguards might make your PCs too comfortable, and we can't have that.
C Baker