We'll send our best work every month.
If you’ve ever wondered why authors bother to divide their books into numbered chunks called chapters, this is the podcast for you. Chapters are present in nearly every novel published today, but they’re something we don’t often think about. This week we are joined by … read more »
What’s that, Jim is still here in the podcast? Okay, then it’s time to talk about Discworld. There’s a lot going on in this disc-shaped world atop four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle, the Great A’Tuin. A lot of it, like … 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 »
Chris, Mike, and Oren discuss the upsides and downsides of including non-humans in stories. They list their pet peeves with non-human races, and describe works with great or terrible depictions. Read more »
Chris, Mike, and Oren discuss how themes are a common part of worldbuilding. They describe worlds with memorable themes, contemplate how worldbuilders can add themes to their settings, and mention the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Read more »
Mike, Oren, and Chris are confounded by all-encompassing definition of anti-heroes on TV Tropes. Oren shares his theory that all characters are either boring, anti-heroes, or Captain Picard. Chris asks why there aren’t female anti-heroes that aren’t also antagonists, and Mike describes anti-hero tricksters, templars, and … read more »
Oren, Chris, and Mike talk about breaking conventions in stories. They discuss works that offer delightful surprises to their audience, and contrast them with works that simply fail expectations. They also talk about Star Trek. A lot. Read more »
Discworld is an expansive fantasy series created by Terry Pratchett. It features a flat, disc-shaped world (who would have guessed) resting upon the backs of four enormous elephants standing on the shell of a giant turtle, the Great A’Tuin. It’s made up of multiple series … read more »
Mike, Oren, and Chris talk about stories in which characters use their knowledge of dramatic structure to anticipate what will happen next. They discuss worlds where story mechanics influence reality, and describe how self-awareness is used for parodies and subversions. Read more »
Fantasy worldbuilders usually start with an extensive foundation – the Earth. They then add geographical, cultural and magical details on top. Most fantasy worlds have fantastical elements made possible by the presence of magic, but are still basically Earth underneath. Read more »