Best Conceptual Creeps Podcasts (2024)

1
The Return 6:42

1M ago6:42

6:42

The Return by Conceptual CreepsBy Conceptual Creeps

1
Dialog and Description in Suttree 55:14

3M ago55:14

55:14

Haha this was recorded like months ago. Please excuse the mess. More Good Writing coming on a reliably unreliable schedule. Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out craft ideas for fellow writers to steal. Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benjamin Kerns. Twitter: @goodwritingpod Email: goodwritingpodcast@gmail.com…

1
Facts in Fiction in The Book of X 1:07:31

6M ago1:07:31

1:07:31

What are more tools we can use to further develop theme and the point-of-view character's worldview? In her novel The Book of X, Sarah Rose Etter regularly breaks the action with lists of facts. Find the photo of Ben that reminded Emily of Edward Cullen in the Two Dollar Radio Tattoo Club Don't Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine Louie Zong's new a…

1
Fruiting Bodies and Being Mean to a Child 58:24

11M ago58:24

58:24

Point-of-view characters. You love them. You understand them. They still do mean things. How can you keep your reader empathizing with your point-of-view character even if they do something villainous? Also: Ben (a philosophy major) and Emily (an outdoor enthusiast) interpret the climax pretty differently. Read this short story before listening to …

1
How to Write Non-Chronologically in Enjoy Me Among My Ruins 55:15

12M ago55:15

55:15

Do you have to write about a topic in the chronological order that it happened in to understand it better? No, definitely not. In fact - maybe you shouldn't? This episode, we discuss Enjoy Me Among My Ruins by Juniper Fitzgerald (2022). It's a memoir that uses 3 forms (diary entry, flash about an influential woman in her life, and essays) to explor…

1
The Energy of Youth in Burn You the Fuck Alive 1:16:48

12M ago1:16:48

1:16:48

In this episode we consider what it takes to write young people in a way that feels both honest and honoring with a difficult piece of fiction by B.R. Yeager from his newest collection, Burn You the Fuck Alive. Burn You the Fuck Alive by B.R. Yeager Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out craft ideas for fellow…

1
Our Wives Under the Sea: How to Establish Themes When Your Point-of-View Character is Clueless 1:00:51

1y ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Carmen from Julia Armfield's debut novel Our Wives Under the Sea isn't necessary for the plot, but Emily got obsessed anyway (of course). In this episode, we discuss bringing side characters to life and using them to establish themes that your point-of-view character is too clueless to pick up on. Other links: B.R. Yeager (friend of the pod)'s new …

1
Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the Power of Propulsion Featuring David van den Berg 1:04:23

1+ y ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Today we discuss "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" with poet David van den Berg. David's magazine - Prometheus Dreaming His new book - Love Letters from an Arsonist Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out craft ideas for fellow writers to steal. Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benjamin Kerns. Twitter: @goodwr…

1
Conceptual Constraint in Having and Being Had by Eula Biss 55:54

1+ y ago55:54

55:54

Emily has Ben read sections from Eula Biss's Having and Being Had this week because she knows he loves to think about capitalism. How can you come up with rules to how you write about a topic? Eula Biss sets out with constraints that make her essays both dreamlike and punchy. Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay…

1
Getting the Story through Creeped-Out Characters in The Haunting of Hill House 59:59

1+ y ago59:59

59:59

Happy (belated) Halloween, Good Writing subscribers! In today's episode, we discuss Shirley Jackson's 1959 gothic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House. What makes this "psychological ghost story" work so well? Subjectivity. The characters tell us their subjection version of the events, which leaves the reader to fill in the gaps with maximum spo…

1
When Everyone is Everyone Else in Frank Herbert’s Dune 53:31

2y ago53:31

53:31

Dune is a weird book. Some might even say, a bad book. Emily does on this episode, and so does Ben (sort of). Herbert’s prose style is definitely stilted, but what Ben and Emily get into on this episode is the absolutely strange choice he’s made to write the entire thing in third person omniscient, and they try to figure out how thinking works in f…

1
Therapy in Fiction and Milk Fed by Melissa Broder 54:36

2y ago54:36

54:36

We love insights and character motivation on this podcast! 😤 But we also like scenes that move the story forward. This week, we discuss the hilarious Milk Fed by Melissa Broder (2021) and how she introduces a therapist character who feels realistic while still creating all of the insights that we expect when a character goes to therapy. A link we p…

1
Hallucinating the Image with Gary J. Shipley 53:42

2+ y ago53:42

53:42

In this episode of the Good Writing Podcast, Ben and Emily discuss what it means to write an image that by no right can actually be seen. Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out craft ideas for fellow writers to steal. Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benjamin Kerns. Twitter: @goodwritingpod Email: goodwritingpod…

1
The Prompt-isode: 6 Months Review 45:24

2+ y ago45:24

45:24

It's been 6 months of podcasting! Ben and Emily review some of their favorite prompts and exercises from the past 25 episodes of the Good Writing Podcast. Listen to the full episodes clipped here: Brett Biebel - On Compactness, Objects and Perfection with Josephine Rowe How to Write with Yourself as the Subject - Megan Boyle’s Liveblog Real Setting…

1
The Ethics of Writing with Melissa Febos 1:02:24

2+ y ago1:02:24

1:02:24

This episode of the Good Writing Podcast deals with the ethics that the writer must grapple with when writing, especially when that writing deals with people from the so-called real world with the help of Melissa Febos' parables. "A Big Shitty Party" by Melissa Febos. Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out cra…

1
Fictionalizing the Real with Jorge Luis Borges 50:51

2+ y ago50:51

50:51

Borges often looked to his work as an essayist and literary critic when looking for inspiration for his fiction, be it in the form of using that fiction to better understand writing or taking on the forms of non-fiction directly. While the first of these is inevitably touched upon in this episode, we focus more directly on the formal effort of "Pie…

1
The Fellowship of the Ring and Getting Your Reader to Buy In 58:09

2+ y ago58:09

58:09

Emily picked up The Fellowship of the Ring and bought in hard. What makes the whimsical and meandering opening work so well? Ben and Emily also discuss listener mail and workshop peer pet peeves. Good Writing is a podcast where two MFA friends read like writers and lay out craft ideas for fellow writers to steal. Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benj…

1
John Trefry - Spacetime Surgery and Thick Description with Claude Simon 1:00:34

2+ y ago1:00:34

1:00:34

Author and editor John Trefry joins us to discuss (among many other things) the ways in which language itself has aesthetic value, the unknowable contours of spacetime, why writing without emotion can lead you to interesting places, and death metal. Read John's writing on the Neutral Spaces blog. Visit Inside the Castle here. The Amityville films o…

1
Brett Biebel - On Compactness, Objects and Perfection with Josephine Rowe 51:08

2+ y ago51:08

51:08

Today on the Good Writing Podcast we are joined by flash fiction author Brett Bieble. Topics discussed include the ways in which flash fiction approaches "perfection," the advantages of brevity, the ways that stories utilize objects, and comma patrol. Josephine Rowe's "The Vending Machine at the End of the World" Brett's Twitter Brett's story "Big …

1
Esteban Rodriguez - Writing About Stuff You Hate with Thomas Pynchon 59:08

2+ y ago59:08

59:08

Texas poet Esteban Rodriguez joins us to discuss an excerpt from Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 (1965). We talk about writing about stuff you hate and combining long and short sentence lengths for realism and momentum. Esteban recommends The Folly by Ivan Vladislavic (2015), An Explanation of the Birds by António Lobo Antunes (translated by …

1
J.P. Hurley - Lost in Memories with Philip Roth 59:57

2+ y ago59:57

59:57

John-Paul Hurley joins us to discuss an excerpt from Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth. How can writers make the readers feel lost in memories? We also discuss unlikeable protagonists. Other links from this week: Follow J.P. Hurley on Twitter here Hear about how a fantasy writer raised $31M on Kickstarter to self-publish four books on the Print Run …

1
How to Write with Yourself as the Subject - Megan Boyle’s Liveblog 58:16

2+ y ago58:16

58:16

We always bring ourselves with us wherever we go, even into our writing. Even if we think that writing is about something completely other to ourselves, it is impossible for that wherever to escape whoever we are. Megan Boyle takes this to the farthest extent in her autofiction piece Liveblog in which she attempted to write down every single thing …

1
Alien Literary Magazine - How to Make Your Submissions Stand Out 1:10:02

2+ y ago1:10:02

1:10:02

The co-editors in chief of Alien Literary Magazine join us to talk about two of their favorite pieces from a recent issue. We talk about the magazine’s reading process and two elements of craft that made these submissions stand out: momentum and juxtaposition. “Pilgrimage” by Brett Biebel in Alien Literary Magazine “Rave” by Esteban Rodriguez in Al…

1
What Makes a Story Feel Complete? Chekhov, George Saunders, and Occasion for Story 1:07:23

2+ y ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Emily has Ben read an Anton Chekhov short story about a sad lady’s sad day and discuss occasion for story. Why is this the day that you tune into your character’s life? How can we as writers make a story feel complete? On the way, Ben and Emily get derailed by a difference of opinion sparked by George Saunders’s analysis of the story. Should you co…

1
Writing Whatever you Want, Whenever you Want with Richard Brautigan 1:02:50

2+ y ago1:02:50

1:02:50

We discuss Richard Brautigan’s novel Trout Fishing in America and the way he seems to have no interest in following any sort of rule when he’s writing. The phrase “Trout Fishing in America” can be anything; a character, a place, the phrase itself, or maybe even something more, something spiritual. Ben and Emily talk about why that’s cool and why it…

1
When the Narrator Won’t Admit It with Sofia Samatar 52:02

2+ y ago52:02

52:02

How can we make sure our readers pick up on key information when our narrator is cagey or not willing to admit the full truth? We look at how a master, Sofia Samatar, does it in her short story "Walkdog." It has both a reluctant narrator ("Emilybait") and a weird form ("Benbait"). We also discuss the "line" between "literary fiction" and "science f…

1
The Entire World in a Single Sentence: Unpacking Fernanda Melchor’s Hurricane Season 57:45

2+ y ago57:45

57:45

Sentence length can be used to pull the reader into the text, and a long sentence can force them to stay there. Fernanda Melchor’s Hurrican Season presents the reader with a seemingly impenetrable block of text that keeps their eyes locked the page, even whenthey might want to turn away. Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor The Faggots & Their Frie…

1
B.R. Yeager - How Second Person Allows us to Reach Past the Edges of a Text 50:42

2+ y ago50:42

50:42

The Good Writing podcast gets its mind blown by the author of Pearl Death, Negative Space, and Amygdalatropolis; B.R. Yeager! We discuss Blake Butler’s 2014 novel 300,000,000 and how it uses a single page to break down the barriers between book and reader, author and audience, and maybe even reality and fiction 300,000,000 by Blake Butler (2014). B…

1
Cherri Buijk - Why Is Historical Fiction So Hard? 55:12

2+ y ago55:12

55:12

The Good Writing podcast welcomes its first guest, short story writer and fellow MFA friend Cherri Buijk, to discuss historical fiction. What makes historical fiction feel authentic? We discuss freewriting about the parts of history that you can’t wrap your head around and resisting the temptation to moralize. A Mercy by Toni Morrison (2008) Toni M…

1
Irreverent Protagonists and Gideon the Ninth 58:52

2+ y ago58:52

58:52

We all love a witty protagonist with quips. But how can a writer stay true to an ironic voice while still getting the characters and readers to care about the story? We discuss Gideon the Ninth, a fantasy debut novel about lesbian necromancers in space with a hilarious and irreverent point-of-view character. Ben and Emily also share two of their wi…

1
What in the World is World Building? A Discussion of B.R. Yeager’s Pearl Death and Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun 1:00:31

2+ y ago1:00:31

1:00:31

While we often think of the plot of our stories as their bedrock, I (Ben) actually think it is the world in which they take place. Without the world, there is nothing to motivate the story from the outside, there is no context in which the story takes place. In this episode, we discuss what it is that allows for something as large as the entire wor…

1
What Is a Literary Magazine, and How Do I Submit? (Also The Bell Jar Part 2) 1:07:55

2+ y ago1:07:55

1:07:55

The world of literature is difficult one to navigate, especially for those just starting out. A strange cornerstone of becoming part of the literary world is the literary magazine, a place where new writing is published without the need of being placed into the format of the book. Writers often find the submission process difficult and discouraging…

1
How to Write a Flawed Worldview, Starring the Fig Tree Metaphor in The Bell Jar 1:19:54

2+ y ago1:19:54

1:19:54

One of the many things that make The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) an absolute banger is how deep inside the narrator’s head we are. But what can you do as a writer when how your point-of-view character sees the world is flawed? How can you give a point-of-view character a developed and interesting worldview while still giving your readers enough…

1
Politics and When to be Obvious in I Hate the Internet by Jarett Kobek 1:03:05

2+ y ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Jarett Kobek lets you know from page one where he stands with his politics, and his work is only stronger for this. Ben and Emily discuss why it’s important to understand that your politics will show up in your work whether you want them to or not, so it might be a good idea to make them obvious. An excerpt from I Hate the Internet (2016) Good Writ…

1
Flash Forward for Impact, with a Short Story from The Masters Review 48:35

2+ y ago48:35

48:35

Sure, sure, everybody wants to know the plot summary. But why does the plot matter? How can you as a writer make your readers care about the plot? After a detour about the job market for English majors (bummer alert...), Emily compares three novels that open by flashing forward to a short story from a literary magazine that mixes flash forward in t…

1
Dorthe Nors and the Power of Third Person Distance 49:39

3y ago49:39

49:39

How can the base-level choice of what perspective (first, second or third person) is used in a piece of writing be used as a way for a reader to gain perspective on a character? Dorthe Nors’ novella Minna Needs Rehearsal Space (translated by Mishka Hoekstra) uses a close third person and a unique approach to paragraphs to allow the reader to read t…

1
Real Settings That Mess With Your Characters from Kristen Arnett & Patricia Lockwood 59:10

3y ago59:10

59:10

This episode is as American as Olive Garden, and then we celebrate by going to Disney World. How can writers use setting to draw out characters’ internal drama and make their characters confront their conflicts? “Why I Take All My First Dates to Olive Garden” by Kristen Arnett (2019) No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood (2021) Good Wri…

1
Why You Shouldn’t Always Tell the Audience What’s Going On, a Lesson from Brian Evenson 58:32

3y ago58:32

58:32

Brian Evenson is a writer of literary horror, whatever that means, and he shows us how writers can smartly use information’s absence to allow for a more interactive reading experience. Did Ben use the word “ontology” correctly in this episode? He’s not quite sure, to be honest. “Altmann’s Tongue” (1994) by Brian Evenson Good Writing is a podcast wh…

1
The Best Sentence in Pride and Prejudice 33:02

3y ago33:02

33:02

Grammar alert! A complicated sentence and a clever description make Emily do a double-take in our first episode. Plus, even Jane Austen put her first manuscript in a drawer and came back to it later. CTRL+F for this sentence here (Pride and Prejudice is in the public domain) Listen to two friends book club this chapter on the Pod and Prejudice podc…

1
Trailer - The Good Writing Podcast 3:01

3y ago3:01

3:01

Welcome to the Good Writing Podcast! We're a new podcast where two fiction writer friends nerd out on writing craft. Subscribe to the show if you're: ☑ a writer looking for inspiration ☑ a book nerd looking for passion ☑ one of our friends or family members Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benjamin Kerns. Want to get in touch? Email us at goodwriting…

1
Episode 152| "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" 1:05:28

3y ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Episode 152| "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" by Conceptual CreepsBy Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 151 | "Cinco De Grump-O" 1:08:00

3+ y ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Episode 151 | "Cinco De Grump-O" by Conceptual CreepsBy Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 150 | "You Ready To Order?!?" 59:35

3+ y ago59:35

59:35

Episode 150 | "You Ready To Order?!?" by Conceptual CreepsBy Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 149 | "You Should Be Here" 58:49

3+ y ago58:49

58:49

Ya'll still running pyramid schemes? Wake up Now you should be shutting up please....By Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 148 | "LP failed" 56:08

3+ y ago56:08

56:08

Can you admit when you were wrong? LP lost badly but refuses to admit he was wrong in this latest episodeBy Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 147 | "Feet Out?!" 59:04

3+ y ago59:04

59:04

We're back!By Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 146 | "She's A Rabbit!" 46:45

3+ y ago46:45

46:45

What is wrong with people?!By Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 145 | "Meat Mountain" 1:03:41

3+ y ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Arbys they have the meats? Pause.By Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 144 | " My Forever _____" 57:13

3+ y ago57:13

57:13

How you go from Matching Christmas PJs to no Valentine?? Stop putting everything on social media Forever is a LONG time!By Conceptual Creeps

1
Episode 143 | "Pal-entines Day" 39:36

3+ y ago39:36

39:36

Happy Love day to everyone! If you're single practice some self love, If you've been friendzoned give it up, if you're with someone spend the day enjoying that special someone! Don't take it too seriously though!By Conceptual Creeps

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Conceptual Creeps Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide