Story Works Round Table 45 | Lit RPG Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be A Successful Author, You Have To Write A Great Story podcast

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 093 | 5 Steps to Drafting with Motivation & Momentum34:18

2d ago34:18

34:18

Alida & Kathryn welcome Carlee Tressel Alson back to the Round Table to discuss process. Carlee gives us her 5 steps to getting through a first draft without the pain of being stuck—a process she developed after getting stuck in the middle of a major book project. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 092 | Taking Emotional Risks part 226:03

9d ago26:03

26:03

This week, Alida and Kathryn continue our conversation with Carlee Tressel Alson about taking emotional risks in writing. It's about more than how you feel while writing. There is a relationship formed between the author and the reader when a text is shared. What does it mean to tell the truth in writing fiction, as well as creative nonfiction? ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 091 | Going Deeper with Emotional Risks24:34

16d ago24:34

24:34

This week Alida and Kathryn welcome Carlee Tressel Alson to the Round Table. After our episode on emotional risk-taking with guest Dain Edward, we thought we could go deeper with that topic, so we invited Carlee to join us for a deep dive into what it means to take emotional risks in both fiction and creative nonfiction writing. It's about way ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 090 | Writing Otherness22:41

23d ago22:41

22:41

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert start with a listener question about writing a culture that is not our own, and take off on a journey of writing what you don’t know, or the “other.” Why is it a political hot potato? And how can you be careful in your writing? We talk about the problem of stereotypes, and our own view from the “white middl ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 089 | Setting19:08

1M ago19:08

19:08

This week, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert answer a listener question. Steve is wondering about the dos and don'ts of writing places based on real places and using real place names. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 088 | The Psychology of Storytelling22:52

1M ago22:52

22:52

This week, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert welcome Dain Edward back to the round table. We're discussing the psychology of storytelling. How is storytelling used in the real world? Is storytelling fundamental to being human? How do we experiment with being human without getting hurt? By imagining possibilities, experimenting with life in fiction, and ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 087 | 2019 New Year New Goals!26:47

1M ago26:47

26:47

This week, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the year to come. If you haven't already, listen to last week's show, 2018 Year in Review. We get into not only where we'd like to be heading, but will keep us motivated with lots of tips, tricks, and recommendations. I've already got the book Robert mentioned! There's also a challenge posed. Join us ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 086 | 2018 Year in Review24:49

2M ago24:49

24:49

This week, Robert, Kathryn, and Alida discuss progress made and lessons learned from the year gone by. It's a writerly taking stock of struggles and successes with reflection on what it means to be a writer and where we plan to go from here. Next week's show is a companion episode about goals and motivation for writers. Complete with an invitat ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 085 | Antagonistic Forces22:32

2M ago22:32

22:32

This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn talk about villains you can't vanquish: How do you handle a villain that can't wear a hat, black or otherwise? When your story calls for a force instead of a figure, what does that mean for your plot? For your character? What do you need to be aware of when writing a bad event or circumstance, instead of a ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 084 | Taking Emotional Risks in Your Fiction28:51

2M ago28:51

28:51

This week, Dain Edward joins us at the round table to discuss the importance of taking risks in your writing. How is fiction different from creative nonfiction? Why should we take risks and put all of our messy selves into our stories? And what can we learn from incarcerated writers? Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 083 | The intersection of script-writing and novel-writing30:53

2M ago30:53

30:53

This week, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn bring Dain Edward to the round table to discuss the intersection of script-writing and novel-writing. What can we learn from script writing? How are screenplays different from novels? How should we consider the audience when we write? Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 082 | Book Covers part 223:14

3M ago23:14

23:14

This episode is pulled from the archives. We continue our conversation with graphic designer Daria Brennan. This week, we do side by side comparisons of book covers, getting into some obvious and not-so-obvious issues with design. How important is your font? What do the details of a cover say about a book? How can a cover convey genre? If you h ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 081 | Designing Covers with Daria Brennan27:54

3M ago27:54

27:54

This week we pull a fantastic episode from the archives. Graphic Designer Daria Brennan comes to the Round Table to help us understand how to approach and work with a designer, what makes a book cover outstanding, market considerations, and so much more. Previously published as episode 4. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 080 | The Story Premise17:52

3M ago17:52

17:52

This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn define the story premise and how it works to get you writing. It’s simple. It often seems cliche. But it’s an essential first stage of the writing process. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 079 | Approaches to Revision22:19

3M ago22:19

22:19

This week, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert answer a listener's question. Elise wants to know how to tackle revision other than by following the old advice to "rest" the manuscript, putting it in a drawer for months. We talk about lots of tools we use to get into those second, third, and later drafts without a minute of drawer time! Show notes and more ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 078 | Fatal Flaw29:31

4M ago29:31

29:31

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss your character's fatal flaw. This is critical to your character development, character arc, plot, and theme. So what is it and how do you get one?! Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 077 | Story Structure, part 225:22

4M ago25:22

25:22

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert continue their discussion of story structure, this time focusing on Act II and Act III. What is act II?Why does it sound so easy but prove so difficult to write? How can you avoid common pitfalls, like the soggy middle? Get show notes and more at www.storyworkspodcast.com.…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 076 | Character Agency31:32

4M ago31:32

31:32

This week, we cover one of Robert’s favorite topics, agency! We discuss the role of agency in terms of both character and plot. How does motivation affect agency? What happens when a character lacks agency? How can you fix issues with agency? Show notes and more at www.storyworkspodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 075 | Story Structure31:39

4M ago31:39

31:39

Do you understand the elements of structure structure? This week, Robert and Kathryn ask Alida to define story structure, then we did into the various components of long form fiction. We discuss the three act structure, using examples from archetypal works. And we pay special attention to act I and how to launch your novel. Show notes and more ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 074 | Nicey Nice23:10

5M ago23:10

23:10

This week, Kathryn and Alida discuss what happens to stories when authors are too nice to their characters. Being too darn nice is a common problem of how we write and treat our characters that affects plot. Nicey nice reduces tension, alleviates friction, and leads to...yawns. What to do about it? Listen and find out! Show notes and more at ww ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 073 | Stakes & Agency28:13

5M ago28:13

28:13

This week, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn explore the relationship between stakes & agency. How do these vital aspects of plot and character function together to drive your story? Show notes & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 072 | Killing Your Characters33:25

5M ago33:25

33:25

This week, we discuss killing your characters, how, why, and to what end? When is it essential and when is it gratuitous? How can it shift the story and the protagonist? How might we want it to affect the reader? And how can we pull off that desired effect? When is the best time to kill a character? Show notes & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 071 | Pacing22:40

5M ago22:40

22:40

This week, Alida is off in the Black Hills, so we pull an episode from the video-only archives, bringing Matt Herron back to the Round Table. We discuss pacing, what it really is and how it functions in your story. How do you decide the best pace for your story? And how do you achieve that pace? What kind of effect can pacing have for your read ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 070 | Writing Emotions28:06

5M ago28:06

28:06

In this episode, we follow up the Evoking Emotions episode with a discussion of how to get your character’s emotions on the page. How many ways can we convey emotions in writing? What are the options for showing feeling in words? How do we get beyond the obvious facial expressions? And why is this so important to fiction? Show notes & more at w ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 069 | How to End a Story30:26

6M ago30:26

30:26

This week, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn discuss what makes a strong ending, challenges with hitting the right end note for your story, when an ending becomes spoon feeding the reader, & how to resolve your story threads. Show notes & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 068 | Evoking Emotion33:18

6M ago33:18

33:18

In this week’s can’t miss episode, we delve deep into making your readers feel along with your characters. As writers, it’s our job to pull our readers strings…but how? Show notes at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 067 | Character Descriptions29:42

6M ago29:42

29:42

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert answer a listener's question about how to get good descriptions of your characters on the page. It's not as simple as writing there stood Joe. He was 6' tall with brown hair. In fact, please don't write that. Besides dos and don'ts, we each select a description to read and discuss what makes it work. And th ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 066 | Theme20:24

6M ago20:24

20:24

This week we get crafty again, talking about theme. What is it? How does it work with plot? Should you develop theme before, during, or after plot? And more...then we end with a writing prompt. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 065 | Writing Groups18:57

7M ago18:57

18:57

This week, we pull one from the archives. This episode was formerly known as video-only episode 2. Alida, Kathryn, and Matt discuss the benefits and pitfalls of writing groups? What kind of criticism is good criticism? And how can I be a better critic? How do I know if a writing group is a good fit for me? Should I join or run away? Show notes ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 064 | Story Collections, Novels-in-Stories, Serialization30:20

7M ago30:20

30:20

This week, we bring Matt Herron back to the Round Table to discuss what we writers can do with our short stories. We define the collections, the novel-in-story, and serialization, discussing pros and cons of each. This week we stray into marketing territory, because when it comes to deciding what to do with your stories, how you brand them matt ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 063 | Short Stories: how they differ from the novel24:29

7M ago24:29

24:29

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss short stories and how they’re different from the novel. We cover topics like the shortness of short stories, ambiguous endings, the importance of theme, stories versus lead magnets, writing short to build craft skills, and more! www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 062 | Energizing Dialogue25:00

7M ago25:00

25:00

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert answer a listener's question and address how to better write scenes heavy with dialogue. We talk about keeping things interesting using tools other than dialogue, the apprentice-master model of scenes that instruct both character and reader, what we can learn from the movie montage, incorporating action int ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 061 | Character Motivation25:24

8M ago25:24

25:24

This week, we welcome Kathryn back to her seat at the Round Table, and thanks again to Matt Herron and Emma Darwin for keeping the seat warm! We're talking character motivation. It's crucial to every element of your story and you'll do yourself a favor by having a handle on it in the prewriting stages. We talk about the protagonist, the reader, ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 060 | Everything You Need to Know About Show, Don't Tell, part 234:24

8M ago34:24

34:24

Alida and Emma Darwin continue the conversation on “show, don’t tell” this week. We get right into psychic distance and more. Way more. Show notes and a special offer this week at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 059 | Everything You Want to Know About Show, Don't Tell27:20

8M ago27:20

27:20

This week, Alida and Emma Darwin discuss the old adage "Show, don't tell." We deep into what that saying really means, discussing the point of view lens, distance, and common mistakes writers make as a result of misunderstanding show, don't tell. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 058 | Narrative Drive41:01

8M ago41:01

41:01

This week, Alida & Robert are joined by award-winning author and writing teacher Emma Darwin. We discuss narrative drive, the forward movement essential to any story. We go deep into narrative craft, exploring the difference between a story set adrift and one with a current that pulls the reader forward. This is a don't miss episode! Show notes ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 057 | Historical Fiction Genre Series39:26

9M ago39:26

39:26

This week, Robert and I welcome Emma Darwin to the round table for an extensive discussion about writing historical fiction, but as with every genre special, this isn't just for writers of historical works. Emma has an amazing knowledge of storycraft and we go deep this week. Kathryn's going to busy with the show notes! Show notes and more at w ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table | 056 First Encounter Fiction30:00

9M ago30:00

30:00

This week, Alida, Robert, & Matt discuss tales of first encounters, from the pilgrim to the UFO. These are ethnocentric stories addressing a primal human fear, asking friend or foe, and sometimes leading to understanding and cultural immersion instead of war. Show notes & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com Save 20% on the Structure of Story cour ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 055 | Hard & Soft World Systems36:36

9M ago36:36

36:36

This week, Alida, Robert, and guest host Matt Herron discuss hard and soft systems of magic, science, and other forms of world-building logic necessary to fiction. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 054 | Keeping a Community of Writers32:08

9M ago32:08

32:08

It’s our birthday! SWRT is one! This week, Robert and Alida welcome MG Herron to the round table to discuss the benefits of keeping a community of writers. We discuss the ways we’ve found community, how we’ve benefited from them, the differences between online and live communities, and how we’ve changed as writers thanks to the writers we know ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 053 | What Writers Really Do part 222:16

9M ago22:16

22:16

This week, Alida and Robert continue their conversation about the writing process, creativity, first drafts, where ideas come from, and how revision really works. The inspiration for our conversation is George Saunders' essay "What Writers Really Do When They Write." Get the essay at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/04/what-writers-re ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 052 | What Writers Really Do...24:09

10M ago24:09

24:09

This week, Alida and Robert discuss a craft essay by George Saunders, titled "What Writers Really Do When They Write." It's all about the writing process, and we get a lot of value out of this essay. We highly recommend it to anyone writing a story. Get the essay at The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/04/what-writers-really ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 051 | Reality-Based Fiction22:41

10M ago22:41

22:41

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss using real people and events in your fiction. What are the pitfalls of writing fact into fiction? What extra responsibilities do you have to history, your story, and your reader when you write reality-based fiction? Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 050 | Openings26:35

10M ago26:35

26:35

This week, we pull an episode from the video archives. Alida, Kathryn, and Matt discuss what makes a great opening. Do you need to begin in media res? What is in media res, anyway? How about opening with a scenario? How much depth of character is needed in an opening? How do you get it on the page and hook a reader? Previously published as vide ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 049 | Balancing Action & Non-Action27:21

10M ago27:21

27:21

In this week’s Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss the need for both action and non-action in story arcs, how to balance action with non-action, and what goes wrong when the balance is off. Show notes and more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 048 | Misunderstood Storycraft Rules31:22

11M ago31:22

31:22

Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss the rules of writing we all know but often don't fully understand, how they trip us up and actually become limiting factors in our writing. If you've every been told "show, don't tell," "adverbs are bad," or any number of other writing rules, you have to listen to this conversation at the Round Table. The good ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 047 | Unlikeable Characters33:41

11M ago33:41

33:41

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss unlikeable characters. What’s the difference between a flawed character and an unlikeable one? Can you go too far writing an unlikeable character? Why write one at all?

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 046 | Writing Through Anxiety22:29

11M ago22:29

22:29

Alida, Kathryn, and Robert welcome special guest, Micah Joel, back to the Round Table to talk about the writing life. No matter who we are, we've probably dealt with anxiety and depression at some point in our writing careers. Whether we're talking clinical or "normal" stress and overwhelm, nothing kills creativity like emotional imbalance. Mic ...…

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 45 | Lit RPG25:29

11M ago25:29

25:29

We welcome special guest Micah Joel to the Round Table this week to talk Lit RPG and gamified fiction. If you aren't familiar with this rising genre, join us as we quiz Micah about the writer's role getting the reader into the game!

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft | Before You Can Be a Successful Author, You Have to Write a Great Story

Story Works Round Table 44 | World Building in Dystopian & Post Apocalyptic Fiction36:25

12M ago36:25

36:25

Alida & Robert welcome J Thorn back to the round table to discuss world building in the genres of dystopian & post apocalyptic fiction. Don't miss the companion episode, number 42, on dystopian & post apocalyptic fiction with J Thorn.

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Story Works Round Table 45 | Lit RPG

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Story Works Round Table 45 | Lit RPG