Story Works Round Table Archives - Page 11 of 64 - Story Works Round Table Podcast

SWRT 327 | Embracing The Heroine’s Journey with Danielle Anderson

Jul 17, 2025

In this episode, Alida Winternheimer welcomes Danielle Anderson, a seasoned nonfiction book coach and editor, as we delve into the concept of the heroine’s journey. Drawing from Maureen Murdoch’s influential work, Danielle shares her personal experiences and insights on the internal journey women often face, contrasting it with the traditional hero’s journey. Discover how understanding this narrative can empower women to embrace their unique stories and identities. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to explore the depths of their own journey!

SWRT 326 | Writing Through Chronic Illness with Beth Biss

Jul 3, 2025

In this episode, Alida and Kathryn explore the intersection of writing and chronic illness with author Beth Biss. Beth shares her personal journey of navigating her health challenges while pursuing her passion for writing. We discuss the themes of identity, acceptance, and empowerment in her work, and how her experiences shape her characters and stories. Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling.

SWRT 257 | Trouble…and more trouble

Jun 10, 2022

What is trouble? How does it contribute to both character and plot arcs? How do you have to pay off trouble? And do you have to get it into every scene? We enjoy making a character struggle with a speeding ticket, and talk about how it can contribute to hooks both between chapters and books.

SWRT 256 | Act I, a Library Links episode

Jun 2, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss Act I in this all new episode about opening your novel. What is the author’s responsibility to the reader? How does your opening need to connect to your ending and what happens when it doesn’t? We link it in the show notes to all the related episodes in our catalog, so make sure to check out our Library Links below.

SWRT 255 | Using Repetition in Your Story

May 26, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the usefulness and drawbacks of using repetition in your story. What kind of repeition is typically employed in story? When does it become predictable or dull? How can we use repetition effectively to add to the reader’s experience without compromising novelty?

SWRT 254 | Motifs

May 19, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss motifs, those recurring elements in a story that seem to live in the background yet enhance the power and meaning of narrative.

SWRT 253 | Openings

May 12, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss openings, when and how to begin your novel. This episode will be linked in the show notes to all related episodes in the library.
What does your opening page communicate to a reader? When should you open with a prologue and when in media res? How do you introduce your world without bogging the reader down in info dumps or backstory? Is everything in your opening essential?
Story Works Reading Series is open for submissions. Do you have a short story or essay you’d like to read on a literary journal for your ears? Submit today at www.storyworkspodcast.com/submit.

SWRT 252 | Faces

May 5, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert talk about describing your characters’ faces so they make an impression on your readers. Faces are so much more than a list of physical traits, brown hair, deep eyes, cleft chin. Lists are forgettable. When you describe your characters, strive to convey an impression of the *person* through the face.

SWRT 251 | Ambiguity in Story

Apr 28, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn talk about that slippery subject, ambiguity in story. What is it? How does it function in story? How & why it can disappoint or disgruntle readers (like Kathryn!). How it’s different from a hook. More!

SWRT 250 | Description

Apr 21, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, & Kathryn talk description. Have you considered the purpose and power of description in your narrative before? Given that most of story is narrative, how you tell it matters. At the heart of narrative is description.

SWRT 249 | The Writer’s Sketchbook

Apr 14, 2022

Looking for inspiration or want to know you’re not alone in this crazy creative process called storytelling? Curious about how other writers spend writing time outside of drafting?
This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn talk about the ways we make writing our practice and practice our writing. Before launching a project, when problem solving, or developing a new skill, we hone our craft. Just like painters with their sketchbooks, we have our notebooks.
Submit to the Story Works Reading Series today. We want to read your short story or essay!

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Story Works Round Table

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