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.
In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author of Art Above Everything. In this perspective changing conversation, we talk all about centering your life on art. We talk about the sometimes painful journey of being an art monk, and what it means to dedicate yourself to the creation of art. Join us as we talk about the journey Stephanie has taken to realizing that Art is Enough. And what Enough even means in this capitalistic culture we live in.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Summer Session - apply nowSpecial pay what you can session.Could your characters benefit from a writing lesson? Alida has creative writing workshops available today on character traits, a master class in character development, story structure, plot, and more. Live...