Join us at the Story Works Round Table for a fascinating discussion with YA authors K.T. Angelhart, Tricia Copeland, and C.C. Robinson as they explore the nuances of young adult fiction and the importance of character development. We talk about the universal appeal of Young Adult Fiction, the importance of relationships with teenage protagonists, and how to build the thematic resonance of young adult fiction.
Join us at the Story Works Round Table for an insightful conversation about Memoir with special guests Candace MacPhie author of Finding Color, Randi-Lee Bowslaugh author of Good-bye too Soon, Dr. Roger Leslie author of Light Come Out of the Closet, and Michael Hingson author of Live Like A Guide Dog. From taking a piece of your own life and crafting it into a story, to the challenges of examining your life in such a vulnerable way, discover how to craft a compelling story from your own experiences.
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the relationship between your plot and character arcs. We have a modern classic story (thanks to Kathryn’s little ones) to dissect, making this conversation grounded in examples. If you haven’t seen it, you may want to grab some popcorn and watch Finding Nemo! Though it’s definitely not required, because we got you covered with all the details you need to join this conversation at the Round Table.
This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Scott James back to the Round Table to discuss how we can use genre considerations while we’re drafting to avoid future pitfalls. Scott is a publishing guide with an interesting take on our topic. He also knows how to make sure your novel makes it into the right readers’ hands. He’s got a great tip for making Amazon categories work for you!
This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Scott James to the Round Table to discuss the lessons prose writers can learn from the art of poetry. Are novelists and poets such different creatures, after all? What can prose writers learn from the way poets approach imagery and metaphor? We delve into the ever-important endnote in both poetry and prose. Scott reads a favorite poem by Mary Oliver, which we discuss. He also shares two of his typewriter poems from his book, Whatever Magic You Need.
If you care about word-craft, pull up a chair at the Round Table!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn discuss the short story. What are the particular considerations of short form fiction? What do you write when there’s no room for an arc? Is a turning point as powerful as a climax? Explore the beauty of conceptual, quiet, singular fiction. Getting specific detail, imagery, symbolism, & metaphor to work for you…so much more!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss developing your villains. Besides making a real person out of that black hat, the shape of the villain helps shape the protagonist and even your setting. So much more comes out of what you put into that character than you may think!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss single character scenes & stories. There are challenges to having a single character on the stage of the page, some obvious some not-so-obvious. So why would you want a single-character scene? When your story calls for one, how can you ensure the movement continues to draw a reader forward? What are the roles of setting, subtext, & metaphor? Need a writing prompt? We got one!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert delve into ensemble cast fiction. Does a team of protagonists require a team of POV characters? Do you truly need a single hero at the top of your character pyramid? What are the pros and cons of writing an ensemble? And…has Robert written himself into a corner by having an ensemble cast with a single POV protagonist?
Check out our sister podcast, Story Works Reading Series, too!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Robert talk all things action. What are action scenes and what you need to do to make your reader sit up and pay attention! We cover everything from choreographing your fight to multiple team action scenes, from slowing down the action to avoiding repetition, from enacting the action yourself to making the reader sweat with anticipation.
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert dissect an author’s very interesting point of view & narrative choices. We take a close look at In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn, in which the protagonist is killed early in the story. What happens to the POV? The status of protagonist? The plot? And how is agency affected when your POV character is incorporeal? Although we’re discussing a specific work, there is much to take away about the challenges and rewards of crafting a distinct, even experimental, narrative.