Story Works Round Table

conversations about craft

for writers and readers curious about writers

SWRT 312 | Folklore of North America with Mike Bass

SWRT 312 | Folklore of North America with Mike Bass

Are you ready to journey through the captivating world of folklore? This week on the Story Works Round Table podcast, Alida has the pleasure of sitting down with Mike Bass, a distinguished folklorist and printmaker, whose artistry is as intriguing as the stories he tells. Growing up in a house teeming with spirits, Mike’s fascination with the supernatural and the macabre has shaped his work, resulting in a unique blend of art and storytelling that captures the imagination.

Throughout the conversation, Mike and Alida explore the evolution of folklore, discussing the differences between traditional and modern tales. They delve into the role of folklore in reflecting societal values and fears, examining how stories evolve as they traverse cultural and temporal boundaries. Mike’s insights into the intersection of folklore and art reveal the enduring power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, folklore aficionado, or simply curious about the mysterious and the macabre, this episode promises to be a captivating exploration of the stories that shape us. Don’t forget to visit storyworkspodcast.com to view Mike’s prints and connect with his work. Happy listening!

SWRT 311 | Flying Pirates & Speculative Fiction with Sarah Branson

SWRT 311 | Flying Pirates & Speculative Fiction with Sarah Branson

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn dive into the post-dystopian world of flying pirates with author Sarah Branson. Learn about her journey from midwifery to crafting tales of adventure and resilience, blending her experiences as a midwife and science teacher into her speculative fiction characters and world building.

“I wanted to take someone who had dealt with a lot of trauma and was set in a world where she could be allowed to grow.”

“When you have a protagonist that lives in your head, who is armed and is a pirate, you do whatever she says.”

SWRT 193 | Is Your Hero Up to the Right Challenges?

SWRT 193 | Is Your Hero Up to the Right Challenges?

Is your protagonist up to all the challenges your plot is throwing at her? Or is everything a little too easy?
How do you create a character who’s tough enough to survive, but not so darn competent at everything that she becomes unbelievable and unsympathetic? This week on the Story Works Round Table writing podcast, we delve into creating sufficient challenges commensurate with your character’s abilities and more!

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SWRT 192 | Structuring Long Long-form Works

SWRT 192 | Structuring Long Long-form Works

This week, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn answer a fan’s question on the Story Works Round Table Podcast. How do we organize topics & themes in long long-form writing projects? What’s different about working with fiction or nonfiction manuscripts well over 100k words versus shorter word counts? Is it the tools that change or just the frame of mind?

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SWRT 191 | Routines & Why We Love Them

SWRT 191 | Routines & Why We Love Them

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Robert welcome Kathryn back to discuss writing & routines. Why are we so interested in what other people do, when and how? Is there some new wisdom we can take away from yet another conversation about routines? Some nugget to help us get 2021 off right? We think so!

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SWRT 190 | Author Statement – Your North Star

SWRT 190 | Author Statement – Your North Star

This week, Alida and Robert welcome author and writing coach Beth Barany back to the Round Table for this author statement workshop. Grab your paper and pen, and write along with us as she takes us step-by-step through the creation of your author’s statement of purpose. No kidding, this might be the most important sentence you write in 2021!

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SWRT 189 | Revision, Series Drafting & More with Beth Barany part 2

SWRT 189 | Revision, Series Drafting & More with Beth Barany part 2

This week, Alida and Robert welcome author and writing coach Beth Barany to the Round Table to talk about her method of drafting a series, revising multiple books, using loyal readers while she’s still drafting, and more. This is one of those episodes where we set out to talk about one thing and talked about a dozen. I think you’ll find we go in surprising directions with loads of takeaways!

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SWRT 188 | Revision, Series Drafting, & More! with Beth Barany

SWRT 188 | Revision, Series Drafting, & More! with Beth Barany

This week, Alida and Robert welcome author and writing coach Beth Barany to the Round Table to talk about her method of drafting a series, revisions, using loyal readers while she’s still drafting, and more. This is one of those episodes where we set out to talk about one thing and talked about a dozen. I think you’ll find we go in surprising directions with loads of takeaways!

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SWRT 187 | Creating Emotional Pull

SWRT 187 | Creating Emotional Pull

This week at the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, and Carlee get touchy feely as we explore the challenges and benefits of making your reader really feel your character. how do you move from sympathy to empathy to true personal connection?

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SWRT 186 | Catcher in the Rye, Timeless Classic or Over?

SWRT 186 | Catcher in the Rye, Timeless Classic or Over?

Is Catcher in the Rye worthy of its status as a timeless classic? Dust off your copy–I know you had to read it in your high school English class–and join the conversation at the Story Works Round Table podcast. We look at what made the book special when it came out, whether it should be consider YA or adult. And we dig deep to address the question of timeless literature. Can the times get too far ahead of a story for it to remain a classic? What do you think? Does Salinger’s Holden Caulfield continue to deserve our attention today?

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SWRT 185 | Writing Prompts

SWRT 185 | Writing Prompts

With the Covid-19 version of Thanksgiving upon us, what better way to spend our alone time that with a writing prompt to boost our creativity & moods! This week at the Story Works Round Table, we discuss the value of writing prompts and bring you a bunch to choose from. Write with us or pick your own. Happy Writing!

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