Story Works Round Table Archives - Page 41 of 64 - Story Works Round Table Podcast

SWRT 268 | Writing Scary Stories

Nov 3, 2022

If Halloween inspired you get your Boo! on, this episode of the Story Works Round Table is for you. Alida and Kathryn talk the craft of scaring the pants off your readers. But this isn’t just a skill for horror writers. We all need to write scenes from time to time full of dramatic suspense, an eerie mood, or dark twists. Loaded with examples and how-to, you’re sure to be ready to write scary!

Let us know what you learned from this episode, what you liked, what you have questions on. Suggest a topic for future episodes. And if you think you’d be a good co-host, let us know!

Get the Scary Monsters & Super Creeps writing workshop at www.StoryWorksFiction.com

SWRT 267 | Agency

Oct 20, 2022

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss character agency. In this, Robert’s final episode as a co-host, he brought us the question of what to do with a character who is kept “on the back foot”? How do you write a protagonist with agency when the hero is in a position that seemingly rules out taking charge? This episode will be linked in the show notes to all related episodes in the library.

Would you like to be considered as the next co-host on the Story Works Round Table? Drop me a line!

Show notes, links, & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

SWRT 21: Writing Prompts part 1

Feb 9, 2017

What is the purpose of writing prompts? And how are they useful? When and how should you use them? And what kind of formats can you see them in? We share our own experiences and share some prompts. Join us for a writing prompt and listen in next week as we read our free writing aloud.

SWRT 20: Translations into German

Feb 2, 2017

Get to know Anja and Christina and their work as German translators. Ever wonder about the process of taking a book from one language to another? What about how the translator takes your words and conveys them in another language? And what is the level of trust you are extending? And don’t forget that a different language is a different market!

SWRT 19: Revision

Jan 26, 2017

How many drafts should you go through before you finish your book? And what draft should you send your developmental editor? Is rewriting or revision the answer? And how should you analyze that work in progress in order to find it’s flaws?

SWRT: #18 Setting

Jan 19, 2017

What makes a setting? And how can you use it to immerse your reader in your story? What details are good, and when does showing your research ruin the story you are trying to tell?

SWRT 17: Finding Your Protagonist

Jan 12, 2017

What is a protagonist, and does your story need one? What are the stakes your protagonist needs? Who is the right person to tell your story? And how is a protagonist different from a point of view character? And ultimately, do you have to discover one thing before another in your pre-writing process?

SWRT 16: Accountability

Jan 3, 2017

Want to start off 2017 right? We talk about how to use accountability in tandem with your productivity to boost your writing. Is there a difference between accountability and productivity? And how can you set up accountability in your own life? What tools are out there for use? And should you go public with your goals? It all comes down to knowing yourself and how you work.

SWRT 15: Writing Habits and Productivity

Dec 28, 2016

What is a writing habit? And how can you create one that is both enjoyable and productive? What if you are writing around all your other life responsibilities? And what kind of systems can you put in place to make yourself successful? As we head into this new year, make your writing a priority.

SWRT 14: Short Stories part 3

Dec 22, 2016

Taking a look at “What it Means to Be a Man” by Ed Bok Lee, we talk about why Alida picked this story, and what it is really all about. How do you create empathy with your readers when they may have no cultural context for your story? Or even find your subject matter repulsive? How do you choose the right narrator for the story? And what does it really mean to be a man?

SWRT 13: Short Stories part 2

Dec 15, 2016

Taking a look at “The Birth Will Take Place on a Mutually Acceptable Research Vessel” by Matthew Bailey, we talk about why Kathryn picked this story, and what it is really all about. Why would a man write from the point of view of a pregnant woman? And does the second person work for us? What hooks readers, and how does the author get them to empathize with this uncomfortable narrator? Even with Matt’s hesitation over whether or not he likes the story, we still laugh at the humor and appreciate the twist at the end.

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