Story Works Round Table Archives - Page 8 of 65 - Story Works Round Table Podcast

SWRT 339 | Writing Your Rules: Speculative Fiction Plots and Characters with Mark J. Wilson

Jan 8, 2026

In this episode of Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold are thrilled to welcome author Mark J. Wilson, whose journey from biochemistry to writing novels is as fascinating as his debut book, Full of Beans. Join us as we explore how Mark blends genres, from science fiction to mystery, and hear about his unique time-traveling detective, Phil Beans. Discover the creative process behind character development, the challenges of writing, and the unexpected joys of storytelling. Tune in for insights that will inspire writers and readers alike!

SWRT 338 | Ask Alida: The Craft of Subplots

Dec 18, 2025

In this week’s episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida answers questions all about subplots. This is a recording of our monthly Ask Alida live Q&A over on Substack! Make sure you join us next time to get your questions answered and enjoy a fun chat about writing craft! In this episode, we talk about subplots, what they are, why they are important, and how to best utilize them in your writing!

SWRT 288 | Stakes & Agency

Jan 4, 2024

This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn discuss the relationship between stakes and agency. How do these aspects of plot and character work together to create forward drive in your story?

SWRT 287 | Crafting Character Arcs

Dec 21, 2023

Crafting character arcs takes planning, but it’s not difficult, especially if you reverse engineer your protagonist’s big shift.

SWRT 286 | Writers Book Club: A Christmas Carol

Dec 7, 2023

More than a holiday classic, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a classic of story craft. This novella offers lessons to carry throughout the year.

SWRT 285 | Self Discovery Through Writing

Nov 23, 2023

This week at the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn solve the world’s problems with one simple, three-part edict.

We’re kidding, but we’re kind of not. Writing and reading are all about building empathetic connections with people who are nothing like ourselves. As such, writers are gifted with a truly great responsibility.

Share this episode and a book with the people you love.

If you’re in the States, Happy Thanksgiving! Wherever you are, I am grateful for every single person who takes the time to listen to one another.

SWRT 284 | Writers Book Club: Naming My Father

Nov 9, 2023

This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Dr. Martha Highers to the Writers Book Club to discuss “Naming My Father,” a personal essay that won the Under the Sun summer writing contest. Martha is an editor at Under the Sun. not only do we talk as reader-writers, we get an insightful behind the scenes glimpse of the selection and editorial process for this wonderful essay about growing up the child of an autistic parent before anyone understood autism.

Subscribe to A Room Full of Books & Pencils and receive 21 Reasons to Pause, a series of writing prompts and tips.

SWRT 283 | Characterization

Oct 26, 2023

Characterization is more than introducing a character. The sharpest and subtlest of details can reveal a whole person to a reader.

SWRT 282 | Writers Book Club: “Fiesta, 1980” by Junot Diaz

Oct 12, 2023

We discuss story craft in Junot Diaz’s short story “Fiesta, 1980” at this week’s writers book club on the Story Works Round Table podcast.

SWRT 281 | Bookends

Sep 28, 2023

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss bookending a story, drawing on our recent discussion of Ethan Frome. Edith Wharton masterfully uses prologues and epilogues to frame the story and provide meaning. We analyze how the framing devices are essential to understanding the themes and events. Then explore examples of other books that also use framing devices well to provide narrative distance and allow readers to understand the story’s significance.

SWRT 280| Writers Book Club: Ethan Frome

Sep 14, 2023

This week on the Story Works Round Table, we talk about Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton’s great American tragic love story.

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