This week, Alida and Kathryn sit down with N.L. Holmes, an archaeologist turned novelist, who crafts mysteries set in ancient Egypt. Join us as we explore her unique journey, the challenges of writing about a distant culture, and the art of blending historical accuracy with engaging storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of her novels or an aspiring writer, this episode is packed with insights into the world of historical fiction and the mystery genre.
In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold have a lively discussion with award-winning author CC Robinson about the art of staging action scenes in writing. Drawing from her theater background, CC shares insights on blocking fight scenes and how to orient readers within the physical space of a story effectively. With real-time sketches and engaging dialogue, we explore the interplay of character goals, motivations, and the dynamics of action sequences. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable tips to elevate your storytelling craft.
Writing good sex scenes into your novels is about more than showing a little skin. This is a clean conversation about the craft of sex scenes. Show notes and more!
This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about ending chapters so that readers can’t wait to “jump the gap” and get on with the next one. What kind of end-hooks work and how? Do we instinctively know where to place our chapter breaks? Is there a formula to follow? Or maybe the story guides us? How to handle end-hooks when you change POV characters at the chapter break? When not to use an epigraph before your chapters, and more!
We’ll be spending extra time with our families this month, but will be back with all new podcast episodes in January 2023. Subscribe so you don’t miss a single one. Watch this short message for a special gift! Happy Holidays! Do you enjoy the show? Do you...
We’re talking character motivation. It’s crucial to every element of your story and you’ll do yourself a favor by having a handle on it in the prewriting stages. We talk about the protagonist, the reader, and you, the writer. Also, how motivation relates to flaws and conflicts, and how a series differs from a standalone.
This week on the Story Works Round Table: conversations about craft, Kathryn and Alida discuss writing backstory. It’s been coming up for both of us lately, including in Alida’s fiction coaching group. What is the one critical element to getting it right? How do you successfully transition your narrative into and out of backstory? Want a great example of a great author deftly handling backstory? We got one!
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss what to do with your villain in act II. As we know, they aren’t usually black-hat-evil-doers, but we still need an escalation of stakes for our protagonist. How do we keep act II moving along at a good pace, whether our villain is a bad person or a force or situation in our character’s life that causes challenges? We look at multiple scenarios for our heroes and what to do to keep them and the villain rising toward the climax.
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
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.
This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn answer a listener’s question about writing humor into our stories. Is comedy just a special gift some writers have and the rest of us don’t? Or are there things we can craft to make our story moments funny?
Join us as we explore the topic and let us know your favorite funny authors as well as how you handle comedic moments in your writing. Share in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to explore? Let us know. We’d be happy to!