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In which we celebrate our own Chaz’ new book coming out in May 2021. Formerly only found if you were a Patreon member, now you can buy Three Twins at the Crater School in book format. Based on the concept of boarding school storylines from England, these posit a habitable Mars and a race to colonize the moons and planets in a steampunk Ethership universe. @ChazBrenchley on TwitterChaz on FacebookChaz’ Patreon for the original instalmentsMrs. Bailey’s kitchen on Medium Mentions from Episode 97: Original inspiration of the Chalet SchoolTom Brown’s School Days by Thomas HughesThe George McDonald Frazier books on Flashman that we adoreFlashman quotes just because Jeannie loves themNew Mexico Military InstituteFlavia de Luce books Don’t forget to leave a review online after you do! Writers live for that sort of thing, and it really helps us out. on Wizard’s Tower Press Publication date : May 6, 2021 Pre-order today on Amazon!

“If you point a camera at someone and ask them what they know about how to live your life, they tell you amazing, inspiring, and moving stories.” Carol Wolf – Letters to my Grandchildren What is the lived experience? We continue our discussion from last week talking about the importance of telling your own (and other people’s) life stories with Carol’s film making experience, with some digressions for shark mating habits and propaganda. Carol’s FilmsCarol’s Plays for purchaseCarol’s previous visit: Episode 87Carol’s first visit: Episode 15 Film FestivalsGreat Lakes International Film FestivalMiami Independent Film FestivalPoppy Jasper International Film Festival Sand Play TherapyBuilding young brains through musicBraaaaains Edinburgh Fringe FestivalJudith Karen, the Illustrator – and Jeannie’s Mom Write letters to YOUR grandchildren! Start hereBuy Lea Redmond’s book on how to write them to your kids with formattingWho was Tony Benn, Chaz? The Family Life of Ralph Josselin – a 17th c ClergymanSPIDERS!! Tigersharks love to take a Caribbean cruise and make outWho needs a man anyway? says girl shark, stunning DarwinistsAleksandr Solzhenitsyn – The Gulag ArchipelagoA Father of Propaganda – Guillaume de Nogaret

There are so many people who talk about writing down family memoirs. We interviewed Jill Phillips, who has completed her first novel of non-fiction memoirs, to talk about her process, her journey, and her recommendations for anyone thinking it’s time to start writing their own family stories. She describes how to start and set yourself up for success, deliberations on whose truth to go with, and other important decisions a memoir will need to make. Jill’s Lamlash Street on Amazon Mentions from Episode 95: Jill got great support and resources through Book LaunchersEspecially Tim TestaSarah Painter’s Crow Investigations Let this be the flag signal to get out there and start writing your memoirs! All of you are interesting!

Exploring topics in gay romance, and emotive expression open for men – and how reading novels outside your own experience act like empathy boxes of learning and understanding. Aleksandr’s character-driven approach to storytelling combines with research to create vivid stories and hot gay romance. They also have some excellent advice for writers on maintaining separation from a day job while avoiding misrepresentation of your identity. Twitter @AleksandrVoinovFacebookAleksandr on GoodreadsHome websiteTumblr Mean Machine on KindleMy favorite review of Mean Machine Mentions from Episode 94: How Journalism can be an Empathy Box, or virtual reality can be an immersive plunge into empathyThe Empathy Box was from Phillip K. DickHow Reading encourages EmpathyTwo RL stories of authors penalized for writing fiction:Teacher fired for writing a novel about a teacherTeacher fired for writing an erotic novel under a pen name

Nancy has found a unique way of conquering the general zeitgeist of creativity challenge with meditation and poetry to unlock new creativity. We discuss colonialism, and the challenge of looking at discovered civilizations (on earth, in space, wherever) through a lens of diversity instead of the old models, and what might happen when we start to do that even more. Nancy is a member of the Flying Kerrs writing group.NancyJaneMoore.comTwitter @WriterNancyJaneFacebook Mentions from Episode 93: Enola Holmes – Nancy SpringerThe Athena Club – Theodora GossRosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead – Tom StoppardKelley EskridgeBook View CaféVonda McIntyre – she gave Mr. Sulu his first name, did you know?Ursula Le Guin – So many good wordsOctavia ButlerWhat are the Treehouse Writers?What is Aquaduct Press?The d’Artagnan Romances (for those of you who only saw the movie or TV show)Women in Thailand –The Krom Klone were the bodyguards of the KingMore women warriorsProstitutes – men and women alike were part of the corvée (sell yourself into servitude to cover debts).Notes on Education history(Although Jeannie notes that there are dramatic differences for education in classes, so that’s global consistency.)Managing Forest FiresTexas and JuneteenthAmérico Paredes – Folklorist in Texas“With His Pistol in his Hand” Nancy’s first book The Weave – aliens, warp drive, physics Coming soon! For the Good of the Realm

Bruce helps advance the question of what the term “literary” means. Is it a commercial label? Is it a publishing market category for how to put similar books together in a bookstore? Class distinction or participation is one way to look, but so is technical accomplishment. In any case, learning to write seems a noble (and spiritual) way to squander your time as well as a social network, and Bruce has been amazing over a long and fruitful career as both a writer and educator. Bruce on Fantastic Fiction.comBruce on FacebookOn Twitter @BruceHollRogersMember of the WordosWord Work: Surviving and Thriving as a WriterSampling of Bruce’s short storiesBruce’s Estranged short story “All myths are true, and writers block is a myth.”Bruce Holland Rogers “I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes at nine every morning.”William Faulkner “You don’t need to write things to be a writer – but it sure helps your credibility.”Things Dave remembers Bruce saying “I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat,’ you know. And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”Maya Angelou Mentions from Episode 92: Colson WhiteheadThe IntuitionistThat Zombie novelTed ChangLawrence FerlinghettiDamon KnightJames MichenerTest reader – CollaboratorRogue StarEdward Bryant, a mentor and influence on BruceThe Mother Tongue “90% of everything is crap“ Theodore Sturgeon

In this episode, Dave, Chaz, and John briefly discuss character development using the “Big Five” model of personality before haring off on a number of predictable tangents. Also in this episode: everything Dave knows about factor analysis and psychological modeling (tl;dr: psychology is squishy); what Chaz doesn’t know about “Aspects of the Novel:” by E.M. Forster (quite a bit, and seemingly proud of it); and John reminds Chaz to panic about being replaced by a computer. Also: MFAs are a dodgy proposition; the academic wing of the Tolkien industry; Freud sucks (Dave again); and how pantsing yourself into a corner is like failing to solve a Sudoku. Finally, a plea: “plotting” is fine, but can we please find an alternative to “pantsing”?! Mentions from Episode 91: Creating Compelling CharactersBig Five analysisAssumptions, simplification, and over-simplificationCorrelation and dependenceSpherical cowPsych is squishyFactor AnalysisA simple explanationFactor Analysis WikiAspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster, 1927 I learned that the only way to write novels was like Mr. E.M. Forster.W. Somerset Maugham Somerset MaughamUniversity of East Anglia Creative Writing programMalcolm BradburyIan McKuenBrian Aldiss: couldn’t find the poem, but here’s a funny storyTolkien studies: yes, it’s a thingBruce Holland RogersFreud sucksPantsers and PlottersSudoku puzzlesThe Silmarillion: just because you’ve thought of it doesn’t mean you have to write it all down

It’s Black History month, and we all watched Bridgerton (and a certain Duke) over Christmas, right? We invite Madeleine Robins back and start pondering how to make our writing accurately reflect the cultural mélange that existed in London and beyond. From racism to classism, our writers look at our inherent biases, how “common knowledge” of history isn’t, and how it takes something evocative with a new spin to challenge our ideas of history. Madeleine on Twitter @MadERobinsMadeleine on FaceBookMadeleine’s Sarah Tolerance booksMadeleine’s other Regency novelsMadeleine’s Episode 43 WDC visit Mentions from Episode 90: Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton seriesBlack People in the RegencyGeorgette HeyerJane Aiken HodgeDashiell HammettWhat is SAFD?Black fencing masters in historyThomas ButlerEdward BlackwellThe legal case in London that early in the anti-slavery movementBlack London – read it for free online!Black Saints and HeraldryFrom Tolerance to Intolerance – in Elizabeth’s EnglandQueen CharlotteAlexander Dumas’ father – The Black Count – Biography of the real Count of Monte Cristo1942 Japanese Internment CampsThe Gangs of New York by Herbert AsburyLouisa May AlcottLast Act by Jane Aiken HodgeBaroness OrczyAmerican Bookbinders Museum

Jennifer has been nominated twice for the Bram Stoker award for horror, and won both the Bram Stoker and the Hugo Award for editing work. She’s written stories and novels for Battletech, Shadowrun, Valdemar, as well as many original stories and novels in YA Horror, Fantasy, and Sci Fi. “You can be blunt or you can be vulgar but you can’t be both.”Best Quote Ever: Jennifer Brozek Jennifer on Twitter @jenniferbrozekJennifer on FaceBookJennifer’s cats on InstagramJennifer’s fascinating Pinterest collectionJennifer’s main page, especially her interesting Blog Mentions from Episode 89: Jennifer’s editing work nominated for the British Fantasy AwardInternational Association of Media Tie-In WritersBattletech short stories? Send to ShrapnelValdemar Shadowrun, John HelfersV-WarsMasters of OrionBlack GateWhat is a MUCK?Industry Talk – An insider’s look at writing RPGs and editing anthologies – buy it now!Horror Writer’s AssociationNever Let me SleepJennifer is also the Creative Director of Apocalypse Ink ProductionsKaren Wilson ChroniclesThe best of Michael Marshall SmithJennifer’s BattleTech Rogue Academy Coming soon – a Lovecraft poetry anthology with John Helfers called “Haiku Cthulhu” – watch for it on Kickstarter! “Horror is not a genre, it is an emotion. It is a progressive form of fiction, one that evolves to meet the fears and anxieties of its times.”Douglas E. Winter “Horror is more a flavor than a genre.”Jennifer Brozek

Who is the first wizard on call when you need to make movie magic? Meg is a that wizard! A storyboard artist introduces us all to the world where the print meets the screen. Come learn about this exciting position working in TV and Movies, where you can tell stories with pictures and words in tandem. Meg is on Twitter and Instagram @thirdchildartYou can check out her Storyboard projectsMeg’s IMDB pageVimeo Storyboard site Mentions from Episode 88: Jurassic World: Camp CretaceousStar Trek TwitchStar Trek Lower DecksThe Adventures of Puss in Boots Script Driven vs Board Driven Story Trainees – hey look, they’re hiring Screenings! Bill Peet Bill Peet’s Autobiography Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden – Peace Talks Trailer Bubbles and the eye/vision flow in graphic novels Shorts and Pilots: Pitching Meg’s Own shows 28 sample StoryboardsStoryboard ProThe McElroy Family Website Tripod vs The Dragon TripodThe Hunger GamesBrandon Sanderson’s Cosmere seriesDreamworks – The Prince of EgyptInside OutSpiderman – Into the Spider VerseCintiq TabletClasses? Gum RoadTwitch StoryboardsStoryboard Thumbnail Sketchbook from “The Productive Luddite” Art of Books

WDC once again talks with master of many forms Carol Wolfe, who discusses plays, movies, screenplays, horror, and some of her recent work, and inspires WDC to write more! Mentions from Episode 87: Carol on Twitter: @thecarolwolfCarol on GoodreadsSeason 1 Carol Wolf: WDC Episode 15 The Shotgun Theory of Art, a different take than CarolDamian Trasler: WDC Episode 76Slug lines! Or in this case, Scene Heading Slug Lines!Neil Gaiman Stardust and Neverwhere Peter Jackson’s 3 ½ hour movie (LOTR)Eric ElliotThe Horror Movie sans Cannon of BloodValley of Fearon Amazon Far From the SeaSanta Cruz ShakespeareStagedRandy RainbowPear Theater Note: Live streaming Performances!Pear Theater Writer’s GuildEdinburg Fringe Festival Note: Cut from discussion but still THEATER HEAVEN Gertrude BellEvent HorizonJohn Dies At the EndThe Shed

There are writers who can take one genre and then turn it into multiple genres before they’re done – and you can’t put the books down. We sat down one of our favorites who gets away with it all the time. Charles Stross, unrepentant Pantser, as he labels himself, tells us all about his books, his inspirations, his process, and his latest projects. Charlie on Twitter – @cstrossCharlie on FacebookCharlie’s blog#charlesstross gets you lots to look at on InstagramCharlie’s Patreon pageCharlie’s books in orderCharlie’s Wikipedia page Mentions from Episode 86: The Prisoner TV seriesMary Poppins – the booksPeter and WendyJohn Wayne Gacy (Ick)Seanan McGuire’s LostA snarky Peter Pan as a monster essayUrsula Vernon’s Peter Pan story; NeverMMORPGQAnon as a virtual reality gameWalter Jon Williams – This is Not a GameArab SpringScottish Politics SingularityScrivenerRaymond MillerRobert Heinlein (and others) on writingNine Princes in AmberH. Beam Piper’s ParatimeHP LovecraftCharlie’s favorite coffee shop; Artisan Roast

Juliette’s second book, Transgressions of Power (sequel to Mazes of Power), is coming out in February! Get your tiara and boa together and think about what you’re going to wear to her book release party! Juliette talks about dialect work, plotting, and how world building and pre-construction helps her write faster. Mentions from Episode 85: Juliette’s first WDC (Episode 19) visit talking about world buildingDerinkuyu in TurkeyŠkocjan CavesExplore Limestone caves in the US!Interview with Juliette on ClarksworldDaw and Penguin books relationshipJuliette talking worldbuilding, where you can join!Cat Rambo’s classesMarie Brennan’s writing as M.A.Carrick with Alyc HelmsJuliette’s YouTube channelAudio book Mazes of PowerPre-order Transgressions of Power here

Richard Kadrey has been a successful novelist, written for comic books, scripts, and journalistic articles about art, culture, and technology. He creates music under the name Seven Blood-Stained Orchids. We caught up with him to find out the latest gossip on his Sandman Slim series, as there’s rumors of a movie in the offing. Twitter @Richard_KadreyFacebookInstagramSeven Blood-Stained Orchids music on Soundcloud Mentions from Episode 84: Charlie Chaplin racing horses down Hollywood BlvdJ.G. Ballard novel Hello America Bosch TV showThe DeepIf you like detective noir, here’s a list of someone’s favoritesBrad Pitt – oh come on, google him! We know what he looks like.Jeannie’s favorite historic detective: VidocqAlso a film with Gerard DepardieuRoger ZelaznyWhole Earth Review links –Wikipedia Whole Earth ReviewEdward Betts Whole Earth ReviewA eulogy of sortsCat Rambo’s classesDC Vertigo ComicsHolly BlackCharles de LintKathy AckerCormac McCarthyBlood MeridianThe Motorcycle DiariesSeanan McGuire’s ghost roadsSlendermanBloody Mary folk legend

In which our merry hosts contemplate finding the right point of view from which to tell a story. The perspective of looking at a story is fungible, but each point of view will have a different voice. The coffee committee ponders the right point of view for a story about an incident, and how the voice of the view affects the story’s tone and outcome. Mentions from Episode 83: Point of View – the Sidekick episodeAlma AlexanderRosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead – Tom StoppardDesdaemonaPandaemoniumStar Wars – yeah, y’all don’t need a link.Bildungsroman – Chaz’ fancy word meaning a novel dealing with one person’s formative years or spiritual educationMore stuff that doesn’t need a look up: Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, ScrubsSimon Green’s Nightside seriesModesty BlaiseUnkillable character tropeLaurell K. HamiltonTerry Pratchett (John is talking about Discworld books & stories here)The Aching seriesThat story of the animals telling a story in the dark cave/hole with the object is one Jeannie can’t find so if anyone remembers it, please write in.The Clue movieThe Usual SuspectsChaz’ newest story will be on Tor.comJeannie’s Adventures in Oz project from Double Critical – soon to be a Kickstarter! Buy the Adventures in Oz: Collector Poker Cards Deck!The Best of Chaz Brenchley will surely be here on Subterranean Press shortly before AugustChaz’ Crater School (on Mars) books talked about hereChaz’ Patreon account – where one can read the Crater School right now!Wizard’s Tower PressThe Sage & Savant episodeKate Elliott’s Omniscient Breasts (again – we love Kate’s Breasts in essay)

This is our first foray into discussing satire, and how to make fun of politics. Whether cartooning, focusing a microscope on an individual trait or issue, or simply drawing attention to an injustice, satire has a place in writing and the arts. Mentions from Episode 82: Adam Singer on Twitter @TiMEoFPoSTiNGThe Satire of Gulliver’s TravelsOliver Willis’ The Deepest State: A Satirical Epic – Satire under 45Matt Gallagher’s Fire and Forget: Short Stories from the Long WarSporadic Verses – SCA-specific group satireDavid Abram’s FobbitWalt Kelly’s PogoGary Trudeau’s Doonesbury

We welcome another podcaster – Norman Leonard, the creative mind behind the kids’ podcast, Cobbler’s Gulch. Is it for kids? Or is it a podcast narrative for adults? Who loves goblins and gooslers and trolls and two-headed soil serpents? We do, and we say they’re for everyone, especially orphans. Mentions from Episode 81: Norman’s emailInstagramFacebook: CobblersGulchNorman’s other work on IMDB Cobbler’s Gulch sound effectsNorman gets the Sound Effects from FreeSoundGo listen to Cobbler’s Gulch right now!Cobbler’s GulchAppleSpotifyPodChaser Parts of the CG world building remind Jeannie of The Hidden AlmanacSample THA Episode transcript The Telephone by Anwar F. AccawiLemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate EventsGabriel Garcia Marquez on magic realismGabriel Garcia Marquez’s A Very Old Man with Enormous WingsThe delightful Sage and Savant

Cartoon of Death by Judith Karen, 2020 The midwinter holidays have an old tradition of ghost stories and scary tales to whisper around the fire as people huddle close and wait for the light to return. We’ve recreated this for you with new spooky stories written by Chaz and Jeannie, and with a little help from John they’re going to read them to you. Chaz’ story The Greenway Waits for You is (so far) exclusive to this podcast! Jeannie’s Gingerbread Elf is published in Scary Snippets, Christmas Edition John needs to step up and write his co-hosts a scary holiday story. We’re just saying. New Music by Michael Engberg‘s Songs for Women I Don’t See Anymore bringing us a holiday feel and Caffeine provided in the form of delectable chocolates from Dan and Berndt at the Hamakua Chocolate Farm!

Sage & Savant by Varner Photography Today we sat down with the wife and husband team of Eddie Louise and Chip Clark from Sage & Savant, a serial podcast of steampunk adventures in Mad Science! Eddie wrote the serial adventure story and keep it going for years, while Chip composed music, created sound effects and other foley work. Come learn how they did it, and what they’re up to next! Mentions from Episode 79: Twitter: @sageandsavantSage and Savant WebsiteYouTube ChannelFacebook (not active) Books (paperback and ebook) and merchandiseAmazon Author Page Podcast available on: ApplePodcast, GooglePlay, Podchaser, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, PlayerFM and any place you get podcasts. Music (composed by Chip) available at:SpotifyBandCamp Serial podcasts:Wolf 359The Leviathan ChroniclesArkham K-12 Science Fair by Jeannie Warnerand the Sage & Savant podcast reading where Chip brought the story to life with sound effectsThe Raft of the MedusaJumping The SharkHappy DaysSupernaturalTools: Setting Styles in WordTerry Pratchett Quotes That Will Inspire You to Write “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”Terry Pratchett

People with quirks are called eccentric, unusual, strange, or even bizarre, but the truth is bigger. Quirky people play weird games, wear different clothes, have unusual hobbies, or say what they mean in company. Quirky people have less fear. Jeannie submits the theory that all good protagonists need to be a little quirky. The committee pokes at her theory with examples from books, television, and movies. Mentions from Episode 78: Many random mentions and examples include:Sherlock HolmesAlan Rickman’s Sheriff of NottinghamJames BondTV Avengers – (Ignore the movie)Indiana Jones – “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?”M. GustavSnake PlisskinThe Dude in The Big LebowskiJack SparrowStar Wars Drinking Game (Clearly irresponsible and the hosts would never recommend repressing your feelings with alcohol more than once a month.)Edna Mode – No capes “darling” – The IncrediblesInspector Clouseau & CatoThe other Kato (Bruce Lee)The movie Hero (Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, Andy Garcia)Local Hero – by Bill Forsythe – oil guy sent by Burt Lancaster to go buy a Scottish villageHancock (Will Smith) quirky superheroTerry Pratchett’ Lord Vetinari (and more) Jeannie’s searches on Goodreads “Quirky hero” 55 total entries“Quirky heroine” 971 total entries Working conclusion: Men are not allowed to use the word Quirky to describe a proper hero. Poor blighters!