Many modern stories hit the ground running, throwing the reader or viewer into a whirlwind of names, places, situations, and conflicts. This can be exciting. No trudging through useless exposition, no waiting for the action to pick up. However, not all set-up is bad. As hosts Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden discuss, good, strategic story…
Read MoreYou’ve heard the story before–a young man from a remote village is thrust into the larger world because he takes on the responsibilty of a great quest, where he’ll have great adventure and meet strange creatures. You know, Star Wars. I mean, The Lord of
Read MoreWe’ve all been there. We’re watching season 17 of our favorite show or book 26 of our favorite series and suddenly wonder–Wait, what? What just happened? Whether it’s something too insane or too dumb or too out-of-character or simply too much, “this isn’
Read MoreIf you’ve ever read a plot summary, you’ve probably thought, “But that’s not what the story’s REALLY about.” There are ideas and connections within a story that don’t show up in a 100-word Netflix blurb. That’s why this episode hosts Timothy Deal and Nick
Read MoreCreativity is valued in many areas of life. Whether you’re writing a book, starting a business, or writing a script about a cheese shop, being able to think outside the box and come up with new solutions is a vital skill. But how do you get better at the
Read MoreIt’s Christmas, a time for giving and receiving presents. And, contrary to popular belief, not all gifts come from Amazon. In fact, the very act of creativity can be a gift. At least, that’s what hosts Timothy Deal and Nick Hayden suggest in this episode’
Read MoreA blank page is a frightening thing. It represents limitless possibilities. But once a genre is chosen, or a point of view, or a character, or anything, suddenly there is direction. There are now limited possibilities. And that is a freeing thing. Limitat
Read MoreRemember back in January when you made that resolution? Yeah, that one. How’s that going for you? If you’re like most people, you’ve either given up on it or decided not to make one at all. Still, most of us would like to make goals that we follow through
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