Symbolism is yet another tool in the author’s toolkit for enhancing a story. Whether it be big-picture themes, character behaviors, or a setting, symbolism is a great way to enrich a reader’s experience. In this episode, Russ and Tim chat Read more…
Backstory is essential to establishing who your characters are and the decisions they’ll make in your story, but how much is too much? In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss backstory, how they approached it for their first novels, and Read more…
Writing your first novel is hard, but is writing a second novel any easier? In this episode, Russ and Tim chat about how to plan a new project, when to stop researching and start writing, and why their approaches have Read more…
In this episode, Russ and Tim are joined by Michael Bahler, a New Jersey-based writer whose short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New York Times, Glimmer Train, Nerve, and many others, including the Brooklyn Rail. He joins us Read more…
Have you ever read a book and thought the end wasn’t particularly satisfying? Well, you’re not alone! In this episode, Russ and Tim explore common Act III pitfalls, why they can make your final act fall flat, and how to Read more…
Why are scene transitions important? Not ony to they ground the reader in POV, setting, and time. They can change mood and create pacing that keeps a reader engaged. In this episode Russ and Tim get into their own approaches Read more…
50th episode! We made it! Russ and Tim do a pulse check on their projects, how far they’ve come, and the path ahead. Here’s to fifty more!
Structure is a good thing, right? In this episode, Russ and Tim discuss chapter structure and how a well-structured chapter can impact pacing and tension and influence the reader to keep turning pages.
Are video games art? What elevates a video game narrative to make it memorable? Will Russ and Tim ever stop playing and get back to writing their second novels? In this special video game-themed episode, we tackle these questions and Read more…
