In this episode, I'm sharing two of my favorite ways to test out a story idea before you start writing a single word. Here's a preview of what you'll hear in the episode: [01:50] The goal of these two exercises is to find out which foundational pieces of your story still need to be fleshed out. Better to find out now than halfway through a draft! [01:10] Ex ... Show More
Jun 23
#253. 5 Common Mistakes That Make Your Character Feel Flat
If your protagonist feels vivid in your head but flat on the page, this episode will help you diagnose what’s missing—and fix the specific piece of character development that will make readers care.You know your main character. Their backstory, their childhood, the exact way they ... Show More
23m 45s
Mar 2019
Start With This: Idea to Execution
A brand new podcast from Night Vale Presents co-founders Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor: Start With This, a podcast gone creativity playground designed to put your ideas in motion. Each episode centers around a topic from world building, to opening lines, and even failure. Then t ... Show More
36m 57s
Dec 2023
DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
Listen you're not sure whether your idea has enough fuel for 90 pages. In this episode, Chas, Stu and Mel attempt to answer a listener question: “In your own pre-writing process, how do you know you have enough for a feature? And do you have a specific pre-writing method you're g ... Show More
1h 36m
Nov 2025
20.45: Now Go Write- Break All The Rules (Part 1)
In this episode, Erin shares a sneak peek from her section of our forthcoming book, Now Go Write. (To learn more about our book, sign up for our newsletter!) Erin explores four classic writing “rules,” when it’s worth breaking them, and what that can reveal about your own craft. ... Show More
15m 24s