In this episode, I'm sharing the three contextual elements you'll want to include at the beginning of each one of your scenes. We'll also look at how these three elements show up in the opening of a scene from the novel An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Here's a preview of the key points: [03:10] Key element #1: Where and when is this scene taking place? ... 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
May 2025
20.21: The Lens of Context
This week, we’re digging into context—what it is, why it matters, and how it can totally transform your storytelling. Whether you're working in fantasy, sci-fi, or anything in between, the details you choose to include (or leave out) can make your world feel rich, real, and emoti ... Show More
21m 15s
Jun 2025
20.23: The Lens of the Senses
How does a room sound? Does your childhood have a taste? What is the smell of summer? In this episode, we dive into the sensory layers that anchor worldbuilding, character, and perspective. We explore how invoking smell, sound, touch, and taste can transport readers more powerful ... Show More
24m 14s
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
May 2025
20.20: The Lens of Where and When
Today we’re talking about setting, which in speculative fiction is often called worldbuilding. But once you’ve finished building the world, how do you convey that world on the page? That is, how do time and place shape your story—and your characters? In this episode, we’re talkin ... Show More
22m 35s
<p><strong>TRIGGER WARNINGS AVAILABLE AT BOTTOM OF SHOW NOTES, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS</strong></p><p><br /></p><p>Ob(Scene) Part 3 by Andrew Parker</p><p>Read along here: <a href="https://www.wattpad.com/1351976989-ob-scene-part-three">https://www.wattpad.com/1351976989-ob-scene-pa ... Show More
