In today’s episode, Angie identifies as the quintessential dilettante while Elizabeth lays out her process of revision. They debate whether the horror genre has shifted or Angie has changed. Most of all, they consider the potential for understanding both learning opportunities for writers and character growth of Rubrics such as: emerging, progressing, personal mastery, mastery. How do you consciously and creatively spend time in areas where you’re emerging and progressing? They look at when and where and how we take risks, and why it matters. The episode also features hints of a showdown on theory between the two hosts and touches on authority and accessibility in prose.

Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Jordan Peele

Penny Arcade

Just Mercy film

Wendy Brown

Bettina Apteker

Donna Haraway

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Ira Glass: “I thought this would happen and instead this happened.”

Pixar 

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor 

Stephen Fry Sherlock Holmes

Jeanette Winterson “I’m telling you stories. Trust me.”

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

This episode delves into the art and craft, indeed the very definition, of chapters--in books and a little bit in film, too. Angie and Elizabeth discuss what we need and want to know, narratively; how to play wondering out across a whole novel; the difference between a story and a novel; raising and answering reader questions and worries; making jumps; tension and release; scene v. chapter and chapter v. episode, unity of time and place, story question. They also touch on generating ideas and diffuse mode. In the end, what do you want your reader to feel? There’s a dinner party metaphor that really gets at some stuff. Hence, the title of the episode.

Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Sonoma County Writers Camp--sign up here!

Kenneth Atchity A Writer’s Time

Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache Series

Ann Patchett The Dutch House

Anthony Doerr All the Light We Cannot See

The Sebastopol Rialto

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

 discussion of simplicity in story and the room that gives for character and emotion, and the stakes these create. The need for clarity. Motivation. How to move toward simplicity. Also discussed: revision, pacing, resistance, weather. Family systems. The quote, possibly from Einstein: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Matt Bird on Story Makers Show

The Secrets of Story by Matt Bird

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

The Bourne Identity book

The Bourne Identity movie

The Wizard of Oz

Virginia Satir

Quote Investigator

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

A couple of glasses of wine into a loooooong tween-filled vacation, Angie and Elizabeth launch a new year of Story Makers Show with some conversation and advice. Topics covered to varying degrees include: the possibly universal reaction to getting notes on your writing, the possibility of getting bored with your own work and how to get a fresh eye, taking time in the editing process, discipline and habit versus constantly questioning your choices, what you should do vs have to do vs need to do, what our migratory subsistence ancestors knew that we should remember, the 4-hour work day, housecleaning, beginner’s mind, originality, and happiness. Or not. Angie calls writerly bullsh*t on the idea that we are always beginners, and gives Elizabeth some unexpected creative advice. Pull up a chair and let’s talk. Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Brilliant.org

Seth Godin

The Atlantic 1419 issue (2002)

Deep Work by Cal Newport 

Main Stage West in Sebastopol 

Barbara Oakley

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollen 

Milkman by Anna Burns

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Berkman  

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.