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Scene & Structure

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Words to Write by Podcast
Scene & Structure

Making a Scene

August 17, 2022

Season 1

Episode 18

01:16:10

If stories are made up of scenes, what are scenes made up of? According to Jack Bickham in his book, Scene & Structure, scenes start with a character’s stated goal and rumble through an evolving conflict until they reach … a disaster. In this episode, we examine each of these elements and test Bickham’s assertions using Real Book examples. Then, for true illumination, we Bickhamize our own scenes. But before we delve into the nitty gritty, we have a delightful interview with Susan Tunis of Bookshop West Portal.

The Cart Goes After the Horse – Getting Cause and Effect Right in your Story

August 3, 2022

Season 1

Episode 18

00:47:03

This episode is all about cause and effect, what it is, why it is critical in fiction despite being largely absent in real life, and how it works line by line as stimulus and response. In chapter 3 of his book Scene & Structure, Jack Bickham has some hard rules about applying and ordering stimulus, internalization, and response. We examine our own writing to see if it follows the proscribed format.

And, as a bonus, we start the episode off with interviews we did at the San Francisco Writers Conference that we’re calling “Confessions of Craft Book Addicts.”

Starting Your Book Off Right

July 20, 2022

Season 1

Episode 17

00:50:49

In this podcast we give our first impressions of our new book, Jack Bickham’s Scene and Structure, and, being the enthusiast students that we are, we begin by identifying his central thesis. Then it’s onto Chapter 2, where we answer some novice novelist questions and discuss Bickham’s approach to a story’s first page. To further our understanding, Kim “Bickhamizes” the beginning of her new fantasy novel.

As a bonus, Renee has a special message for any former Border employees who worked the late-night Harry Potter release parties back in the 90’s.

Auf Wiedersehen, Bradbury, and on to Scene & Structure

July 6, 2022

Season 1

Episode 16

00:29:30

In this episode we bid a fond farewell to Bradbury with one last conversation about his book, Zen in the Art of Writing. We discuss what’s in the book, what it meant for us personally, and how readers can get the most out of this writing craft book. Lastly, we send off Bradbury with our favorite Zen quotes.

And then it’s on to Jack Bickham’s Scene and Structure. Renee gives a bit of context about the book and Kim interview Kristen Tate, an editor who reviewed the book on her website, The Blue Garett.

Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

March 5, 2025

Season 3

Episode 25

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An Interview with Lia Riley Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey insists all stories follow the Hero’s Journey template—but does this actually...

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End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

January 22, 2025

Season 3

Episode 24

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eleven: The Resurrection&Stage Twelve: Return with the Elixir Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Just when you thought you had the Hero’s...

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Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

January 9, 2025

Season 3

Episode 23

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage 9: RewardStage 10: The Road Back Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Remember family road trips? When you’re...

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Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

January 1, 2025 admin 00:31:38 Comments Off

Empowering the Powerless:Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Horror stories and the hero’s journey – a match made in...

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Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

December 18, 2024

Season 3

Episode 21

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Eight: The OrdealStage Nine: The Reward Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Think you know where your hero’s...

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The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

December 11, 2024

Season 3

Episode 20

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The Road to ArmageddonAn Interview with Summer H. Hanford Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter How do you craft a journey worthy of...

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Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

December 4, 2024 admin 00:49:00 Comments Off

Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Six: Approach to the Innermost Cave Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Remember how we’ve occasionally side-eyed Christopher...

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Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

November 27, 2024

Season 3

Episode 18

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An Interview with Kristen Tate Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Looking for help with your novel’s middle section? While countless craft books...

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Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

November 27, 2024

Season 3

Episode 18

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An Interview with Kristen Tate Check it Out: The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Looking for...

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Tests, Allies, and Enemies, Oh My!

November 20, 2024

Season 3

Episode 17

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Six: Tests, Allies, and Enemies Subscribe to our Newsletter What really happens between “accepting...

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Crossing the Threshold

November 13, 2024

Season 3

Episode 16

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s JourneyStage Four: Meeting with the Mentor&Stage Five: Crossing the Threshold Subscribe to our Newsletter So...

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Writing Your College Application Essay

September 19, 2024

Season 3

Episode 15

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In today's episode we take a break from discussing and analyzing creative fiction to examining possibly one of the...

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Answering the Call to Adventure

September 4, 2024

Season 3

Episode 14

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How do you shift your book’s hero from their nice, cozy ordinary world into the adventure? According to Christopher...

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Workshop: Plotting a Murder with Colette Clark

August 29, 2024

Season 3

Episode 13

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Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey The Hero’s Journey Study Guide Subscribe to our Newsletter Does the mystery genre follow...

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You are Now Leaving the Ordinary World

August 21, 2024

Season 3

Episode 12

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If you have read even just the first part of a blog post on the Hero’s Journey, you know...

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Boy Bands & Archetypes

August 14, 2024

Season 3

Episode 11

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In our regular podcast, we’ve successfully made it through all of Vogler’s archetypes (from his book, The Writer’s Journey)....

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The Role of the Trickster and Other Archetypes

August 8, 2024

Season 3

Episode 10

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Are we done with archetypes now? Almost! There are just three more archetype chapters in Christopher Vogler’s book, The Writer’s...

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Workshop with Madix: Writing and Revising LitRPG

July 31, 2024

Season 3

Episode 9

admin 00:56:01 Comments Off

What if writing the first draft was the easy part? Every week on serial writing websites like Royal Road, hundreds...

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Female Shapeshifters and Other Questionable Archetypes

July 24, 2024

Season 3

Episode 8

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Everyone who’s read a blog post on the Hero’s Journey can spot the Hero and Mentor archetypes, but what...

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Workshop with Elana Gomel: What to do if your Hero is a Girl?

July 17, 2024

Season 3

Episode 7

admin 00:36:01 Comments Off

In response to Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousands Faces, aka The Hero's Journey, folklorists and academics (many of...

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The Mentor Behind Every Great Hero

July 10, 2024

Season 3

Episode 6

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The Mentor -- arguably the second most identified archetype from The Hero's Journey (after the eponymous hero). In his...

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Workshop: Renee Creates a Monster-Hero

July 3, 2024

Season 3

Episode 5

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Last episode we explored the concept of the hero archetype as presented in Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey. But...

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What Makes a Hero

June 25, 2024

Season 3

Episode 4

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Whether every protagonist is a Hero is open to debate (and debate it we do in this episode) but...

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Categories

Scene & Structure

Making a Scene

The Cart Goes After the Horse – Getting Cause and Effect Right in your Story

Starting Your Book Off Right

Auf Wiedersehen, Bradbury, and on to Scene & Structure

Getting to the Climax: The Anatomy of Romance Novels with Lia Riley

End of the Road: The Last Two Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Writing the Return Home: More Than Just a Victory Lap

Empowering the Powerless: Tim Waggoner’s Tips for Keeping Horror Heroes Active

Lost in the Ordeal: Navigating the Hero’s Darkest Hour

The Road to Armageddon: A Workshop with Summer H. Hanford

Get Thee Characters to the Cave!

Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

Fixing the Saggy Middle: A Workshop with Kristen Tate

Tests, Allies, and Enemies, Oh My!

Crossing the Threshold

Writing Your College Application Essay

Answering the Call to Adventure

Workshop: Plotting a Murder with Colette Clark

You are Now Leaving the Ordinary World

Boy Bands & Archetypes

The Role of the Trickster and Other Archetypes

Workshop with Madix: Writing and Revising LitRPG

Female Shapeshifters and Other Questionable Archetypes

Workshop with Elana Gomel: What to do if your Hero is a Girl?

The Mentor Behind Every Great Hero

Workshop: Renee Creates a Monster-Hero

What Makes a Hero

Scene & Structure

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