Brew & Ink Podcast

Join Steven and Britt as they discuss and dissect the phenomenon that is Stranger Things and give their review of the recent third season and why it is so meta for Britt.

What is the power of nostalgia in our stories? Some shows and movies tug on our heart chords to get us hooked into their characters and media. Why is nostalgia such a great way to do that? Listen to the discussion and then the exciting chapter two of Singularity - Blue Boy. Listen and vote for what should happen next!

With the increased push for more diversity in literature and entertainment, which we celebrate, what about dignifying people with mental illness in our stories? People with mental illness have often been stigmatized and made to look "crazy" and like criminals in books and movies. That has been changing. How can it improve further? I talk with Christian author and experienced counselor Tina Yeager on the topic to help us as writers.

We love great ideas. Unique ideas. But what makes a great idea into a great story? How can you ruin a great idea? Listen to the discussion and then check out the first episode of our new Sci Fi story, Singularity. Chapter 1: Disconnected. Written by Steven. Listen and vote for the next part of the story!

Fight scenes. We love them when they're good. They bore us when they're bad. Or they can annoy us. How can we write great fight scenes? Listen to this amazing conversation with Carla Hoch, author of Fight Write, and the different things we need to think about when writing violence and fight scenes.

Why is a writing conference a great thing for writers to do? Steven and Britt talk about the recent Serious Writer one day bootcamp and why these short, local conferences are a great solution for serious writers on a budget. Then Britt reads The Truth of the Hunter, another flash fiction revisiting Dr. Wincek and her interview with Dr. Wolfe. Check it out!

The revolutionary television series from HBO, Game of Thrones, is done! People have been disappointed - to say the least! - over the last couple seasons. Britt and Steven discuss their reaction to the GOT finale and the lesson for writers on why people have been so angry at the end of the show.

Being creative can be inconvenient. When we're in the middle of a project and get a new idea, we love new ideas! But what do we do with the new idea? Make it a part of a current project or start a new one? But we have to do something! Brew & Ink discuss where to stick new ideas, and then Steven reads his version of The Thief and the Gateway from Aaron Betts' POV, our victim before the murder! Check it out and vote on the title for the next story from author MB Mooney.

Jumping the Shark! What does it mean when a series "jumps the shark"? What are some examples of series that are guilty and what are others that could have but never did? Listen to the discussion and then hear Author MB Mooney share a flash fiction from Dr. Deb Wincek's point of view, titled PRIMED FOR DUTY. Vote on the next title for Steven to write!

The movie event of the year. The culmination of a revolutionary marketing campaign and 22 movie buildup. Listen as Steven and Britt go over the good and bad of Avengers: Endgame, what we liked and what we didn't, what worked and what fell flat. Check it out!