In Empty Places (S7 E19 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Faith takes the potentials on a night out and everyone pushes back against Buffy’s plan to attack Caleb again. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) why an antagonist doesn't need to be a villain; (2) strong foreshadowing early in the story; (3) why Faith and Buffy's history affects how Buffy sees the conflicts and her choices; (4) what role grief plays in the final confrontation; and (5) what Empty Places says about leadership.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets

Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/

Revisit Grief and the Buffyverse: https://lisalilly.com/grief-in-the-buffyverse/

Check Out Lisa M. Lilly's cold case murder mystery The Forgotten Man: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Man-Q-C-Davis-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C2BBNXDT

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Dirty Girls, S7 E18, Faith arrives in Sunnydale and Buffy takes an army of potentials to battle a super-powered misogynistic preacher. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) how to keep it fun when characters need to exchange information viewers already know; (2) foreshadowing a tragic climax; (3) how story structure affects pace; and (4) what Buffy's choices and Caleb's character say about the episode themes.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets

Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/

Revisit Grief and the Buffyverse before watching Empty Places: https://lisalilly.com/grief-in-the-buffyverse/

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Orpheus, Buffy/Angel crossover S4 E15, Angelus and Faith battle it out and Willow comes to L.A. to try to restore Angel’s soul. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) Seemingly separate storylines that converge into one gripping plot; (2) how to use multiple characters as the antagonist and a group as a protagonist; (3) whether Willow is a different character on Angel than she is in Buffy Season 7; and (4) how dramatic irony adds tension and keeps the audience engaged.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets

Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Release, Angel crossover S4 E14, Faith and Angelus battle, Fred has a crisis, and Cordelia implores Connor to keep their secret. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) how the writers draw on backstory from both Buffy and Angel; (2) true vs. false conflict; (3) many storylines – but is there a main plot? and (4) cliffhanger or gamechanger and when it matters.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets

Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7 on FeedSpot's 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025: https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:

In Salvage (Angel crossover S4 E13), Angelus meets The Beast (a powerful demon terrorizing L.A.) and Wesley persuades to Faith break out of prison. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) showing internal conflict (Wesley’s) through imagined dialogue; (2) who the protagonist is in a group with the same goal and two leaders (Wesley and Faith); (3) the challenges and pluses of a  conflict engine character  (Connor); and (4) subplots that resolve issues or raise stakes in the main plot.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: 

https://lisalilly.com/free/

This podcast episode covers the Top 5 and Bottom 5 Buffy episodes ever, plus some Honorable Mentions. See if you agree. Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year! 

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets:

https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: 

https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Lies My Parents Told Me (Buffy the Vampire Slayer S7 E17), Robin Wood aims to kill Spike and Giles is in on the plan. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on: 

interweaving three plots – Robin v. Spike, Giles v. Buffy, Spike v. himself;

whether Giles’s choices fit his character;

how William becomes Spike;

point of view and protagonists; and

a (hopefully) unintended episode theme.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: 

https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Storyteller (S7 E16 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Andrew annoys everyone by videotaping them and is forced to reckon with his past. Along with the recap of Storyteller, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) whose story is it - Buffy's or Andrew's? (2) whether Buffy's and Andrew's goals conflict; (3) what happens when writers fall in love with a character (Andrew); (4) how characterization relates to humor; and (5) flashbacks that tell their own story and move the main plot.

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: 

https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Get It Done (S7 E15 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Buffy risks it all to learn the origin of the First Slayer while Robin Wood learns a whole about Sunnydale – and Spike. Along with the recap of Get It Done, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) what links Andrew, Willow, Anya, and Spike; (2) how each character's story arc explores the nature of power; (3) building small steps to why Buffy, Spike, and Willow make the major choices they do; and (4) reasons to love Dawn and hate Kennedy.

Last Episode: First Date

Next Episode: Storyteller

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

Get Creating Compelling Characters From The Inside Out: https://lisalilly.com/creating-compelling-characters-inside

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In First Date (S7 E14 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Buffy and Xander embark on romantic encounters (or are about to be hijacked by demonic forces) and The First tries to re-recruit Andrew. Along with the recap of First Date, this podcast episode focuses on: 

(1) why humor that feels true to a character works best; (2) plot turns that force Buffy, Xander, and Giles to grow and change; and (3) how this somewhat lighthearted episode sets up the rest of the season and the end of the series.

Last Episode: The Killer In Me 

Next Episode: Get It Done

Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly 

New Release by Lisa M. Lilly: The Skeptical Man (A Q.C. Davis Mystery): https://lisalilly.com/skeptical/

Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/