Today, I’ve got a special treat for you: dueling book reviews! Okay, the books aren’t actually dueling. I’ve just been reading a lot and have a backlog of reviews to share. Today we’re talking about Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero and Artemis by Andy Weir.
How do I describe Meddling Kids? It’s basically a punchy, mystery throwback for people who grew up watching Scooby Doo. If that doesn’t sound awesome, I don’t know what does. On the other hand, delivering something that witty can be a challenge. Let’s see if Mr. Cantero is up for it!
Next up is Artemis by Andy Weir. In the wake of his wildly successful book, The Martian, Weir has a lot of expectations to meet – and critics have been pretty mixed in their reception. All that to say, a noir-style heist on the Moon is a pretty cool idea. One that’s at least worth exploring.
While I typically finish up PlotBoilers podcast episodes with a few thoughts on life as a writer, this one is all book-talk. Don’t worry: the writing life tips and tricks will be back next time!
Books Mentioned in this Episode
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Artemis by Andy Weir
The Martian by Andy Weir
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Retrograde by Peter Cawdron

Dueling Book Reviews: Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero and Artemis by Andy Weir

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Today I’m talking about a fiery psychological thriller, Bonfire by Krysten Ritter. I’m not just excited to talk about the plot; I’m also stoked (get it?) to discuss her creative process and some surprising things we can learn from actors who are authors. Additionally, I’m touching on something that’s sparked my attention lately: how books like Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, Sharp Objects, and Bonfire are either fanning the flames of the dead girl trope or burning it down. As usual, you can find Plotboilers on iTunes, Spotify, or right here on the Plotboilers website. Additionally, I love getting reviews and ratings on iTunes, so toss a few (or five?) stars my direction!
Books mentioned in this episode: 

* Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
* Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
* The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
* The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn


Bonfire by Krysten Ritter & What We Can Learn from Actors Who Write!

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish writer best known for his books (A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, etc.) Today, I’m talking about one of his most recent works “Beartown,” a book that focuses on a small town’s relationship with ice hockey and the interwoven lives of the people who live there. Spoiler alert: I think this book is great, and I hope you do too. There are a ton of themes and ideas that come up in Beartown, but the one I’m most excited to discuss is loyalty. Is loyalty always a good thing? What happens when we misplace it? These are the questions Backman asks in the Beartown narrative – and just a few of the ones he answers as well.
Books mentioned in this episode: 

* Beartown by Fredrik Backman
* A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
* Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
* My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
* Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman


Book Review of Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Join me as I discuss The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury with guests Josiah and Benji! For those of you who have tuned in before, you might remember Josiah and Benji from a few months ago when we talked about “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick. (Psssst! We’re also reviewing wine again.)
If you enjoy Plotboilers, toss a rating and / or review my way on iTunes. And don’t forget, you can follow me on Twitter @plotboilers.
If you’ve read The Martian Chronicles or have thoughts about our thoughts on it, drop me a line in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Books mentioned in this episode: 

* The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Wines mentioned in this episode: 

* House Wine (Dark Cabernet Sauvignon)
* Moral Compass 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon

PS – At the top of this episode, we mention that we are probably going to spoil the ending. Partway through, we decided not to spoil it! 

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury with Josiah and Benji!

Today I’m sharing an episode from another podcast, How to Write Good. Why? Because the host of HTWG podcast, Daniel Poppie, was kind enough to invite me onto the show as a guest! I’ve never guested on a show before, so this was a new – and super fun – experience. Join us as we talk about a few recent books I’ve discovered along with their creative implications. You can join the discussion in the comments below or on Twitter at @HTWGPodcast. I also encourage you to subscribe to HTWG podcast on iTunes (or wherever you get your podcasts!); it’s well worth your time if you enjoy writing and/or thinking about the creative process from a fun yet philosophical perspective.
Books mentioned in this episode:

* 
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman

* 
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas


 

Plotboilers Presents: “The Count, My Grandmother, and Seeing Through Another’s Eyes” by How to Write Good Podcast!

Let’s talk about short story writing! On the one hand, short stories are simpler than novels because – as the name implies – they are short. On the other hand, the target is a lot smaller which means the margin for error is a lot bigger.
I’ve compiled a few of the things that I think make short stories a specific breed of difficult, and also a few notes on my personal process for writing them. Obviously, everyone’s creative process is different, but I’ve discovered that it’s actually harder to find solid resources on short story writing, opposed to long-form stories like a novel.
At the end of the day, short stories are a challenge because they don’t always (or in my experience, ever) fit the traditional three-act structure. That might sound crazy coming from someone who talks about story structure a lot, but it’s true. Depending on how short your story is, it’s probably not going to have a clearly defined first, second, and third act – at least not in the same capacity that a novel about the same topic, character or situation would. On the flipside, examining your short story through the lens of the three-act structure can be beneficial as well.
P.S. – You can find me on iTunes. If you like Plotboilers, it’d make my day if you rated and reviewed the show there!
Music: Twine by Podington Bear © Chad Crouch

Why Are Short Stories So Hard to Write?

Plotboilers: Book Reviews and Writing Life

Dueling Book Reviews: Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero and Artemis by Andy Weir

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