Improbable Things

Improbable Things

By J. Grace PenningtonArtsBooks
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Improbable Things episodes

  • Reviews, Read-Alouds, and Agendas
    Writing and receiving reviews, reading aloud to my kids, and considering agendas in books and movies and when they are and are not done well -- just a few of the things I'm up to this week! Oh, and I also announce the title of the next Firmament book.
    17 min
  • Eleftheria, Castle, and Choosing What to Read
    Did I manage to finish Firmament: Eleftheria last month? What are my plans for the series going forward? Was my last read any good? And how in the world should you go about choosing what to read next when you finish a book? I discuss all this on this week's episode of Improbable Things.
    12 min
  • A Desk, Book Club, and C. S. Lewis
    Finally settling into our new home! I discuss my new writing area, my book club, all the C. S. Lewis I'm suddenly reading, and my thoughts on making a book out of bits and pieces of other books.
    15 min
  • Moving, Reading to Kids, and Spider-Man
    We are moving! Which means I'm not currently writing, but I'm still able to make progress in one specific way. In this episode, I share some book-related moving details, talk about reading to my kids, and give a few (spoiler-free!) Spider-Man: No Way Home thoughts.
    15 min
  • Holidays, Plans, and Facts vs. Philosophy
    I'm back after two weeks of holidays and sickness! In this short episode, I give updates on my writing, finally finish a very long read, and pontificate on the difference between what we can observe and what we should do about it.
    13 min
  • Outline Issues, Reading Goals, and The Midnight Library
    I'm glad to be finishing my novel, but why didn't I realize what I had planned for the last few chapters was so boring? Should I raise my reading goal for next year since I've been able to easily surpass it? Also, I read The Midnight Library and it's got me thinking about how to make sure worldview is flowing naturally from the characters and not being forced. I cover all this and more on this week's episode of Improbable Things!
    16 min
  • Holiday Busyness, Home Libraries, and Dune
    Busy holiday seasons leave little time for writing -- or even for missing writing! Also, I read Dune and my opinion may or may not surprise you. Will I ever have a home library? And is it okay if not everyone likes the same books? I discuss all this on this week's Improbable Things.
    17 min
  • 50,000 Words, Skillful Writing, and Theme vs. Message
    Did I finish NaNoWriMo in time? Should I keep up my writing or take a holiday break? How in the world was Ayn Rand able to get me to read 1000 pages about railroads? And is there a right and wrong way to give your story a message? These are the questions I try to answer on this week's Improbable Things.
    18 min
  • Limitations, Propoganda, and Semi-Autobiographies
    NaNo update, favorite times to write, and how limitations with kids around has actually helped me be more productive! Also, is propoganda ever a good thing? And how much is too much when it comes to injecting reality into our fiction? We'll discuss all this and more on this week's episode of Improbable Things.
    19 min
  • The Halfway Point, Talented Writers, and Canceled Shows
    NaNo update! Will I be able to make it to 50,000 words this month? Is writing fun, or is it miserable? And if your TV show gets canceled, should you rush to wrap things up or just let it end and leave people hanging? We'll discuss all this and more on this week's Improbable Things.
    23 min

About Improbable Things

From the publisher's feed

"Science Fiction is the improbable made possible," Rod Serling said. As a sci-fi writer, sometimes I've believed as many as six improbable things before breakfast and I'd like to share them with you!