Host John Urbancik
often has conversations
about writing related stuff,
sometimes just with himself.
This week, he discusses Point of View,
focusing on First Person and
Third Person Limited.
He delivers an InkStains Challenge
and adds an unexpected twist.
And we find out
who will be our first ever
Guest Host (in two weeks).
Stories include
creating shadows,
the last man on Earth,
and things to consider
when moving.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

As our host prepares to
move overseas,
he's no longer living in today.
He's focused on tomorrow.
He's writing possible future stories
from his own, yet-to-be-lived life.
He also talks about gardens.
A lot.
He makes a terrible metaphor
and he runs with it.
He talks about the things
interfering with his creative processes.
And he reviews 2008's Speed Racer.
Stories this week include
a boy with a coin trick,
the heat of summer, and
prep work for the eclipse.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

Humankind is a social animal.
But sometimes, we cannot focus
on everyone else,
we have to focus
on ourselves.
Even still, we sometimes
come together as a community,
as we will with
Scares that Care Weekend.
Summer of Movies continues with
Oceans 8 and
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Stories include lights in the dark,
a Midnight garden, and
the Widow's Alley.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

Where do we get our ideas?
The question never dies,
so let's explore some real answers.
Including coloring outside the lines,
tigers in the clouds,
and all the color Slushees
you can't find.
This week's InkStains Challenge
will hurt you.
And we review Ant-man and The Wasp
as well as Universal's recent
The Mummy, the one with Tom Cruise
no one wanted to like.
Stories include imagination,
trying to find oneself
in Midnight, and
the Heart of Darkness.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

Revisions in fiction,
revisions in real life.
We discuss the revision process
and the mechanics of how it's done.
As our host plans to move to Madrid,
and officially enter his Spanish Period,
he contemplates his forthcoming memoir:
Hombre Lobo Americano en Madrid.
And he considers the things undone
in his immediate neighborhood.
And yours.
Stories include love spells,
the carnival in Midnight, and
an offer you cannot refuse.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

With the upcoming move to Madrid,
our host finds himself short on time
to get an episode recorded,
so he goes off script
without notes, thoughts, or a net.
And he talks about
adventure.
This week's story is the opening excerpt
from Madmen, Poets, & Thieves,
a Midnight novella.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

Let's talk about characters.
What makes a good, compelling character?
Is it the color of their eyes
or the song on their lips?
Or is it something else entirely?
The most elaborate
InkStains challenge yet.
Summer of Movies continues with
The Incredibles 2,
directed by Brad Bird.
Stories about heartbreak,
a poet's death, and
cute little baby godlings.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

It's time to pack up and move. Again.
As a means of rediscovering inspiration?
Spanish Lessons.
Closing the Library.
Naming Your Characters.
And the Summer of Movies continues with
How to Talk to Girls at Parties,
based on the Neil Gaiman short.
Stories this week include
breakfast in New Orleans,
the god of love in love,
and a man inherits a magic chest.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

The Summer of Movies
begins with Solo: A Star Wars Movie
and this near-spoiler-free review.
Spreadsheets, dry erase boards,
index cards, sticky notes, and
other ways to organize future projects.
Stories this week include
a random stranger at gunpoint,
discussion of time as a river or city,
and a man waking up in an airport.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.

To build suspense in fiction,
we look at the movies.
Psycho and The Matrix: Reloaded
and look at the motorcycle freeway chase.
We discuss conflict,
and issue a new
InkStains challenge
with multiple possibilities.
Then we talk about music,
the listening of music,
and the advantages of vinyl
over iPhone music
broadcast on weak FM bands
to your car stereo.
Stories this week include
Starry Night,
a King in Yellow,
and a clock.

John Urbancik discusses
writing, photography, art, and creativity,
and also reads stories.