It seems like a lot of movies and books with great potential fall apart in the final act or descend into cliche. Why is that so common? Brent and Erik look into this—unfortunately—all-too-common phenomenon. Your Hosts...

Do we expect (and maybe even encourage) artists to be depressed or otherwise eccentric? Does standing on the outside of society and holding up a mirror mean you will always be disappointed, frustrated, and (metaphorically) alone? Brent...

Should novelists also write for the stage? What can you learn from the act of writing a play, and from observing an audience watch it? We look at the benefits (and economics) of writing drama. Your...

Over time, the portrayal of men has changed substantially in movies and television, including sitcom dads, action heroes, character leads in cable dramas, and more. How are men portrayed and characterized? What direction is the going? Your Hosts...

Brent and Erik go into detail about the marketing steps they take to launch a book. This episode also contains an offer to be a beta reader from Brent for his next book! Your Hosts...

“Write what you know” is common advice to new writers. But is it always a good idea? Brent and Erik take different sides and look at what it means for writers and for the stories...

Paranormal romance has been the “it” genre in publishing for years now. How long can it last? And what comes next? We look at some of the biggest recent genres (paranormal romance, zombies, chicklit) and...

Is movie sex actually sexy? We ask the question, and look at why some scenes are sexy (and why some are terrible), why there is sex in movies at all, and why there are so few gay...

Is Nicholas Cage a good actor? This is the question that has haunted America (and Abed) for years. We delve into this important question from both sides (Erik thinks he’s great; Brent thinks he’s terrible)....

Should writers self-publish? Brent Hartinger and Erik Hanberg continue the discussion from Part I by talking about their decisions to traditionally publish or self-publish their books. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Media Consumed This Episode Geography Club (book)...