STORYBEAST

By STORYBEAST

A podcast for story lovers, Storybeast explores how we weave tales and why we love them. Co-hosts Ghabiba Weston and C. Shack chat with each other and legendary guests about different elements of vari... more

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FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 102 episodes available.

STORYBEAST episodes:

April 04, 2024Episode #61: The storyteller's emotional napkin and why you need to ask for one
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story. In this episode, you'll hear about:
bringing story to life in your head by being magical and mystical
Courtney's request for Super Stabby Resources

the murder library and modernising evil

hooking a reader and keeping them engaged

the story opening as a dating metaphor

emotional napkins: gaining a reader's trust as a craft device

an underused tool for gaining reader investment
the boundaries of vulnerability

self trust as a writer
Find us on our ⁠website ⁠and on ⁠Instagram ⁠(@storybeastpodcast). For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠here⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks! A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
49min
March 28, 2024Episode #60: Julie Phillips on biography, writing while mothering, and Ursula le Guin
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston have the pleasure of interviewing Julie Phillips, author of THE BABY ON THE FIRE ESCAPE; JAMES TIPTREE JR, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF ALICE B SHELDON; and the to-be-titled biography of Ursula le Guin.
In this episode, you'll hear:
About Julie's thoughts on writing while mothering

What a dramatic line is in biography

Ghabiba, Courtney, and Julie compare fiction to writing biography

About fairytales that feature mothers

Julie's process for writing Ursula le Guin's biography

Ursula le Guin's REAL writing advice and if her writing routine on the internet was something she actually did
Find us on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast. For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
51min
March 21, 2024Episode #59: The Art of Conflict
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Types of conflict you can use to amp up the tension in your story.

Examples of how to pair internal conflict with external conflict

Our favorite craft books for creation conflict and character

We say a version of "juice" at least five times

We talk about using processes of self-introspection when it comes to "judgment" to inform not only our character's transformational journey, but also our own.
Find us on our ⁠website ⁠and on ⁠Instagram ⁠(@storybeastpodcast).  For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠here⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast. Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
35min
March 14, 2024Episode #58: On mythology, writing with vulnerability, and moving targets of success with Legendary, Genevieve Gornichec
Episode #58: On mythology, writing with vulnerability, and moving targets of success, with Legendary, Genevieve Gornichec.

Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Courtney Shack, Ghabiba Weston, and Nadine Flint have the pleasure of interviewing Genevieve Gornichec, author of THE WITCH'S HEART and THE WEAVER AND THE WITCH QUEEN.

Genevieve Gornichec earned her degree in history from The Ohio State University, but she got as close to majoring in Vikings as she possibly could, and her study of the Norse myths and Icelandic sagas became her writing inspiration. Her debut novel, The Witch’s Heart, was released in 2021 and has been translated into a dozen languages. Her sophomore novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, released on July 25th, 2023. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

In this episode, you'll hear:
how the original, unpublished ending of the witches heart was even more heartbreaking

a heartfelt discussion about breaking out of the wheelhouse

about facing book 2 expectations as a writer

Genevieve's take on writing outside of lived experience

thoughts on writing with vulnerability and coming to terms with sharing it with strangers

Genevieve waiting for you to publish your Norse mythology!

insight onto Genevieve's writing and research processes

about the folk culture of memes

about cutting words as an overwriter

a raw discussion about burnout, and how to move through it

about protecting your mental health and creativity as a creative

about moving targets of success and rest as an act of resistance
Be sure to listen to the end for how potatoes make or break time travel.
Check out this link to Genevieve's further reading resources for the THE WEAVER AND THE WITCH QUEEN.
Find us on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast. For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
57min
March 07, 2024Episode #57: Self Publishing Tips
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Courtney's emotional landscape of publishing a book

Practical and heart-centered self publishing tips

Applications Courtney has used to publish LADY OF ROSES AND RUIN
Find us on our ⁠website ⁠and on ⁠Instagram ⁠(@storybeastpodcast).  For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠here⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast. Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
53min
February 29, 2024Episode #56: Kristin Dwyer on midpoints, story doors, and being brave
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Storybeast! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston have the pleasure of interviewing Kristin Dwyer, author of SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE and THE ATLAS OF US.
Kristin Dwyer grew up under the California sun and still prays every day for a cloudy sky. When she’s not writing books about people kissing, she and her spouse can be found encouraging their four overly opinionated misfits to get into trouble. Kristin is a part-time hair model and wants you to know she is full-time TSA PRECHECK, and one time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom, she will try to join.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Courtney's tips for working on your inner snake

Courtney giving Kristin oil pastel homework

about the pressures of love and hate on our stories

the Beasts and Kristin questioning the premise of work-life balance

about Kristin's passion for mid-points and her brilliant take on how to make sure yours is doing its job

the takedown of the 3 act structure lie (yeah, we said it)
Kristin's advice on writing emotion-forward stories

Kristin's top tip for keeping readers hooked

about the Cat Door Dilemma

how Ghabiba "broke Kristin's brain" with a new take on finding the door into a story

about the lessons we can learn from fan fiction

Kristin's advice on writing fearlessly

how Ghabiba and Kristin rope Courtney into the BTS fandom. Who do you think Courtney's bias is?

Kristin's top TV show recs
**You can find Kristin's latest release, THE ATLAS OF US, out now**

Find us on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast. For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
1h 27min
February 22, 2024 Episode #55: We curse the pirates! On piracy and what to do if your book gets stolen
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
How Courtney's debut, LADY OF ROSES AND RUIN, got pirated
Find Jessica Taylor's blog post on piracy here
How Courtney looked into muso and pirate.io to assist with taking down the pirated material
Gabi's plan to take the pirates to task
A Call To Action: Cursing the Pirates (DM us, we want to see your curses)
Find us on our ⁠website ⁠and on ⁠Instagram ⁠(@storybeastpodcast).  For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠here⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast. Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
32min
February 16, 2024Episode #54: Nisha J. Tuli, Trial of the Sun Queen author, on writing to market and her career
Welcome to another LEGENDARY episode of Season 3! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston have the pleasure of interviewing Nisha J. Tuli, author of TRIAL OF THE SUN QUEEN and HEART OF NIGHT AND FIRE.
Nisha J. Tuli is a Canadian author whose books feature kick ass heroines, swoony love interests, and slow burns with plenty of heat. She is the author of the Artefacts of Ouranos series, as well as an e-book/POD fantasy series forthcoming from Bookouture in 2024 and a contemporary romance series being published by Hachette starting in 2025. Find out more at https://nishajtuli.com/
In this episode, you'll hear:
about Nisha's perspective of marketing

Nisha's hybrid author career and how TRIAL OF THE SUN QUEEN took BookTok by storm

Nisha's inspiration for her books and writing to market

Nisha's epic answer to the storybeast question
**You can find Nisha's latest release, DANCE OF STARS AND ASHES, out now**
Find us on our ⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast. For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
52min
February 08, 2024Episode # 53: Giving yourself time to play, virtual pie, and organizing story information
Welcome back to another episode of Storybeast, where Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston discuss the transformative power of story.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Courtney's current read, YOU'RE A BADASS by Jen Sincero

embracing distraction in a useful way

trying on vibes

giving into the wild joy of creating

when it's okay to take your time

pegging ideas

Ghabiba's method for deciding which research makes it to the draft

balancing story nuggets

letting yourself play everyday

Notion

Notion pie

Season 3 getting its first buffalo dip feature
Find us on our ⁠website ⁠and on ⁠Instagram ⁠(@storybeastpodcast).   For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠here⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast. Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
41min
February 01, 2024Episode #52: Aurora Ascher on SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW, circus inspiration, and leaving what doesn't serve you
Welcome back to another LEGENDARY Storybeast episode! Our Legendaries are special guests who are an expert within their area of storytelling. In this episode, Courtney Shack and Ghabiba Weston have the pleasure of interviewing Aurora Ascher.
Paranormal & fantasy romance author Aurora Ascher loves misunderstood monsters, lovable anti-heroes, and epic happily-ever-afters. A woman of many creative pursuits, Aurora is also a musician and visual artist. She currently resides in Montreal with her trusty espresso machine and her endlessly patient husband, whom she sometimes doesn’t see for hours until she emerges from her writing cave like a bear in springtime.
**SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW is now available wherever books are sold**

In this episode, you'll hear:
about pretty books and publishing with Red Tower

about facing the blank page

Aurora telling us about the delicious tropes and morally grey characters in SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW

how other creative pursuits influence Aurora's storytelling

about the circus inspo behind SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW

Aurora's recs for long series where the villain gets a turn to shine

about alien-themed reading in a cave

Courtney recs the anime : The Devil is a Part-Timer

about cultivating safe spaces for yourself as a writer

Aurora's wisdom on leaving what doesn't serve you
Find us on our ⁠⁠⁠website ⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram at @storybeastpodcast. For more storytelling content to your inbox, subscribe ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk story or snacks!
A warm thank you to Deore for our musical number. You can find more of her creative work on Spotify.
As ever, thank you for listening, Beasties! Please consider leaving a review to support this podcast.
Be brave, stay beastly!
...more
42min

FAQs about STORYBEAST:

How many episodes does STORYBEAST have?

The podcast currently has 102 episodes available.

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