This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Surprise (Season 2 Episode 13 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the first of a two-part story:

This podcast episode covers (1) hooks that keep the audience coming back – especially when the episode ends; (2) exposition through conflict; (3) snappy dialogue that makes drama more intense by contrast; and (4) how the full story arc’s plot points intersect the turns in Surprise.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Last Week: Bad Eggs

Next Up: Innocence (Part 2 of a 2-Part Episode)

Work On Your Story

* Download the 5-Point Story Structure Template, available free to all on Lisa M. Lilly’s Patreon page.

* Or you can become a patron and get (a) a free copy of Super Simple Story Structure: A Quick Guide to Plotting And Writing Your Novel (also available to buy in ebook, audiobook, or workbook form) and (b) access to future bonus episodes and content, including the Jessica Jones breakdown.

* You can find articles on writing craft, publishing, and time management at WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

* Writing a novel? The One-Year Novelist: A Week-By-Week Guide To Writing Your Novel In One Year can help. Available in ebook or workbook form.

More Episode Links

* Tech help for Authors from Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader

* Book 1 in The Awakening Supernatural Thriller Series free in April and May, 2020, for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, GooglePlay, and AppleBooks.

* Or download and listen from Audible.

Where You Can Find The DVDs

* Season 2 Buffy DVDs

* Buffy DVD Complete Box Set

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this site, but that doesn’t change the purchase price to you as the buyer or influence my love for the Buffy DVDs and all things Buffy.

About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Surprise

Coming Soon. (I promise, as Buffy might say.)