You wrote it. You polished it. You released it.

Now it belongs to the world.

Using Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey as a jumping-off point, Alex and Chris explore criticism, audience reaction, creative confidence, and the difficult art of letting go of your work once it leaves your hands.

Because sometimes finishing the story is only the beginning of its journey.

Finished your story? Good.

Now ask yourself the harder question:

Are you ready to let it go?

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You finished your story—but how do you get anyone to notice it?

Alex and Chris explore the art of presentation, from pitching yourself and marketing independent work to lessons hidden inside trailers for Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.

Plus: Alex's Three Cs—Character, Conflict, Cliffhanger—and why the message you intend isn't always the message your audience receives.

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What does the creative life really look like behind the scenes?

In this episode, Alex and Chris talk about juggling deadlines, personal projects, teaching, family, unexpected ideas, and the fictional characters who refuse to leave you alone.

Sometimes you don’t need the perfect schedule.

You need a rhythm.

A candid, funny look at managing the chaos—and remembering why we keep telling the damn story.

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Can summer become one of the most important characters in your story?

Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore how every season carries its own emotions, symbolism, opportunities, and dramatic power. From Jaws to Stand By Me, they show why choosing the right season can transform an ordinary story into an unforgettable one.

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The Supergirl Debate—and What Writers Can Learn From It

Was Supergirl really the problem?

Or were audiences expecting the wrong movie?

Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan use the latest superhero debate to examine adaptation, character arcs, audience expectations, and why every great story deserves to be judged on what it's trying to accomplish—not on what someone wished it had been.

What happens when audiences expect one story... and the storyteller is telling another?

From adaptation versus translation...to character-driven storytelling...to why emotional journeys matter just as much as explosions.

The boys lean into the value of honest criticism and the waste of gender and other blind spot bashing.

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Every writer has that one project that refuses to come together.

This week on Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan welcome back Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson to celebrate the release of their new graphic novel, Nothing Can Stop the Ape—a story more than 30 years in the making.

Along the way, they discuss pitching publishers, collaborating with a writing partner, working with editors, surviving the publishing process, and why sometimes the story isn't the problem... It's the approach.

If you've ever struggled with a creative project that just wouldn't click, this episode is packed with encouragement, practical advice, and a few laughs along the way.

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What happens when mystery meets science fiction? When horror collides with comedy? Or when history becomes part of an unforgettable adventure?

In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore one of the most exciting—and challenging—tools in a writer's toolbox: blending genres.

Using examples ranging from Alien and Pitch Black to Archie Comics, Sherlock Holmes, and their own novels and plays, they discuss why mixed-genre stories can captivate audiences. 

And the boys cover the dangers of ignoring genre expectations and how understanding each genre can serve to make your storytelling even stronger.

Whether you're writing novels, comics, film, television, or short stories, this episode will help you discover new ways to surprise readers while staying true to your story.

Every genre has expectations. Understand them before you begin blending them.

Read widely. Watch films outside your favorite category. Every genre teaches something useful.

3 Keys to Writing Great Mixed-Genre Stories

1. Learn the Rules First . Every genre has expectations. Understand them before you begin blending them.

2. Feed Your Creative Mind. Read widely. Watch films outside your favorite category. Every genre teaches something useful.

3. Ask "What If?" Great genre combinations often begin with one powerful question.

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Some movies entertain us for hours.

Others continue teaching writers for generations.

In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex and Chris revisit a handful of timeless classics, including In the Heat of the Night ('66), Jaws ('75), The Fly ('58), and Charlie Chaplin's The Kid ('21), to uncover why they still work decades after they were made.

Along the way, they explore:

• Why rewriting is where great storytelling really happens.
• How memorable characters empower unforgettable plots.
• Why a solid theme is the fertile soil for a story's growth.
• The surprising storytelling power of simplicity.
• What today's writers can still learn from films made over 100 years ago.

Whether you're writing novels, screenplays, comics, or short stories, this episode reminds us that technology changes ... but great storytelling never does.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment telling us which classic film has taught you the most about storytelling.

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What if your plot doesn’t work because of the world you chose? What if it's in the wrong genre?A heist. A mystery. A romance. A horror story. A superhero adventure.

The core idea might stay exactly the same—but everything else changes.In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore how genre influences character, setting, pacing, dialogue, tone, conflict, and even the way readers experience your story.

From Sherlock Holmes to House, from Ocean's Eleven to Avengers: Endgame, from Frankenstein to fantasy, they examine how classic story structures can be reinvented simply by changing the lens through which they're told.Whether you're writing novels, comics, screenplays, mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, horror, or science fiction, this conversation will help you see new possibilities hiding inside your own work.*What's one story you love that could work in an entirely different genre? Tell us in the comments—we'd love to see your imagination at work.🎬 To grab a Genre Guide 0ne-sheet CLICK ON THE LINK:

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Stories change lives. They always have. At *Tell The Damn Story*, we believe in lifting voices and passing stories on. Your support keeps them alive for future generations. 

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Why do some villains stay with us long after the story ends?

Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan break down the evolution of villains—from classic one-dimensional bad guys to complex characters like Snape, Vader, Khan, and Thanos. Learn how motivation, morality, obsession, and personal history can turn a stock antagonist into a character readers can't stop thinking about.

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Stories change lives. They always have. At *Tell The Damn Story*, we believe in lifting voices and passing stories on. Your support keeps them alive for future generations. 

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