Seth and Caleb by liaramirezillustration on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLlmWfLt3Zu/?img_index=1 

The Heirs by adamszkiart on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClTyzT8LquU/?img_index=1 

***SPOILER ALERT!! Spoilers for Zodiac Academy up to Book 8 Chapter 3 (and a random Throne of Glass spoilers because of comparisons/etc) so proceed with caution!***

In this episode, we discuss character arcs and Save the Cat beat sheet/series progression as we once again giggle about where Sam is in Zodiac (Allie has finished it and was in the middle of 8.5 at the time of recording). There’s certain HUGE things that happen at the end of 7 so we had a lot to reel about! And lots of thoughts about conflict and how far you can push characters, etc. 

Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Art by bethgilbert_art on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXboizHrERN/?img_index=1 

***OBVIOUSLY SPOILER ALERT!! Spoilers for Zodiac Academy up to Book 6 so proceed with caution!***

In this episode, we discuss our current reads–Zodiac Academy! We weren’t going to coordinate this at first and Allie just started reading because of all the insanely varying reviews but now Allie’s almost at the end of the main series and Sam is catching up quick (just starting Book 5!). We just couldn’t help ourselves and yapped about the series and Sam’s thoughts/theories and general reactions.

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

In this episode, we discuss character voice! This is kind of an overall discussion with a focus on our own writing too since the topic is pretty broad. We also had a lot of fun discussing Zodiac Academy as we’ve begun reading them (we just had to know what people were on about with how much they love AND hate these books!). Let us know what you think in the comments!

Poem of the Week: Winter Stars by Larry Levis

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53388/winter-stars-56d232a1c9b93 

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

In this episode, we discuss the descriptions of scents and taste in romantasy in particular! There’s lots of interesting examples throughout the genre and many a book boyfriend has a signature scent! We discuss the vibes of some of them and how they interact with the story/writing/etc. 

What’s your favorite book boyfriend scent?!?

Here’s the reddit thread we were looking at for the Maasverse scent descriptions: https://www.reddit.com/r/acotar/comments/z455gd/everyones_scents_in_the_world_of_sarah_j_maas/ 

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Thumbnail art: 

Art by madschofield on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ465dUyjDc/?img_index=2 

**WARNING! Spoilers for the Shepherd King Duology!**

In this episode, discuss this duology that we recently read at the same time! We discuss our favorite parts, debate the writing and what we loved and didn’t love as much (as always–no hate on these great books!) We chat about the use of rhyme, where the duology splits, the really interesting villain in this series, the magic and beauty standards, and a lot more! This is the perfect thing for someone who just read these!

What’s your favorite part of this duology? And what should we read together next??

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Chapters:

00:00–Cold open, intro song, and episode intro

2:12–Reading & Writing Check-Ins!

Sam has read the Supernatural Curse series

Allie finished Morningstar (from Red Rising)

12:33–Main discussion: The Shepherd King Duology! **SPOILER WARNING!!**

1:27:59–Next week, closing & outro music

In this episode we had so much fun chatting about the first pages of some iconic and super well-loved booktok books! The ranking was super fun and something we'll def consider doing again (though maybe shorter lol we can YAP! omg).

Which one is your fav first page??

Keep in mind there may be light spoilers for any of these so proceed with caution!

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Thumbnail art: 

Septimus and Nyaxia by the INCREDIBLE alicia.mb.art on Instagram!

Septimus:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvFS5o8Lluc/ 

Nyaxia:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwxcBm0r8Y2/ 

**WARNING! Spoilers for the Crowns of Nyaxia series!**

In this episode, we analyze the cover of The Lion & The Deathless Dark cover by Carissa Broadbent! We read the blurb and look at the cover and discuss what we could. To help us we also discussed the other books and lots of different aspects of the series. It’s a meandering but fun convo and we’d love to hear your take on the cover!! Did you find something? What do you think it signals about the next book?

Poem of the Week: “Stone” by Charles Simic

https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/stone-charles-simic/ 

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Chapters:

00:00–Cold open, intro song, and episode intro

2:01–Reading & Writing Check-ins:

Allie started Red Rising!

Allie didn’t write shit!

Sam is reading Empire of Storms!

Sam tried her hand at poem writing!

18:00–Main discussion: The Lion & the Deathless Dark cover/blurb discussion and theories!

52:13–Poem of the Week:  “Stone” by Charles Simic

https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/stone-charles-simic/ 

57:25–Next week, closing & outro music

In this episode, we do a writing exercise! We start with reading & writing check ins as always but then we spent honestly a good chunk of time (that was then cut out of course lol) writing our scenes! We read and discussed them and had a lot of fun discussing the interesting things that come up with a prompt like this. 

If you want to do it with us, here’s the Writing Exercise

Prompt: Write a scene where your characters visit a sacred place.

If you did it, let us know how it went in the comments!

If you’re not a writer, tell us what you love about scenes with the sacred in your fav books!

Poem of the Week: “Changeling” by Hieu Minh Nguyen

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/91678/changeling-5848812e490ae

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Chapters:

00:00–Cold open, intro song, and episode intro

00:41–Reading & Writing Check-ins:

23:16–Main discussion: Writing Exercise!

46:46–Poem of the Week: “Changeling” by Hieu Minh Nguyen

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/91678/changeling-5848812e490ae 

51:15–Next week, closing & outro music

Thumbnail art:

Violet & Xaden by rezle_ on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFGOA1wNKtX/?img_index=1 

Aelin & Rowan by liaramirezillustration on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCDR_z_OeZS/?img_index=1

Oraya & Raihn by vallerony_ on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEm_1oKsptp/?hl=en

Mische & Asar cludi_a_ on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNBI7OcNfpE/ 

In this episode, we discuss fated mates! We go over what we think works well and doesn’t work as well with this trope. We discuss our own approaches as well as the way it works in some popular romantasy books!

Who’s your favorite set of fated mates??

Poem of the Week:  “Forfeiting My Mystique” by Kaveh Akbar:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/145989/forfeiting-my-mystique

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest

Chapters:

00:00–Cold open, intro song, and episode intro

00:41–Writing check-ins:

Sam got 0 (writing lull)

Allie got 1200 words

6:03–Reading check-ins:

Allie is mad at Outlander (spoiler alert for first book and a half!)

Sam is in the middle of ToG reread

9:37–Main discussion: Fated Mates

Some light spoilers for Beast of the Briars, Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Crowns of Nyaxia

54:52–Poem of the Week: “Forfeiting My Mystique” by Kaveh Akbar:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/145989/forfeiting-my-mystique

1:04:17–Next week, closing & outro music

In this episode, we discuss Brandon Sanderson’s Three-Pronged Character Development concept! This concept is a really interesting one generally about how to balance characters by using this sliding scale tool for three different key components of a character: proactivity, relatability, and competency. We discuss this with our own characters and some popular BookTok characters to see how this really works in practice. 

Have you heard of this approach? Where do your characters land?

Link to Sanderson’s YouTube video longer explanation: https://youtu.be/G-6z7JqvDoE?si=XJeSbe6VIyZq36Gv

Link to Gina Denny’s shorter TikTok going over this idea: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMkfPB8m/

Another explanation link: https://stormwritingschool.com/character-mixing-board/

The poem for this week was “Summer Solstice, New York City” by Sharon Olds: https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/olds/SummerSolstice.html 

Intro and Outro Music is by Chasing West

https://www.instagram.com/chvsingwest/

http://www.youtube.com/@chasingwest