The Story Shots Podcast

By C.Steven Manley: Writer, Podcaster, Sci-FI Enthusiast

Arts Education Language Courses

What's The Story Shots Podcast about?

Tips on writing craft and the writer's lifestyle from a lifelong storyteller.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Story Shots Podcast episodes:

03.30.2018
EP 41 What's the Point to Your View?
In which your host discusses narrator's point of view in a story.
03.09.2018
EP 40 We've All Got One and They All Stink
In which your host discusses how to handle trigger topics in your social media presence and in your writing.
03.02.2018
EP 39 Blockbustin'
In which your host discusses Writer's Block and suggests some ways to deal with it.
02.23.2018
EP 38 Shut Up and Use Your Voice
In which your host discusses the writer's voice and ways to develop it.
02.09.2018
EP 37 Keepin' It Up
In which your host goes off the cuff and talks about comparisonitis and getting discouraged with the work.
02.02.2018
EP 36 The Way Dem Wurds Get Talked
In which your host discusses the value of well written dialogue and suggest a few ways to tie together action and dialogue.
01.26.2018
EP 35 The Worlds Within Us
In which your host discusses world building for both speculative and realistic fiction before taking you through an example of the way he approaches the task.
01.18.2018
EP 34 Resolutions and Other Distractions
In which your host welcomes you to 2018, lays out some changes going forward, and talks about the difference between making resolutions and setting goals.
12.11.2017
EP 33 Happy Endings and Failed Finales
In which your host discusses good ways to end your story and wishes everyone a happy holiday season.
12.03.2017
EP 32 Gettin' the Party Started
In which your host talks about good places to start your story and says the words 'inciting incident' a few too many times.
11.27.2017
EP 31 Bring on the Stress
In which your host discusses ways to add more tension to your stories.
11.13.2017
EP 30 Losin' Steam and Stayin' Lean
In which your host discusses taking breaks from a project and the importance of muscle tone.
11.06.2017
EP 29 Freestylin' It
In which your host discusses pen names and dealing with the negativity in your writing life.
10.30.2017
EP 28 After Action Report
In which your host discusses what comes after a successful first draft mission and give a shout out to his Keystroke Medium Co-Hosts.
10.23.2017
EP 27 Tactical Storytelling Part Four / Shut Up and Write
In which your host provides some tips for executing your Tactical Storytelling plan.
10.16.2017
EP 26 Tactical Storytelling Part Three
In which your hosts talks about building as much or as little outline as you might need from the system's previous steps.
10.10.2017
EP 25 Tactical Storytelling Part Two
In which your host expands on fleshing out the person, place, and problem in your story.
10.02.2017
EP 24 Tactical Storytelling: Part One
In which your host begins the breakdown of his writing process, discusses things to consider before diving into your story, and assigns a little homework.
09.25.2017
EP 23 Knowing When to Pack It In.
In which your host discusses the stigma surrounding giving up and moving on to other things.
09.18.2017
EP 22 Loving the Voice in your Head
In which your host discusses a writer's voice and the means to develop one.
09.08.2017
EP 21 Hiding in Your Head
In which your host gets a little personal and discusses the pitfalls of being an extreme introvert.
09.04.2017
EP 20.5 BONUS: Thunder in the Blood
EXTRA LONG BONUS EPISODE: In which your host shares the results of his insomnia induced foray into audiobook narration.
09.01.2017
EP 20 Doin' Whatcha Gotta Do
In which your host provides three self-editing tips and talks about the necessity of patience in the writer's lifestyle.
08.25.2017
EP 19 Hittin' Your Targets
In which your host presents the last of his recycled content and discusses 5 plot points that you should target in your manuscript. Oh, and he also admits that he's an idiot sometimes.
08.22.2017
EP 18 Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting
In which your host talks about using action in your stories and apologizes for his singing voice.
08.11.2017
EP 17 Word Surgeons and the Writers They Save
In which your host discusses editors and what to look for when hiring one.
08.03.2017
EP 16 The World's On Fire and That's Okay
In which your host discusses writing in tumultuous times.
07.28.2017
EP 15 Three Writing Rules You Should never Break... Until You Do.
In which your host discusses three writing rules that don't make much sense and one that does.
07.21.2017
EP 14 Learning Not To Care
In which your host explores the value of weaponized apathy and gives a shout out to some fellow podcasters.
07.14.2017
EP 13 Wasted Days, Wasted Nights
In which your host suggests some ways to deal with those inevitable days when you just aren't feeling writerly.
07.08.2017
EP 12 Active Voices and Passive Participants
In which your host explores the weaknesses and stylistic value of the passive voice while suggesting ways to spot it in your manuscript.
06.30.2017
EP 11 Warts and All
In which your host provides three tips for creating more believable, relatable, and realistic characters for your fiction.
06.23.2017
EP 10: Dicey Situations
In which your host reveals a longtime hobby and how it has affected his storytelling skills.
06.16.2017
EP9: Genre Gyrations Part Two
In which your host continues his analysis of the multitude of available genres and uses the word 'arguably' way too much.
06.09.2017
EP8: Genre Gyrations Part One
In which your host dives into the murky depths of genre categories and tries to sort them into something that you can use to categorize your books on a bookstore shelf or digital marketplace. Part one of two.
06.02.2017
EP7: Notes, Noise, and Dangerous Distractions
In which your host confesses to a lapse in his work ethic and points out some pitfalls that the modern writer has to look out for.
05.26.2017
EP 6: Freestylin'
In which your host throws away the script and just talks about rejection, the indie writing business, and the pointlessness of comparing books to movies.
05.19.2017
EP 5: Showing, Telling, and Recycled Recordings
In which your host dives into what is arguably the most common piece of writing advice ever given; Show, don't tell.
05.12.2017
EP 4: Tight Pants and the Plots They Inspire
In which your host explores the age old 'plotting vs pantsing' debate and suggests that maybe the right way is really neither of them.
05.05.2017
EP 3: Five Types of Writer you probably don't want to be.
In which your host points out five non-productive personality types you might encounter in writing or critique groups and provides tips on what to do if you're one of them.
05.05.2017
EP 2: Machine Gun Muses and the Garden of Ideas
In which your host discusses the muse, where to find ideas, and how to put them to good use.
05.05.2017
EP 1: Who is this guy and why should I listen to him?
Meet your host, C.Steven Manley, and learn a little bit about what to expect and what makes him think he's qualified to give writing advice.

What's The Story Shots Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Story Shots Podcast episodes:

EP 41 What's the Point to Your View?

EP 40 We've All Got One and They All Stink

EP 39 Blockbustin'

EP 38 Shut Up and Use Your Voice

EP 37 Keepin' It Up

EP 36 The Way Dem Wurds Get Talked

EP 35 The Worlds Within Us

EP 34 Resolutions and Other Distractions

EP 33 Happy Endings and Failed Finales

EP 32 Gettin' the Party Started

EP 31 Bring on the Stress

EP 30 Losin' Steam and Stayin' Lean

EP 29 Freestylin' It

EP 28 After Action Report

EP 27 Tactical Storytelling Part Four / Shut Up and Write

EP 26 Tactical Storytelling Part Three

EP 25 Tactical Storytelling Part Two

EP 24 Tactical Storytelling: Part One

EP 23 Knowing When to Pack It In.

EP 22 Loving the Voice in your Head

EP 21 Hiding in Your Head

EP 20.5 BONUS: Thunder in the Blood

EP 20 Doin' Whatcha Gotta Do

EP 19 Hittin' Your Targets

EP 18 Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting

EP 17 Word Surgeons and the Writers They Save

EP 16 The World's On Fire and That's Okay

EP 15 Three Writing Rules You Should never Break... Until You Do.

EP 14 Learning Not To Care

EP 13 Wasted Days, Wasted Nights

EP 12 Active Voices and Passive Participants

EP 11 Warts and All

EP 10: Dicey Situations

EP9: Genre Gyrations Part Two

EP8: Genre Gyrations Part One

EP7: Notes, Noise, and Dangerous Distractions

EP 6: Freestylin'

EP 5: Showing, Telling, and Recycled Recordings

EP 4: Tight Pants and the Plots They Inspire

EP 3: Five Types of Writer you probably don't want to be.

EP 2: Machine Gun Muses and the Garden of Ideas

EP 1: Who is this guy and why should I listen to him?