The Writ Wit

In this episode, the two Matts make a robot look over all the previous skits and fake ads for the show and let it write a script for them, discuss dealing with your first negative review, really want to go get burgers after recording, and talk about keeping the continuity intact in the last of our set about the pitfalls of writing serial works. Who can you employ to help look over your work and ensure continuity remains intact? How can you write notes to keep track of everything? Are you able to adequately look over everything yourself? Does Matt David's metaphor about "continuity surgeons" work better or worse than his earlier one about narrative being like a checking account? We discuss it all, with perfect continuity in every shot of this audio format show, and talk about Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Prince of Persia for some reason.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

In this episode, the two Matts prepare to release their magnum opus that'll surely impress everyone, use a really good word in the skit that should have been a vocabulary vitamin of the month, nearly finish another one of their big story drafts, and talk about appropriately raising the stakes in the next of our set about the pitfalls of writing serial works. How can you realistically raise the stakes while not being too ridiculous? How much can you show early versus later? Do all the threats have to be related in a serial work? Is Matt Donald's idea about theater productions using actual apocalyptic threats to make the stakes real for the audience a genius idea, or the ramblings of a maniac? We discuss it all, while raising the stakes of what this podcast is really about all this time, and talk about Lord of the Rings, Dante's Inferno, Armageddon, and Space Jam for some reason.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

In this episode, the two Matts do a nice, friendly, totally painless bout of writer's yoga, get really excited about our metaphors, reflect on symbolism in works versus the author's intent, and talk about building up with no or little payoff in the next of our set about the pitfalls of writing serial works. How can you ensure the payoff to something you've been building up for a while is worth it? What can you do to keep the buildup interesting? Can you run into the inverse problem of not enough buildup for a big payoff? Is Matt Donald dumb for not fully understanding Matt David's metaphor about checking accounts, or is the metaphor just forced? We discuss it all, with zero buildup to the topic because we're professional podcasters, and talk about Infinity War, Harry Potter, Aquaman, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire for some reason.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

In this episode, the two Matts come back after another unnecessary week-long break, do a really short ad that was meant to save time for edits but look how that turned out, compare our grades in school to how much of a frick we give, and talk about making sure serial works have in-the-moment fun in the first of our set about the pitfalls of writing serial works. Does every episode or chapter have to be plot-important? How can you have your characters grow even when the plot is set aside? Where can you add importance to an episode or chapter if it's not part of the overarching narrative? How obvious is it that Matt David came up with the premise of this set, just like the one about episodic works? We discuss it all, in an episode super-important to the narrative of the podcast so you can't miss it, and talk about Harry Potter, Harley Quinn, Merlin, and Rise of Nations for some reason.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

In this episode, the two Matts install an AI for their house that's incredibly overzealous and ruins everything as AIs do, compare themselves to giant fantasy books in terms of girth and children's picture books in terms of depth, talk about twists and when they work versus when they don't, and talk about writing characters with different mental diagnoses in the last of our set about inclusivity. How should writers treat these characters? Do these mental diagnoses define the characters, or can they expand beyond it? How can you handle revealing outright if characters have these diagnoses? Is Matt Donald justified in his dislike of Shane Black, or is he being overdramatic as usual? We discuss it all, with actual experience in the matter as a person on the autism spectrum or living with someone on the spectrum, and talk about Jurassic World, Big Bang Theory, The Predator, and a hilarious Donald Glover standup special for some reason.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

Also, here's our links for guides on writing these characters:

• There’s a literal encyclopedia’s worth of information out there.  To get you started though (wind up the car and let ‘er rip!), here’s a link: https://medlineplus.gov/mentaldisorders.html or from Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968 
• To read about anxiety disorders from National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH.nih.gov):https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/ 
• Mood disorders, accessed at Mental Health America: https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/mood-disorders 
• From the American Psychology Association, regarding personality disorders: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/personality-disorders  
• Stress disorders and dealing with them, from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-symptoms-effects_of-stress-on-the-body 
• Neurodevelopmental disorders, from Dignity Health: https://www.dignityhealth.org/las-vegas/services/neurological-care/neurodevelopmental-disorders 
• Somatic symptom disorders from the Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17976-somatic-symptom-disorder-in-adults 
• Neurocognitive disorders, this from MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001401.htm [by the way, these typically come later in life than the developmental phase, including dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.]
• Finally, as a source for those dealing WITH said people: https://www.mhanational.org/recognizing-warning-signs 

In this episode, the two Matts reflect on when natural storytellers tell stories about real life, make terrible jokes about reaching the climaxes of stories, compare the podcast to a three-act structure of death and dismay, and talk about writing characters with different physical diagnoses in the next of our set about inclusivity. How can writers treat these characters? Should they be written any differently than other characters? What are some different ailments that can happen to people that can affect the plot? Will Matt David find a way to reference a different tokusatsu show in regards to EVERY topic this show covers? We discuss it all, with definitive experience in the matter as abled men, and talk about The Lost Years of Merlin, Godzilla vs Kong, Avatar, and Greenland. The movie, not the country. Although I'm sure the country's nice.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

Thank you, Welp Magazine, for adding The Writ Wit as one of your top podcasts about creative writing to listen to in 2021! You can find the link here: https://WelpMagazine.com/?p=17625 Also, here's our links for guides on writing these characters:

• [note taking re: disabilities of the body - spinal cord injury -> paraplegia (loss below chest)/quadriplegia (neck down) [a.k.a. paralysis], acquired brain injury (concussions, etc.) -> impaired thought/learning or physical/sensations, spina bifida (incomplete formation of spine in utero comes with raft of other issues), cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy (most likely caused by something brain-related), multiple sclerosis (MS), muscular dystrophy, Tourette’s, dwarfism, presumably more also]
• For those with failing vision: https://visionaware.org/emotional-support/for-family-and-friends/ 
• For those with bad hearing: https://www.hearinglink.org/living/partners-children-family-hearing-people/common-reactions-to-hearing-loss/    or more linked in the description [  https://www.hiddenhearing.org/hearing-loss/living-with-hearing-loss/knowing-someone-with-hearing-loss
  https://bloomhearing.com/hearing-tips/18-ways-to-help-loved-one-hearing-loss/ 
• If your head’s the only thing that moves: https://www.flintrehab.com/caring-for-a-quadriplegic-at-home/ [or https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/supportive-after-a-loved-ones-paralysis ]
• There are sites with basic information about how these affect your [character’s] life and the family that now has to support them, like cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, and the like!  Go Google them, kids!

In this episode, the two Matts work on writing under extreme pressure (and I'm talking extreme), learn new ways to fall victim to door-to-door salesmen's tactics. talk about food for an excessive period of time, and talk about writing characters of different ethnic or religious labels in the next of our set about inclusivity? How can one avoid tokenism? What can you do to learn about people's cultures and backgrounds? How can you work it into stories from in the past or present? How will people react to Matt Donald's attempts at inclusivity in his upcoming book that he will have undoubtedly messed up? We discuss it all, with absolute experience in the matter as straight white men, and talk about The Help, Hidden Figures, and The Road to El Dorado.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

Also, the music at the beginning is the Jaws main theme by John Williams, but like I needed to tell you that. Also, here's our links for guides on writing these characters:

• The North American Mission Board has a chart for the different philosophies between Christianity and Islam for instance (linked in the description: https://www.namb.net/apologetics/resource/comparison-chart-islam-and-christianity/ ).  In this way, you can work from the religion you’re familiar with to grasp more of what the other one does to celebrate their faith. 
• This will stand in for several others of the same ilk, but on the compare/contrast for Hinduism and Buddhism, look here!  https://medium.com/interfaith-now/hinduism-and-buddhism-similarities-and-differences-in-belief-and-practice-324f7057a247 
• Ethnic groups probably have some op-eds all over the place particularly nowadays, so get the right idea in mind and go to town on a search engine!

In this episode, the two Matts sell a device that auto-generates giant door-stopping encyclopedias about your fantasy worlds no matter how scant the details, learn a new grammar term and define it sort of for the listeners, mercilessly mock each other for the works we're going to rip off this month, and talk about writing characters of different genders and sexualities in the first of our set about inclusivity. What are some ways we can include these people in non-token ways? How can we portray them accurately and positively? What are some good examples of these characters done right? What will happen to Matt David's reputation after that terrible joke about burning the witch? We discuss it all, with incredible experience in the matter as straight white men, and talk about Glee, John Wick, Star Wars, and Captain Marvel.

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

Also, here's our links for guides on writing these characters:

• For being an ally of these people (inevitably there’s some support system in place for your LGBTQ+ character!): PFLAG.org/allies has plenty, along with the Human Rights Campaign (main site is hrc.org).  An article for younger listeners: https://engage.youth.gov/resources/being-ally-lgbt-people  
• Finding resources that your characters may have access to informing them about coming out: https://www.glsen.org/activity/coming-out-resource-lgbtq-students  or visit The Trevor Project’s page and go to Support Center (it’s under “Resources” on the top bar), where you can download a guide
• There are several advocacy groups for the queer community, like PFLAG, GLAAD, and more.  Regarding gender identity struggles, the HRC also has resources for this on their web page.

In this episode, the two Matts retell the origin story of the conceptualization of the Writ Wit podcast, chuckle at the MPAA rating description for a certain live-action remake, read out a listener's passage where they actually used one of our Vocabulary Vitamins of the Month, and talk about writing for adults in the last of our set about different age demographics. What are the benefits to having nothing be off limits? How much potential is there? Is there anything younger audiences tolerate more than older ones? When will Matt Donald get over his obsession over a specific kids-oriented juice product? We discuss it all, while broke and starving like most adults are in this economy, and talk about the works of Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz, the book Anonymous Rex, and another Tokusatsu show. A dinosaur and a Tokusatsu work? With these hosts? Say it isn't so!

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

In this week, the two Matts release the episode a week late for no discernible reason, sell a writing tip handbook alongside something helpful in, uhh, other ways, talk about character growth versus audience expectations, and talk about writing for young adults in the next of our set about different age demographics. How can writers connect to teenagers with developing minds? What's the difference writing this versus adult or middle grade? When are certain things too much for this audience? How long will Matt David rank sports players instead of doing something actually creative? We discuss it all, with swears and dirty jokes up the wazoo because teenagers think that's cool, and talk about Eragon, Twilight (begrudgingly) and all of Matthew Donald's books so far because he loves writing this genre. Buy them on Amazon.com! *ding!*

Have any feedback or questions for our hosts? Email us at [email protected]. Also you can purchase Matt Donald's book "Megazoic" on Amazon by clicking here, its sequel "Megazoic: The Primeval Power" by clicking here, its third installment "Megazoic: The Hunted Ones" by clicking here, or its final installment "Megazoic: An Era's End" by clicking here. If you'd like, of course.

Also, the music at the beginning is "Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone)" by Soft Jazz.