Words to Write by

Think you know where your hero's journey is headed? Think again. We're diving into the Ordeal - that gut-punch moment some people still confuse with the Climax (spoiler alert: they're not the same thing, folks). This episode had us playing cartographer through the wonderfully labyrinthine (read: headache-inducing) chapters of Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey. Because apparently, writing about story structure needed its own plot twists. After untangling Vogler's literary maze, we tackle the burning questions: When should your protagonist's world implode in Act Two? How do you make readers lose sleep over your crisis scene? We put our hard-earned wisdom to work by dissecting John Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society, proving that even giant monster books need their big moment perfectly timed.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

Remember family road trips? When you're finally past the halfway point and it's nothing but "Are we there yet?" from the backseat? That's where we are in Christopher Vogler's "The Writer's Journey" - six more stages to go on his Hero's Journey roadmap, and in this episode we're hitting two big ones. First up is "Rewards," where our hero catches their breath after surviving Act 2's major crisis. But don't get too comfortable, because "The Road Home" is anything but a peaceful cruise. Think less scenic route, more high-speed chase, as old enemies pop up in the rearview mirror. Some call this the climax - we sure do. Buckle up!

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

Horror stories and the hero's journey - a match made in hell? In this insightful workshop episode, we talk with award-winning horror writer Tim Waggoner to explore his plotting techniques. Tim shares strategies for keeping everyday protagonists actively engaged during the challenging Ordeal stage as they fight for survival. As a bonus, Tim discusses his other cool writing gig: adapting horror movie screenplays into page-turning novels. Whether you're a hardcore horror writer or looking to add more suspense to your next book, Tim has some great ideas and tricks to share. Tune in now and elevate your storytelling!

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

How do you craft a journey worthy of an apocalyptic showdown? Epic Fantasy author Summer H. Hanford reveals the art of preparing characters for those fate-of-the-world battles that define the genre. Through insights from her Summer God Adventure series, Hanford uncovers the delicate balance of building tension, raising stakes, and keeping readers riveted as heroes ready themselves for their ultimate challenge. Plus, discover why choosing teenage protagonists isn't just a trope – it's a strategic storytelling decision that shapes these epic confrontations.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

Remember how we've occasionally side-eyed Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey? Well, today we fully roast this bewildering mess, starting with his "Approaching the Innermost Cave" stage, which is the part of the story where the protagonist(s) prepare to face their greatest order (Which is somehow not the story’s climax... we're as confused as you are.)

Despite Vogler's best efforts to perplex us all, we actually crack the code on how to prep your characters for their big adventure while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Plus, we dissect John Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society to see how his characters approach their 'cave'—which isn't actually a cave at all, because you can't exactly land a helicopter in one of those.

Speaking of disappointments: remember Renee wanting more action in Kaiju? She got her wish, and somehow that made it worse.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

Looking for help with your novel's middle section? While countless craft books offer guidance on crafting gripping openings and satisfying endings, the challenging second act often gets overlooked. In this workshop episode, we dive deep with freelance editor Kristen Tate, author of the new craft book Novel Study, who reveals why middles become "saggy" and explains why so many writers struggle with this section. Whether you're a meticulous outliner or a spontaneous discovery writer, Kristen shares invaluable strategies to keep your story's midsection as compelling as its beginning and end.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

What really happens between "accepting the call" and facing the big bad? Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey skims through this crucial story phase with vague talk of Tests, Allies, and Enemies. But Kim and Renee aren't settling for that. Armed with John Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society (and ditching those tired old Hollywood examples), they'll show you exactly how to craft a story's meaty middle. Whether that alone is enough to keep your readers hooked is up for debate.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

After the hero finally accepts the call, it's onto the next stage, crossing the threshold, provided they have some helpful mentor guidance.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

In today's episode we take a break from discussing and analyzing creative fiction to examining possibly one of the most important, and certainly most stressful, nonfiction projects in a young person's life: writing their college application essay. 

Our guest, journalist Martha Mendoza, has been helping high school seniors with these essays for over a decade and is one of the organizers in her local school district's annual essay mentoring program. In our discussion she talks about what makes these essays so difficult, gives advice for how seniors might choose topics and how we, as writers, might help a student out.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.

How do you shift your book's hero from their nice, cozy ordinary world into the adventure. According to Christopher Vogler in his book, The Writer's Journey, you have them answer the call. In this episode we discuss the various forms that the call stage can take, and also why, even the most willing hero must "refuse the call." 

To illustrate how this works in a non-movie example, we turn to John Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society that fulfills both these requirements in clever and witty ways.

Remember, we have a Writers Process meetup every Tuesday. Check us out.