Welcome to [Working Title], a podcast where two friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

Today we're looking for clues in our first mystery novel! We discuss what distinguishes a mystery from a thriller, and how a story can be satisfying even if it doesn't meet all of a reader's expectations.

Welcome to [Working Title], a podcast where two friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

Today we're talking romance novels, and diving into the genre's most well-known trope -- enemies to lovers! We discuss building tension and character arcs HOLD ME by Courtney Milan, THE WEDDING PARTY by Jasmine Guillory, and WHEN A SCOT TIES THE KNOT by Tessa Dare. What can romance teach us about pacing and structure? How do you subvert expectations without betraying them? And how the heck do you write a sex scene?

Referenced in the episode, you can also check out Leah's beautiful videos here: https://www.youtube.com/c/WhereintheworldisLeahJane

Welcome to [Working Title], a podcast where two friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

In this episode, Dana and Leah try out some fun writing exercises to help them begin drafting a short story. Join as we create a Pinterest board and draft a few beginnings and endings for the short story we started in our last Red Herring episode.

Works mentioned:

Now That We Have Tasted Hope - Khaled Mattawa

Welcome to [Working Title], a podcast where two friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

Today we're joined by special guest Kate to discuss HENCH by Natalie Zina Walschots! We get into the weeds on hot villains, Tinder for superheroes, and subverting narrative structure to tell stories from new perspectives.

Referenced in the episode: The Good Guy/Bad Guy Myth, by Catherine Nichols, edited by Marina Benjamin

Welcome to [Working Title], a podcast where two friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

In this episode, we discuss SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller! We explore the challenges of threading the line across complex themes of glory and humanity and how the choices we make when adapting well-known stories can divide reader opinion.

In this episode, Dana and Leah discuss how our depictions of synthetic life has changed and what that says about our own world. They explore how  synthetic protagonists can be used to explore questions about gender, identity, and free will.

Books discussed include:

A Psalm for the Wild Built - Becky Chambers

Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red - Martha Wells

Ancillary Justice - Ann Leckie

Welcome to Working Title, a podcast where two writer friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

It's time to play a writing game! Dana and Leah take turns offering each other prompts in a writing exercise inspired by Sugar, Porridge, Spoons that takes us from diamond-spangled cons to myths of forgotten rituals. Join us as we build on these story seeds throughout the season with a singular goal -- finish something!

Welcome to Working Title, a podcast where two writer friends stumble through books we love, looking for writing secrets.

This week, we are joined by Vendi of @CaughtBetweenPages and @VendiWrites! We discuss the trials and tribulations of epic fantasy scope, seeing our own writing struggles in others' work, and learning from fellow readers with very different opinions.

Content Warning: Windwitch contains transphobic treatment of a young trans character, which we discuss in detail in this episode. The discussion begins at 1:03:57 and ends at 1:21:40.

Welcome to season two of Working Title, a podcast where two writer friends wander through books we love, looking for writing secrets!

In this episode, Dana and Leah discuss mixing whimsy with nuance and unexpected narrative structures in Kelly Barnhill's novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon, as well as how to hold on to joy when you're in the deep trenches of editing your work.

Welcome to a new season! In this mini-episode, Dana and Leah discuss writing resolutions. Are they helpful? If so, when? 

They also share some of their goals for the podcast and their writing in the new year.

Have any writing resolutions? Send them to us at @worktitlepod on Twitter!