Write Pack Radio

Reboots: The Rise of the Success or the Rise of the Failure?

In this episode of Write Pack Radio:

What really is a reboot? What is the difference between reboot and a retelling? What is an adaptation and how does it differ from a reboot? What about a re-imaging? Do reboots only apply to television or movies? Can it apply to books? Listen to the Write Pack try to define the differences as they explore various examples (and disagree).

Do they only keep the name? What about the characters? When do reboots fail? How do they succeed?

Who can reboot a story/series? What can you change and what should you never touch?

What is the role of the WRITER in all of this? What happens when you lose your writer/author?

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While fact checking is normal in non-fiction books, but what about fiction? We mean it is fiction—why fact check it? If you are the “god of your universe, is there a purpose? Does it matter? (YES!!!!!!!!)

In this episode listen to the Write Pack discuss why research matters, how to do it and where to go for it? So you want to call experts? Isn’t the internet enough and not talk to an actual person?

If you talk to a person, what should you be prepared with?

Listen to the Write Pack disagree among themselves. 

All episodes available at:

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   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

The Story Telling of Radio Dramas

In the 28th episode of Write Pack Radio, the Write Pack kicks it “old school” and exams how old time radio dramas and modern audio drama podcasts can help authors of all media. Old time radio dramas was the form of entertainment that was popular before TV and radio drams bridged the media change. Now they are podcasts.  Some radio drams have been on radio, books, TV shows, movies, and even comic books.

But how can they help a novel writer, play write, or screen writer?

Fast Plot

Timing

Dialogue

Cliffhangers

Writing Serials

Subtext

Much more!

  

What is the difference between an audio book and a radio play or full dramatization?

Radio dramas discussed:

The Shadow

Gun Smoke

Star Wars (Original Trilogy)

The Phantom

General Hospital

Superman

Dr. Who

Sam Spade

Sherlock Holmes

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Inner Sanctum

War of the Worlds

Dracula

Frankenstein

Les Misérables

My Favorite Husband (forerunner to I Love Lucy)

Lord of the Rings

Buck Rodgers

Guardians of the Universe

Flash Gordon

Also discussed:

BBC World International Radio Playwriting Competition

Radio Classics Station

Radio Spirits.com

Actors to read books

https://librivox.org/

All episodes available at:

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   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

Recorded in front of a live audience at Writers in the Park, a free writers conference given by St. Louis Writers Guild (www.stlwritersguild.org) in the heat of a St. Louis August, Write Pack Radio explores facing the worry, regret and rejection that comes with submitting our writing. The Write Pack is joined by authors Margo Dill (http://www.margodill.com/) and Sarah M. Anderson (http://www.sarahmanderson.com) .

How do you face the fear of submission? How do you face the worry? How do you face the rejection? Is it different for the pre-published author or does it ever change for the well published author?

Does it take a different skill to write a query letter than to write a novel or short story? What are some of the mistakes people make with query letters? Should you insult competitors? What kind of research should you do before you query? Why should you bother with following an agent’s format, after all aren’t they all the same?

Should your book be written, edited and polished well before you submit a query? Should you worry about comparing your story to others already out there?

How long does it take for a book to go from query to publication, if the work is accepted?

Should you write your next book while you are waiting to hear on your query?

Is it worth worrying while you wait?

How do series get published?

How do you deal with rejection? Once you are published, do you ever have to worry about being rejection again? Will you always get a rejection letter?

Is it possible to write a story everyone will want?

What are the real odds of getting traditionally published?

Should you get involved in genre focused organizations?

Are there predators that want to prey on authors? Where can you research these people at? 

You can find Write Pack Radio on Facebook, Twitter, iTunes and Blog Talk Radio.

Breaking the Block: What are the Crazy Things We Do to Break Writers Block?

The voices in our head have gone silent. What do we do to bring our muse back? In this episode, the Write Pack explores breaking writer’s block. Some say it doesn’t exist. Others say it does. There are thousands (or more) books and articles on how to break it. How do the members of the Write Pack break writer’s block?

What are the things that cause writers block? Stress? Fear of Failure?

Some techniques we talk about: Throwing darts, writing in the buff, writing in the tub, free form writing, talking to yourself on the computer, free typing (or “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy), dropping inhibitions, writing at the crack of dawn, using different medias, writing in different locations, writing a draw novel, practice another art, get away from what you are used to, writing in colors, using lists, writing prompts, using dice, using pictures for inspiration, writing in a different language, write something purposefully terrible, using music, use meditation, using radio dramas, watching TV or movies, using headlines, , use take two different ideas and combine them, using fandom,  give yourself a deadline, rewarding yourself, and more….

One of the most important questions for writers can also help break writers block: “What if?”

 

All episodes available at:

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New episodes every Sunday

Write Pack Radio explores social issues such as racism, sexism, sexual exploitation and more. Listener Discretion is advised. Also, if you are in St. Louis area on August 23rd, 2014, Write Pack Radio will be recording in front of a live audience. We will be recording at the St. Louis Writers Guild: Writers in the Park writers’ conference. This is a free writers’ conference that is open to all genre and levels of writing. It will be at the Kirkwood Park Lion’s Amphitheater from 10 AM until 2 PM. Write Pack Radio will be recording from 1 PM until 2 PM. If you are in the area, please come out and join the audience. We would love to see you. For more information, please visit www.stlwritersguild.org.

In this episode, Write Pack Radio explores social issues in writing and litmus tests.

What is the Bechdel test? Are there other litmus tests that can be used? How do you avoid making cardboard characters? Can you use these tests to break stereotypes to make your characters more complete characters?

Do the stories that transcends the ages have a “social issue” at its center?

What are the stereotype social issue tropes in poorly written stories?

Do social issues show up in “family friendly” films or do they “play it safe”? What about big budget films and TV shows vs. lower budget films and TV shows—which is more likely to have social issues in it?

What about comic books and comic book movies?

Is every act of creative speech an act of social activism?

Is there a difference between author intent and reader interruption?

What are the modern social issues of today?

All episodes available at:

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   -  TuneIn

   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

It is time, you tell yourself, to attend a writers’ conference—or maybe a convention—or what about that expo you have heard about? But you pause. You wonder if it is worth all of the expense. You wonder if there aren’t other conferences you should go to instead. Join the Write Pack as they explore how to discover where to go, what to expect, and what to do at these events.

In this episode we discuss:

Writers’ Digest Writers ConferenceSaint Louis Writers GuildWriters in the Park (a free writers’ conference in St Louis in August)Missouri Writer’s ConferencePacific Northwest Writers Association ConferenceShaw GuidesBook ExposBoucherconTweeting conferencesFinding agents at conferencesDragonconArchonComicconMalice DomesticHorror ConventionsThriller ConventionsKiller NashvilleHow to choose a conferenceWhat to do at a conferenceWriters’ TracksSociability at a conferencePromoting your book at a conferenceBook swagBook FestivalsLit in the LouLit QuakeBrooklyn Book FestivalThe three stages of going to a conference, convention, and expo

All episodes available at:

   -  iTunes

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   -  TuneIn

   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

Critique Groups, Critique Partners, Beta Readers: the Good, the Bad, the Snooty

In this episode we have special guest, history fiction author J.F. Ridgley. We also introduce a new member to The Write Pack: Meredith Tate

Critique groups, partners and beta readers are a low stake experience that can be similar to that of an editor, agent, or publisher. So you have written a short story or a novel and are told you should find a critique group? Maybe a Critique Partner? And what is this odd thing called Beta Readers? Are they a pond filled of piranhas? Are they necessary steps to getting published? Why are they so important? Aren’t they always filled with just failed writers who are bitter and waiting to rip things up?

Is there a difference between college writing critique groups and commercial writing critique groups? Do they replace editors? Are they like a movie’s favorite private screening feedback group?

Should these people ever be a loved one, family member, or close friend?

What defines a good beta reader, critique group or partner? What kind of feedback should you expect to receive? What makes good usable criticism? And what is the “sandwich effect”?

How do you know if you are ready for a critique group, partner or beta reader?

What makes a bad beta reader, critique group or partner? When you break up with a group or partner like breaking up with a lover?

How do you find critique groups or critique partners writing in your genre?

Beware of the critique giver who is trying to mold you into an image of their own method. Also beware of turning it into “social hour.”

All episodes available at:

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   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

Writing from the Headlines

Write Pack explores writing from fiction based on the headlines. Writing fiction from the headlines is a form of immediate writing. Is it possible to write fiction from the headlines or is this a luxury saved for the TV and Comic book media? Is it possible to do this with other forms of writings?

Do you have to be a superhuman fast writer where you produce 50 books a year? Or is it a crap shoot of timing where you can’t predict it? Do you have to pick a long running trend to be able to write fiction based on the headlines and keep it relevant? For example—murder, bulling, so on…. Or should you be a futurist and focus on science fiction?

Is writing from the headlines really just a form of research? Does it have to be immediate? Can it be too soon?

How do you keep your stories relevant when your story comes out? If it is too soon it might turn off the audience and the writer runs the possible of inaccuracy.

Can you use the headlines to write historical fiction? Mystery? Science Fiction? Fantasy? Real Crime? Other genres?

On the other side of the coin: When do you start to feel like a vulture or a writer version of an ambulance chaser? Can the trends burn out?

Another way to use the headlines is to write a reformation book. Grab a cause and write about it as there is nothing better than passion. 

All episodes available at:

   -  iTunes

   -  Blog Talk Radio

   -  TuneIn

   -  And other platforms

New episodes every Sunday

The Write Pack explores the questions about violence in fiction. What is an appropriate level of violence in a story? Of course this all depends on the genre and the story, but when is it over the top? It depends on the unwritten contract between the author and the reader. Does the violence have to be on stage or can it happen in the background? Is the story about violence or does the violence need to reflect the story?

How much violence is needed for the story? Does the violence exist to exist? How does violence move the story forward? How is violence appropriate in the world of the story? What kind of message is the author sending with the violence?

Has the level and focus of violence changed in all the media over the last decade and more? Has the level of violence in Children’s Literature changed?

When does violence kick the reader out of the story? When does violence seem cartoonish?

What kind of violence is never allowed?

Is there typical victims of violence in the story? Do you have Red Shirts or Storm Troopers in your story? Are there certain characters that have to die?

What is the choice of the violence? How does it reflect the character? How does it show their emotions?

How does violence in one story effect other stories in a series or does the series reset?

What is the psychology of violence?