Writing in the Dark

In this episode of Writing in the Dark, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive into the complexities of plotting in both genre and literary fiction. They discuss the layering process of crafting a plot, the significance of both internal and external changes in storytelling, and the unique challenges of writing memoir.

They attempt to define the term “plot” and explore the importance of pivotal moments that instigate change as well as practical tools for plot development. Julia and Ralph also discuss the differences and similarities between genre fiction, literary fiction, and memoir.

Whether you're climbing a mountain of literary exploration or riding the roller coaster of genre storytelling, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for writers at any stage of their journey.

Books and authors discussed:

* The Stand, Stephen King

* Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead

* Gone Baby Gone, Dennis Lehane

* Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders

* The Martian, Andy Weir

* Verity, Colleen Hoover

* Luster, Raven Leilani

* The Situation and the Story, Vivian Gornick

* I Have Some Questions For You, Rebecca Makkai

* The Fury, Alex Michaelides

You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Listen to previous episodes.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Penny Zang and Caroline Manring to discuss their experiences at the first Journey to Jupiter writing retreat in 2023. Penny and Caroline reflect on their favorite aspects of the experience, what it helped them uncover in their works in progress, and how it affected their approach to the writing process. They touch on the importance of rigor and routine, the challenges of revision, and the inspirations they drew from curated readings.

This conversation also explores the challenges of balancing daily life with creative work, the liberating power of rewriting from scratch, and what’s in store for this year’s Journey to Jupiter retreat. Tune in for a joyful conversation that underlines the magic and power of creative community and how transformative it can be to gather with other writers.

Books and authors discussed:

* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)

* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)

* Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube (Blair Braverman)

* Lost & Found (Kathryn Schulz)

About Caroline:

Caroline Manring is the author of the poetry collections Ceruleana (NineMile Books) and Manual for Extinction (winner of the National Poetry Review Prize), and her new short collection, Coil, is forthcoming in fall 2024 from Herring Alley Pamphlets. She holds degrees from Cornell University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and writes the weekly humor series Notes from the Dishwasher Cafe on Substack. Her essays and poems have appeared in Colorado Review, Conduit, Denver Quarterly, New Ohio Review, Seneca Review, and elsewhere. She lives with her husband and twin children in Ithaca, New York, where she also plays fiddle in a family band.

About Penny:

Penny Zang’s debut novel, Doll Parts, is forthcoming from Sourcebooks in 2025. She is from Maryland and graduated with an MFA in Fiction from West Virginia University. Her work has appeared in the Potomac Review, Louisville Review, and Superstition Review, among others. She lives in South Carolina, where she teaches English at a two-year college. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Substack.

A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Listen to previous episodes.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss the importance of scene development in both literary and genre fiction. They delve into how scenes function as the building blocks of storytelling and the difference between scenes and fragments. Julia and Ralph share their personal approaches to writing scenes, handling authenticity, and the joy of seeing a story come together.

They also touch on the challenges and rewards of creating believable character actions and dialogue. Tune in to hear their insights on navigating the complexities of scene construction and finding the perfect balance between internal and external conflict.

Books and authors discussed:

* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)

* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)

* Chain Gang All Stars (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)

* The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Listen to previous episodes.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the nuances of setting and world building, exploring different approaches across literary and genre fiction. Julia comes from the literary side, emphasizing character-driven narratives and sophisticated language, while Ralph champions the creative possibilities within genre fiction.

They discuss how setting can serve as a character or container, influence plot dynamics, and reflect or establish the tone of a story. The conversation also covers the challenges writers face in balancing detail with narrative flow, and the potential of setting to either enrich storytelling or distract readers. Both hosts share personal practices and preferences, underscoring the value of setting in crafting engaging, immersive stories.

Books and authors discussed:

* The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

* Dragonlances series (Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman)

* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)

* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)

* Crook Manifesto & Harlem Shuffle (Colson Whitehead)

* Michael Chabon

* The Martian (Andy Weir)

* Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout)

* I Have Some Questions For You (Rebecca Makkai)

* The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

* N.K. Jemisin

A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Listen to previous episodes.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

Episode 4 is here! A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support our work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive into the complexities of creating engaging and unforgettable characters. They discuss various techniques and philosophies to help develop rich characters, including putting characters in challenging situations to reveal their unique qualities, desires, and motivations.

This conversation also unpacks the role of observation, the impact of backstories and secrets, how authenticity and relatability are essential to memorable characters, and the value of community feedback in refining character portrayal.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

Listen to previous episodes.

Episode 3 is here! A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support our work. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Show notes

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the mess, struggle, and joy of the first draft, sharing their own writing routines and challenges. They discuss different drafting techniques, including outlines and character-driven prompts, as well as how to embrace the inevitable messiness of shitty first drafts.

They also explore the internal and external pressures that can come with drafting, the importance of establishing personal benchmarks to celebrate progress, and the benefits of a strong creative community. This episode aims to demystify the often intimidating first draft process, urging writers to experiment and find joy in the journey of storytelling.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website, Bluesky) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

Listen to previous episodes.

Episode 2 is here! Thanks, as always, for listening.

Show notes:

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss how they come up with story ideas and populate them with compelling characters. They explore the importance of authenticity and specificity, pushing characters to the brink, and allowing plot to transform characters. They also share their experience of coaching other writers on the unpredictable yet fascinating journey from a simple idea to a concrete, engaging story.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website, Bluesky) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. 

Listen to previous episodes.

Show notes:

In the first episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss their differing approaches to setting resolutions and goals, with Ralph touting the beauty of process-oriented goals and Julia admitting her aversion to traditional goal-setting. They explore the importance of rest, reset, and change, and the cultural forces that work for and against us in those realms. The conversation also examines the importance of a creative community and how public declaration of goals garners support, builds motivation, and encourages others to do the same, fostering a sense of camaraderie within the creative community and dispelling the myth of loneliness in creative pursuits.

Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and produced by Aaron Fyler.

In the season finale Dark, Ralph and Julia go in depth on our experience leading the Journey to Jupiter retreat.

For a closer look at the attendee experience, check out these posts from crew members Penny, Lori, Paul, Adam, and Caroline.

Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.

Thanks, as always, for listening. Keep writing in the dark—we’ll see you there.

3…..2……1……

Ralph and Julia go behind the scenes on how the Journey to Jupiter retreat came to be, the work they’ve done to make this in-person gathering out of this world, and why they picked the books they’ve asked participants to read.

Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.

Thanks, as always, for listening.