Writing in the Dark

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.

Ralph and I discuss the delicate art of giving and receiving feedback

In Part 2, Ralph and Julia discuss how they came to be people who call themselves writers. They talk about their first novel projects and their evolution and values as instructors. If you didn’t hear the first part of this conversation, you can find it here.

Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.

Thanks, as always, for listening.

This episode is the first part of a two-part series on how Ralph and Julia came to be people who call ourselves writers. In this first part, they discuss what their creativity looked like in their teenage and young adult years.

Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.

Thanks, as always, for listening.