16.20: Branching Narratives

People respond really well to symmetry in stories. This can range from having an object from the beginning reappear at the end to having the entire plot mirrored. But why does symmetry work so well, and how can writers use it intentionally? This week, we’re trying to answer that ...  Show more

Very often, writers get to the two-third or three-quarter mark of work and get stuck, sometimes abandoning it to move on to something shinier. Why does this happen? Well, it’'s a place at which we move from raising questions for the reader to needing to answer them. This change i ...  Show more

Today we are continuing our every other week crossover to our sister podcast Stories RPG where we play a story telling game developed by Daniel Hinds and Michael Low to help people of all ages tell stories together. Last time our heroes were introduced to the dreaded "drama clock ...  Show more

Join sister hosts Kelly & Karen as they discuss "Nancy Drew & the Mystery at Lilac Inn" by Carolyn Keene. In this episode, they recap personal ghost stories, solve the mystery of the "cover girl," express ongoing discomfort about "skin diving," and get deeper into discussion on c ...  Show more

In this episode of Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe break down a speculative query that juggles multiple timelines and POVs. They explore the craft challenges of pitching complex narratives, from maintaining clarity to grounding readers in emotional depth. The discussion digs int ...  Show more