The Creative Writing Podcast at AmericanWriters.com is designed to help writers of all levels. The focus is on characterization, narrative, plot development, dialogue, conflict, setting, literary archetypes, etc. Episodes are not centered around mindless, useless pep talks and recycled writing tips. Rather, the Podcast at AmericanWriters.com offers in-depth analysis of what works and what doesn't, with explanations and original writing samples. Subscribe and visit AmericanWriters.com for more information. http://www.americanwriters.com Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Podcasts Copyright 2006 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing009.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing009.mp3 This episode looks at two different kinds of protagonists: the fallen and the redeemed. Each can evoke strong emotions in the reader and speak to the human condition. Properly handled, tragedies and redemption stories become very powerful character-driven pieces. If you listen to the podcast but have not yet subscribed for free, please consider doing so via iTunes or another aggregator. Visit AmericanWriters.com for details. Sun, 29 Jul 2007 03:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing008.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing008.mp3 We continue our discussion of how to write historical fiction. Toward that end, we examine what some established authors have done -- and we break the topic into three sections. Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip015.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip015.mp3 Learn about Deus Ex Machina -- its pros and cons and how it can hurt fiction. Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip014.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip014.mp3 This episode doesn't just talk about what superficially motivates characters; it looks at the forces that need to stir at deeper levels. Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip013.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip013.mp3 Many authors are disparaged for using prologues to start their novels -- but is it such a bad practice after all? Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing007.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing007.mp3 Whether you're writing Historical Fiction or utilizing history within your fiction, there are a handful of things you need to consider. This episode focuses on much of the theory, and we take a look at what writers of Historical Fiction have said about the genre. In the next episode, Writing 008, we will analyze what some of the more successful historical novels have done and experiment with some original passages. Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip012.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip012.mp3 Trim down your writing; think about what you should include in your narrative and what should you leave out. Also, learn the difference between story and narrative. Sun, 17 Dec 2006 22:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip011.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip011.mp3 Many writers use their fiction as a form of activism. However, does it hurt the art form? Sat, 18 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip010.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip010.mp3 Learn about the four ways to approach reading a book. Sat, 04 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip009.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip009.mp3 Learn how external conflict can be written to underscore the turmoil brewing within the character's psyche. Fri, 03 Nov 2006 05:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing006.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing006.mp3 It's time to respond to some of your questions and comments. All the same, I can't help myself: I address one or two of them so heavily that I hijack my own show and give it a bona-fide theme. Among other things, I talk about how I approach writing my novel -- and while it's not my intention to say, "Hey, do it MY way," the discussion might somehow be helpful. Sun, 29 Oct 2006 02:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip008.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip008.mp3 Learn how writing is like painting a picture. However, this episode is not what you think; it has nothing to do with writing description. Give it a listen. Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:30:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip007.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip007.mp3 Make your characters consistent. Learn how things can easily go wrong. Sun, 24 Sep 2006 11:30:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip006.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip006.mp3 Stop being so sentimental. If it serves your story, kill the characters you love. Sun, 17 Sep 2006 08:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing005.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing005.mp3 This time out, I talk about how setting can establish tone, bolster theme and give psychological dimension to your story. Wed, 13 Sep 2006 08:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/promo1.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/promo1.mp3 Subscribe to the Podcast at AmericanWriters.com. Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip005.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip005.mp3 Step outside of yourself -- Stop making all your fiction thinly-veiled autobiography. Fri, 08 Sep 2006 11:11:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing004.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing004.mp3 Ahh, yes. This is one of my favorite discussions when talking about writing. It goes well beyond the mundane, deeply into character and conflict analysis and into the psychological and archetypal. Without this useful dramatic device, your story can easily fall limp. You really need to check this one out as we will come back to the issue of the Shadow from time to time. Sun, 03 Sep 2006 11:11:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://traffic.libsyn.com/americanwriters/quicktip004.mp3 http://traffic.libsyn.com/americanwriters/quicktip004.mp3 Should we be afraid of adverbs? Sometimes, yes. Listen to this and learn why. Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip003.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip003.mp3 Okay, write that hateful character -- but make sure that he is loveable. Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip002.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip002.mp3 Stop writing what you KNOW and start using your imagination! Sat, 19 Aug 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip001.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/quicktip001.mp3 Yes, internal conflict is the heart of characterization; but it's also at the heart of drama. Listen and learn. Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing003.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing003.mp3 Tom Occhipinti talks about how to write dialogue in fiction. He covers the basic rules and discusses whether or not they should be broken. Finally, he touches upon the issue of writing MEANINGFUL dialogue and along the way recounts a funny story from his college days. Or maybe Tom just has a cruel sense of humor. You decide. Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing002b.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing002b.mp3 This is Part Two of a show that discusses the various ways you can open a story. Part One addressed opening a story with Narrative Description. Here in Part Two, Tom Occhipinti addresses opening a story with Action and Dialogue, respectively. It's an in-depth examination of the Do's and Don'ts, with a heck of a lot of analysis. Check it out. Sun, 23 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing002a.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing002a.mp3 If you have ever struggled over how to open your story, this show will help, as it looks at a few possible approaches. Even if you don't have an issue with this, the discussion and sample passage written and analyzed by Tom is fodder for thought. This episode is Part One. Mon, 29 May 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti) http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing001.mp3 http://media.libsyn.com/media/americanwriters/writing001.mp3 Our first show introduces you to the podcast creator and writer, Tom Occhipinti, and gives you a heads up on the direction that the podcast series will take. Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:00:00 EST Tom@AmericanWriters.com (Tom Occhipinti)