Chris's Idea Engine Podcast

Why Simple Themes Make Good Complicated Plots 12.06.2023 4:13 ↓

Sherlock Holmes one says that the most complicated matters turn out to be the simplest. I explore how that works in writing. Support the show

I Love Making Worlds 12.06.2023 4:41 ↓

Just me, musing about what I enjoy about writing. Support the show

Why Does My Writing Plan Not Work When I Start Writing? 08.06.2023 5:38 ↓

What I intend for a scene, and what I actually write, don't often match. How do I adapt to that? Support the show

Not Writing Something, and Preparing to Write Something Else 07.06.2023 3:45 ↓

After an evening typing, I finished one section and began looking at another. Here's what I had to consider. Support the show

Should I Delete Useless Parts of My First Draft? 06.06.2023 5:09 ↓

Not quite yet. I wrote a section that was in the pan, but that didn't work out as I intended. Here's why I didn't delete it. Support the show

How Complex Should My Story Be? 05.06.2023 5:36 ↓

How do some themes develop themselves? How complex should a story be? Let the topic decide... And maybe let Sherlock Holmes advise you on that. Support the show

How Much Should I Write Every Day? 02.06.2023 3:27 ↓

This one is less about above, more about how I can't get a break to actually write these days. Support the show

Do Readers Want Complex Characters? 01.06.2023 5:42 ↓

Somewhat. We want real characters, but those aren't just in adult books. Support the show

Why Starting a Business Requires Love 31.05.2023 3:54 ↓

"Love what you do, and you'll never work a day"? No, not at all. Love what you do, and work to make it happen. Support the show

How Line Editing Improves Writing 31.05.2023 3:46 ↓

I studied what a line editor does. And now I can't stop.  But I think it is helping improve my writing. Support the show

Wholesome Fiction and Me 25.05.2023 6:01 ↓

I don't like easy happy endings. Or, now that I think about it, being emotionally manipulated. Support the show

What If I Can't Finish My Story? 24.05.2023 3:38 ↓

I don't have any good answers to toss one, just a little perspective on my experience with this. Support the show

What If I Can't Keep Up My Habits? 23.05.2023 5:11 ↓

Life conspires against building good habits. It just does. But good habits are still worth building. Support the show

How Important are Unimportant Details? 23.05.2023 3:16 ↓

"Only put it in if it serves the story." But what if it doesn't serve the story, but it serves the writer? Support the show

Should I Write My Story In Order? 23.05.2023 3:47 ↓

Common advice says, "No, you don't have to write your story in any order." Here's my experience. Support the show

How Fitness Fits in Writing 19.05.2023 6:05 ↓

Exercise makes a person more brain-capable?  Support the show

If I Miss a Day of Writing, Should I Feel Bad?? 17.05.2023 4:09 ↓

We all miss a day or two here or there. How do I personally deal with it? Support the show

How Can I Be Sure I Want to Be a Writer? 17.05.2023 4:48 ↓

Why would you try to make a full-time career of it if you can't enjoy it? Let's examine a case study. Support the show

How Long Should My First Draft Take To Write? Eh, Ten Weeks? 15.05.2023 3:51 ↓

Why am I giving myself only ten weeks to write this project? Because psychology (citation somewhere around here...) Support the show

Should I Start My Story "In Media Res?" 13.05.2023 4:40 ↓

Starting my story in the middle of the action is helpful... Some of the time. But is it always the best idea? Support the show

Is It Worth Writing? 12.05.2023 3:58 ↓

Musings on whether it's it worth writing when so much has already been written. Support the show

Fan Fiction and Borrowing Characters 10.05.2023 4:38 ↓

How do I avoid misusing characters from other stories when I write fanfiction? I try to make their decisions out of their original character traits. Support the show

Why are Bad Girls in Fiction Dressed like Bad Girls? 10.05.2023 5:02 ↓

I rant about how evilness in women in fiction is often clothed in very little.  Support the show

How I Write At Work 08.05.2023 4:30 ↓

I don't always have time or opportunity or inspiration, but I always have a method. Support the show

Should I Write 1000 Words Every Day? 08.05.2023 3:24 ↓

When live happens, how do I keep up my writing goals? With a little forgiveness and persistence. Support the show