Chris's Idea Engine Podcast

What is the problem with this trope? And how can it be fixed? Support the show

A little input on making good stories to, hopefully, sell. Support the show

What is Meta-Fiction? And why do I enjoy writing it so much? Support the show

Why make a feature suddenly weaker, or a smart character suddenly rather dumb? It's a problem that should be fixed in the second draft, but often isn't. Support the show

When I have trouble writing, why does reading help? And what should I read? Support the show

If I explain every aspect of my world and backstory, my book gets bloated. How do I decide what to explain, and what to leave alone? Support the show

They're all over, and most of them cost money. When the chances of winning are so small, why bother at all? Support the show

It won't necessarily make you money, but it will teach you how to be an author, which is a business, which takes a little more intentional work. Support the show

Believe it or not, men and women write very different kinds of fanfiction. Is either one correct? Support the show

Or, in business terms, who is already reading the sorts of stories you are writing? Thoughts for the business side of things. Support the show

What's the least content you should use for your fanfiction? The answer is... Just enough, and maybe a little more. Support the show

Should the reader determine the story? If so, how much? And if not, why bother? Support the show

If you're writing a story that isn't as big as it's source material, do you have to use all of it? Support the show

Why do I clarify the Lord of the Ring movies as fan fiction? Only for good reasons, I promise. Support the show

When you like the world, but you have something different in mind for us, why use the same world? Why not just write your own original world?  There are a few good reasons, actually. Support the show

A few more thoughts on the stories you can tell with fanfiction. Support the show

If you want to write the story form of a video game, or the video form of a story, here are some things to think about. Support the show

Who do you write about if the main character completed their arc in the original story? Maybe find a nother character, or an unanswered question, or an answer you didn't like, and follow that. Support the show

What are the types and traits of common fanfics? I'll examine one of the big three today: the Sequel. Specifically, the Charger Sequel. Support the show

But he uses avatars, in a way, so it isn't that there are no antagonists. Support the show

Given the same prompt, two people will still write two very different stories. A little illustration from my life may prove the point. Support the show

When the rubber meets the road in writing, my outline often runs into potholes I didn't expect. It's never that easy, and here's why. Support the show

I enjoy finding solutions to plot holes. That's usually because I can find the pieces I need already in my story world. Support the show

"Quality doesn't sell. Salesmanship sells." Alas. Support the show

Some famous characters are designed with a stage size in mind. Putting them on a smaller (or larger) stage doesn't work. It's all in their design. Support the show