Just Another Word Podcast

In this episode, ground ourselves in the words that try to capture the sound of the world’s bones.  In this episode, we discuss: The Skeletal Soundscape: Why the xylophone is the ultimate literary shorthand for the macabre, using its "rib-like" keys to evoke the rattling of bones and Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre. Phonetic Contrast: How to use the rare, hard "X" sound to "poke" the reader’s attention...

In this episode, we open the door to the unexpected, the lighthearted, and the delightfully strange.  In this episode, we discuss: Mischief vs. Whimsy: Distinguishing between the sharp, rule-breaking edge of mischief and the gentle, surreal wings of whimsy. The Puck Principle: Lessons from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on how whimsical characters humanize high drama and remind us that th...

In this episode, we step onto my own doorstep to look at a word that carries the weight of history, duty, and quiet tension.  In this episode, we discuss: The Spanish Roots: Tracing the name Vigil to the rugged soil of Asturias. The  Nature of Identity: How characters are shaped by their names. Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the paradox of the "one" and the "many." We look at Carl Sagan’s "Pale Blue Dot" to understand why the universal is never found in the vague, but is instead hidden in the hyper-specific, microscopic details of a single life. In this episode, we discuss: The Specificity Paradox: Why a moth-eaten wool sweater and the scent of pipe tobacco resonate more deeply than a gener...

In this episode, we look at the layer of the story that makes the world feel truly alive. In this episode, we discuss: The Art of Balancing Focus: How to "smuggle" depth into your prose through sensory integration, ensuring your world breathes without stalling the forward momentum of your plot. The Lived-In Detail: Why using the senses to describe the "same air exhaled by many before" creates a re...

In this episode, we explore the quiet, dizzying realization that you are not the lead character in every story.  In this episode, we discuss: The Invisible Backpack: How to imbue background characters with the weight of their own ambitions, routines, and heart-wrenching decisions, even if they never speak a line of dialogue. The Storyteller’s Perspective: Techniques for creating profound fiction b...

In this episode, we explore the person who doesn't just tell a story, but performs it. We look at the legacy of Mark Twain and the difference between a "witness" who reports facts and a "raconteur" who weaves an experience that captures the room. In this episode, we discuss: The Reporter vs. The Raconteur: Distinguishing between the straight line of information and the "switchbacks" and "side-path...

In this episode, we explore the linguistic shorthand of the streets and the invisible ways slang shapes our prose.  In this episode, we discuss: The Defunct Slang Trap: Why slang is a living thing that can easily become a fossil, and the importance of recognizing when your character's vocabulary is anchoring them to a time the world has moved on from. Integrating the Street: How to use slang like...

In this episode, we look at the knot that holds the truth together. We explore "paradox"—a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself but reveals a deeper, more complex reality.  In this episode, we discuss: The Paradoxical Character: Analyzing Aragorn as the "King in Exile".  Building the Knot: How to use internal conflicts and thematic contradictions to move beyond "boring" traits an...

In this episode, we aren’t just looking at a word; we’re listening to the language itself. We explore "onomatopoeia"—the primal tool that allows a storyteller to bypass the logic of the brain and hit the listener directly in the ear by "making names" out of the very sounds they describe. In this episode, we discuss: Composing the Scene: How to use percussive or sibilant words to build a 3D soundtr...

In this episode, we step into the mist to find the shapes that refuse to be defined.  In this episode, we discuss: The Precision of Vagueness: Why being intentionally nebulous can turn a biological problem into a psychological terror, and how leaving a monster's "edges blurry" keeps the reader in a state of unease. The Clouded Mind: Using nebulous goals and moral grey areas to create layered chara...

In this episode, we listen for the sound of honey in the air. We explore the "mellifluous" quality of the human voice—from Paul McCartney to the sophisticated villain—and why the most dangerous words are often the ones that are easiest to hear. In this episode, we discuss: The Seduction of the Smooth: Why a mellifluous voice is the ultimate mask for sirens and swindlers. Prose as Music: How to use...

In this episode, we stand in the doorway, caught between where we’ve been and where we are going.  In this episode, we discuss: The Uncanny "Vibe": How storytellers can use physical settings like vacant offices or night-time playgrounds to signal that the rules of reality are thinning. The Narrative "Middle": Why the Second Act of a story is essentially a liminal state, and how to use "Threshold G...

In this episode, we look at the invisible hand that guides a protagonist and the delicate balance between a lucky break and a broken story. In this episode, we discuss: The Portion of Fate: Exploring why your character’s story exists specifically because they survived the improbable. The Ta'veren Principle: Lessons from Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time on how to establish "fated" luck early so yo...

In this episode, we explore why, for a storyteller, joy is not the opposite of sadness, but a resilient state of being that can survive even the darkest chapters of a story. In this episode, we discuss: The Reaction vs. The State of Being: Distinguishing between the surface-level flicker of happiness and the deep, abiding resonance of joy that is rooted in purpose rather than circumstance. The Par...

In this episode, we explore a light that doesn't just burn, but glows from within. We look at why F. Scott Fitzgerald chose the word "incandescent" to describe Daisy Buchanan and how this specific type of brightness differs from the volatile hunger of a flame. In this episode, we discuss: The Power of the Doublet: How storytellers can use similar words like "fiery" and "incandescent" to distinguis...

In this episode, we step into the fire of conviction and explore the danger of the "wrong" truth. We look at the "heretic"—not as a villain, but as the person who looks at the unquestionable and asks "Why?" In this episode, we discuss: The Roots of Choice: Tracing the Greek origin hairetikos to understand how being "able to choose" became a dangerous act of subversion. The Heretic vs. the Zealot:...

In this episode, we turn up the volume on the person who simply cannot find the "off" switch. We explore the "garrulous" soul and why, for a storyteller, this chatter is often a mask for something much deeper. In this episode, we discuss: The Chatter of the Crow: Tracing the word back to the Latin garrire and its ancient connection to the incessant, noisy calling of birds. The Texture of Trivialit...

In this episode, we step into the shadows to explore the "fugitive"—a word that carries the weight of high-speed chases and the quiet, desperate need to escape oneself. We discuss why calling someone a fugitive is more than a legal status; it is a description of a soul in motion. In this episode, we discuss: The Fugitive Adjective: How to use the word to describe elusive scents, vanishing thoughts...

In this episode, we explore the beauty of impermanence and the nature of the world around us. We look at how embracing the fleeting moments in our narratives can increase emotional impact and remind the reader of life's fragility.   In this episode, we discuss:   The Art of the Sand Mandala: Lessons from Tibetan monks on precision, meditation, and the power of letting go of what we create.   What...

In this episode, we explore the concept of "rested potential" and why silence shouldn't be mistaken for absence. We look at how the dormant "churning beast" within our characters is often just waiting for the right moment to erupt. In this episode, we discuss The "Impending" Narrative: How storytellers use dormancy to build tension, subvert expectations, and reveal hidden powers at the perfect mom...

In this episode, we dive into the "bad sounds" of life and art. We explore why cacophony is more than just noise and why as storytellers we must learn to tame it. In this episode, we discuss: The Etymology of Chaos: Breaking down the roots to understand why "bad sound" is a natural part of the human experience. Cacophony as a Narrative Tool: How to use disorientation to your advantage, using Lady...

What does it mean to be Bittersweet and how does that relate to stories. Jump in with Timothy to see some examples of why this word is so valuable as a concept and how it can improve your storytelling. 

The first episode of Just Another Word podcast looks at the word "advent" and defines what it means to start something.