Creator's Guild Podcast

Dr. Seuss Else Holmelund Minarik Gary Paulsen Roald Dahl Lynn Combs Children's books really can reach from the past and pull in memories. What were the stories that you grew up on that forever shaped you and still inspire you today? Join Jared and Chris as they discuss children's literature, some of the challenges you'll face if you want to get published, and stories Chris hopes to turn into child...

No pocket watches. No couches. No therapists. (Especially not the ones Sean Connery refers to on Celebrity Jeopardy) Just you, and the elements you need to pull your readers in and immerse them in your world. So how do you do it? Join Jared and Chris for another awesome discussion with Liz Verity as they dive into the strategies that can make your readers think they are chickens....that is, fall i...

There are so many interesting ideas to pursue in the creative world, especially if you study art, which is just what Anja (Jared's daughter) has done. Join Jared and Chris as they talk about a degree in fine arts emphasizing entertainment with Anja. The discussion goes off the rails in so many directions - from lemons, to cannibalism, mayhem laws, and murder, all while trying to explore education...

It's time for another personality test. This time it's Teth under the microscope. Join Jared and Chris as they do a deep dive on the personality of a crazy, torturous killer. Spoiler: it doesn't go as expected.

Chris had the privilege of presenting to the Springfield Writers' Guild on the topic of Worldbuilding. It was a fun experience with lots of participation by attendees. In fact, it was so fun, he wanted to share it with everyone! Join Jared and Chris as they discuss principles of worldbuilding and offer insights to help you create worlds that sing!

Log lines and tag lines and bears, oh my! If the Wicked Witch of Writer's Block is keeping you from following the Yellow Brick Road of storytelling, then perhaps a log line is the Good Witch you need to help you reach the Emerald City. Join Jared and Chris in another deep dive with Liz as they discuss the difference between tag lines and log lines and explore how they can help you improve your sto...

Well...if you wondered how taking a personality test on behalf of one of your characters, wonder no longer. Join Jared and Chris as they explore To'Ara's character traits and determine just how accurate they are in their assessment of who she is.

Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography? If you have, would it include dragons, or magic, or maybe even murder? If you're writing a story, whether it be high fantasy, or cozy mystery, perhaps your autobiography is being written through the eyes and experiences of your characters. Join Jared and Chris as they discuss how much we, as writers, interject pieces of ourselves into the stori...

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYY KIIIIIDS!!!!! If you love dragons, and you love picture books, and you love fire, then author Lynn Combs has a book coming out that is right up your alley. Lynn Combs is a fantasy author who wants to share her love of dragons and all things fantasy with up-and-coming readers. Join Jared and Chris as they discuss the new children's book "Duncan the Dragon finds his Fire"...

What does it take to create engaging characters? Are there any methods or metrics you can measure against to determine just how engaging your characters really are? The answer is: yes! And Liz Verity is here to tell us how to use some helpful devices to create characters that readers will love, or love to hate! Join Jared and Chris as they take some of their characters through Liz's exercise to de...

Adam and Jackie are back in town! Actually, Jared and Chris are out of town and recording from a hotel. Whatever! It's another episode with Adam and Jackie reviewing all the things in book one. Dive in for another discussion with Jared and Chris as they discuss book one and look ahead to book two and many more to come.

We have reached the end! Not of the story, but of book one and 2024. Join Jared and Chris for the last episode of the year as they wrap up A Flight From Shadows and look forward to plans in 2025. Thank you for riding along thus far. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

What flavor stories do you like? What seasonings do you prefer? Do you like subtle hints of things to come? Or do you prefer to be overwhelmed by wave after wave of new and exotic flavors? Do you fall in the savory or sweet camp, enjoying rich undertones, or is your pallet more attuned to honeyed, sugary treats? Yes, we're still talking about writing. But authors dabble in different flavors, telli...

Were all the animals on Noah's Arc real characters? If so, would that be considered the biggest character arc ever? Food for thought... Liz Verity has some insights into how to make a good character arc and the challenges in writing them. Join Jared and Chris as they sit down for another episode of Learning with Liz and do a deep dive into the creative process of making good characters.

Caleb is back and he agrees with Jared and Chris: there are some things in stories that just grind my gears! Annoying characters. Frustrating tropes. Unrealistic processes. Just some things that creators could avoid to make story telling better, right? Well, maybe they don't grind your gears, but for some people, the little annoyances really impact the story. Join Jared and Chris as they hash it o...

Food is the best!! Unless it's garbage food. Then it's debatable.  What about when it comes to writing about food? Do you like hearing about food in stories? Does it enhance the tale if you get to experience new dishes, or some of your favorite foods, through the eyes of a character? Join Jared and Chris as they dive into a discussion about getting creative with food and creative with writing abou...

Don't you love it when you get told the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over..... No? Didn't think so. Join Jared and Chris as they discuss storytelling and some of the things they like and dislike that authors do. They will share their thoughts on character perspective, keeping in a character's view, and why NOT to rehash the same information you've already shared with you...

Do you know what a plot is? What bout story structure? Do you know the difference? How do you know which is which and where to focus in your writing? Liz Verity is here with all the answers to your writing questions. Join Jared and Chris as they do another deep dive with Liz into the writing process and the areas of focus that will improve your writing skills.

"That's so hilarious!" is not typically a response you'll hear from someone who just watched Schindler's List. But why is that the case? Does humor belong in serious stories? How far can the boundaries be pushed before it becomes inappropriate? And would making it more inappropriate increase your desire to read or watch? Join Jared and Chris as they sit down with Lynn Combs and Miller Thomas to di...

From cozy mysteries, to children's stories; dragons to detectives, author Lymm Combs spins tales across genres, bringing worlds and characters to life. Lynn is part of the Springfield writers' guild and is part of multiple writing groups, dipping her quill into various inkwells. Her mystery short story can be found in the sleuth story anthology "A Pathway To Mystery".  Her modern fantasy "The Forg...

Do creators love their own stories and characters? How can you tell? Over the years are there stories you've loved in the beginning only to find that the depth changed when it became popular? Are there characters you felt that the author betrayed? Join Jared and Chris as they converse with Miller Thomas. Find out what he's up to these days and hear his thoughts on where story tellers go wrong and...

Never try, never fail! No, that's not what we are talking about. What does it mean, then, you ask? Well, when a mommy try loves a daddy fail, they get together and... Oh, wait, that's not how that works at all. If you're a writer, you need to understand try/fail cycles. While this may, indeed, relate to the romance novel you're writing, the try/fail cycle is a concept that applies to nearly any ge...

MURDER! DECEPTION! SINISTER GOINGS ON! Detectives Hayes and Braxton are on the case. Malcolm Tanner is an award-winning thriller author. He has written multiple series and even branched out into the horror genre. Join Jared and Chris as they discuss thriller series with Malcolm and his newest books coming out later this year. 

Extremicon, where CosPlay is the name of the game. Jared and Chris are at another con, and they made some new friends. From new readers who are excited to discover their world, to other creators who write, paint, and make lots of other cool stuff. Even kids like hanging out with them. (For real. There's an actual kid who spent most of the con hanging out at their booth and eating their candy.) Joi...

Jared and Chris are back again, this time to talk about world building. From "The Big Oyster" to "The Wheel of Time" the question arises: How deep should you go in world building? It's a common question that nearly all authors must ask themselves...and then come up with an answer that will please everyone, because everyone has a freakin opinion about world building... Just do what you want...the w...