James S. Aaron

Keep Writing

Society EN ↓ 26 episodes

Keep Writing is a podcast and YouTube Channel by James S. Aaron, author of the Aeon 14: Sentience Wars and Galactic Law series. Book reviews, notes on a writing career, work on the craft, interviews, publishing, well-being, mindset, and anything else that seems tough but important. authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Author

James S. Aaron

Episodes

LitRPG for normies: Operation Bounce House 13.02.2026 20:00

Operation Bounce House is here to hold over fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl! Operation Bounce House: https://amzn.to/4s7IoD1 Gamer (2009): https://youtu.be/z88gktIxS-I This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Review: A Fiction Writer's Guide to Peace by Gabriel Ertsgaard 08.02.2026 35:36

This book may surprise you. It isn't saying characters can't fight. It expands what it can mean to fight. Ertsgaard makes strong arguments for incorporating nonviolence into characters and story, using examples from across media. Discussion of character arcs, plots and world-building, with exercise throughout to test the ideas yourself. I found it an excellent source of ideas on subverting reader...

What happened to January? 04.02.2026 30:17

Author journal, challenges, and I got accepted into an MFA program. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

What Makes Dungeon Crawler Carl so Awesome? 28.01.2026 1:01:16

Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl is one of the best first books in a series I've read in a while. Let's explore all the elements that make this book work so well. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman: https://amzn.to/3M4rLIR Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman - https://amzn.to/4r8J9uW This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Early Hard SF: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne 16.01.2026 41:51

I found Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne much more interesting than I expected. I talk about what I think science fiction writers can learn from this early "hard science fiction" and what probably doesn't work for modern readers. William Butcher Translation: https://amzn.to/3NvilGy The Adventures of Lumen N: https://amzn.to/49Uggwx This is a public episode. If you would like to...

Has AI Joined Your Writing Group? 13.01.2026 7:43

Some quick thoughts on considerations about generative AI and writing groups, “vibe-writing” and other ways your group should be talking about these things now before something blows up. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Aspirations, Intentions and Reality 2026 06.01.2026 34:57

A starting point for what I plan to get done in 2026. 4 Novels: Grimm's War 2: Advance By Fire Grimm's War 3: ? Lyssa's Betrayal ?? Libertycon Organizing all the stuff Spending none of the money Books mentioned: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman https://amzn.to/4ppkZej This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auth...

2025 Makes Me Stranger (But Doesn't Kill Me) 03.01.2026 1:07:14

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Obstacles and Obstacles 23.12.2025 28:30

Obstacles and Obstacles and AI didn't write this. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Rejected! 16.12.2025 23:50

Journal for 12-16-25. Changing my plan for short stories this year, how I'm outlining for Advance by Fire, thoughts on Kindle "Ask This Book" feature, and what I've been reading. What's then Kindle Ask This Book feature? https://www.makeuseof.com/controversial-new-ai-feature-launches-kindle/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e...

Author Journal 12-5-25 10.12.2025 20:31

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Journal for 12-1-25 02.12.2025 34:00

Journal for 12-1-25 - Updates on writing during Thanksgiving break, One Page Rules Gaming, why I didn't buy the LEGO Star Trek Enterprise and other stuff writers spend money on, mapping out short story submissions for 2026, writing with two docs open and switching between them when I hit a block, and dang there isn't enough time for anything. Link to the "I hate being a writer" video: https://www....

Author Journal 11-25-25 27.11.2025 53:14

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Review (some spoilers!) of the SF Thriller Four Minutes by Andrews & Wilson 20.11.2025 19:29

Review (minor spoilers) of the SF Thriller Four Minutes by Andrews and Wilson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Author Journal, November 17 2025 18.11.2025 25:03

Checking on writing progress, following ideas, sticking to fiction rather than news, SFWA Quasar Conference, and life events Could, Should, Might, Don't by Nick Foster: https://amzn.to/447RLJ3 There is No Anti-Memetics Division by QNTM: https://amzn.to/43VGImr Four Minutes by Andrews and Wilson: https://amzn.to/47WpGFK Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-science-fiction-i...

Review (spoilers!) of Holy Fire by Bruce Sterling 17.11.2025 35:03

Review (spoilers!) of Holy Fire by Bruce Sterling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Review (spoilers!) of Lexicon by Max Barry 17.11.2025 28:01

Review (spoilers!) of Lexicon by Max Barry This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

How to find Writers Groups in 2025 17.11.2025 32:06

How to find writers groups in 2025 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Starting from a Story Prompt 17.11.2025 22:52

A walkthrough on how I start from a prompt to writing a story. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Review of Dust (spoilers!) by Hugh Howey 16.11.2025 21:23

Review of Dust by Hugh Howey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Author's Journal for November 3, 2025 16.11.2025 10:34

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Book Review of Shift by Hugh Howey (spoilers!) 16.11.2025 26:53

A review of Shift by Hugh Howey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

On making yourself get creative. 13.11.2025 20:24

I talked about my struggles with being disciplined about creativity. These are the steps I take to make myself get stuff done. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Thoughts on Creative Discipline 12.11.2025 17:07

Some thoughts on what it means to be disciplined in creativity, and where we find motivation. Is it inside, or outside ourselves? Follow me on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nfbmxK This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com

Author Journal for October 27, 2025 11.11.2025 12:30

Author Journal for October 27, 2025. Slightly behind on episodes as I get the podcast caught up with YouTube. You can find more up to date episodes at https://www.youtube.com/@authorjamesaaron This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorjamesaaron.substack.com