Prose and Cons

Who could imagine something so explosive, something that could impact the world so much, such as . . . Barbenheimer! That’s right. This week on Prose and Cons, Phoenix (who was very sleepy for this one), Ally, Alex, and Matan explore Barbie, Oppenheimer, and the many spaces of grey and pink in between. Some things we’ll touch on: Barbie and the feminist discourse. Oppenheimer—A cinephile’s dream....

On this special, extended episode of Prose and Cons, Phoenix talks with C.M. Kosemen, the author of All Tomorrows and co-author of All Yesterdays (as well as an all-around impressive artist). From evolutionary biology to Paleoart, the two explore the intimate relationship between art and science. What is Paleoart and how does it work? The various ways science can inform our literature and, subsequ...

From sweet childhood memories to the mildly traumatic literary moments, in this episode of Prose and Cons, Alex, Ally, and Phoenix explore yesteryear and all those glorious, early literary influences, trying to see if there’s some kind of throughline to discover. Some themes in this one: How we got interested in reading. Some deep lore on Phoenix. Whether you read a lot as a kid or hardly read at...

Hello Listeners! Today we managed to snag ourselves another delightful interviewee. Our very own Matan Elul grabbed none other than Galatea Sensation Herself, Sapir Englard, for a talk about publishing, sexual tension and life as a writer in the 21st century. Sapir A. Englard is the author of the massive digital hit, THE MILLENNIUM WOLVES, published in 2019 on the Galatea app and which has amassed...

Break time! Put down the tome you’ve been reading to research global wind patterns and take a break—there’s plenty of space around this proverbial water cooler here. This week, Paddy, Alex, and James reflect on some of the benefits that taking a break has had on their work. Sometimes plot develops when you’re going for a jog. Why not step away and … trade stocks instead? Ideas for when a break mig...

Even great writers don't always nail dialogue - so how can we improve? Join Paddy, Phoenix, and Matan, as they explore this super-important topic, breaking down, what makes good dialogue, what makes bad dialogue, and their own tips and tricks for making the most out of every spoken word. STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 48 OVERALL Send us a message! Contact us at: precipicefiction.com...

What do “Mom” (from Cowboy Bebop), the Overlook Hotel, and Lucifer (yes, from the Bible) have in common? Well, they’re dueling it out of course! This week on Pros and Cons, Matan, Alex, Phoenix, and Paddy dive deep into villains and their roles in literature, finishing things off with the first-ever Precipice Villain Draft! Which team will win? You, the listener, must decide. We get into: Villains...

Join us this week for a special look under the hood of Phoenix, James, and Paddy's individual writing practices, discussing things like: How we balance writing around the rest of our lives (and how anybody actually finds the time to write); Challenges we're experiencing - and tips we can provide - from our current projects; How we approach our writing, from planning to prose; and How to...

We have a book. We have a podcast where we talk about writing. We thinking about writing quite a lot. But why do we do it? Today, James, Paddy, and Alex go on an inward journey, looking at their own inspirations and goals with this thing we all do. Pt 2, with Ally, Matan, and Phoenix will be coming sometime in the future. - What made them start writing? - How uninspired learning can sometimes turn...

You got your book in my movie! Well, you got your MOVIE in my BOOK! Join the prose and cons team as they dive into perspective, voice, and some beautiful internal dialogue about wood floors as they look at the differences between writing for film vs. writing a book. - What tools can be shared between film and books? - Leaning into the innate strengths of your chosen medium. - Everyone should play...

We're back again with another genre deep dive, and this time, James, Ally, and Matan dive deep into the mysteries of mystery. From the crime procedural drama to the "cozy" mystery, from red herrings to the dark night of soul, the gang break down the conventions and structures of this most mysterious of genres. Send us a message! Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/ =========...

I need coloured rectangles STAT! It's time to go deep into some novel talk. Join Paddy, Ally, James, and Matan as they talk about their novels, their years of work, and what they wish they had known back when they started. We'll get into things like: - How long a scene feels versus how long the scene actually is. - The John Wick Assassin Economy - Being allowed to tell (it doesn't h...

James, Paddy and Phoenix go into what makes a character memorable, realistic and ultimately loved. Among other things we discuss: - using the Lord of the Rings to break down character complexity - Complexity of motive - Making characters fit to purpose rather than necessarily “realistic” - Using paradox and contradiction to create depth - Why just stacking character traits doesn’t make a realistic...

Hey! You there! Yeah, you—the writer. We see you. Come join our group therapy session. We'll discuss project resets, changes in vision, and all those yummy, difficult decisions that we often find ourselves having to make as we continue to add ability points into this mutually-chosen talent tree o—writer. - Which one of us is currently rewriting an entire novel—changing it from third to first...

This week we dive into the black, seamy void that is grimdark! The gang talks about what the genre is and is not, it's history as a reaction and it's cultural resonance. Is grimdark a pejorative term, or is the genre a useful and incisive tool for social commentary? All this and more. STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 42 OVERALL Send us a message! Contact us at: precipicefiction.c...

Why can't I just give my character a magic wand and be done with it? Nothing says you can't, but will it be good? Or will it completely ruin the story? In this episode, Ally, Matan, Phoenix, Paddy, and James look at all the ways to rip, tear, break, and shatter a story. We get into all sorts of stuff, such as: - Shock factor done well vs. done not so well. - How to create meaning and avo...

Does editing count as real writing? We all have those days where we fill up a blank page with 2000 words of new material and that feels bloody great. But what about editing, sculpting those words so they're good and they flow? The gang talks about it today as well as - The Differing editing styles: layering vs sculpting - Different editing passes - Why Mark Twain was a very sneaky man regardi...

In a special episode, Alex sits down with Bram Stoker Award winner Kealan Patrick Burke for a little chat about all things ghostly and ghoulish including Winning the Bram and the Horror Writer’s association Why there's no dichotomy between self-publishing versus trad The value of novellas Getting your book made into a movie Selling yourself to agents and much more.  Enjoy! STEPHEN KING REFERE...

Are you ready to RUMMBBLLLEEE! With WrestleMania 39 on the horizon, the producers here at Precipice Fiction Inc. felt it was time to unleash Ally's true form on the world. A writer behind the keyboard, a slayer in the analysis of storytelling tools used in the WWE, Ally leads a willing, yet maybe slightly nervous, team into the unknown world of wrestling in this special extended episode—Ally...

Well isn't that just CLICHE?! Well ... is it? Join us in today's discussion, where Paddy, James, and Alex explore the gray area and fine lines between archetypes, cliches, and stereotypes. Were Gandalf and Obi Wan trendsetters? Or do they fall into the bucket of old, wise men?  - How can we use cliches as a tool and avoid them as a trap? - Can Alex do a Russian accent? (the answer is yes...

Fresh from not one but TWO shortlistings for the Aurealis Competition, this week we’re getting into the weeds about writing competitions exploring the following topics:  -Are they worth it?  -Can you use old work?  -What sort of research do you need to do? -How do you maintain your confidence in the face of rejection? -A checklist of what judges are looking for -How do you avoid predatory competit...

Get your ears ready for some mild ASMR. That's right! This week we're diving into all things munchy, crunchy, and delectable—it's time to talk about food in literature! What are the different ways you can utilize food to expand your writing palette (food pun intended)? Do you have to love food to write about it well? Join the conversation, and the fun and games, as we go! Get ready...

This week we're getting into it and sniffing around where characters come from. From our own twisted psyches? From people we know? What are the parameters you need to get right to create good characters? Should they be plot-agnostic or have baked in conflicts? We do our best to answer these, plus: - Harry Potter spoilers - character archetypes  - wild card characters who willfully insert them...

Does every story have a message? Does every story NEED a message? Is a story better off if it's making a point, or are some stories better off pointless? This week, we explore messages in stories, from didactic parables to pure, simple entertainment. STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 30 OVERALL Send us a message! Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/ ============================...

*SPOILER ALERT FOR THE FIRST 5 EPISODES OF 'THE LAST OF US'* The Precipice gang go off on a critique tangent today, comparing ‘The Last of Us’ in both its TV and video game iterations. There’s a lot of talk about zombies, storytelling devices and the validity of changing up a story’s medium. Is the new series an artistic triumph or a hacky cash-grab? We dig in to find out. Send us a mess...