Radio FreeWrite

Should writers use profanity in fiction? Does it weaken the story, or add a li'l spice of realism to character dialogue? That's what the Crü explores in this week's workshop on creative writing.  Like anything in the toolbox, profanity can wind up being used as a crutch or a shortcut. We discuss how to avoid it if you'd prefer not to use it; sprinkle it in like smoked sea salt...

It's Part 2 of our little microseries on the Four Horsemen. Last episode featured listener-submitted stories to our writing prompt; now, you get to hear from the Cru! We discuss draft revision an writing experiments, particularly Murph's challenge (to himself) of writing the same scene five times from different perspectives. There's a difference between rewriting and editing, and we...

This episode is all about community submissions! We’re showcasing the creative work of emerging writers, first-time authors, and grizzled veterans of the trade, all responding to the same epic prompt: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Featuring stories and poems from Alec Billings, J.W. Surface , KN Fitzwater , Maggie Lardie, Nick Smith , YYC Typewriter , and the mysterious Mrs. Greenleaf . Fro...

In this episode of Radio FreeWrite, The Cru explores how writing fiction can reveal something real . From writing through family conflict to channeling rage, grief, and even imagined fears, this conversation dives into how fiction can incorporate lived experience.  We also tackle where the line sits between therapy and craft. When does a story become art? When should it stay personal? And, how muc...

This week, the Cru dives into a strange and powerful prompt pulled from Norse mythology: Ginnungagap, the vast, primordial void of fog (that's fog, not frogs,  WebEater!) that exists between worlds. From that idea, the conversation spirals into something every writer knows too well: the "creative" void. What do you do when nothing is flowing? When every sentence feels forced? When t...

In this episode of Radio FreeWrite, The Cru explores the absurd, satirical style of Gilbert and Sullivan and explores how far you can push an idea once you follow it to its most ridiculous logical conclusion. But it goes deeper than just playful storytelling. We dive into the power of creative partnerships, from legendary collaborations to our own experiences trying (and sometimes failing) to find...

This week on Radio FreeWrite, The Cru takes a step back from writing to talk about... reading. What should writers be reading? Does it matter if it’s fiction, nonfiction, or even audiobooks? And do audiobooks actually count as reading? We dig into all of it, including: Why writers need to read widely across genres Considerations of audiobooks and oral storytelling in modern writing How classic wor...

In our 151st episode, The Cru dives into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson, author of the infamous short story The Lottery. We explore what makes Jackson’s writing so enduringly disturbing, from her use of the uncanny and the “horror of the mundane” to her razor-sharp final lines. Along the way, we discuss why The Lottery remains a staple of high school reading lists even as many readers fin...

We gathered on a cold, snowy, generally Clevelandwintery evening in January to celebrate our 150th episode at Forest City Brewery! Joined by a few friends and a lot of Spud's extended family, we recorded an intimate live episode. Enjoy! Like this weeks episode and wish you could read as well as listen? Subscribe to our Substack for a summary of our opening discussion, a story from the episode...

This week on Radio FreeWrite, we do something a little different. Instead of writing to a new prompt, we bring in a finished draft and talk through what happens after the writing part is over. We listen to a complete short story together, then start dissecting it to figure out where it’s strongest and weakest points are. Then, we chat about how it might grow. From there, the conversation wanders i...

The Cru dives deep into one deceptively small word with outsized consequences: had . Before writing from the prompt fanfaron —a swaggering bully or cowardly boaster—we get into a lively craft discussion about the pluperfect tense (the “past of the past”). Why does it so often feels forced? How, as a writer, do you know it's actually doing meaningful work on the page? Murph makes the case agai...

The Cru is joined by Carolyn, aka The Whisky Type , to chat all things writing, typewriter, and whisky related. We had a great conversation about the importance of sharing your work, and the joy common to cigars, whisky, and typewriters: they're all meant to be enjoyed slowly . After you tune in, be sure to check out Carolyn's website! NB, stories begin around the 17:15 mark, and while t...

In our 146th episode, the Cru gather for their annual yuletide retreat to Spliff's Christmas Cabin. There, we discuss hygge: the nordic word for coziness, conviviality, and joy.  When a writer attempts to give their piece a vibe---a general impression, a feeling they want the reader to experience---how do they pull it off without it feeling saccharine? The last thing you want is your readers...

In this episode, The Cru chat about the frustrating demands of writing in the social media age. Modern authors are increasingly expected to build their own followings and endlessly promote themselves online—and that… just ain’t us. At the same time, PC scored his first contract through a Twitter contest, so the benefits of online interaction are real. Can writers be private, authentic, and still g...

What does first person pov sound like with minimal use of "I" and "my?" The Cru conclude their series on points of view in fiction with a series of experimental pieces that push the common boundaries around points of view. This was our annual "Brekkie Eppie," too, so expect some breakfast talk (particularly about Sandwich's delicious cinnamon rolls). Stories begi...

In our penultimate episode on point of view in fiction, we load you up with omniscient narrator tips. We discuss everything from the Quran to Tolkien as we tackle  third person omniscient in our craft discussion. When do you limit, and when do you embrace the godlike power of omniscience? What are the biggest traps writers fall into with omniscient narrators? We discuss it all. And we have mulled...

Poet and podcaster Johna joins us to chat about writing, reading, and buying too many books. On her program, Booking It! With Johna , she interviews indie authors about the hustle and hurdles of life as a writer. We also cover the dangers of book stores (spoiler, Ohio has a ton of great ones), the anxiety of sharing drafts, and omnipresent impostor syndrome.  Check out Johna's book of poetry,...

Ok, he didn't get (sort of) married  on the episode , but he's had three weddings to plan so far this year and has been absent for some time, and we were so thrilled upon his return that we promptly forgot about third person omniscient, which was ostensibly the focus of the episode. Krispy isn't legally married (which makes him no less wedded to his wife, in our humble opinion; they...

This week the Cru swap tales and writing tips for overcoming every writer's stalking shadow: writer's block. PC focuses on writing to a deadline; WebEater lauds the primacy of the editing process (you can't, after all, edit a blank page!), and Murph Kobayashi Marus the whole thing by changing his mindset.  Stories start around the 20:30 mark and include a meet cute; a meat cute; a p...

This week author Olivia Snow joins the Cru to talk regency romance writing, writing while parenting, and the mutual suffering all writers share. We talk shop along the way, from character creation to outlining to marketing, and take a good long look at how to create real  depth for characters.  The flash fiction portion of the podcast kicks off at 12:40 and includes a crusty (or at least, suspecte...

We continue our series on POV narration this week with a discussion on Third Person Limited . The Cru agrees this is a sweet spot between first person and third person omniscient , offering a balance between the closeness to the character of first person while maintaining enough distance to keep things interesting and open. We give tips for using 3rd limited to maintain reader engagement, craft a...

The Cru sit down with board game designer Bruce Glassco , author of Betrayal at House on the Hill , to chat about narrative game design and literary inspiration in board games. Bruce shares his inspiration for a haunted house game, as well as the challenges (and tricks to overcome them) of writing a horror-genre board game. It's a fun conversation ranging from Wuthering Heights to the challen...

This week you will hear all about second person point of view. You'll enjoy a few choose your own adventure-style (NB- they can't be actual Choose Your Own Adventure stories, as that's trademarked) stories, and you'll hopefully share in the nostalgia the Cru has for those marvelous works of the 80s and 90s. You'll also learn about the immersive narration second person pov...

Welcome to Spooky Season! In our writing craft discussion this week, we focus on first person narration. It can be particularly powerful for horror, but can wear on readers when they have to read "I, I, I" over and over again. So, it must be treated with care! BUT, for those willing to practice with it, it opens plenty of doors. From unreliable narrators to the horrific tension found onl...

This week the Cru studies Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. We discuss his life, his career, and the styles and themes towards which he gravitated. Place and time were super important to Mahfouz, and Krispy shares what it was like to walk through Cairo following Mahfouz's footsteps. Then we shamelessly steal his style as an author imitation challenge, learning from his style to strengthen our ow...