Radio FreeWrite

This week was half nonfiction, half fiction, and 100% navel‑gazing. We talked about how prompts can be used as writing exercises, not just story starters: dialogue drills, worldbuilding sprints, or even raw essays that feel more like therapy than fiction. After that, we read pieces inspired by Hunky Dory , ranging from heartfelt reflections to stories that definitely weren’t all sunshine and rainb...

WebEater, Murph, and Krispy discuss their (very) different methods of finding time to write, as well as the different strategies employed by famous authors. 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, and a writing prompt!   Be sure to follow us on Instagram (if that's your sort...

The whole Cru gathers together for this one to discuss another (comparatively) famous writing group, The Inklings, whose members included C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. We discussed our own writing habits, the tension between first‑draft chaos and polished revisions, and whether sharing work too early can kill your motivation. Along the way we played a particularly mean-spirited game. Stories b...

We closed out the season by cooking with fire—talking about hearth gods, sacred flames, and how domestic spaces carry just as much mythic weight as battlefields and quests.  Our topic of discussion today is how to get back into writing, or any pursuit, after a long time of not doing it. Join us as we get back together to enjoy community and writing all over again. Also: which kitchen appliances ha...

This week we explored failure in fiction—what makes a fiasco fun to read, how to balance comedy and tragedy, and why characters falling flat on their faces (figuratively or literally) makes for such good storytelling. Bonus points if it all goes wrong because of one small, terrible choice. Then we read stories for Fiasco , and everything predictably fell apart—in the best way. Amber of Tadpole Pre...

We embraced our inner cranks this week, talking about how to write characters who are difficult, unlikeable, or just plain mean, without turning your readers off. Naturally, we also talked about Scrooge, subtext, and whether being a literary curmudgeon means you’re doing something right. Around the 20:45 mark, we read stories for Curmudgeon , which featured sourpuss narrators, snide footnotes, and...

We got deep into the weeds about setting this week: how to write physical spaces that feel lived-in, how objects reflect characters, and why “it smelled like cat pee” might be the most emotionally evocative line in your draft. Also: house gods, heirlooms, and what it means to belong somewhere. Then we read stories for Lares et Penates , the Roman spirits of the home, which gave us cozy magic, haun...

PC picked a great prompt for this week's episode: a haunting, beautiful Mongolian song called "Altargana," specifically the version done by the group Khusugtun. Also, our beloved WebEater was out as host for this episode, so with Murph, PC, and Spud anarchy ruled! The song evoked emotions of sadness, yearning, and vibes of a secret, hidden message in our writers. Listen to the song,...

Here is the long-awaited conclusion to our series on the anatomy of a story. Be sure to listen to episodes 103 and 104 for writing and banter on the beginning and middle of stories respectively. In this one we tackle how to end stories, discussing how to tie together what was set up in the beginning, and expanded and deepened in the middle. Happy writing! Like this weeks episode and wish you could...

Part two of our structure series (be sure to listen to episode 103 before firing up this puppy- remember, PC's story is tagged onto 103 as a coda)! This week we tackled middles: what they’re for, why they sag, and how to stop yours from turning into a slog. We swapped strategies for keeping the tension alive, including sandwich metaphors, surprise reversals, and one writer’s very firm stance...

The WHOLE CRU has assembled for this one; be sure to stay tuned for PC's coda at the end of the episode! We chat about the beginnings of stories: what they have to accomplish, the parts they often contain, and pitfalls to be avoided. Then, we share the beginnings of our stories. Tales begin around the 23:30 mark and include an undertaker pondering death; a girl who finds some coins; the openi...

Are you an outliner or a wild freewriter with chaos in your veins? The Cru rehashes the age-old debate of plotting vs. pantsing: when to plan, when to surprise yourself, and how to keep from spiraling into a 30,000-word digression about the moon.  Around the 15:30 mark we read stories for Neap Tides , a prompt that gave us oceanic drama, rising tension, and one very soggy metaphor. Neap Tides. Tho...

This week we got real nerdy about trade literature. How do systems like Save the Cat! flatten style and novelty? Can fiction escape corporate buzzwords? How does something like a sentence diagram become weirdly emotional? We also talked about how “Buggins’ turn” (the idea that everyone gets a go, deserved or not) shows up in workplace fiction—and life. Around the 30 minute mark we read first-draft...

The Cru was joined by a hefty crowd at Bookhouse Brewing to celebrate their 100th Episode! We celebrated with a live holiday special full of cheer, chaos, and (naturally) terrifying Alpine folklore. Between bites of cookie and clinks of glasses we read stories from those who wrote in from afar (fan-favorites Richard Polt, YYC Typewriter, and JW Surface) and welcomed guests to read their stories at...

This week we took stock of our writing habits: what it takes to get in the zone, how to make the most of short bursts, and the eternal balance between outlining and leaping headfirst into chaos. There were rituals, routines, and a few suspiciously potato-related metaphors. Then we read first-draft stories inspired by Potato War , with tales ranging from military mashups to low-stakes food fights t...

The Cru discuss  why show vs. tell has particular resonance for a reading public geared toward visual storytelling. Stories begin around the 14:20 mark and include a tale of Cain; a stroll through the mist; and a fantastical rebirth. From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:  Land of Nod, The. This was the desolate land to which CAIN was exiled after he had slain ABEL (Genesis 4:16). Jona...

The Cru is joined by author KC Woodruff for a chat about her approach to worldbuilding, memes, and all sorts of authorial mayhem. Stories begin around the 24:30 mark and include a plant lady who is overgrown with plants; learning to cope with winter; a love letter; and a guy who hates gardens. You can, and should, follow KC on Instagram , X , and TikTok .  From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase a...

The Cru try their hand at writing in the vein of Danielle Steel, the bestselling living author. Since this is as close to cartoon-covered romances as we're likely to get (Spud: "Hold my beer." (I know, I know, she's more of a wine gal.)) we invited the G from Storywars CLE back on to chat about romance, popular fiction,  and how to get a podcast off the rails. Stories begin aro...

Tonight's prompt is from a new source:  The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig. We discuss all things related to the prompt, which is: bareleveling v. intr. trying to improve yourself without anyone else knowing about it, afraid that they'll think it's silly or grandiose or unnecessary, or that they'll end up calling too much attention to your efforts, transforming a...

The Cru examine tales of one of WebEater's childhood heroes: Zorro. Is pulp a guilty pleasure, or is there literary merit in tales designed only to delight us? Stories begin at the 17:45 mark and include Zorro on the Z; the far future of the rodentverse; a fan of Zorro, who brings a girl back to his apartment; and women showing up for each other.  From  Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and...

Clarice Lispector (1920-1977) was a Brazilian novelist whose bizarre and introspective work enthralls the reader. We take a look at her work and attempt to shamelessly steal her style for the evening. Stories begin around the 23:20 mark and include a woman, walking with her grandson; a goddess without agency; a poem about an apple; and a goddess, bearing witness. From Brewer's Dictionary of P...

The Cru record from their annual Christmas retreat, bringing you tales of a Christmas ghost story; two brothers, bringing home a tree; poems about winter and the holidays; and a first date. From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:   Christmas decorations. The Roman festival of SATURN was held in December and the temples were decorated with greenery. The DRUIDS are associated with MISTLET...

PC shares his method for visualizing characters and, crucially, keeping those descriptions consistent and vivid throughout a story or novel. Stories begin around the 25:20 mark and include a condemned judge; a family feud; Minos, after his reward; and a new Greek Myth.  From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:   Minos . The title of a legendary king and law-giver of Crete. At death, Mino...

Tonight we welcome the winner of Story Wars: After Dark! Sandwich shares her journey as a writer; how it feels to get back into the hobby after becoming a parent; and the kind of chutzpah it takes to walk into a stranger's basement and record a podcast. Stories begin around the 18:15 mark and include a gross dudebro; a woman who finds out her husband is not who she thought he was; a meditatio...

We have something a little different for you with this one: our prompt this evening is this poem by Instagram's Raving Poet . Discuss the challenges of using a poem as inspiration as well as the uniquely evocative nature of collage poetry.  We battle some internet gremlins, and The Lotus loses her connection. Despite these misfortunes, stories this evening begin around the 18:45 mark and incl...