Alida Winternheimer

Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft

Arts EN ↓ 373 episodes

Each week, co-hosts, Alida Winternheimer, author and writing coach at Word Essential, and Kathryn Arnold, emerging writer, have conversations about the craft of writing fiction. They bring diverse experiences and talents to the table from both the traditional and indie worlds. Our goal is for each episode to be a fun, lively discussion of some aspect of story craft that enlightens, as well as entertains. Sometimes we have special guests. All episodes are available in video as well. Visit www. StoryWorksPodcast.com for videos, show notes, and more.

Author

Alida Winternheimer

Episodes

Story Works Round Table 047 | Unlikeable Characters 29.03.2018 34:36

This week, Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss unlikeable characters. What’s the difference between a flawed character and an unlikeable one? Can you go too far writing an unlikeable character? Why write one at all? Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 046 | Writing Through Anxiety 22.03.2018 23:24

Alida, Kathryn, and Robert welcome special guest, Micah Joel, back to the Round Table to talk about the writing life. No matter who we are, we've probably dealt with anxiety and depression at some point in our writing careers. Whether we're talking clinical or "normal" stress and overwhelm, nothing kills creativity like emotional imbalance. Micah discusses ways to cope and overcome. He has an eboo...

Story Works Round Table 45 | Lit RPG 15.03.2018 26:24

We welcome special guest Micah Joel to the Round Table this week to talk Lit RPG and gamified fiction. If you aren't familiar with this rising genre, join us as we quiz Micah about the writer's role getting the reader into the game! Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 44 | World Building in Dystopian & Post Apocalyptic Fiction 08.03.2018 37:19

Alida & Robert welcome J Thorn back to the round table to discuss world building in the genres of dystopian & post apocalyptic fiction.  Don't miss the companion episode, number 42, on dystopian & post apocalyptic fiction with J Thorn.  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 043 | Balancing Character & World Building 01.03.2018 27:16

This week, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the process of writing early drafts in regard to character and world building. Sometimes one can seem to block the other. But do they really go hand in hand? How much process is personal preference? Is Robert really just afraid of writer’s block? Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 042 | Post Apocalyptic & Dystopian Fiction 22.02.2018 33:58

This week, Alida and Robert welcome best-selling author J Thorn to the Round Table to discuss post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction as part of our genre series.  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 041 | Climaxes 15.02.2018 28:43

This week Alida, Kathryn, & Robert talk climaxes, both at the chapter level and the book level. It’s a lively conversation with examples and a reminder not to make your rules too hard and fast lest they limit your storycraft. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 040 | Character Relationships 08.02.2018 24:30

This week, we discuss how to keep the "stuff" between your supporting cast of characters real, avoiding the problem of "nice-nice," and using tension to create forward momentum in your story.  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 039 | Tropes 01.02.2018 22:10

This week, Alida, Robert & Kathryn discuss the oft used and oft misunderstood trope. What is a trope really? How do we use them? Why and how are so many people confused about tropes? Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 038 | Bechdel-Wallace Test 25.01.2018 27:01

This week, Alida, Kathryn & Robert talk about the Bechdel-Wallace test and gender equality in literature. Do we need to stop and think about our female characters, the roles they play in our stories, how much dialogue they’re given, and what they talk about? Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 037 | Revision 18.01.2018 29:22

Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss revision, including some of our favorite tools and techniques for making the process easier.  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 036 | First Drafts 11.01.2018 22:31

Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss first drafts. Love them or hate them, there's no other way to start your book. We talk the pain and pleasure of getting your story on the page. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 035 | Goal Setting 04.01.2018 24:02

In honor of New Year’s, or maybe just in time for New Year’s, we discuss goal setting and all the tips and tricks we use to help ourselves identify our priorities and stick to them. Are outcomes better than goals? Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 034 | Motivation 28.12.2017 25:02

This week, in honor of the holidays and the new year coming fast, we talk motivation. What motivates us to write and what are our favorite tools and tricks to keep ourselves motivated, especially when life gets crazy?   Show notes & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 033 | Backstory 21.12.2017 24:41

This week, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn discuss backstory. What is it? How much is a good thing? How can you avoid overdoing or undergoing it? And more! Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 032 | Resting the Writer's Brain 14.12.2017 25:47

Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the benefits of travel, retreat, and otherwise resting the writer's brain. How to write on the go, find inspiration, and come back refreshed and ready to write more. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 031 | Writing Skills, part 2 07.12.2017 29:58

Alida & Kathryn continue their conversation with special guest Steve Peha about writing skills we all need, regardless of genre. Show notes & more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com Get Alida’s course, Scary Monsters & Super Creeps, at www. StoryWorksFiction.com   Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 030 | Writing Skills, part 1 30.11.2017 37:06

Alida & Kathryn welcome Steve Peha to the Round Table. We learn about Steve’s journey from technical writer to writing teacher to fiction writer and discuss the skills we all need to be good writers, regardless of genre. Show notes and more at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 029 | Emotional Wounds & Character Arcs 23.11.2017 34:28

Robert's still on vacation, so Alida & Kathryn welcome special guest, Becca Puglisi back to the show to talk about character arcs and role emotional wounds play in our characters' evolution over the course of a story. This episode is another one cram-packed with amazing takeaways!  Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 028 | Emotional Wound Thesaurus 16.11.2017 33:18

Alida & Kathryn welcome Becca Puglisi, co-author of the Emotional Wound Thesaurus, to the Round Table. Getting your characters' emotional wounds right can be the key to getting their backstory, motivation, and even moral code right. This is an insightful episode with lots of take-aways.  Show notes at www. StoryWorksPodcast.com Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 027 | First Person Point of View 09.11.2017 28:21

Alida, Kathryn, and Robert discuss the first person point of view (1st person POV). We get into strengths and weaknesses, a common misconception, and the popularity of first person in YA and NA fiction. Before you listen to this episode, have a listen to episode 002  Introduction to Point of View. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 026 | Writing Villains 02.11.2017 27:31

In a companion episode to #023, 3D Villains, we discuss writing villains, with and without POVs. What makes them challenging to write? How to revise them for motivation and believability, and more! Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 025 | Re-readable Books 26.10.2017 32:07

Alida, Kathryn, and Robert talk re-readable books, what makes them worth visiting again and what can we learn from them as writers.  Visit the Story Works Writers Facebook Group and share your re-readable list with us! Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 024 | Twists 19.10.2017 29:00

This week we talk about twists. Kathryn brings lots of questions to the round table and Robert makes a case for avoiding gimmicks. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!

Story Works Round Table 023 | 3D Villains 12.10.2017 30:13

Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss what makes a villain a good one, getting into character development, the pitfalls of typecasting your villain, and lots of examples across genres. Visit WordEssential.com and book a discovery call today!