Tell The Damn Story

Some movies entertain us for hours. Others continue teaching writers for generations. In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex and Chris revisit a handful of timeless classics, including In the Heat of the Night ('66), Jaws ('75), The Fly ('58), and Charlie Chaplin's The Kid ('21), to uncover why they still work decades after they were made. Along the way, they explore: Why...

What if your plot doesn’t work because of the world you chose? What if it's in the wrong genre? A heist. A mystery. A romance. A horror story. A superhero adventure. The core idea might stay exactly the same—but everything else changes. In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore how genre influences character, setting, pacing, dialogue, tone, conflict, and even...

Why do some villains stay with us long after the story ends? Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan break down the evolution of villains—from classic one-dimensional bad guys to complex characters like Snape, Vader, Khan, and Thanos. Learn how motivation, morality, obsession, and personal history can turn a stock antagonist into a character readers can't stop thinking about. Have any questions, comments,...

When is a writer not alone? You sit at a keyboard wrestling with plot problems, self-doubt, unfinished drafts, and that nagging voice asking whether you're good enough to keep going. This week on Tell The Damn Story , Chris Ryan shares what happened when he pushed past those doubts and attended StokerCon, the annual conference of the Horror Writers Association. What he found wasn't just pa...

Even writers with decades of experience hear the negative voices. In this episode of Tell The Damn Story , Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan tackle one of the most common—and most painful—challenges creatives face: self-doubt. From imposter syndrome and rejection to career frustrations and the stories we tell ourselves about success. Our boys share personal struggles they've wrestled with recently a...

What happens when Frankenstein's monster survives the torch-wielding mob... and becomes a private detective? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story , Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan welcome back prolific author, stuntman, and master storyteller Teel James Glenn to explore the creative process behind his acclaimed Adam Paradise novels—a noir-inspired reimagining of Mary Shelley's legendary crea...

Chris and Alex joined with the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention to ask and answer that question. The boys gathered artists/panelists Micheline Hess, Shawn Alleyne, and audience members for an open conversation about one of the biggest questions facing creative people today: Is AI helping artists… or replacing them? What followed wasn’t a debate with winners and losers. It became a discuss...

What makes a short story truly work? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story , Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan break down the value of writing short fiction, how short stories sharpen your storytelling skills, and the different ways to create powerful story hooks that grab readers fast. Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Then, please leave them in the Comments Section. Write: TTDSOnAir@gmail...

Wouldn't it be great if all you had to do was write your book, put it up for sale, and then watch the customer lineup? Well, that's not how it works. In this episode, cohosts Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan dive into the critical but often overlooked realities of pitching your ideas, planning promotional campaigns, and building your platform—regardless of whether you’re seeking a traditional p...

What do you do with a monster who's been alive for 160 years? And what if that monster speaks a dozen languages, and sees the moral essence of every human being in colors and shapes — but just wants to understand what it means to be human? You make him a private detective in 1939 New York. And then you let him loose on the Nazis. This week Alex and Chris sit down with author and storyteller Te...

Hey, storytellers! This week, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan are getting real about something every creative struggles with at some point—confidence. They’re sharing stories about their own writing journeys (the wins and the wipeouts), dropping wisdom from Caroline Bick’s new book about digging into Stephen King’s archives, and giving honest answers to the most common confidence-killers that hold wr...

Does writing hopeful stories mean you're clueless? In this episode, with Chris away, Alex dives solo into the power and purpose of writing with hope—even when the world feels heavy with negativity. Too often, we're surrounded by doom and gloom, but as Alex reminds us, uplifting stories matter just as much as the darker ones. This episode explores why optimism is not naivete, the unique res...

Welcome to "Tell The Damn Story." In today's episode, Alex and Chris explore the art of crafting believable, relatable characters and explain the power of nuance in storytelling. Drawing from the film and book "Project Hail Mary," they break down how small details and subtle moments can forge real empathy and connection between an audience and even the most unlikely protago...

What does it really take to break into comics, animation, and film—and stay there? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story , Alex and sit down with screenwriter Brandon Easton to talk about the grind behind his career—and the truth most people don’t hear. From hustling at conventions in the ’90s…to navigating industry politics…to becoming the head writer on Iyanu … Brandon shares the real path: the...

Welcome to Tell The Damn Story ! In this episode, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons take a candid, often humorous look at the journey of building a writing discipline, especially for emerging authors. Drawing from personal stories of creative struggles, early rejection, and family skepticism, they reveal the difficult but deeply rewarding pursuit of storytelling. Along the way, Chris and Alex share insi...

Today, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan enthusiastically discuss the craft of building unforgettable characters, taking inspiration from none other than Michael B. Jordan. Right after his Oscar win, Jordan shared the journaling process he uses to create fully formed backstories for his roles—an approach our hosts believe every writer should consider. Throughout this episode, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ry...

Welcome to a brand new episode of Tell The Damn Story ! This time, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons head straight to the heart of what makes storytelling possible for so many writers—the trusty index card. In this episode, you’ll hear the inside scoop on a simple, affordable, and portable technique that’s helped countless creators map out their stories, movies, and plays. But there’s more—Chris Ryan re...

"What's Trickier? Writing The Stories, Or Getting Out To Meet The Public?" In this week’s installment, hosts Alex and Chris are joined once again by acclaimed writers Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson for Part 2 of their deep-dive into conquering creative challenges and empowering aspiring authors. This episode is packed with heartfelt stories, candid reflections, and practical advi...

Welcome to a brand new episode of "Tell The Damn Story," where the journey of writing is as real as it gets! In this episode, co-hosts Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan are joined by returning favorites Jeannine Acheson and Tom Sniegoski for a heartfelt, hilarious, and incredibly honest conversation about conquering creative challenges—especially those every aspiring author faces. The group dives into...

What does it really mean to survive through art? Alex and Chris take a thoughtful detour from craft mechanics and dive into something deeper — how writing, storytelling, and the arts help us survive difficult seasons of life. From Chris’s college epiphany (when a professor bluntly told him he loved music… but wasn’t a musician), to reflections on Stephen King writing his way through trauma, to sto...

On this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex and Chris dive headfirst into an age-old creative conundrum: do writers need permission to be weird? With their signature blend of humor and insight, they explore what “weird” even means in the world of writers, artists, and storytellers, and why embracing it might just be the secret key to unlocking your most authentic work. Drawing from personal anecd...

Despite the cold and snow, Alex and Chris Ryan dive deep into the art of subtext—those rich, unspoken layers that give stories their real meaning. Happily drawing from decades of teaching, writing, and storytelling, they share practical tips to help writers move beyond plot and action and into the heart of what a story is truly about. You’ll hear examples from contemporary pop culture, like Marvel...

"The boys are back in town to explore creativity, responsibility, and the uneasy questions AI brings to writing and illustrative arts. " Welcome to Part 2 of episode #400. Join cohosts Alex and Chris, along with returning TTDS cocreator Tim Fielder, as they explore the number one controversy about creativity. From nostalgic sketches inspired by classics like Johnny Quest to cutting-edge...

"Tim Fielder joins us to explore creativity, responsibility, and the uneasy questions AI brings to the arts." Welcome to a very special milestone on "Tell The Damn Story"— our 400th episode! This week, Alex and Chris are joined by the podcast’s original co-founder, Tim Fielder, for the first half of a two-part event that dives deep into one of the hottest and most controversial...

In this episode, hosts Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons delve into the multifaceted journey of aspiring and struggling writers. They discuss ... The importance of storytelling as a reflection of life, Explore how to tackle challenging themes without sermonizing, and Debate whether writers should maintain neutrality. Amid humorous exchanges and personal anecdotes, Chris and Alex provide valuable insight...