Tell The Damn Story

Or, How Self-Assessment Helps Creativity . This week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan review what they did on their summer non-vacation to model how to do a seasonal self-assessment of successes, challenges, and disappointments that you can learn from so that you as a creative can build upon your successes, address your challenges, and pursue education and skills to overcome disappointments. Then, we...

Here's another way of looking at this episode. "Are Some Genres Aging Out of Audiences & Readership?" With Flinch Books' John Bruening and Jim Beard, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss whether pulp, adventure, and other older genres are still marketable. While we enjoyed these films, we couldn't help but notice the outdated sensibilities and lack of political corre...

In storytelling, can the old please the new? And can it inspire successful variations on the same theme? Comparing Indy Publishing Notes With Flinch Books' John Bruening and Jim Beard" This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan talk about the challenges of writing Indy publishing with friends John Bruening and Jim Beard. The gathering actively discusses the planning, publishing, marketi...

Once again, Alex and Chris are in the tiny Writer's Interrogation Room . The harsh white lamp lights burn into their eyes as they go deep to answer tough questions from our audience about some of the more subtle challenges of writing. "How do I write a story about a sensitive subject? "How do I write a story that's based on my experiences and not give away too much personal infor...

This week we're Answering audience questions" And our co-hosts, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan, talk about two top challenges. The first is the ups and downs Chris is facing by publishing a series of new horror anthologies. In the second part, our dynamic duo answers audience questions, including: How do I write a story that takes place in a location I don't know?  How do I writ...

"Underworld," to "Blue Marvel," to "King of Killers," A Writer's Gauntlet. Break out pen, paper, and an open mind yearning to gain insight! We have Kevin Grievioux for a long, in-depth interview about his comic book series, DARKSTORM, and DJINNATRA: RISE OF THE DJINN, as well as his co-creation of the supernatural film, hit UNDERWORLD. Then we dive into his acting...

Last week, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan engaged with challenge prompts from our listeners (with a little help from the mischievous Alex Simmons). This week our cohosts deliver answers to those challenges. Both wrote stories based on your challenges and this week, they read them and discuss the process of creating them. They show how opening yourself up to this kind of challenge or the world around...

This week, co-host Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan discuss a writing challenge set up by Alex but driven by the people who listen to and watch this podcast/YouTube Show. Participants gave us three words or phrases, and Alex and Chris agreed to choose from this impressively long list, get inspired by what was offered to us, and then write a short story from this inspiration. We discuss this chall...

A Tell The Damn Story fan calls in a fun response to her shout-out during episode 267.

Alex and Chris's summer celebration continues as we take a look at summer blockbuster hits and misses. We discuss The Flash, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Guardians of the Galaxy III, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, Top Gun: Maverick, and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One! Then Alex Simmons invites us into his time machine to take a look at what a real box-office flop t...

PART TWO. It's all about learning how to navigate the ride from idea to independent publishing with Soul Scream . This week Alex and Chris offer up Part Two of Chris's journey through 'Mordor' to produce and publish volume one of Soul Scream Antholozine . We hope that fellow creatives will gain support by us discussing all the walls hit and all the learning that had to be pursued....

This week, Alex and Chris, discuss following a dream from early influences and inspirations through development until you hit a wall, and then figuring out how to go beyond. Alex interviews Chris about the secret origins of creating his Soul Scream Antholozine , which is finally available on Amazon.com . We hope hearing the challenges he faced can inspire you to go beyond the challenges you face....

This week, Alex and Chris use Spider-Man Across The Spiderverse to teach how to write a great story on multiple levels. We focus on visual storytelling and character to show just a few examples of how many things go right in this movie. And then we compare it with other movies, from Marvel, where the storytelling does not go as well. There are many lessons to learn from this episode, and we hope y...

Excerpts from -Tell The Damn Story, Episode 10 _ How To Get Character Into Characters (and Why). In revisiting this episode of Tell The Damn Story , Chris Ryan, and Alex Simmons discuss the importance of creating multi-dimensional characters in storytelling. They read an excerpt from two original short stories about Alex's character BlackJack as an example of someone who doesn't have an al...

"Duuuuuudes, It's Summer Dreaming Time!" This week Alex and Chris have a lot of fun talking about their favorite movies that came out in, or that they rewatch during the summer. It is all part of our Summer Dreaming theme for the next few episodes. The boys also talk about the value of analyzing films and screenplays, including the differences between the "12 Angry Men" scr...

After creating your world finding your target audience is your next big challenge. This week Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan explore one of the more confounding areas of a writer's journey: who the heck are our readers? Combining multiple sources, we discuss or break down the answer to that question into four steps writers can take. All writers need to learn that not everybody will love what...

OR, How Writers Can Keep Mentally Healthy! This week cohosts Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan honor mental health awareness month by discussing ways to challenge a sad reality. We cite research that confirms writers and creatives are eight times more likely to suffer mental health issues than people in non-creative professions. Then we offer a few researched suggestions on how to stay mentally he...

Every writer has a Mom in their life. Happy Mother's Day! What's your story? This week Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan shout out moms and their influence, one way or another, on our writing. While this episode is short, it is fun, with a few laughs, a few heartfelt moments, and some truths about our damn story and how to tell your damn story to your mom today. Enjoy! Say Hi to Your Mom F...

"Your words don't have to be perfect the first time they hit the page!" This week, Alex Simmons and Christopher Ryan take writers through how to edit and revise their work. Many creatives think of editing and revision as drudge work or punishment, the correcting of mistakes. But in fact, it is the opportunity to make good work great and great work excellent. That's why we explore...

A little advice on public appearances for writers. This week Alex and I, give several pointed pieces of advice about what to do to make your public appearances more successful. We talk about book launches, readings, selling at conventions, speaking to potential customers, and talking with people who are more established in the profession than you might be. We also discuss strategies for creating a...

Or, what do artists think about and why? The weekend of April 14-16th, several comic artists, psychologists, students, and fans met in Bloomington, Normal Illinois for a good time called ReggieCon .   Among those present were NY Times award-winning Brazilian artist/author Fabio Moon , along with comic artist/publisher Victor Dandridge , clinical psychologist and “Psych-Geek, Dr. Vanessa Hintz .” ...

A question that can only be answered in West Philadelphia Story. This week Alex and Chris speak with award-winning Philadelphia-based artist Jamar Nicholas . Jamar is the triple threat creator/writer/illustrator of LEON THE EXTRAORDINARY , (published by Scholastic Press). He's also an educator who dedicated his career to helping young people realize the power of the visual narrative. In an oft...

Or ... The One Where A Listener Booked The Guest This week, Alex and Chris go international once again, speaking with artist Christian Nelson of Toronto, Canada, an animator, comic book creator, and all-around creative. And what makes this even more fun is that he was recommended to the show by his neighbor, Jenny, who listens to TTDS on the regular. Come check out how they get it done up in the g...

"Sometimes your worse audience can be one of your own." Chris is on the road in Williamsburg Virginia , to face ... 5 days at a writer's conference. But this isn't to meet the fans. It's days of learning, writing, and public readings of each other's works for ... critiquing. How do you face a room full of other writers all looking to see who does what and how well? And re...

When Is a Meeting Not a Meeting? When it becomes an Episode! This week, Alex and Chris were innocently having a pre-production meeting when an episode of TTDS broke out! That's right, folks, we realized that the stuff we were talking about is probably precisely the same stuff you're talking about – ways to get your work out in front of the people who are most likely to purchase and enjoy i...