All Episodes
Petty Peeve: Using Full Names in Love Confessions
Why do characters insist on using someone’s full name when confessing their love? In this short Petty Peeve episode, I rant about this storytelling trope and why it gr...
Reddit Story Question: Bringing a Ghost Back to Life in a Fantasy Story
What happens when a man falls in love with a ghost and wants her to become part of his life—permanently? Inspired by a Reddit question, this episode explores ways to b...
Petty Peeve: Why Are "Strong Female Characters" So Rude?
In this Petty Peeve episode, I’m letting off steam about the frustrating trope of equating strong female characters with being unnecessarily rude or abrasive—and the w...
Reddit Story Question: How to Extend Scenes and Build Longer Chapters
Feeling like your scenes are too short or your chapters are rushing by? Inspired by a Reddit question, this episode dives into practical strategies for extending scene...
Creating a Retro Sci-Fi Cyberpunk Story from Scratch with Storymatic
What happens when you combine Storymatic prompts, Dan Harmon's Story Circle, and a love for retro sci-fi cyberpunk? In this episode, we build a thrilling story from sc...
Reddit Story Question: Why Would Aliens Start a War Over Earth?
Inspired by a Reddit story question, this episode explores the motivations behind an alien surprise attack in a space opera setting. What could be so rare and valuable...
Story Question--Beyond Lovecraft: Crafting Unique Eldritch Monsters for a Space Opera
Eldritch monsters are a staple of sci-fi and horror, but how do you create one that feels fresh, engaging, and suited to a space opera? In this episode, we tackle a Re...
Reddit Question: The Chocomancer: Sweet Magic, Sour Conflicts
What happens when a chocolatier wields magic? Meet the Chocomancer, a candy-conjuring magician who escaped a gilded prison working for a king. In this episode, we div...
Immortal but Miserable: Finding Happiness in Eternal Life
Immortality might sound like a gift, but for one character, it’s a never-ending nightmare. In this episode, we tackle the challenge of creating meaningful character gr...
Petty Peeves: Blink and You’ll Miss It
In this Petty Peeves episode, I’m calling out the overuse of blinking in stories—why it often feels like a wasted action and how it can drain energy from a scene. But ...
Too Much Trauma? Crafting a Fighter with a Gentle Side
In this Story Snack, we’re addressing a Reddit question on balancing trauma and personality in character development. Can a genetically modified warrior with a traumat...
Untangling Complexity: Streamlining Story Elements
In this Story Snack, we’re answering a Reddit question about handling complex story elements without overwhelming the plot. How do you balance a large cast of characte...
Savior Showdown: Adult Hero or Growing Child?
In this Story Snack, we’re tackling a thought-provoking question about the ultimate savior story. Should humanity’s last hope be an adult, fully equipped to tackle a c...
Petty Peeves: Just Talk Already!
In this Petty Peeves episode, I’m taking aim at a storytelling trope that drives me up the wall: when entire conflicts hinge on a misunderstanding that could be resolv...
Gray and Detached: Writing an Emotionless Character with Depth
In this Story Snack, we’re answering a Reddit question on creating an emotionless character without making them dull. How do you write a protagonist who feels almost n...
True Love, Tested: Rekindling Romance in a Fairytale Kingdom
In this Story Snack, we’re delving into a question about fairytale romance and redemption. How can a king, shaken by the scars of war, prove his love is true to the q...
Petty Peeves: Lip-Biting Overload
Welcome to Petty Peeves, a limited series where I rant about common storytelling habits that drive me nuts—and offer solutions for doing better. In this first episode,...
Unraveling Sanity: Writing a Slow Descent into Madness
In this Story Snack, we’re exploring how to write a character’s descent into madness, especially when they weren’t too stable to begin with! Inspired by a Reddit quest...