...and it's writing.
A tipsy discussion of writing craft. Writers D.C. McNaughton and Avery Ames imbibe a few drinks while they review and revise their old (and often cringey) writing. Each episode focuses on a particular aspect of craft and features a themed cocktail pairing.
Episodes
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Ep082 (Mini-Ep): Oh, the Agony
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Why should your characters suffer? D.C. and Avery discuss how your characters' suffering translates in different genres, how it can add tension, and various ways to torment your characters.
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Ep081 (Mini-Ep): ”As you know, Bob”
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
"As you know, this is a podcast." In this episode, D.C. and Avery discuss "as you know, Bob" conversations in your writing. Do your characters over-explain things to one another for the reader's benefit? We chat about our thoughts on the matter and our best tips for avoiding the dreaded "as you know" dialogue.
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Ep080 (Mini-Ep): Chapters
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
D.C. and Avery discuss chapters! How long is our "ideal" chapter, how do we decide where to place chapter breaks, and our thoughts on books that disdain chapters entirely.
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Ep079 (Mini-Ep): Impostor Syndrome
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
One of the most common maladies to strike writers: the dreaded Impostor Syndrome. We discuss what it is, how it affects us, and our best tips to combat it.
Questions to ask yourself to combat anxiety:
What is the thing you're worried about?(Example for Impostor Syndrome: "that I'm actually a bad writer")
What are some clues your worry won't come true?
If your worry doesn't come true, what will probably happen instead?
If your worry does come true, will you eventually be okay?
After answering all these, ask: How has my worry changed?
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Ep078 (Mini-Ep): Running a Critique Group
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Can't find any critique groups to join? In this episode, we discuss ways to start your own and some best practices for running one.Mentioned:
NaNoWriMo Forum
AbsoluteWrite Forum
Critique Group Rules Template
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Ep077: Off the Rails with Bendi Barrett!
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
In one of our most unhinged episodes, Avery and D.C. sit down with author Bendi Barrett to discuss pen names, writing interactive fiction, the utter satisfaction of tearing dot matrix paper, and the best chapstick flavor.
Find out more about Bendi and his work here, or follow him on Twitter.
Other items mentioned:
Bar Cart Bookshelf on Twitter
Bar Cart Bookshelf Recipe: "The Rapacious" Cocktail
Twine
ChoiceScript
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Ep 076 (Mini Ep): Instagram Tips
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
With a lot of writers currently migrating to Instagram from the bird site, we share some of our best tips and tricks for navigating and maximizing Instagram as an author.
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Ep 075: Interview with Literary Agent, Chelsea Hensley!
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Avery and guest host Emily chat with agent Chelsea Hensley of KT Literary. We discuss the ongoing HarperCollins Union strike, our beefs against the Game of Thrones TV show, and the realities of the query trenches from the other side.
More information about Chelsea and how to query her can be found here.
Emily's Percy Jackson podcast, Monster Donut, can be found here.
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Ep 074 (Mini-Ep): Embrace Your Genre
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Avery and D.C. discuss how to embrace and celebrate your work's genre instead of fighting it, as well as finding your niche and your audience.
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Ep 073: Commissioning Artists
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
D.C. and Avery discuss the ins and outs of hiring artists for cover art, swag, or children's book illustration. In this episode, they dissect both the business and the creative side of the commissioning process.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Papyrus Skit from Saturday Night Live
ArtStation
Writers: How To Credit Illustrators, Blog Post by D.C. McNaughton