Needs More Words

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A podcast about writing and reading, because we're all stuck on something. Hosted by Vicki Martin and Margaret Hanson.

Needs More Words Podcast


    • May 6, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 41 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Needs More Words

    #41 - Tropes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2022 53:46


    In this episode, we discuss tropes we love, tropes we don't love, and how tropes are useful in our own writing. Also, apologies for the sound of Vicki's chair throughout the episode - she'll be finding a new place to sit for the next one (which will hopefully go up in a more timely manner too!) Links: - TV Tropes: https://tvtropes.org/ Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com

    #40 - Writing Goals 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 44:31


    We check in on our 2021 writing goals, set some new ones for 2022 and tell you all about the Needs More Rainbow reading challenge!   Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com

    #39 - Favourite Books of 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2022 47:00


    In an annual tradition (albeit a bit later than usual), we discuss our favourite fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels/comics that we read in 2021. Also be sure to check out Margaret's short story, "Frankenstein was the Scientist," in issue #20 of Polar Borealis: http://polarborealis.ca/currentback-issues/   Links: - Goodreads list of our favourite books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/171440.Needs_More_Words_Favourite_Books - Rogue Podron Mission 20-11: Head-tail Etiquette with Alexander Freed: https://roguepodron.com/2021/06/09/rogue-podron-mission-20-11-head-tail-etiquette-with-alexander-freed/ - Witchermania by Sophie from Mars: https://roguepodron.com/2021/06/09/rogue-podron-mission-20-11-head-tail-etiquette-with-alexander-freed/     Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com  

    #38 - Q&A & NaNoWriMo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 62:05


    We answer listener questions and talk about NaNoWriMo... and then post the episode weeks after NaNo ends

    #37 - Writing Prompts (aka the Cursed Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 42:16


    After an unexpectedly long break, we're back with an episode all about writing prompts: what they are and how we approach using them. Also, it's the last week to get questions in for our Q&A episode. Links: NYC Midnight: https://www.nycmidnight.com/ Furious Fiction: https://www.writerscentre.com.au/furious-fiction/ The First Line Literary Journal: https://www.thefirstline.com/ Story Plot Generator Pro: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andromo.dev17163.app230704    Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com  

    #36 - Goodreads

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 45:28


    We discuss how we use review website Goodreads to enhance our reading life

    #35 - Secondary Characters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 58:55


    Our look at characters ends and we've saved the best for last: the secondary characters.  Also, remember to send in questions for the upcoming Q&A episode!   Links: Music in the opening is Secondary Characters, from the musical [title of show]: https://youtu.be/tt5xuqiXlAY TV Tropes: Five-Man Band: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FiveManBand  Trope Talk: Five Man Band: https://youtu.be/lmmNuic_4tQ    Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com

    #34 - Antagonists

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 55:39


    Following up on our protagonist episode, we talk about the antagonists who oppose them! LINKS The Parking Level: http://www.allworldswayfarer.com/story10/  The Wrong Counter: https://yubsie.tumblr.com/post/655922097031397376/the-a-new-dawn-wrong-counter Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com Email us: needsmorewords@gmail.com

    #33 - Protagonists

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2021 48:53


    Our three part series on characters kicks off with... the protagonist!

    #32 - Writing Slumps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2021 34:48


    We discuss writing slumps, why we don't like them and strategies to get out of them. LINKS: https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/sometimes-writers-block-is-really-depression/ Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com

    #31 - Canada Reads 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2021 37:22


    We discuss our thoughts on this year's battle of the Canadian books. LINKS Canada Reads: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com

    #30 - Star Wars

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 67:25


    In which we are a Star Wars podcast!   Sidways's video on Rogue One's music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVqPP-52No   And the trouble with TRoS's music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_8-dWSLDWI   Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com

    #29 - Writing Challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 31:40


    We discuss some of the things we don't like to write about and how to do it anyway when we have to.   Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com

    # 28 - On the Naming of Characters (or Sometimes Cats)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2021 35:47


    We discuss different approaches and challenges for giving all those fictional people names so they aren't all Man #1. LINKS: Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com/ Nameberry: https://nameberry.com/ Last name generator: https://www.name-generator.org.uk/last/  Medieval Name Database: http://dmnes.org/ Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  Follow us on Twitter @needsmorewords Check out our website: needsmorewords.com

    #27 - Favourite Writing Tools

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2021 38:53


    We discuss some of our favourite tools that we use in our writing!   LINKS Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview Evernote: https://evernote.com/ 4theWords: https://4thewords.com referral code: NLHSZ23062 Grammarly: https://app.grammarly.com/ Validation (aka AO3): https://archiveofourown.org Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast  

    #26 - 2021 Writing Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 24:19


    We celebrate a new year and say good riddance to 2020 by setting some writing goals.

    #25 - Favourite Books of 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2020 41:12


    In an annual tradition, we discuss our favourite fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels/comics that we read in 2020.

    #24 - NYC Midnight Round 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 30:08


    In this episode, we talk about two stories we wrote using the same NYC Midnight prompt: comedy / trophy room / a manual. Links: Usability Test by Vicki: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EXuvsavTPaGPZMozjpmxNG_yDMrrbT4nI_bj4Et0FmY/edit?usp=sharing Isn't It Neat by Margaret: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fJt9Iydzi6_YOWH6QUhf3aZHvpmGjC8XkGzoPzbJmTo/edit Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast

    #23 - First Drafts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 34:18


    We talk about our process for first drafts in short and long fiction and all the terrible things we do to get something worth revising. LINKS: KoFi: kofi.com/needsmorewordspodcast

    #22 - Bird by Bird

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2020 43:34


    We take a look at classic craft book Bird by Bird and discussion what advice did and didn't work for us. LINKS Bird by Bird: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12543.Bird_by_Bird

    #21 - NaNoWriMo Prep

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 36:57


    In a less super-sized episode, we discuss our projects for NaNoWriMo 2020 and what prep work we're doing leading up to November. Links: 9 Point Plot Dot: https://blog.nanowrimo.org/post/149858948126/plot-doctoring-9-steps-to-build-a-strong-plot Vicki's character sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OsrL9BxKibOX8cjpzUua5TkHEiYN_RpEkWhZ3Ux-Frg/edit?usp=sharing  The History Chicks Episode 9: Gilded Age Heiresses: http://thehistorychicks.com/shownotes-episode-nine-gilded-age-heiresses/  The Writer's Block Tarot: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/viviancaethe/the-writers-block-tarot Le Beau Monde Tarot: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/526573486/le-beau-monde-tarot

    #20 - Our Genres: Science Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 49:41


    We take a look at another of our favourite genres: science fiction. Surprise, we have a lot to  say about this one too!   Links: Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast

    #19 - Canada Reads 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 36:59


    We discuss Canada Reads 2020, the annual battle of the books run by CBC.   Links: - Canada Reads: https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads - Trailer for Trickster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IHLDWHxSLw

    #18 - Deep Dive: The Rock Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 29:48


    We take a close look at "The Rock Garden", a short story written by Vicki. LINKS: The story: https://victoriakmartin.com/the-rock-garden/  NYC Midnight: http://nycmidnight.com/  YeahWrite https://yeahwrite.me/   Diefenbunker Museum: https://diefenbunker.ca/en/  How To Cake It: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvM1hVcRJmVWDtATYarC0KA Bernadette Banner: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSHtaUm-FjUps090S7crO4Q

    #17 - Anthologies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020 38:33


    We discuss anthologies as a good way to read short fiction and a market for publishing it. LINKS 4 the Words: https://4thewords.com/ (use referral code NLHSZ23062) We Shall Be Monsters: https://renaissance-107765.square.site/product/we-shall-be-monsters/52?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=2 Jennifer Lee Rossman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenLRossman Horror Tree (market listing): https://horrortree.com/ Papercat Press (market roundup): https://papercatpress.com/

    #16 - Adaptations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2020 40:56


    We're back from a bit of a break with a new episode, looking in the art and sometimes horror of adaptations. Links: Lost in Adaption by Dominic Noble: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPtiXdv7RoU8IkrJeNY73qw Lindsay Ellis' review of The Hobbit, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTRUQ-RKfUs&t=1970s Lessons from the Screenplay, Arrival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTxvzkwVsQE&t=523s Memories from my TV/Movie Experience by Rick Riordan: https://rickriordan.com/2018/11/memories-from-my-tv-movie-experience/ 

    #15 - Where We Get Our Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 26:56


    We tackle the classic writing question of "Where do you get your ideas?", complete with looking at how an idea evolves into a story. LINKS Renaissance Virtual Convention: https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/events/renaissance-virtual-conference/ Evernote: https://evernote.com/ Old World: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/old-world/home   Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/needsmorewordspodcast

    #14 - Our Genres: Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 38:22


    We take a deep dive into one of our favourite genres: fantasy. Apparently it's something we have a lot to say about. Links: Hello Future Me: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQMO-YL87u-6Rt8hIVsRjA Artifexian: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeh-pJYRZTBJDXMNZeWSUVA

    #13 - We Don't Have a Plan (Pantsing)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 27:57


    In the second part of our examination of plotting vs pantsing, we discuss how things go off outline. LINKS The Pants Song from Be More Chill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1QZgHtYAgQ Stephenie Meyer Discusses Jacob: https://stepheniemeyer.com/the-books/new-moon/new-moon-the-story/

    #12 - We Have a Plan (Plotting)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 28:37


    The first of a two-part look at plotting vs pantsing. In this episode, the dream of having an outline lives. Links: What kind of a plotting method will work best for you and your story?: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/5d2513fa4fc6b400143e9004#  How Three-Act Screenplays Work (and why it matters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0QO7YuKKdI Defining an Act: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j56WPBaiPYQ The Hero's Journey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey Nine Dot Plot Dot Outline: https://blog.nanowrimo.org/post/149858948126/plot-doctoring-9-steps-to-build-a-strong-plot Ladyknightthebrave's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBatyalewbel

    #11 - Editing in the Time of COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 31:40


    We discuss the ins and outs of editing both your own work and that of other people. LINKS: Renaissance Press: https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/ Chocolate River Publishing: https://www.chocolateriver.ca/ Canadian English: https://public.oed.com/blog/canadian-english/ Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/

    #10 - Books That Influenced our Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2020 23:04


    We take a look at our formative years to discuss the books and authors who influenced our writing up until today. LINKS: Paul Barton: https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulBartonPiano/featured

    #9 - Fan Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2020 24:07


    A deep dive into our experiences writing and reading fan fiction. Also exciting news from Margaret! Links: Brave New Girls anthology: http://bravenewgirls.weebly.com/ Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/

    #8 - [Title goes here]

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 25:12


    A discussion about titles: what makes a good one and why is coming up with one so hard?

    #7 - Weird Things We've Researched

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2020 21:20


    We discuss all the strange things that we've had to research over the course of writing. LINKS: Quackery: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33572516-quackery?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=tnU6X0C4OT&rank=1 Penguin knees: https://www.neaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/X-RAYS-KNEES-737x900.jpg?fbclid=IwAR0psQ0oKFE_fg4P7hMytIka-7vVc2A4HQmb22T1u-SF4mJJcHo8IiN94gs

    #6 - Favourite Books of 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2019 21:39


    We discuss our favourite fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels that we read in 2019. LINKS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJoeGEEu5L4

    #5 - Strategies for When You're Stuck

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2019 16:00


    Today we're talking about different strategies you can use when you're stuck on something and need more words. LINKS: Go Left by Kari Maaren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiqWn_DwYEM

    #4 - NaNoWriMo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2019 19:02


    It's November and we're both attempting National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! In this episode, we discuss the different approaches we're taking to the challenge and the projects that we're writing for it. LINKS: NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/ Maple Cake Recipe: https://bluenosebaker.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/omas-maple-cake/

    #3 - CAN-CON 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2019 22:31


    After attending CAN-CON 2019, we took advantage of the fact that we were together to record an episode about the conference and the Aurora Awards. With special, unplanned appearances by our guest host, Imriel the Great Dane. Links: CAN-CON: https://can-con.org/ The Aurora Awards: https://prixaurorawards.ca/ CanLit by Kari Maaren: https://youtu.be/IhjO-sAvLm8 Queen's Wish: The Conqueror: http://spidweb.com/queenswish/index.html Orphan Black: The Next Chapter: https://www.serialbox.com/serials/orphan-black

    #2 - NYC Midnight Flash Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 17:46


    We both recently took part in the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge. In this episode we discuss our history with the contest and our process for the most recent challenge. Links: The NYC Midnight Challenge: http://www.nycmidnight.com/ Vicki's story (Three Hour Tour): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IqrjwA_Cp_iAoPEPfX21n34VAzmVbss-UZ_AqWXdPX4/edit?fbclid=IwAR2VSVW6soJnxJALWjM0gNXFKBvX1iGB4Q7oDQSk2I9fUBFCrJT0SSCTDx4 Margaret's Story (Nostalgia): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sRI5RyBFH8TEucmweJmaGT_YzkmmxzSvqATcfR_qgZI/edit?usp=sharing

    #1 - Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 7:15


    The first episode of Needs More Words, a podcast about writing and reading, because we're all stuck on something. In this episode, we introduce ourselves and what this podcast is all about. Links: Needs More Words' Twitter: https://twitter.com/needsmorewords Margaret's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhanson42 Vicki's Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriakmartin

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