On Riting

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Three writers—a recovering academic, a writing professional, and a megaconsumer—take on Riting Communities, those online communities full of writers and terrible advice. Along the way (be warned, dear listener) there will be jokes, as well as some de minimis amount of Actual Writing Advice.

On Writing staff


    • Oct 10, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 11m AVG DURATION
    • 82 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from On Riting

    082: To The People: NaNoWriMo Configuration

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 74:40


    In this episode, Chadd and Sean (MJ was busy making money from her writing) take on the "largest" "ai writing" subreddit, the Rings of Power fandom, and the radioactive core of the streaming economy. It's to the people, it's going to have a speedrun.https://linktr.ee/onriting Link! Activate!

    081: Le Podcaste des Vampires

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 75:50


    In this episode, MJ, Sean, and Chadd look the Vampyre, the most bougie of all monsters. Other topics include Interview with the Vampire, Pamplicestousness, and the werewolf apocalypse. And NaNoWriMo, yeah.https://linktr.ee/onriting Oh look, a noble discord link, just for you, dear listener.

    080: National Ukelele Apology Month (NaUkApMo)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 75:51


    In this episode, Chadd, Sean, and MJ go through the NaNoWriMo drama, specifically the rancid apology letters and the company's defense of AI plagiarism. Other topics include The AI Mummy, the Imaginary Disability Community, and the inimitable oeuvre of Chuck Tingle. https://linktr.ee/onriting Link! Didn't include it first time, but now it's here!

    079: Hustling Samurai

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 68:31


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean, see examples of bad writing all around them, it's in the WALLS. Other topics include the NYPD, the most interesting man in WW2, and MJ subtweeting (subcasting?) about her nemesis.https://linktr.ee/onriting C'mon, join the discord, you know you want to!

    078: 1812 Overture

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 67:47


    In this episode, MJ, Sean, and Chadd look at canon and canonicity as concepts in writing, and how your writing SHOULD NOT think about canon. Other topics include angry MIT fanmail, Spider-man, and James Baldwin.https://linktr.ee/onriting Contribute to the war on Mice here!

    077: Starting Over From Folklore: A System LitRPG Progression Fantasy Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 71:30


    In this episode, Sean regales Chadd and Marjorie with the saga of Xianxia, with its roots in folklore to its current dominance of the amazon fantasy bestsellers. Other topics include Chinese Traditional Medicine, Chadd's dating history, and Dragon Ball Z. https://linktr.ee/onriting has everything you need! Except the sources!Chen, Nancy N. Breathing Spaces. Columbia University Press; 2003Hobsbawm E, Ranger T, eds. The Invention of Tradition. Cambridge University Press; 2012. Taylor, Kim. Chinese Medicine in Early Communist China, 1945-1963; A Medicine of Revolution. Routledge; 2005

    076: 10 The People 20 Goto 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 66:23


    In this episode,  MJ brings the Substack, Sean brings the Reddit Cinematic Universe, and Chadd brings the Lightning Round. Other topics include Achilles, the musical response to Danny, and the return of the Character Sheet Fallacy. https://linktr.ee/onriting Is the link. Look, we strongly believe in Brady, but this was a mythic prosecutorial failure. Argue here.

    075: Dance Dance Dance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 63:14


    In this CROSSOVER EPISODE, Final Fantasy, Writing, and Dance combine! Expert Witness MJ presents her case with the assistance of court recorder Sean and Judge Chadd. Other topics include the dream ballet, the history of Modern Dance, and the legend of Bob Fosse. https://linktr.ee/onritingThe Link! This one tells the truth! https://linktr.ee/shoebillpod This link! The other one always lies! The other link would tell you to click itself!

    074: Riter to King's F15--Checkmate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 63:41


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean look at Chess in Fiction, Substack, and the grim specter of Snarf. Other topics include Horses, the protective layer of furries safeguarding the internet, and the dubious Catholicism of Master and Commander's surgeon.  https://linktr.ee/onriting Complain about the migration here! 

    073: Book Club I: A New Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 67:56


    In this episode, Chadd's Book Club takes off as he examines a variety of passages in three examples of the neo-Gothic. Other topics include Licensed Fiction Sins, Hauntology, and atypical narrators.https://linktr.ee/onriting LINKTREE, GO!

    072: Morlockmaxxing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 69:13


    In this CHAOS CONFIGURATION episode, MJ, Chadd, and Goblinsean discuss permanency of publishing and the enduring power of Dune. Other topics include industrial engineering in WW2, Captain America (Nomad), and the illustrious career of Laurence Fishburne. https://linktr.ee/onriting Link! I don't want to locate that comic, please don't ask for it, but I will provide it if demanded

    071: Newtonian Swordmasters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 63:57


    In this episode, Chadd, MJ, and Sean talk about the implications of expertise and ease, and why your antagonist is allowed to kick Unlimited Ass. Other topics include Left Behind's confused antichrist, the nature of the sword, and Sean's proclivity to inflict spreadsheets on innocent bystanders. https://linktr.ee/onriting Is the link! The cat needs your help! Save it!

    070: To the 9eo9le

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 70:01


    TO THE PEOPLE TIME! In this episode, Sean, MJ, and Chadd head to reddit, tumblr, and BACK TO REDDIT for the worst of the worst. Topics include the Worst Poem, why you want content warnings, and a friend of the show having shooters in the cast.

    069: Anne Ricist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 78:10


    In this episode, Returning Champion MJ, Chadd, and Sean talk about Anne Rice and Adaptations! Other topics include Deadly Drifter, The Beat Poets of Rohan, and the massive antisemitism of Australian Jesus Christ Superstar!Donate to the cat! Join the Discord! https://linktr.ee/onriting

    068: Saints of the Patrickiots

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 117:13


    In this SPECIAL episode of On Riting, we recorded a commentary track for The Last Starfighter, Chadd's filmographic home turf! If you want to sync us up, we're paused at 18 seconds, approximately when the rosy fingers of dawn reach over the globe on the newer universal logo, 6 seconds before the old universal logo, if you're watching on a different platform. And here is a link for you, dear listener! https://linktr.ee/onriting

    067: Boat Jams

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2024 63:25


    In this (sadly MJ-less) episode of On Riting, Chadd and Sean explore the strangely ideology-less Death and Other Details, and what it can tell us about using themes without using themes. No, not like that. Other topics include Billy Zane, Huysman, and the eternal specter of Mao. Feed! That! Cat! https://linktr.ee/onriting

    066: Conventional Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 63:04


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean look at Writing Conventions, as well as the darkest road of fanfic. Other topics include Furry Police, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the fate of Pennsylvania.  https://linktr.ee/onriting In many ways, a discord server is *like* a convention, in that there are monsters in the walls. Skittering. 

    065: Saltier than Riting (Star Wars)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 69:56


    In this episode MJ, Chadd, and Sean look at a community that feeds directly into r/writing, and the media property that surrounds it. Other topics include Indian In the Cupboard, X-Files licensed fiction, and the Expanded Universe (Bad).  https://linktr.ee/onriting Quickly, the horrible expanded universe shit becomes as air and smoke even as you wait!

    064: Not Stephen King One

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 71:12


    In this episode, MJ, Shaun, and Chadd basically just fangirl out over Borges. He's a genius, what more do you want us to say? Other topics include Final Fantasy VII, Charlie Chaplin, and the power of numbering drafts. https://linktr.ee/onriting holds the mystery of Charlie's fate, but are you bold enough to click it, traveller?

    063: Red-Flag Reads (Britney's Version)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 65:15


    In this episode of the premiere California Politics Fanfiction Podcast (just kidding we're about writing and writing communities) Shawn, Chad, and MJ take a look at reads, both red-flag and worse. Other topics include the Roald Dahl's kill count, Elf/Dwarf racism, and the secret origin of poems about the Moon.  https://linktr.ee/onriting Has the donate link, donate donate donate.

    062: Kill Bill (Because He's a Vampire)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 70:51


    Hi, Bob, in this episode, MJ, Shaun and Chad take a huge vampiric, and yet somehow festive, bite out of the Riting discourse around Bill Shakespeare. Other topics include Middle School, Antisemitism, and Pictures of your Boss Shaking Hands With Christ. Oh, I know your type: looking for the link, are ye? Well, you're in luck, we just processed the return on this one. https://linktr.ee/onriting

    061: To the People 8 - The Ocho

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 67:36


    In this episode, Chadd, Sean, and MJ go back to the endless nightmare wells known as reddit and tiktok. Other topics include Mollusk-Donny, The Boodle Fight, and Chadd's psyche shattering like a window crossing the road in front of Jackie Chan in the face of Your Favorite Teddy Bear. Do you have a novel coming out and want to get your publisher off your back with some marketing? Come on the pod! Or just click the link and gain access to a world of submissions, writers, and 6ft Under memes. https://linktr.ee/onriting 

    060: An Archetype Named Portia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 65:34


    In this episode, MJ, Shawn, and Chadd look at a difficult-to-name concept: the neoarchetype. Other topics include the ways in which LotR the Movies were superior to LotR the Books, Cyberdolphins (Ee-Eee-e, E-e-eee-ee?), and a very strange application of the Kingdom Hearts' theme. We're almost out of NaNoWriMo! If you want to gush about your book, and hear about others, https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you want to be!

    059: The Witching Pod w/Diana Helmuth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 66:44


    In this episode, MJ, Sean, and Chadd interview Diana Helmuth, author of the recently-released The Witching Year, available wherever books are sold! Other topics include Vampires, regionalism, and conspirituality, plus about 4,000 '90's movies. https://linktr.ee/onriting has everything you need to get cat pictures direct from the witchiest state in the union.

    058: gnitiR nO | On Riting

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 68:58


    In this episode, Chadd, MJ, and Shaun look at the most bilateral of all writing concepts: Symmetry. Other topics include Robocop, Chekov's Arsenal, and the most popular Blake Poem/Painting. Want to gush about your Nanowrimo? https://linktr.ee/onriting has people who want to hear about it.

    057: Suboptimal Stacking

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 75:07


    In this episode, Sean, MJ, and Chadd look at substack and other non-networked writing alternatives, and why they might not ever descend into Riting communities. Other topics include Val Kilmer, news cycles, and the Hugo Awards. https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you can find a writing community where the W is still provably present (thanks, mj!)

    056: An Emotionally Dishonest Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 67:11


    In this episode, MJ deploys a nightmarish Atlantic article on MFA programs and AI that Chad and Sean spend most of the episode crying about. Other topics include Jockey Fiction, Going Infinite, and the Dalloway/Black Leopard, Red Wolf dialectic. https://linktr.ee/onriting is the link which possesseth all the supporting materials for this episode, including an example of a tiny cat mukbang.

    055: Riter By Proxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 67:58


    In this episode, Chadd, Shaun, and Em Jay look at the Hulu series The Act and the harmful tropes that it perpetuates, as well as their implications on Riting. Other topics include Made-for-Tv 9/11 Movies, Jeb Bush, and American Regionalism. Get that cat fed! On god, she murdered a mouse right in front of Chad right after we recorded this episode (Which was actually right before the Bronco's spectacular loss, making this astonishingly precognizant?) https://linktr.ee/onriting

    054: Suddenly, Therfore

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 69:43


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean take a swing at a famous philosophy of organization: And, But, and Therefore. Other topics include The Bear, Being Billy Zane, and fighting words, both good and bad, about your favorite anime. https://linktr.ee/onriting The link! For the cat food!

    053: To the People VII: Armored Quora

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 84:59


    In this episode, MJ (returning Champion), Chadd, and Sean delve into Quora, and go more insane than we honestly expected. Other topics include the Rowling Group, the Ethan Hawke Continuum, and the best anime girl reaction gifs. Chadd is holding the cat pics hostage, we're not kidding: he's going to delete one an hour until his demands are met. https://linktr.ee/onriting

    052: Musical Mt. Everest

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 65:42


    In this episode, Sean and Chadd (MJ WILL RETURN IN TO THE PEOPLE VIII) look at the colonial power of naming, but mostly the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Other topics include Englandbrain, Non-Webber Musicals, and the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. https://linktr.ee/onriting has everything you need to join the #ritingcommunity, including a donation link to get Wang Miao some wet food. She needs it: she keeps forgetting meals when playing politically-charged VR games.

    051: One of Us Has To Be The Keymaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 69:41


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean look at Gatekeeping in Riting Communities and media, well, mostly in media. Other topics include Danmei, How To Get A Slot At A Poetry Reading, and the newest member of the podcast. https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you join the #ritingcommunity. That's not a real hashtag, yet.

    050: Victor Lustig's Guide to Publishing (Scams)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 65:25


    In this episode, MJ, Shawn, and Chadd break down some common writing scams and schemes, including a few they've been targeted by, personally. Other topics include Stripper Unionization, Dennis Montgomery's relationship with republican donors, and Colleen Ballinger. Want a (W)riting Community in Progress? https://linktr.ee/onriting is the link you seek.

    049: To the People VII Advent Donny

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 66:00


    In this episode, Chad, Chadd, and Chadwick examine some truly wretched Donny Activity, including on #booktok, r/writing, and positive and negative examples of analysis on youtube. Other topics include Aggro Crag, Cape Fear, and "Five Minutes, Cutter, Make 'Em Count." https://linktr.ee/onriting is the link to join the #chadnation 

    048: Riter by Riter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 62:20


    In this (admittedly very echo-y, we tried to fix it, we promise) episode, MJ, Shaun, and Chadd look at Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird, as well as how to use writing advice books in general. Other topics include ICE being obnoxious in San Diego, how to use a writing notebook, and why writing about your childhood is a terrible idea (emote pending). https://linktr.ee/onriting is the link you seek, bold traveler. 

    047: Themes a Lot Like Message to Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 63:34


    In this episode, MJ, Shawn, and Chad look at the most or least important element of any work: Theme. Other topics include the single worst baseball play imaginable, the silliest gospel, and an alarmingly long discussion of Libertarianism. https://linktr.ee/onriting Linktree link! It has all the stuff! 

    046: Classically-Trained Riters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 63:14


    In this episode, Shaun, Mj, and Chadd look at old books, (historical, fictional, pedagogical) and they ways people extract bad ideas from them. Other topics include sending the author to a nice farm upstate, Hessians, and the various turns of the Arthur narrative.  Do you have an answer for Chad's riddle? https://linktr.ee/onriting is the bridge you may cross once it is supplied.

    045: Mechanical Belgian (The AI One)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 64:16


    In this episode, we finally confront the specter over riting communities, the specter of artificial intelligence. Other topics include Bakelite/Formica, fair whodunits, and fantasy atheism. https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you can find some somewhat-artificial intelligences. Are sentient podcasts AI? Find out for yourself.

    044: Jumping the Sharkguffin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 64:36


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Shaun take aim at the foulest and most-referenced of taxonomy nexuses: Tv Tropes. Other topics include racism, Destiny 2, and the inevitable conquest of AI over shitwiki's. https://linktr.ee/onriting is perhaps the link you seek, traveller?

    043: To the People 6 - Warrior Cats

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 69:25


    In this episode, MJ, Chadd, and Sean are back TO THE PEOPLE, reading reddit posts and submission requests. Other topics include Chadd's mortal hatred of city sims, RA Salvatore, and Gideon the 9th. Interested in taking Chadd up on that debate? https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you want to go.

    042: 2 Saints 2 Patricks'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 127:29


    In this unsober super episode of your third- or fourth-favorite writing podcast, Chadd, Marjorie, and Sean get drunk while talking about Chadd's book, Nazism, and the alarming tendencies of Gardner and gentrad. Other topics include the various beverages Sean acquires and consumes, while the other two stay on the narrow path. If you want to hang out with us after listening to this, https://linktr.ee/onriting is the link you're looking for.

    041: Discord Mods Need Malpractice Insurance

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 64:29


    In this episode, Margery, Chad, and Shaun look at the use and abuse of therapeutic language in Riting communities, and the best way to protect yourself and your community. Other topics include Godfather (so much Godfather), plagiarism, and a particularly unpopular TikTok. Want to join a community, but scared by the lack of malpractice insurance? https://linktr.ee/onriting has everything you need.

    040: Your Great Idea About A Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 71:57


    In this episode, MJ, Shaun, and Chad look at videogame art criticism and the state of theory in gaming. Other topics include Nobody Puts Billy Zane in a Corner, the best track on Just Dance 2022, and the sickening failure to read Dark Souls 3 as the comprehensive story, rather than just lore encyclopedia, that it is. Do you have a game you want a read on, or perhaps you want to get your read checked by another party? https://linktr.ee/onriting is the place you want to be.

    039: Your Great Idea For A Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 72:00


    In this episode, Chad, Shawn, and MJ go through how people break into videogame writing, and the steps you can take if you want to follow them. Other topics include the literal car crash happening outside the window, taxi navigation, and writing-as-marketing. Want to listen to the sister pod? https://linktr.ee/shoebillpod is where you want to go.Do you want to ask Chad about the miserable world of AAA game writing? https://linktr.ee/onriting probably has what you need.

    038: Anjou Grenadine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 63:18


    In this episode, MJ is BACK, with Sean and Chadd to look at the enduring power of untaught old literature and the merits of joy in writing. Other topics include Buying Jenna Moreci's Book, the two works of great literature that are actually Three Musketeers in disguise, and a frankly alarming number of practice points and craft tips. Want to talk about Rebecca? https://linktr.ee/onriting is the place you want to go.

    037: Shut Up and Write the Book w/ Jenna Moreci

    Play Episode Play 53 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 63:37


    In this episode of On Riting, Shawn and Chad are back from hiatus to interview the inimitable Jenna Moreci about her new book, Shut Up and Write the Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Novel From Plan to Print. Other topics include "It's more than just Dinosaur Erotica," the worst writing advice anyone's ever received from a web-dev, and who to send your work to in order to get it critiqued (hint, it's not Jenna).Get the Book! (also available wherever books are preordered)Get the Savior Series! (same deal: Check your local bookstore before you pull the trigger on Amazon)Watch Her Youtube Guides! And, oh right, our link: The answer to the above mystery is "Send your work to Chad, for money, through our discord," which is right here

    036: Turbulent Pedagogs (featuring Sean's Understudy, Shaun)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 68:01


    In this episode, Sean, Chadd, MJ, and for the very first time, Sean's robot understudy, Shaun, look at why some really good authors give really bad advice, and how to place yourself in the crowd. Other topics include Dawson's Creek, the continuing search for a podcast platform that isn't Zencastr, and the true origins of the Lo-Fi Beats to Study And Relax To Girl. We really had a lot of calls to action with that one, huh? Well, here's most of what you're looking for. Crazy Speilberg/Lucas transcript. Scary Swiss Movie Discord! And Socials!

    035: NaNoWriMo 4: No More NaNo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 67:02


    In this episode of the Premiere Liensbrooke Lore Podcast, Chadd and Sean assess how NaNoWriMo went, where they ended up, and the lessons learned. Other topics include Chadd's powerful feud with reddit, the weakness of HDDVD as a format, and the question of how many of us are currently ghosts (hint, Billy Zane). https://linktr.ee/onriting is where you want to be, as you watch Twitter implode and reddit be just the worst.

    034: To The People V

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 65:46


    You know what it is: to the people! Chadd, MJ, and Sean take crowdsourced Reddit questions, instagram posts, and the MBTI to task for out-and-out shittiness. Other topics include the reverse-phrenological powers of chair shots, Irish poetic forms, and the true nature of r/worldbuilding. Want to share a truly shitty reddit post? https://linktr.ee/onriting

    033: NaNoWriMo Week 3: Chadd Triumphator

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 63:04


    In this special episode of On Writing, Chadd celebrates his victory over NaNoWriMo, Sean laments his failures, and both try to avoid talking about Napoleon for the full hour. Other topics include the Meat Cube, Fanfiction, and the inspirational quality of primary sources.  https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/victorian-industrial-towns/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liokytT2TSk and, of course, the Discord/Socials: https://linktr.ee/onriting

    032: Good for Keeping Tents Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 61:40


    In this NONNANOWRIMO episode of the snarkiest writing podcast, MJ, Sean, and Chadd look at Stakes, those things which give conflict meaning. Other topics include Breeding Pairs, While Holding a Baby, and terrible twists resulting from asymmetrical stakes. Want a replacement for twitter for finding calls for submissions and follows? https://linktr.ee/onriting has what you need.

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