StoryWonk Sunday | StoryWonk

This week, we put a bow on StoryWonk Sunday with our live finale, in which we relate the story of how it all began, and take listener questions.

This week, we discuss BIG NEWS, then talk about why Xander is problematic, our personal headcanons, and the brilliance of Tom Hanks!

This week, we discuss podcasts that take unusual approaches to narrative and storytelling, then deconstruct the role of the protagonist, thanks to M. Night Shyamalan's 2000 movie Unbreakable.

This week, we don our capes and domino masks as we discuss Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, the CW's The Flash and Arrow, and the upcoming slate of superhero movies.

This week, we look forward to National Novel Writing Month 2014, and talk with NaNoWriMo founder, Chris Baty!

We return from an unexpected hiatus with a discussion about writers interacting with fans and critics, a 30 Rock promise, and -- at last -- The Princess Bride!

This week, we celebrate our new studio, then get down to work with writer improv, and three short tales of superheroes, piano players and a troubled barista.

It's been a week of intense discussion here in Château StoryWonk, and we're ready to deep-dive into narrative theory as we unpick semantic suppositions and try to figure out the hero.

This week, we conclude our twenty-four hour podcast marathon with sincerity in storytelling and some thoughts on recent controversies, before finding ourselves on the brink of an analysis of the antihero.

This week, we're running late -- but we still found time to talk about listener feedback, the value of critical thought, and how stories help connect us to others!

This week, we learn the truth about Hello Kitty, what happened to Tony Soprano, and authorial intent. We also talk Doctor Who, including our own hypothetical reboot!

This week on the show, we explain the origins of the wonk, talk about - and tease - our next Sessions series, and discuss the second season of Orange Is The New Black in full.

After a rare trip to the cinema for Guardians Of The Galaxy, we settle in for an epic three-hour journey through all things Marvel.

This week, we discuss the road to publishing, from finished manuscript to established career. Then, we invite a special guest into the studio to discuss Brian Lee O'Malley's brilliant graphic novel Seconds.

Better late than never, we're back with Rom-Com Thunderdome feedback, a new narrative phenomenon, first thoughts about adaptations, They Came Together and Celeste & Jesse Forever.

This week, Lani tells us about finishing her latest novel, and then the Thunderdome gets way out of hand as we discuss the greatest romantic comedies EVER!

This week, we delve deep into the listener mailbag to talk about YouTube serials, turning points and structure, golden ages and auteurs, and the unexamined televisual treasures we loved as children.

This week, we talk about Lani being tempted by the dark side, sacrifices and narrative fulfillment, using flashbacks with purpose, and the role of America in fiction and pop culture.

This week, we talk a little about Big News, lament the lack of a random penguin, and talk about Joss Whedon's brilliant, problematic and challenging adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.

This week on the show, we talk about Gay Panic and bromance (with thanks to the fine folks at Pop Culture Happy Hour), share some listener correspondence, and break down the basic building blocks of story structure.

To celebrate Alastair's birthday, we address a handful of listener questions, then talk about two whole Star Trek movies: The Wrath Of Khan and Into Darkness!

This week on the show, we revisit an old favorite, get emotionally unstable, talk about ways to test for sexism, and question accepted wisdom.

After technical difficulties ate last week's show, we return to talk about ensemble casts, confuse ourselves with goals and motivation, and finally venture out to The Cabin In The Woods.

This week on the show, we talk about sports metaphors, words with no English equivalent, originality and goals -- it's a packed show, so don't miss a moment!

This week on the show, we talk about in-house memes, James Bond vs. Don Draper, Lani agrees to watch a horror movie, and we discuss the ways in which mothers are presented in fiction.

This week on the show, we address an overlooked voicemail, talk about Doctor Who and James Bond, then celebrate the awesomeness of the new Veronica Mars movie.

Emerging from the dizzying mists of exhaustion and bubble-wrap, we're bringing you a clutch of listener correspondence, some thoughts on the Desolation of Smaug and more detail about Tangled, and our thoughts on modern myth and celebrity.

Coming to you from the distant past of last Thursday, we present a a short and silly bonus episode in which we quiz each other on our favorite things.

In this week's epic-length podcast, we discuss the promises unique to romantic fiction, doors of all shapes and sizes, swearing and profanity, and the awesomeness of Jane Espenson.

This week, we bring you the big picture as we discuss the nature of endings and storytelling vs. art. Get in touch and let us know what you think about broken promises and artistic doors!

We're back, and we're battling some slight audio problems to bring you a discussion of comfort food, spoilers and cringe comedy. Welcome to the all-new StoryWonk!

This week on the show, we have a bushel of opening bits, a discussion on location and world building, thoughts on spoilers, and tell you why you shouldn't discuss Buffy in Barnes & Noble.

This week on the show, we talk about our new favorite StoryWonk game, answer listener questions on the influence of anime, doing good work and Star Trek, and the appeal of stunt writing.

This week on the show, we address a flurry of listener email, take a hard left turn through the cactus patch to the crazy town of House of Cards, and discuss why doing good work matters.

This week on the show: the TV canon, Lani's problem with horror, and the suspension of disbelief!

This week, we wend our way through the complicated topic of the modern TV canon.

This week, we announce a big new release, have conflict about conflict, and discuss diversity and the responsibility of the author.

This week, we stumble back from our extended hiatus with a rambling, off-the-cuff discussion of our recent television obsessions, dimly illuminated by the glimmerous lantern of insight. Why do so many shows rely on the Mr. K/Morgan? What does George R R Martin have in mind? Are we in safe hands with Mad Men? Why […]

This week, we catch up on Agents Of SHIELD feeback, enjoy a pair of brilliant voicemails, and answer listener questions on paranoia, writing men and being afraid of the story you want to tell.

This week, we are reunited to talk about niche publishing, Helen Fielding, Marvel's Excessively-Punctuated Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and critique our first listener-submitted First Page! Thanks to Ashley!

This week on the show, Lani interviews the brilliant Nan Reinhardt, and Alastair talks about Fringe, Eureka and the perils of deleted memories, and the power of character names.

This week on the show: names, genres, Spelunky and why we shouldn't leave podcasts until the last minute.

This week on the show, we're better late than never with talk of Wall-E, what science fiction is for, mimicry and Lani's crazy-awesome weekend word count.

After a two-week hiatus, we back in the studio to talk about all the things we've seen on Facebook -- oh, and some conversation about Pixar, getting around the Orson Scott Card problem, and Big Important Developments here at StoryWonk. Don't miss it!

We're back, and we have a packed episode! Want to hear our thoughts on GoodReads, Orange Is The New Black, Orson Scott Card and awesome storytelling in unusual places? Don't miss this week's show!

This week on the show, we talk about the whys and hows of writing sex scenes. What is the dividing line between erotica and porn? When should you close the bedroom door? How much airbrushing is acceptable in fiction? How did Lani learn about the birds and bees? Find out now!

This week on the show, writing advice, from the beginning of discovery to the end of revision, and everything between!

We're back, and we've brought an hour of story discussion and conversation with us. This week, we're talking about the grand unified theory of Pixar continuity, JK Rowling's adventures in pseudonymity, San Diego Comic-Con, the line between stalking and harassing, and what to do when the rules of a fictional universe rest upon some shaky suppositions.

This week on the show, we're a day late and at least a dollar short. The summer has hit us hard, so prepare yourself for an hour of Sports Night, Independence Day, our recommendations for essential writing tools, and Lani's enduring legacy.

This week: no planning, no script, no safety net! Lani begins the podcast before Alastair knows what is happening, and then we talk for an hour about getting into Buffy, diversity and tokenism in fiction, and lots more besides!

We're back! This week, we talk a little about Lani's new reality-TV crush, answer a bushel of listener questions, and get into the thorny question of which characters we are -- and are not -- allowed to write.