Buffy and the Art of Story

In End of Days (S7 E21 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Buffy King-Arthurs the scythe from a rock, the gang tries to save wounded potentials, and Buffy faces Caleb again. Along with the recap of End of Days, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) choosing which characters to highlight at the end; (2) indirect dialogue and actions that resolve character arcs; (3) whether Willow’s magic, Caleb’s strength, and another new character are consistent with Buffy's history; (4) the perils of new story questions at the eleventh hour; and (5) satisfying the audience as you wrap a very longform story. Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Check Out Lisa M. Lilly’s Q.C. Davis mystery series by getting a free novella: https://lisalilly.com/no-good-plays/ About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Touched (S7 E20 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Faith takes over as the leader, Spike reaches out to Buffy, and disaster looms. Along with the recap of Touched, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) the mayor and Giles as foils for one another; (2) the way The First evolves as a season antagonist; (3) Faith’s emotions, doubts, and growth shown through action and dialogue; (4) recurring episode themes; and (5) why some unanswered questions drive a story and others distract from it. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Check Out Lisa M. Lilly’s Q.C. Davis mystery series by getting a free novella: https://lisalilly.com/no-good-plays/ About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/ Edit

In Empty Places (S7 E19 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Faith takes the potentials on a night out and everyone pushes back against Buffy’s plan to attack Caleb again. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) why an antagonist doesn't need to be a villain; (2) strong foreshadowing early in the story; (3) why Faith and Buffy's history affects how Buffy sees the conflicts and her choices; (4) what role grief plays in the final confrontation; and (5) what Empty Places says about leadership. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/ Revisit Grief and the Buffyverse: https://lisalilly.com/grief-in-the-buffyverse/ Check Out Lisa M. Lilly's cold case murder mystery The Forgotten Man: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Man-Q-C-Davis-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C2BBNXDT About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Dirty Girls, S7 E18, Faith arrives in Sunnydale and Buffy takes an army of potentials to battle a super-powered misogynistic preacher. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) how to keep it fun when characters need to exchange information viewers already know; (2) foreshadowing a tragic climax; (3) how story structure affects pace; and (4) what Buffy's choices and Caleb's character say about the episode themes. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/ Revisit Grief and the Buffyverse before watching Empty Places: https://lisalilly.com/grief-in-the-buffyverse/ About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Orpheus, Buffy/Angel crossover S4 E15, Angelus and Faith battle it out and Willow comes to L.A. to try to restore Angel’s soul. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) Seemingly separate storylines that converge into one gripping plot; (2) how to use multiple characters as the antagonist and a group as a protagonist; (3) whether Willow is a different character on Angel than she is in Buffy Season 7; and (4) how dramatic irony adds tension and keeps the audience engaged. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Check out FeedSpot’s 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7!): https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/ About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly: https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Release, Angel crossover S4 E14, Faith and Angelus battle, Fred has a crisis, and Cordelia implores Connor to keep their secret. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) how the writers draw on backstory from both Buffy and Angel; (2) true vs. false conflict; (3) many storylines – but is there a main plot? and (4) cliffhanger or gamechanger and when it matters. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.lisalilly.com/worksheets Buffy and the Art of Story podcast is No. 7 on FeedSpot's 35 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025: https://podcast.feedspot.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer_podcasts/ About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:

In Salvage (Angel crossover S4 E13), Angelus meets The Beast (a powerful demon terrorizing L.A.) and Wesley persuades to Faith break out of prison. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) showing internal conflict (Wesley’s) through imagined dialogue; (2) who the protagonist is in a group with the same goal and two leaders (Wesley and Faith); (3) the challenges and pluses of a  conflict engine character  (Connor); and (4) subplots that resolve issues or raise stakes in the main plot. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:  https://lisalilly.com/free/

This podcast episode covers the Top 5 and Bottom 5 Buffy episodes ever, plus some Honorable Mentions. See if you agree. Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!  Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:  https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Lies My Parents Told Me (Buffy the Vampire Slayer S7 E17), Robin Wood aims to kill Spike and Giles is in on the plan. Along with the recap, this podcast episode focuses on:  interweaving three plots – Robin v. Spike, Giles v. Buffy, Spike v. himself; whether Giles’s choices fit his character; how William becomes Spike; point of view and protagonists; and a (hopefully) unintended episode theme. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets Looking for a winter read? Try The Charming Man, where lawyer/private investigator Quille C. Davis hunts for a killer while trapped in a high rise during a blizzard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L7PSDNK About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:  https://lisalilly.com/free/

In Storyteller (S7 E16 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Andrew annoys everyone by videotaping them and is forced to reckon with his past. Along with the recap of Storyteller, this podcast episode focuses on:  (1) whose story is it - Buffy's or Andrew's? (2) whether Buffy's and Andrew's goals conflict; (3) what happens when writers fall in love with a character (Andrew); (4) how characterization relates to humor; and (5) flashbacks that tell their own story and move the main plot. Get more content, including access to the self-study course How To Plot Your Novel: From Idea To First Draft, by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/lisamlilly  Download free Story Structure worksheets: https://www.writingasasecondcareer.com/worksheets About Lisa M. Lilly In addition to hosting the Buffy and the Art of Story podcast, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series as well as numerous short stories. She is currently writing the latest novel in her Q.C. Davis mysteries. Her non-fiction includes books on writing craft under L. M. Lilly. She also founded WritingAsASecondCareer.com. Get free books by Lisa M. Lilly:  https://lisalilly.com/free/