To Trope or Not to Trope

It’s Taurus season, and we just keep coming back with more episodes. You’ll never stop us! This month’s episode is all about tenacious and stubborn characters, and the lengths they’ll go to get what they want. With everything you need to know for writing a tenacious character, this episode will teach you how to break a character, how to plot around a stubborn reluctant hero, and how sometimes it really is okay for a character to get what they want. Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Tauruses, nor are we talking about canonically Taurus characters—we’re simply using Taurus traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

Opposites attract… or do they? Whether your grumpy and sunshine characters are falling in love or falling for each other’s nefarious schemes, this episode is for you. Join us as we discuss such pressing questions as “can sunshine characters be introverted… or evil?” and “how sunshine is sunshine enough for this trope?” The answers will probably surprise you. If you’ve ever written grumpy and sunshine or plan to write an opposites attract romance, give this episode a listen. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

It’s Pisces season! Go ahead, get emotional. We’ve got a great episode for you all about sensitive and emotional characters, from your moody broody sad boys to your magical girls to every shade of unhealthy emotionality in between. With tips and tricks for how to keep these characters consistent and how to keep them from getting too annoying, you’ll never have to be sensitive about your emotional characters again! Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Pisces, nor are we talking about canonically Pisces characters—we’re simply using Pisces traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

Love is in the air! How long after Cupid’s arrow strikes should a couple wait to get together? If we’re talking fiction, probably longer than you think. Join us this episode as we discuss all things instalove and argue over the proper pacing for writing a believable relationship, including what shortcuts writers can take to get there…and which they definitely shouldn’t. If you’re looking to write characters falling in love, this is the episode for you. XOXO Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

It’s Capricorn season, so dust off those perennial New Years writing resolutions and channel that ambitious Capricorn energy into a new story. But first, check out this episode featuring everything you need to know about ambitious characters—those morally gray go-getters and hardworking heroes who drive plot and give stakes to a story. Covering such topics as character agency, what to do once a character has achieved their goal, and the difference between being ambitious and having ambition, this episode will take your writing to the next level. Or, at the very least, it’ll tell you what a goat fish actually is. Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Capricorns, nor are we talking about canonically Capricorn characters—we’re simply using Capricorn traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

’Tis the season…for cash grabs and phoning in episodes of your favorite sitcoms. Join us as we talk about all things Christmas Specials, from the good to the bad to the Star Wars Holiday Special and every elf and Scrooge in between. If you’ve ever wondered which iconic holiday tropes you should never write or which of the three of us is a Grinch at heart (the answers might surprise you), this is the episode for you. Merry Christmas! Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

It’s Sagittarius season, and the sass is strong with this episode. Well, sort of. Join us as we discuss the differences between sass, snark, sarcasm, and wit, and talk about how to write witty characters (and what sorts of characters really shouldn’t have a quick wit). From tips and tricks for how to learn comedic timing and broaden your bank of random references, to such profound advice as “pirates are always the answer,” this episode is here for all your witty character writing needs. Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Sagittariuses, nor are we talking about canonically Sagittarius characters—we’re simply using Sagittarius traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

It’s nowhere near Cancer season, but we’re talking about it anyway because we’ll be on hiatus in July. Join us this episode as we talk about nurturing characters in every capacity, with such hot takes as “Steve Harrington is a better father figure than Hopper,” “Regina George is more nurturing than Lorelai Gilmore,” and “Carlisle 100% should have been the main character of Twilight.” From smothering mothers to reluctant father figures, side characters nerfed by niceness to plant girlies who should have ended up with Warren Peace, this episode is here for all your nurturing character needs. Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Cancers, nor are we talking about canonically Cancer characters—we’re simply using Cancer traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

Happy Halloveen from your favorite podcasting writers! We’re here this week with an episode all about those blood-sucking demons of the night: VAMPIRES. From your sexy paranormal romance heroes to your evil overlords, from Dracula to Edward Cullen to the Count from Sesame Street, we cover everything a vampire should and shouldn’t be, with writing tips and tricks to make your vampires stand out from the rest. Have a trope you want us to talk about or a question about the episode? Email us at [email protected]!

With spooky season upon us, we’re here with an episode all about that Mysterious Scorpio Energy. From the Phantom of the Opera to April Ludgate, from faerie princes to not-so-surprising plot twists, this episode covers everything you ever needed to know about writing a mysterious character. …which I suppose is not very mysterious of us, but we’re not here to gatekeep good writing advice. Enjoy! Disclaimer: We are in no way making a comment on actual Scorpios, nor are we talking about canonically Scorpio characters—we’re simply using Scorpio traits as a frame to talk about writing fictional characters.