Story from Scratch #75: Frontloading Characters

What do you do when you've got multiple projects to juggle? This week's episode is all about figuring out what to prioritize when it comes to our creative endeavors. How do we decide what needs to get done first? How do we stick with a project once we've chosen to prioritize it? How important is it as a new author to consider which book to make your debut novel? Yale and Justin hash out all that and more in this episode of Quick Bits. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week on Quick Bits, we talk about negativity. Ever get into that headspace where you question whether you're any good at this creative thing at all? We've been there too, and it's a natural part of the process. This episode explores some of the factors that may contribute to a negative view of one's creative output and strategies for dealing with the fallout of such frustrations. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, Kevin Valentine joins us once again to chat about his process writing the KRZ: Tiger Winds webcomic. We touch on pitching, finding the right collaborator, and seeing our brainchildren come to life in a visual format. Check out Tiger Winds: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/krz-tiger-winds/list?title_no=330086&fbclid=IwAR2eYnTlD5LqJxXSis3Uy513G_Zrt7ZJKqhBGN4cvx1_GCrK99_EYXcOClM Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, we're joined by Kevin Valentine, author of the webcomic KRZ: Tiger Winds. We talk about the inspiration behind Kevin's LGBTQ+ focused series, the shift the story underwent from prose to comic form, and growing as a writer over the years.  Check out Tiger Winds: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/krz-tiger-winds/list?title_no=330086&fbclid=IwAR2eYnTlD5LqJxXSis3Uy513G_Zrt7ZJKqhBGN4cvx1_GCrK99_EYXcOClM Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week on Quick Bits, Yale and Justin discuss our tendency to lost interest in our stories, whether while writing them or years afterwards. Sometimes, it's okay to move on from a project. But the reverse is also true--sometimes, our love for an old project spontaneously reignites. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, Yale and Justin discuss the merits (and drawbacks) of introducing a large cast of characters all at once. Is it better to slowly introduce your main cast one at a time, or are there situations where you might want to establish the whole cast right off the bat? If so, how do you prevent the reader from becoming overwhelmed?  Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, in a special episode, Yale and Justin take an in-depth look at two stories from tdotSpec's Speculative North Magazine. First, we examine Not a Vampire by Jeremiah Kleckner (which can be found in Issue 2), and then we discuss The Alchemy of Curses by Joshua Grasso (which can be found in Issue 1). If you'd like to check out those stories or any of the other amazing works published by tdotSpec, you can grab a free digital copy at tdotspec.com or buy a paperback version of any of the Speculative North issues through Amazon. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, Yale and Justin discuss to what extent they've planned out what books and series they intend to write in the future. Some writers develop complex worlds in which they plan to write dozens of novels, and others have only a single story they want to tell. Where do you fall on that scale? Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week on Story From Scratch, we wonder just how clear we need to spell things out for our readers. Is it okay to make the reader work hard once in a while, or does subtlety only alieante your audience, relegating you to a niche?  Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

This week, Yale and Justin talk about their old writing... and how terrible it was. From frontloading paragraphs upon paragraphs of exposition, to going on author diatribes about things that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot, we've done it all. Sometimes it's worthwhile to look back and reflect on how far we've come (especially if we can get a good laugh out of it). Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch