A Billion Bad Ideas

Technology really does a wonder on our stories. Writing a horror story? Better find a way to get rid of all those cell phones. Penning a high-stress disaster? Don’t forget to knock out that communications infrastructure. Telling a story about robots taking over the world? Okay, no notes. Carry on. Join the guys for a discussion on how the evoluation of technology impacts storytelling, which includes Luna expressing some long-pent-up feelings about Clayton not loving, like, one of his books. (Maybe two.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

The internet is a little confused about what a henching is, but we’re not. We know a solid hench when we see one. Which is why we’re talking about one of our favorite story tropes this week, the henchman! From bumbling Batman baddies to sulky space opera sidekicks, we explore the wonderful world of those who hench. What “counts” as a henchman? Why do we love them so much? And why are they so gosh darn expendable? Find out this week on A Billion Bad Ideas!Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter at abillionbadideas.com. You’ll get access to all sorts of bad ideas there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

Clayton couldn’t record this week, but instead of honoring his absence with a quiet week, like normal people, Ben and Luna recorded an episode without him, like absolute monsters. It doesn’t feel right, does it? But they did, and it’s a lucky thing for us all, because they discussed drawing, and visual arting, and the very specific magicks they put into creating their absolutely gorgeous illustrative work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

What starts as a conversation about how we get unstuck from writer’s block turns into a free-for-all of Ben stealing all his best ideas from movies, Clayton stealing all his best ideas from Ben, unsolicited advice for new writers, and some weird game with a bad name that we do hope you’ll throw money at us for. Welcome back to A Billion Bad Ideas! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

We’ll be back next week with our regularly scheduled episode of A Billion Bad Ideas, but in the meantime, here’s something we think you’ll like — the first episode of Clayton’s brand new true-ghost comedy podcast, Is This a Ghost? It’s one of those bad ideas that actually turned out to be very, very good. If you like it, please subscribe, and tell your friends! You can find it on your preferred podcast platform at https://linktr.ee/isthisaghost This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

An episode about what we’re working on turns into a Whole Thing about what’s worth working on, what our existential bodies want from us, what audiences just go feral for, when Clayton will finally just please God finish the next Apocalypticon, and all sorts of things that are off the rails. Join us, won’t you? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

Luna was out this week, but Ben and Clayton didn’t let that stop them from announcing a huge new project and taking all the glory for themselves. Welcome to Seedborne, a massive, immersive, interactive fictional world that we’re inviting you all to play around in. Move over, Marvel multiverse; Seedborne is coming. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

Instead of explaining our processes this week, we do something very daring and super brave—we actually model it! Ben gives us a question prompt, and then we spiral down an out-of-control live brainstorming session that proves two things: the three of us are broken, and storytelling inspiration really can come from anywhere. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

Who’s the favorite character you’ve ever written? How do you make your characters believable? And, good heavens, how do you make them relatable?! How do you form actual people out of nothing and expect other actual human people to love them? This week, Ben, Clayton, and Luna explore their own favorite characters, the tricks they used to create them, and the many different ways characters can go so, so badly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com

This week, Luna asks some questions that Ben seems totally fine with and Clayton seems extremely confused by. How do you know when you’ve started your book? How do you know when you’re at the midpoint? How do you know you’re at the end? These are questions that, according to our research, 2/3 of writers think about, and 1/3 of writers do not understand in the slightest. If you’re enjoying A Billion Bad Ideas, please consider subscribing to our entire content catalog for a mere $6/month! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.abillionbadideas.com