Fiction writers from the Naples Writers' Workshop read successful stories and ask "Why Is This Good?"
We discuss how fiction works, the craft of writing, literary art, and what we can learn from examples of excellent writing.
Join us twice each month for our workshop podcast.
Why Is This Good? is hosted by Kristine Gill, J. C. Bronsted, and Rob Curtin.
139: “A Telephone Call” by Dorothy Parker
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In this episode, we discuss “A Telephone Call” by Dorothy Parker. What can we learn from this intense interior monologue story? How does this nearly 100-year-old story still reflect modern reality? How does the representation of a spiraling, fixating mind still produce forward momentum? How can paragraphing and punctuation help guide the reading experience?
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November 1st, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
138: Curtis Sittenfeld vs ChatGPT
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In this episode, we discuss Curtis Sittenfeld vs ChatGPT. What can we learn from this experiment in comparing a literary author with an AI-generated story? How would we critique the ChatGPT story? What makes the Sittenfeld story human? What can we learn from the way the two versions summarize conversations? What about the cliches? How good is ChatGPT’s writing?
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October 15th, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
137: “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado
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In this episode, we discuss “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado. What can we learn from this exploration of a familiar horror scenario? How can we expand on a common symbol in a story? How can we structure a story that comprises a lifetime? How do we focus such a story?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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October 1st, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
136: “The Celestial Omnibus” by E. M. Forster
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On this episode, we discuss “The Celestial Omnibus” by E. M. Forster (starts page 54). What can we learn from this literary version of a fairy-story? How does the story pit pedantry against ingenuousness? Does it pick a winner? How does the story mimic the voices of its literary characters?
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September 15th, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
135: “The Complete” by Gabriel Smith
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In this episode, we discuss “The Complete” by Gabriel Smith. What can we learn from this story made up of semi-connected snippets? How can disconnected pieces of narrative connect with one another to create interwoven threads? How many first-parson narrators can a story have? How much should a story rely on the reader’s own story-external experience of things?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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September 1st, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
134: “Sour Milk Girls” by Erin Roberts
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In this episode, we discuss “Sour Milk Girls” by Erin Roberts. What can we learn from this story about damaged people? Can a story explore a broken character? How can we present background as part of a scene happening in the moment? How can using a light speculative touch help a story dig into character? Can we write a story asking what a broken character would do as a result of their trauma?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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August 15th, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
133: “An Outpost of Progress” by Joseph Conrad
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In this episode, we discuss “An Outpost of Progress” by Joseph Conrad. What can we learn from this classic story? How can a story incorporate a “thesis statement”? Can we step back from a story to offer editorial commentary? How do stories explore topics and ideas? Can we adopt a nineteenth-century authorial voice into a modern show-don’t-tell style?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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August 1st, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
132: “The Island of the Immortals” by Ursula K Le Guin
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In this episode, we discuss “The Island of the Immortals” by Ursula K. Le Guin. What can we learn from this quick story that examines a philosophical question? How does perspective on the central question change through the story, even as the narration remains in first person? How can that changing perspective circle in on a central idea?
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July 15th, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
131: “Jeffty is Five” by Harlan Ellison
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In this episode, we discuss “Jeffty is Five” by Harlan Ellison. What can we learn from this nostalgic story? How does the ending wrap up the arc of the story? How can we tell which character the story is meant to change? What does it mean to suspend disbelief? How do we write a story about kids that’s for adults?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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July 1st, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop
130: “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner
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In this episode, we discuss “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner. What can we learn from this richly voiced story? How can we develop a stream-of-consciousness voice for a story? How can sentence length help guide the reader’s experience?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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June 15th, 2024 by Naples Writers' Workshop