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.
034: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
In this episode, we discuss “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin. What can we learn from a non-traditional story that is not driven by character or scene? How can a story create a takeaway instead of an ending? Can we have a happy story? How can argument rather than plot give a sense of progress? How can an idea suggest the form of 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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June 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
033: “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain
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In this episode we’re joined once again by our friend, author James Zwerneman. We discuss “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain. What can we learn from Twain’s famous story? How much do we like stories about frogs? How does an introduction to a story affect the story? How does a great voice help a story? How do vivid details help the story?
Find James’s books at the Wiggins Press website.
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 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
032: The Lost World by Michael Crichton
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In this episode we invited our friend James Zwerneman to join our conversation, and James suggested we discuss a chapter from The Lost World by Michael Crichton. What can we learn from a single chapter from a novel? What can a single chapter accomplish within the context of a novel? What should a scene accomplish? What can we learn from a narrative point of view that is at a distance from the character’s interior thoughts? How do physical descriptions differ from functional descriptions? How important is pervasive conflict in a story? How much conflict can be embedded into the narrative? How can characters embody that conflict?
Find James’s books at the Wiggins Press website.
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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May 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
031: “Gator Butchering for Beginners” by Kristen Arnett
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In this episode we discuss “Gator Butchering for Beginners” by Kristen Arnett. Can Kristine and JC handle the podcast without Rob during a pandemic? What can we learn from a piece of flash fiction that’s less than 600 words? What can we learn from an extended metaphor? How can we lead the reader to make a comparison between concrete details within a metaphor? How can we compare two things with differing emotional valences? How does a set of instruction or other form add meaning to a piece?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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May 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
030: “Woodland” by Lydia Millet
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In this episode, we discuss “Woodland” by Lydia Millet. What can we learn from the new genre of Climate-Change Fiction, Cli-fi? How does setting help define character? Can setting overwhelm character? How can a story’s emotion affect the needs for its structure or movement? Where does drama in a story come from?
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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April 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
029: “The School” by Donald Barthelme
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In this episode, we discuss “The School” by Donald Barthelme. Can fiction just be fun? How do voice and rhythm help build humor? How deep into the weeds can we get talking about first and second person?
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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April 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
028: “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian
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In this episode, we discuss “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian. Is it okay to ignore the advice to “show, don’t tell”? Why does this story succeed when it “tells” so much, and what lessons can we take from that success? How does a character’s shifting motivation propel a story? How does a story about two people getting to know one another create compelling drama around such strong characters? What’s the secret to getting published in the New Yorker?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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March 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
027: “Baader-Meinhof” by Don DeLillo
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In this episode we discuss “Baader-Meinhof” by Don DeLillo. How can characters that misunderstand one another help drive our fiction? How can both meeting a stranger and looking at art change how a character sees the world? How can we use this to improve our own fiction? What can we learn from DeLillo’s stylistics?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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March 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
026: “Sweet on the Tongue” by Roxane Gay
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In this episode we discuss “Sweet on the Tongue” by Roxane Gay. What can we learn about characterization from subtly drawn characters? How do relationships help develop character? What can we learn about structure from a non-linear story?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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February 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
025: “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison
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In this episode, we discuss “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison. What can we learn from a story that depicts some of the most horrible things we might imagine? How can we quickly set up a story’s situation? How do we distinguish a situation from a story? How can we quickly introduce a group of characters and keep them distinct?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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February 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop