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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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February 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
024: “To the Measures Fall” by Richard Powers
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In this episode, we discuss “To the Measures Fall” by Richard Powers. What can we learn from a story written in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style? What can we learn about character from a story whose main character is “You”? How can a narrative be driven by the way a character continues to find new meaning in her long relationship with a book? How can description and metaphor borrow from a character’s interests—how can a character help frame the way you describe things in a story? How can an initial conflict that continually snowballs help develop 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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January 15th, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
023: “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
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In this episode, we discuss “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury. What can we learn from a story with no apparent characters? How can we establish a POV without characters? How does language introduce hidden personifications? How can we use these hidden metaphors to pump up our prose?
Alternate version: “August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury.
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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January 1st, 2020 by Naples Writers' Workshop
022: “Black-Eyed Women” by Viet Thanh Nguyen
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In this episode, we discuss “Black-Eyed Women” by Viet Thanh Nguyen. What can we learn from a story that features a ghost? What function can a ghost serve in a narrative? How can a strong central metaphor inform the shape and details of a story? How do our cultural conventions inform the metaphors of our stories, and can close examination help us discover more?
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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December 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
021: “Goodbye and Good Luck” by Grace Paley
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In this episode, we discuss “Goodbye and Good Luck” by Grace Paley. How can a strong character voice drive a story even without a complex plot? Can a character sketch or portrait of an attitude be a complete and fulfilling story? How can we inform the first person narration by considering the occasion of the telling? Why is such a simple, happy story so good?
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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December 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
020: “Gender Studies” by Curtis Sittenfeld
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 “Gender Studies” by Curtis Sittenfeld. How can a stereotype become a nuanced and unexpectedly deep character? How can a character who doesn’t understand their own desires affect or drive a story? Why do we write in the present tense?
We also mention (and spoil) “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian.
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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November 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
019: “Lady Tigers” by Nick White
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 read “Lady Tigers” by Nick White. We discuss what we can learn about the all-too-familiar writer’s advice to “show, don’t tell” and how this story helps us understand that advice. When should we show and not tell? Also, how can we structure the deployment of background information that is necessary for the reader? How can that structure lend the story emotional resonances? How can we make a story be about itself and explore character?
Apologies for the quality of JC’s audio in this episode.
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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November 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop