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.
018: “The Babysitter” by Robert Coover
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 Babysitter” by Robert Coover. What lessons can we take from such a unique piece that takes so many chances and nevertheless succeeds wildly?
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
October 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
017: “Closer” by Greg Egan
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 “Closer” by Greg Egan. What can we learn about writing fiction in general from a “Hard” Science Fiction story? How can philosophical questions influence our fiction?
Find Egan’s paper about superpermutations here: “Superpermutations” by Greg Egan.
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
October 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
016: “Girls, At Play” by Celeste Ng
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 “Girls, At Play” by Celeste Ng. What lessons can we draw from a story with such a startling premise? Is there more to learn about perspective and point of view? How do our intentions for a story affect how the story ought to unfold and what readers are meant to care about? How can paying attention to how we feel as we read influence the way we write our own stories?
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
September 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
015: “Only Tourists Remember the Alamo” by Alicia D. Ortega
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 “Only Tourists Remember the Alamo” by Alicia D. Ortega. How can a specific, real-life setting influence a story? How does a non-linear structure that allows you to quickly slip in and out of scenes give you more freedom in your 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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
September 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
014: “Victory Lap” by George Saunders
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 “Victory Lap” by George Saunders. What can we learn about writing character and stream of consciousness and point of view from a master of characterization and perspective.
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
August 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
013: “How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore
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 “How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore. What lessons can we learn about fiction, about being a writer, and the craft of point of view from Moore’s “second-person mock imperative” parody of a self-improvement manual for fiction writers?
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
August 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
012: “When They Came to Us” by Debbie Urbanski
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 “When They Came to Us” by Debbie Urbanski. What can we learn about fiction by looking at a story about aliens?
We also briefly discuss Nathan W. Pyle’s “Strange Planet”
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
July 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
011: “Voices” by Alice Munro
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 “Voices” by Alice Munro. We find lessons about the pace of description and how the struggle of remembering can create drama in a memoir, among other things.
Here is a good list of Munro stories available online: “25 Alice Munro Stories You Can Read Online Right Now”
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
July 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
010: “Now We Are Five” by David Sedaris
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 “Now We Are Five” by David Sedaris. What can we learn about writing fiction by examining memoir?
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
June 15th, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop
009: “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver
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 of Why Is This Good, we discuss Raymond Carver’s story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.” We explore what we can learn about dialogue, among other lessons.
Read the story here: “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver
We apologize again for the audio issues in this episode. The good news is that we think we’ve figured out the problem we’ve been having and future episodes should (hopefully) have much better audio. Thanks for listening!
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
June 1st, 2019 by Naples Writers' Workshop