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.

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082: “The Future is Blue” by Catherynne M. Valente

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 Future is Blue” by Catherynne M. Valente. What can we learn from this cli-fi story? What makes a great prose style? How can we make our prose fun to write and fun to read? How can sentence rhythm be evocative? How can we quickly build an immersive fictional world?

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

June 15th, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

081: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber

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 Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber. What can we learn from this happy little story and its main character’s vivid daydreams? How does the literary form help us create this kind of character or experience? What does Walter Mitty tell us about the literary arts in general? How can we use onomatopoeia in a 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

June 1st, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

080: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

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 “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid. What can we learn from this little story? Is it flash fiction? What is it? How can we create rich characters by presenting only what they say?

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

May 15th, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

079: “Town of Birds” by Heather Monley

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 “Town of Birds” by Heather Monley. What can we learn from this story? Does there have to be a metaphorical meaning? How can a strong image or concept drive a 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

May 1st, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

078: “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

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 Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. What can we learn from this classic story? How does the conceit of the narration help tell the story? How does the setting and situation impact the story? How can we manipulate point of view to create narrative effects? Should we ever ignore writing advice?

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

April 15th, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

077: “The Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr

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 Hunter’s Wife” by Anthony Doerr. What can we learn from a story with a fantastical premise? What do we get from a slow-building, patient story? How do pace and story work together? How can we use our deep familiarity with a setting in our writing?

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

April 1st, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

076: “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J. D. Salinger

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 “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J. D. Salinger. How can a simple presentation provide such a complex story? What’s the effect of a third-person, psychically distant point of view? How do we know what a character is thinking if we never see their thoughts? What should we as writers provide for readers to see the bigger picture?

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

 

March 15th, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

075: “Sweethearts” by Richard Ford

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 “Sweethearts” by Richard Ford. What can we learn from this story? How can a character’s emotions create tension in a story? How can a story’s premise wind up the tension? How can we establish an authoritative voice for the narrator?

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

 

March 1st, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

074: “This Is Pleasure” by Mary Gaitskill

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 “This is Pleasure” by Mary Gaitskill. What can we learn from a story with two first-person narrators? How can physical description help characterize a character? How do the feelings point-of-view characters have about something frame a story’s overall perspective? What’s the difference between a story and a character sketch?

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

 

February 15th, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

073: “Snow” by Dale Bailey

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 “Snow” by Dale Bailey. What can we learn from this action-packed apocalyptic survival story? How much does a story like this rely on our familiarity with the genre? How do we determine what a story should focus on? How can we use refrains or motifs to represent the building pressures on a character’s decision? How can punctuation and line breaks help build the style of a scene?

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

 

February 1st, 2022 by Naples Writers' Workshop

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