Creator's Guild Podcast

As conflict rages, Captain Ethran's normally fawless strategy is not working, and House Umari is paying the price. But what, or who, is causing his plans to fail?

Join Jared and Chris as they offer a sneak peak into To Bind With Blood; book 2 of the Chronicles of Duradim.

It's 1986.

What movie are you watching?

So many classics in a single year. How does it stack up to today?

Join Jared and Chris as they walk down memory lane.

It's time for some improve!

Join Jared and Chris as they take a prompt and generate the backbone of a story.

Can you do the same? Come along for the ride, then see what you can come up with.

How do you give feedback?

What about receiving feedback?

Can we simply avoid giving or receiving feedback because we're just that excellent at everything?

 Join Jared and Chris as they sit down with Liz to talk about what it's like to be on the receiving end and how both writers and readers can learn from each other.

So much time, so little to do.

Strike that. Reverse it.

From authors to 3D printers; from crocheting to acting...it's all at Tremendicon.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down with awesome creators. Then go check them out: https://www.richardwgoldsmith.com/

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwiTMwuaY2SPVE3ShxZ8aMQ

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Yl-BJYWE9tsdjltOlXBnQ

 https://www.facebook.com/p/Nocturnal-Nerd-Creations-61553000686284/

 https://www.facebook.com/RichardBeauchampOfficial/about

https://www.knotengineering.com/

 https://wolfaeworks.com/

htt...

It's another visit with authors at the Farmers Market.

This time Jared and Chris dive in with Ed Lee and A. M. Aurelia to explore worlds filled with Voo Doo magic, and escape with characters through a portal into alternat universes.

Never mind the rain. The mail man ain't got nothing on us!

Have you ever played any of the versions of Munchkin?

If not, you better take a chance on the fun. That's what Jared and his son tried, and they had to learn how to lose...to Chris.

Join Jared and Chris as they go on a rambling walk discussing the fun and inspiration that comes with game play.

First lines are important and all, but what about your last line? How do you leave your readers aching for more? Join Jared and Chris as they sit down for another great discussion with the amazing Liz Verity.

Ever wondered how a simple chat about AI can turn into a wild ride through creativity, tech, and the future? This week, Jared and Chris go down the rabbit hole with Miller Thomas to explore the crazy potential of AI, from revolutionizing storytelling to sparking bold new ideas.

Back at the farmers' market with more great authors.

Some farmers need to come on here and talk about how creativity works with plants and animals, or maybe creatively repairing a tractor. And that's not being facetious... necessity is the mother of invention and there are some really inventive people who come up with great solutions.

Anywho, join Jared and Chris as they sit down with more great authors sharing their stories at the Greater Springfield Farmers' Market.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

In storytelling, that includes time for tension.

So how do you figure out when tension should arise, when it should increase, or when new tension should be introduced to help carry your story.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down with the amazing Liz Verity for another round of learning.

There are great people at farmers markets, and this market includes local authors.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down and have a conversation with some great writers from the Springfield Writers' Guild.

Teresa Wilson is a Romance and Poetry author with her new book coming out soon.

David C. Reed is a veteran and retired criminal...

Have you ever thought about murdering someone, but in a friendly sort of way so people find it entertaining or amusing?

Well, Susan Keene has books that will be right up your alley.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down and talk all things murder, mystery, mayhem, and baking with a prolific Cozy Mystery author as she shares her writing journey and gives us insights into what she has planned for her future endeavors. 

How does a conversation jump from metal detecting to toothpaste to strawberry flavoring?

Well, you're about to find out.

Jared is out this week, so jump into a crazy conversation as Chris is joined, once again, by Caleb, but this time there's no supervision!

Bro! Do you even plot?

Do you know a plot twist when you see one? One about a plot reveal?

Hey, those sound like the same thing, right? Well, they are actually different aspects of plot creation.

"But how do they differ?" one might ask, and we're so very glad you did.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down, once again, with the talented Liz Verity to discuss these important plot devices and how you can be a better writer if you understand the difference.

Is wrestling real? Maybe. But one thing's for sure: wresters are incredible athletes and have to be masters at their craft to pull off the feats they do in the ring. If you want to create great things, you have to work on becoming great and honing your skills, you also have to learn all the rules that make what you're doing good. Once you understand the rules and you've mastered them, then you can figure out how to break them to create masterpieces that are uniquely yours. Join Jared and Chris as they discuss with Caleb what it...

Do you know how to make your characters jump off the page with their own unique personalities?

 The world you create needs characters, and those characters must have...character!

Join Jared and Chris as they chat with Liz about the importance of giving your characters the diverse personalities that will make them each unique and make your readers fall in love.

More stories after Duncan the Dragon?

Absolutely!

Author Lynn Combs is back and she is going strong. Join Jared and Chris as they talk about new children stories in the works, progress on on Avalina's tale, and upcoming events with Lynn.

And, as always, travel with them down the warrens and ways that twist and turn in unimaginable directions.

We all have things we're passionate about.

Ideas. Moral quandries. Philosophical perspectives.

When it comes to story telling, remember: It's about the story.

Join Jared and Chris as they talk about the pitfalls of monologuing and embedding your world views into the stories you tell. What does that do to readers? How can you avoid falling into the trap?

Good writers will invite everyone to read, regardless of the perspectives the author wants to share.

Have you tried wring and just can't get the story out of your brain fast enough?

Caleb has been there, tried that, and that was enough.

For now, he won't be a writer.

Join Jared and Chris as they have another discussion with Caleb and dive into his thoughts and challenges around writing a story.

Steaks... no, stakes! 

What kind of stakes does your story have? Steaks or stakes? Or, maybe a little bit of both?

Stories need stakes, and if your story already has stakes, maybe it needs higher stakes.

Join Jared and Chris in another episode with Liz Verity as they talk about the importance of story stakes.

Sometimes things don't make it into a book, and sometimes those things are still fun to hear, read, or discover.

There are plenty of parts that got cut from A Flight From Shadows, and there will be cuts from future books, too. But sometimes readers get a glimpse at those parts that didn't make the final cut.

Join Jared and Chris as they share a lost piece of book 1 that sheds some additional light on characters who show their faces to the world of Duradim.

Dr. Seuss

Else Holmelund Minarik

Gary Paulsen

Roald Dahl

Lynn Combs

Children's books really can reach from the past and pull in memories. What were the stories that you grew up on that forever shaped you and still inspire you today?

Join Jared and Chris as they discuss children's literature, some of the challenges you'll face if you want to get published, and stories Chris hopes to turn into children's books of his own.

No pocket watches.

No couches.

No therapists. (Especially not the ones Sean Connery refers to on Celebrity Jeopardy)

Just you, and the elements you need to pull your readers in and immerse them in your world.

So how do you do it? Join Jared and Chris for another awesome discussion with Liz Verity as they dive into the strategies that can make your readers think they are chickens....that is, fall in love with your world.

There are so many interesting ideas to pursue in the creative world, especially if you study art, which is just what Anja (Jared's daughter) has done.

Join Jared and Chris as they talk about a degree in fine arts emphasizing entertainment with Anja. The discussion goes off the rails in so many directions - from lemons, to cannibalism, mayhem laws, and murder, all while trying to explore education in art and entertainment!

It's time for another personality test. This time it's Teth under the microscope.

Join Jared and Chris as they do a deep dive on the personality of a crazy, torturous killer.

Spoiler: it doesn't go as expected.

Chris had the privilege of presenting to the Springfield Writers' Guild on the topic of Worldbuilding.

It was a fun experience with lots of participation by attendees. In fact, it was so fun, he wanted to share it with everyone!

Join Jared and Chris as they discuss principles of worldbuilding and offer insights to help you create worlds that sing!

Log lines and tag lines and bears, oh my!

If the Wicked Witch of Writer's Block is keeping you from following the Yellow Brick Road of storytelling, then perhaps a log line is the Good Witch you need to help you reach the Emerald City.

Join Jared and Chris in another deep dive with Liz as they discuss the difference between tag lines and log lines and explore how they can help you improve your storytelling.

Well...if you wondered how taking a personality test on behalf of one of your characters, wonder no longer.

Join Jared and Chris as they explore To'Ara's character traits and determine just how accurate they are in their assessment of who she is.

Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography?

If you have, would it include dragons, or magic, or maybe even murder?

If you're writing a story, whether it be high fantasy, or cozy mystery, perhaps your autobiography is being written through the eyes and experiences of your characters.

Join Jared and Chris as they discuss how much we, as writers, interject pieces of ourselves into the stories we tell.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYY KIIIIIDS!!!!!

If you love dragons, and you love picture books, and you love fire, then author Lynn Combs has a book coming out that is right up your alley. Lynn Combs is a fantasy author who wants to share her love of dragons and all things fantasy with up-and-coming readers.

Join Jared and Chris as they discuss the new children's book "Duncan the Dragon finds his Fire" coming out on February 13th. 

What does it take to create engaging characters?

Are there any methods or metrics you can measure against to determine just how engaging your characters really are?

The answer is: yes! And Liz Verity is here to tell us how to use some helpful devices to create characters that readers will love, or love to hate!

Join Jared and Chris as they take some of their characters through Liz's exercise to determine whether their characters measure up!

Adam and Jackie are back in town!

Actually, Jared and Chris are out of town and recording from a hotel.

Whatever! It's another episode with Adam and Jackie reviewing all the things in book one. Dive in for another discussion with Jared and Chris as they discuss book one and look ahead to book two and many more to come.

We have reached the end!

Not of the story, but of book one and 2024.

Join Jared and Chris for the last episode of the year as they wrap up A Flight From Shadows and look forward to plans in 2025. Thank you for riding along thus far.

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

What flavor stories do you like?

What seasonings do you prefer? Do you like subtle hints of things to come? Or do you prefer to be overwhelmed by wave after wave of new and exotic flavors?

Do you fall in the savory or sweet camp, enjoying rich undertones, or is your pallet more attuned to honeyed, sugary treats?

Yes, we're still talking about writing. But authors dabble in different flavors, telling tales as varied as there are recipes.

So where do you fall, and what is it that you enjoy most-what...

Were all the animals on Noah's Arc real characters? If so, would that be considered the biggest character arc ever?

Food for thought...

Liz Verity has some insights into how to make a good character arc and the challenges in writing them.

Join Jared and Chris as they sit down for another episode of Learning with Liz and do a deep dive into the creative process of making good characters.

Caleb is back and he agrees with Jared and Chris: there are some things in stories that just grind my gears!

Annoying characters.

Frustrating tropes.

Unrealistic processes.

Just some things that creators could avoid to make story telling better, right?

Well, maybe they don't grind your gears, but for some people, the little annoyances really impact the story.

Join Jared and Chris as they hash it out with Caleb on this all-over-the-place episode.

Food is the best!!

Unless it's garbage food. Then it's debatable. 

What about when it comes to writing about food? Do you like hearing about food in stories? Does it enhance the tale if you get to experience new dishes, or some of your favorite foods, through the eyes of a character?

Join Jared and Chris as they dive into a discussion about getting creative with food and creative with writing about food.

Don't you love it when you get told the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over.....

No?

Didn't think so.

Join Jared and Chris as they discuss storytelling and some of the things they like and dislike that authors do. They will share their thoughts on character perspective, keeping in a character's view, and why NOT to rehash the same information you've already shared with your readers.

Do you know what a plot is?

What bout story structure?

Do you know the difference?

How do you know which is which and where to focus in your writing? Liz Verity is here with all the answers to your writing questions. Join Jared and Chris as they do another deep dive with Liz into the writing process and the areas of focus that will improve your writing skills.