Gary J. Martin and Alan McNevin share personal experiences, practical observations, and closing thoughts on how to use writing groups for encouragement without letting them define your writing path. Join us for a frank, friendly conversation about finding the right community for your work.

Welcome to Fictional Problems, the Speculative Fiction Ireland podcast. In this episode Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin debate who writers actually write for—themselves, specific audiences, critics, or idealized "phenotypes." They discuss using personal experiences, emotional motivations, plot logic, and the influence of reviewers when crafting characters and stories.

From writing as therapy to the fuel of rejection and the trade-offs between traditional and self-publishing, the hosts explore how motivations shape storytelling and what readers expect from plot, character realism, and narrative surprises.

This episode of Fictional Problems (with Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin) examines nostalgia in storytelling and why audiences often prefer worlds that feel constant — from Middle Earth to Star Trek. The hosts discuss how stagnant or slowly changing universes shape fan comfort, worldbuilding, and storytelling choices.

Using examples like Lord of the Rings, Star Trek (including Enterprise and DS9), Rings of Power and other nostalgic media, they explore the creative trade‑offs between historical gravitas, authenticity, and audience expectations.