Episodes

  • #78 - Revenge, & The Morning After
    May 2 2024

    You've waited your whole life for this moment, the pinnacle of justice served...but who am I, to deliver judgment? Today we talk revenge stories! Why they work, why the aftermath is so important, and what it means for characters who journey down that road.

    Prompt: Describe the morning after revenge.

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    34 mins
  • #77 - Monsters, Why? & The Maw of the Pond
    Apr 22 2024

    Monsters! You know 'em, you love 'em, but why? Today we breakdown the purpose of monsters in literature, how to give meaning to form, and what makes some monsters so memorable.

    Prompt: Create a monster that lives in a randomly-generated setting.

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    41 mins
  • #76 - Can Story Exist Without Worldbuilding? & The Watchful Room
    Mar 30 2024

    Can worldbuilding and storytelling exist without each other? We dive into examples of each on its own, how they stand alone, and when they demand the presence of the other. A fun dive into truly breaking down the definition of story.

    Prompt: Describe a scene that involves no people.

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    33 mins
  • #75 - Fan Prompts! Black Holes & Happy Cultists
    Mar 7 2024

    We're cruising through our first Fan Prompts of 2024! Join us as we take on your story ideas from Youtube and Twitter.

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    40 mins
  • #74 - Power, Structure, & The Loudest Voice
    Feb 14 2024

    Today! We reflect on a quote from the Grishaverse author Leigh Bardugo, and the establishing of powers in worldbuilding. How do you demonstrate setting through power dynamics, or utilize mystique to get your players invested? A complicated talk on the essence of storytelling that was very fun to dive into.

    Prompt: "Create a prologue that explains to us the most powerful person in the scene."

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    45 mins
  • #73 - Solo Journaling TTRPGs, & A Mundane Gal's Diary
    Feb 5 2024

    Is a TTRPG really a TTRPG if you play by yourself? Today we discuss the increasingly popular solo journaling genre! A niche within a niche of tabletop games, we break down the boons and banes of a story improvised entirely on your own, and name a couple of our personal recommendations.

    Prompt: A journal entry of a mundane girl in a magical world.

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    41 mins
  • #72 - War, & Sounds We Never Hear Again
    Jan 17 2024

    What is it good for? Well if anything, it makes for lasting stories. Why do people write about war, and why do we connect to such tragedies? Today we're examining the literary weight that conflict brings, and the aftermath that inevitably follows. Stick around for one of our favorite prompts ever!

    Prompt: A slo-mo moment in an intense conflict.

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    36 mins
  • #71 - Session One, & How Not To Do It
    Jan 10 2024

    You've got your players, your characters, your side-table snacks, everything's primed and ready to begin your awesome adventure. But how do you make sure it goes off without a hitch? We kick off Season 7 with our tips on a successful "Session One" for any tabletop campaign.

    Prompt: Now again, but notes-less!

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    47 mins