AmericanWriters.com -- Creative Writing Podcast
By Tom Occhipinti
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Podcast Description
The Creative Writing Podcast at AmericanWriters.com is designed to help writers of all levels. The focus is on characterization, narrative, plot development, dialogue, conflict, setting, literary archetypes, etc. Episodes are not centered around mindless, useless pep talks and recycled writing tips. Rather, the Podcast at AmericanWriters.com offers in-depth analysis of what works and what doesn't, with explanations and original writing samples. Subscribe and visit AmericanWriters.com for more information.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
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1 |
Writing 009 -- Characters of Tragedy and Redemption | This episode looks at two different kinds of protagonists: the fallen and the redeemed. Each can evoke strong emotions in the reader and speak to the human condition. Properly handled, tragedies and redemption stories become very powerful character-driven | 7/29/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Writing 008 -- Writing Historical Fiction: Part 2 | We continue our discussion of how to write historical fiction. Toward that end, we examine what some established authors have done -- and we break the topic into three sections. | 4/16/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Quick Writing Tip 015 -- Writing Deus Ex Machina (Not!) | Learn about Deus Ex Machina -- its pros and cons and how it can hurt fiction. | 3/25/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Quick Writing Tip 014 -- Motives Beneath Motives | This episode doesn't just talk about what superficially motivates characters; it looks at the forces that need to stir at deeper levels. | 3/5/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Quick Writing Tip 013 -- Writing a Novel Prologue | Many authors are disparaged for using prologues to start their novels -- but is it such a bad practice after all? | 2/4/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Writing 007 -- Writing Historical Fiction | Whether you're writing Historical Fiction or utilizing history within your fiction, there are a handful of things you need to consider. This episode focuses on much of the theory, and we take a look at what writers of Historical Fiction have said about th | 1/8/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Quick Writing Tip 012 -- Story, Narrative and What to Include | Trim down your writing; think about what you should include in your narrative and what should you leave out. Also, learn the difference between story and narrative. | 12/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Quick Writing Tip 011 -- Writing, Ideology and Activism | Many writers use their fiction as a form of activism. However, does it hurt the art form? | 11/18/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Quick Writing Tip 010 -- How People Read | Learn about the four ways to approach reading a book. | 11/4/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Quick Writing Tip 009 -- The Subtle Dimensions of External Conflict | Learn how external conflict can be written to underscore the turmoil brewing within the character's psyche. | 11/3/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Writing 006 -- Listener Letters (emphasis on approaching the novel) | It's time to respond to some of your questions and comments. All the same, I can't help myself: I address one or two of them so heavily that I hijack my own show and give it a bona-fide theme. Among other things, I talk about how I approach writing my nov | 10/29/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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12 |
Quick Writing Tip 008 -- How Writing is like Painting | Learn how writing is like painting a picture. However, this episode is not what you think; it has nothing to do with writing description. Give it a listen. | 10/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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13 |
Quick Writing Tip 007 -- Be Consistent | Make your characters consistent. Learn how things can easily go wrong. | 9/24/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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14 |
Quick Writing Tip 006 -- Sacrifice for the Greatest Good | Stop being so sentimental. If it serves your story, kill the characters you love. | 9/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 |
Writing 005 -- Thoughts about Setting | This time out, I talk about how setting can establish tone, bolster theme and give psychological dimension to your story. | 9/13/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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16 |
AmericanWriters.com Podcast Promo | Subscribe to the Podcast at AmericanWriters.com. | 9/11/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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17 |
Quick Writing Tip 005 -- The Story or You? | Step outside of yourself -- Stop making all your fiction thinly-veiled autobiography. | 9/8/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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18 |
Writing 004 -- The Shadow in the Hero | Ahh, yes. This is one of my favorite discussions when talking about writing. It goes well beyond the mundane, deeply into character and conflict analysis and into the psychological and archetypal. Without this useful dramatic device, your story can easily | 9/3/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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19 |
Quick Writing Tip 004 -- What's this Adverb Phobia all About? | Should we be afraid of adverbs? Sometimes, yes. Listen to this and learn why. | 8/30/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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20 |
Quick Writing Tip 003 -- Likeable Characters | Okay, write that hateful character -- but make sure that he is loveable. | 8/27/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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21 |
Quick Writing Tip 002 -- Write what you know?? Nonsense! | Stop writing what you KNOW and start using your imagination! | 8/19/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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22 |
Quick Writing Tip 001 -- The Importance of Internal Conflict | Yes, internal conflict is the heart of characterization; but it's also at the heart of drama. Listen and learn. | 8/17/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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23 |
Writing 003 -- How to Write Dialogue | Tom Occhipinti talks about how to write dialogue in fiction. He covers the basic rules and discusses whether or not they should be broken. Finally, he touches upon the issue of writing MEANINGFUL dialogue and along the way recounts a funny story from his | 8/14/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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24 |
Writing 002 -- How to Open your Story: Part Two | This is Part Two of a show that discusses the various ways you can open a story. Part One addressed opening a story with Narrative Description. Here in Part Two, Tom Occhipinti addresses opening a story with Action and Dialogue, respectively. It's an in-d | 7/23/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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25 |
Writing 002 -- How to Open your Story: Part One | If you have ever struggled over how to open your story, this show will help, as it looks at a few possible approaches. Even if you don't have an issue with this, the discussion and sample passage written and analyzed by Tom is fodder for thought. This epi | 5/29/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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26 |
Writing 001 -- Show Introduction and Preview | Our first show introduces you to the podcast creator and writer, Tom Occhipinti, and gives you a heads up on the direction that the podcast series will take. | 4/19/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 26 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
Inspiring, interesting, intelligently articulated...Great Podcast!
I haven't written in quite some time, and wanted to light that fire again and get off my butt and start working on something. This Podcast has been great in that it's not only inspired me to start writing again, but it also offers great tips and practical advice to writers of all skill levels. The host is also very easy to listen to and doesn't drone on like some of the writing podcasts I've listened to. Keep it up! I only wish there were more episodes with greater frequency.
Excellent stuff, but intro too long
Very practical information for fiction writers in short and long snippets, which is a great mix. I just wish the intro music wasn't so incredibly long. I have to fastward through it on every listen.
Writing Made Interesting
The podcasts presented by Tom Occhipinti have become iTunes events I wait for. They arrive irregularly so when I'm least expecting it, along comes another of his excursions into matters that concern the writer... and the informed reader as well. Simply put, Tom's podcasts are valuable and inspiring.
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