Shows
No "I" in WritingDevelopmental Editing of Chris’ Upcoming Book: Vol 1Chris and Christy discuss the developmental editing process for Chris’s upcoming book. We talk about our slightly unconventional editing process and how diving more deeply into each point of view character can help build stakes and create a richer, more textured world.
This episode is full of spoilers for Chris’ upcoming novel! So if you don’t want the book spoiled, come back to this one after you read it!
Topics Covered:
• Developmental editing process
• Character development and interiority
• Thematic elements and mood of the book
• World-building...2024-12-1158 minNo "I" in WritingWriting GroupsWe talk about the advantages and pitfalls of writing groups, debate team style! Christy tries to convince Chris, a writing group skeptic, that there are advantages to an author-focused feedback group. We talk about how to get good feedback and how to establish strong, productive relationships with writing partners and groups.
Shout outs:
Diana Ma
Amanda Kost
Felicia Rose Chavez’s “The Anti-Racist Writing
Workshop”: FELICIA ROSE CHAVEZ
(antiracistworkshop.com)
Carly Jayne (@lovelikesalt on Instagram)
Links and such
Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.chr...2024-06-2652 minNo "I" in WritingMid-April Catch upWe chat about where we are in our novel projects. Christy
talks about her slow crawl towards the end of her book. We discuss how synopses can help you clarify narrative arc and how writing friends can help you get out of your own way. Chris explains how his project management expertise applies to crafting a novel. Christy tries to convince Chris to channel his anxiety into a horror novel and encourages him to write down of his messiest emotions to ensure his very complicated series finale does not lack soul.
Shout outs:
Diana Ma
Todd...2024-04-1941 minNo "I" in WritingTerry Scheuer Has ConcernsWe’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. We finally got to chat with Terry Scheuer (Christy’s dad) about his many concerns around writing and editing.
We cover so much ground in this one, it’s like a writing (and editing) 101 class! Have you ever wondered how editors do their work while still honoring the author’s voice and intention? Terry did! He asked us about it. He also had concerns about the definition of “good” literature. Did you know authors make a “promise” to their readers and that readers get very annoyed when an...2024-02-131h 03No "I" in WritingChris writes a Synopsis for InterfaceIn this episode, Chris does himself (and Christy) a huge
favor and writes a synopsis of Interface, his work-in-progress. They discuss how creating the synopsis was very clarifying and how it helped him identify and solve problems with character development, plot, and pacing.
Shouts Out
All the introverts at the Scheuer family Christmas
party! (Like, we literally shouted at them)
Toby Hinnebusch (Rest in peace, cousin)
Links and such
Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' website: https://chrisl...2024-02-0626 minNo "I" in WritingUsing Social Media for good and other fun “research” ideasThe internet isn’t terrible when you ask people to be creative! Chris gives examples of how he has reached out to his social media community and incorporated their feedback into his creative processes.
Chris asked the social media hive-mind to help:
Come up with the name of a job in the Universe
of his latest book.
Believably describe how mushrooms could make
vaccines
Help make the disease, scab, a believable
pathogen in Host
Christy talks about doing research at the Nut Cracker every year. And Chris talks about other things he does that technically qu...2024-01-2808 minNo "I" in WritingA discussion with Sitong CheChris and Christy talk with Sitong Che about her many creative projects, including a fun and challenging story concept she’s been working on. We discuss multiple approaches to getting to know your main characters, how putting characters in conflict can teach you about your story, and some of the differences between
performance-based art and stories on the page. We also talk about Sitong’s collaborative process and why both Chris and Christy believe in giving their fictional characters “free will.” (Thanks, Sitong, for that and so many other insights, and for bringing us your story!) This one was so much...2024-01-181h 01No "I" in WritingBook Coaching is (kind of) like therapyNote that there are many potential spoilers for Chris’ new
book. If you don’t want to know any of the plot twists, please do not listen to this podcast. If you would like to hear an author struggle mightily in a very normal way, or you would like to see how a book changes from the author’s original conception, this is the podcast for you!
Christy practices some book coach magic to get Chris to
think about issues with his current work in progress and helps him work through how to construct the “ticking time bomb” of...2023-11-2333 minNo "I" in WritingCollaborating...with yourself?
In which we start with a slightly strange question that Christy had for Chris: What if we talked about creative collaboration between characters in a story?
Being able to collaborate is a mindset, so can you collaborate with yourself? More specifically, can letting your characters work things out amongst themselves count as a version of collaboration?
Tangents include how the Scheuer family Thanksgiving kid table changed the course of Chris’ book Host, Anya Lodwig’s ability to set up a joke weeks ahead of time, Rogan’s friend Sam who makes good beer, and why Chris...2023-08-1520 minNo "I" in WritingChris Talks about Self-PublishingIn which, we talk about the pros and cons of self-publishing – and why creative collaboration is central to the self-publishing process.
We also discuss Chris’s favorite things about being a writer, why it is so important to understand what you want to get out of the
publishing process, and why Chris is mad at the whole game of golf.
Shouts out:
Todd Lubsen
Carly Jayne (@lovelikesalt on Instagram)
Angelina Odievich
Rogan Carr
Robert Gilliam
Wool by Hugh Howey (Amazon.com: Wool:
Book One of the Silo Series (Silo, 1): 9780358447849: Howey, Hugh: Book...2023-08-0825 minNo "I" in WritingWhere is Chris at in His Current BookOn this episode of “No ‘I’ in Writing,” we talk about where Chris is in his novel-writing process. Chris talks about the different drafting processes he has used for each book of his trilogy and opens up about elements of this novel that are making him feel insecure. (Giant Bugs!)
Christy talks about ways to help identify the main character (which is harder and more complicated than you might think), and how to structure an inciting incident to establish your main character and their struggles. She forces Chris to wrestle with tough questions and clarify...2023-07-1854 min
SciFi4Me: Live From the BunkerLive From The Bunker 619: New A.I. Threats!Oh, my, but we have so much to talk about! And we probably won't get to it all today, but we run down the latest developments in the realm of "artificial intelligence" and machine learning. Did you know it's promised to not kill us? The panel: David Luxton, Dan Handley, Chris Lodwighttp://www.davidluxton.com/https://twitter.com/DavidDLuxtonhttps://chrislodwigauthor.com/https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor/https://www.instagram.com/christopherlodwig/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislodwig/ Feedback: livefromthebunker@scifi4me.com FAIR...2023-07-141h 21No "I" in WritingWhat Christy Did With Chris' AdviceChristy gives tells us what she did and didn’t take from Chris’ advice and gives us an update on the impact that their coaching session from Episode 11 had on her forward progress.
We also touch on how coaching is different from mentoring or
just giving advice.
Shouts out:
· Writing Excuses Podcast (https://writingexcuses.com/)
· The Coaching Habit (https://boxofcrayons.com/boc/the-coaching-habit-book/ )
· Terry Scheuer (Of course)
Links and such:
· Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
· Christina's website: https...2023-07-1123 minNo "I" in WritingWhere Christy's at in writing her current bookOn this episode of “No ‘I’ in Writing,” Chris puts on his book coaching hat, and we talk about where Christy is in her novel-writing process and strategies she can use to get unstuck and start writing forward again.
We talk about why it’s important to get a first draft out quickly, how to tie deadlines to more specific goals, and why Sauron has a backstory and every Orc does not (aka why you should focus on developing a single antagonist).
We also talk about why Christy could never kill her own chickens (but Chris probably could) and...2023-06-2651 minNo "I" in WritingThe Art of FeedbackIn which we discuss the importance of constructive feedback in the creative collaboration process and how to give and receive it effectively to improve the quality of the work.
Hear why Chris’s new novel is currently full of square brackets and all about his terrible teenage poetry. How to enlist the help of your beta readers and the kinds of feedback you might hope to get from them. Why diversity is important in your beta readership and those you receive feedback from.
Shouts out:
Dr. Tachella (Chris’ 6th and 7th Grade...2023-06-2022 minNo "I" in WritingPantsers vs PlottersWe talk about pantsers and plotters. Who are Pantsers? What are Plotters? How does one collaborate with such people? Where do you fall on this spectrum?
Hear about how Chris pantses his characters and how Christy gardens her plots. Learn how writing his series moves Chris away from pantsing toward plotting
and architecting.
Fact check for this episode: It was George RR Martin who mentioned “Gardeners” as a metaphor for a writing style as did tons of other folks on the internet. So who knows (or cares anymore) who originated the idea. Incidentally, he also menti...2023-06-1521 minNo "I" in WritingWhere do we begin?Content warning: There is mention of the mass culling of fuzzy
creatures in this episode.
When Christy told her friend Phil Partington that we were addressing the question “How do you begin to write?,” he asked, “What do you
mean? How do you begin writing a book? How do you begin a writing session? How do you begin writing again after a long break?” In this episode we cover ideas for all of those moments of beginning. We also cover writer’s block: great suggestions for causing it and how to get beyond it.
Mentions and Links...2023-06-0648 minNo "I" in WritingCollaboration in the Era of AIIn which we talk about large language model AIs, Chris’ Book Systemic. Existential threats to both writers and editors. Why computer-generated art makes us lonely. The role of the writer/artist in the era of AI. Do artisan books have any appeal? Are we making up reality as we go? Mrs. Thenell’s philosophy class. How to be a good person in a ubiquitous surveillance society.
ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/)
Eva Moon, Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World (https://www.amazon.com/Pinocchios-Guide-End-World-Moon/dp/B0BWL8B279)
(T 12:40)
S.E Anderson, Over the Moon (https://www...2023-05-1251 minNo "I" in WritingAccountability PartnersThis is the second in our series on editing, in which Christina and Chris discuss how writers can help keep each other on track and how to know if you’re ready to hear critique and feedback.
Shouts out to: Amanda Kost, Rogan Carr, Bobby Gilliam, Terry Scheuer, Amy Lodwig, Chris’ daughter Anya
Various links and such:
Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' Author Website: https://chrislodwigauthor.com
Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits
Chris' Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAutho...2023-05-0125 minNo "I" in WritingBook Coaching and Developmental EditingIn which Christina and Chris talk about what a book coach is and does, developmental editing, and how your non-witting friends can help develop your book.
Shouts out to: Chris’ wife Amy and, of course Christina’s daughter, Freya
Various links and such:
Stephen King’s On Writing: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Memoir-Craft-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B000FC0SIM
Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' Author Website: https://chrislodwigauthor.com
Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits
Chris' Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chri...2023-04-2318 minNo "I" in WritingImproving your antagonistsIn which Christina and Chris talk about how they collaborated to build a flat, milk-toast, antagonist into an anger-inducing structure-providing full-fledged villain.
Terry Scheuer, Chad McEvoy, and Chris' Mother-in-law all get shouts out.
Various links and such:
Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' Author Website: https://chrislodwigauthor.com
Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits
Chris' Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor
Christina's email: cscheuer@gmail.com
Chris' email: ChrisLodwig@gmail.com
2023-04-0936 minNo "I" in WritingWrite to Your BrainIn which Christina and Chris talk about the different ways their brains construct scenes — and why it can be so valuable to collaborate with someone whose brain works differently than yours. They also talk about authorial voice and how to preserve it through the editorial process.
Many thanks to Angelina Odievich for creating our podcast logo!
Various links and such:
Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' Author Website: https://chrislodwigauthor.com
Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashmea...2023-03-2432 minNo "I" in WritingMain CharactersWe talk about how our collaboration helped make the characters in Chris' novel Host more full and real. We crack wise about crystals and auras and tarot cards.
Special guest star: Christina's daughter, Freya, who asks a great question about how not to delete everything you write.
Folks to whom we have shouted out:
Angelina Odievich for helping us out with our pod cast logo
John Flaa (for making Chris give characters meaningful names)
Various links and such:
Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/d...2023-03-1834 minNo "I" in WritingAn Overview of Our CollaborationOur first episode. We talk about our most recent project, Chris' book Host, the experience of working on it together, what we love about collaborating and what that looks like from our different perspectives as writer and editor.
Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C
Christina's website: https://www.christinascheuer.com
Chris' Author Website: https://chrislodwigauthor.com
Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits
Chris' Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor
2023-03-0540 minSciFi4Me: Live From the BunkerLive From the Bunker 498: Surviving A.I. | Chris Lodwig's DystopiaAuthor Chris Lodwig has envisioned a slightly different take on the dystopian future: a time when we became dependent on the artificial intelligence technology, and then it collapsed. The Systemic novels trace humanity's struggle to survive after the collapse of the A.I. construct. His second novel, Host, takes place three hundred years after the A.I. was shut down.https://chrislodwigauthor.com/https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor/https://www.instagram.com/christopherlodwig/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislodwig/ Plus: bonus second hour discussion! Amber Heard, Bob Iger, Fortnite, and the latest Twitter Files!Feedback: l...2022-12-191h 31
Pants on or off?Pants On or Off: Chris LodwigToday's guest is author Chris Lodwig, who recently published his debut sci-fi novel, Systemic.
Chris lives in Seattle with his wife, daughter, dog, lizard, and an unlikely number of shrimp.
He spent his younger years playing music, frequenting Burning Man, throwing art parties and parades, and clandestinely installing monoliths and other art in local parks.
He has spent the last twenty-three years at technology companies in the greater Seattle area.
He has degrees in both Comparative History of Ideas and Communications from the University of Washington.
...2021-04-2816 min
Books and Authors Fantasy and SciFi PodcastFuture Tech and Humanity with Author Chris Lodwig on the Books and Authors PodcastThis is the Books and Authors Fantasy Podcast Episode 152 with Chris Lodwig . Good day and welcome to this episode of the Books and Authors Fantasy and Sci-Fi Podcast. I’m your host, podcaster and author of Fun Fantasy Reads, … Continue reading →
The post Future Tech and Humanity with Author Chris Lodwig on the Books and Authors Podcast appeared first on Fantasy/Sci-Fi Focus.2021-02-1930 min
Bloody Athenaeum (Stories from the dark archives)Will Someone Please Name that AI with Chris Lodwig #72I love having conversations with authors. We not only cover his book Systemic, we also solve all the issues with Social Media and the Internet. It was such a great conversation between two people that may have varying opinions, but still were able to listen to each other and understand the points. I really wish more conversations were like this in real life.
Chris lives in Seattle with his wife, daughter, dog, lizard, and an unlikely number of shrimp.
He spent his younger years playing music, frequenting Burning Man, throwing art parties and parades, and clandestinely installing...2021-02-171h 27