Shows
Fiction HackNaNoWrimo Special 4: Character and Plot: Fiction Hack Episode 023As we come to the end of our series of NaNoWrimo special episodes, Ross admits, to Colin's horror, that he thinks this is a writing theory podcast!
Then they go on to explore the difference between character and plot driven stories.2024-08-0951 minFiction HackNaNoWrimo interview with F. T. Kulpa and Wendell Mitchell Snow: Fiction Hack Episode 022F. T. Kulpa and Wendell Mitchell Snow are both writers and NaNoWriMo enthusiasts. They have taken part several times each.
In this interview they share their experiences about the process, how it is helpful and how to get the most out of NaNoWriMo.2024-08-0249 minFiction HackRemebering Stan Lee. Fiction Hack: Episode 0212024-07-2636 min
Fiction HackUsing Theme – NaNoWriMo Special 2. Fiction Hack: Episode 020Using theme and motif can be a great way to allow readers to enjoy your story on another level. It can also help focus your writing and add to that all-important NaNoWriMo word count! This week we discuss what we mean by using theme and motif.
2024-07-1929 min
Fiction HackAct Structure – NaNoWriMo Special. Fiction Hack: Episode 019Act structure is something that everyone talks and has an opinion about, but is it actually helpful when you are writing your story? No. No, it’s not. But maybe sometimes it is. Allow me to unlock the doors of the prison called “Act Structure” for you. It’s up to you if you leave…
2024-07-1254 min
Fiction HackPowers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula – Episode 18Powers of Darkness is the recently rediscovered early draft of Dracula. Somehow, this early manuscript found its way into the hands of an Icelandic translator and was translated into Icelandic in 1900. For over a hundred years the Icelanders have been reading this book as Dracula, despite there being major, significant differences between the English version and the translated version. With a translation back into English, and a scholarly edition of Powers of Darkness now on the shelves, it is open to speculation as to the origin of these changes. Is this really an early draft, or just an embellishment of th...2024-07-0545 min
Fiction HackThe First Shared Universe – Halloween Special II: Episode 17What was the first shared universe? The answer may be surprising (unless you listened to our last episode). Join us as we discuss the little-seen 1943 classic Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, as well as the following Universal Monster movies, and Ross compares Halloween as a kid in the US and the UK.
2024-06-2846 min
Fiction HackUniversal Horror Movies – Halloween Special I: Fiction Hack Episode 16Why are the Universal Horror Movies important and why should we still talk about them today? Because believe it or not, the Hollywood movie industry is still making billions upon billions using the storytelling models that this specific series of movies developed that were kicked off over 85 years ago. Come inside and listen… if you dare!
2024-06-2257 min
Fiction HackWhy Are There So Many Spider-Man movies? Fiction-Hack: Episode 015Why are there so many Spider-Man Movies? I’ll tell you why there are so many Spider-Man movies! We do a box office and critical analysis of all of the Spider-Man movies up to the present day. Find out why the stories are recycled so much, why they keep recasting the character, and why he’s suddenly started showing up in the Avengers movies.
2024-06-181h 02
Fiction HackWho is Doctor Who? Part 2 – Fiction Hack: Episode 14Who is Doctor Who? We continue to answer this question, covering the Third and Fourth Doctors played by Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, as well as Berry Letts.
2024-06-1454 min
Fiction HackTruth and Story – Fiction Hack: Episode 013Today we tackle and solve one of the eternal questions of humanity: what is truth? And what do we mean when we talk about truth and story? We have all the answers here for you guys. Seriously, we worked it out. You’re welcome.
2024-06-1043 min
Fiction HackWho Is Doctor Who? Part One – Fiction Hack: Episode 012So who is Doctor Who, anyway? It’s a fair question, and one that we have to travel 50 years into the past in order to answer fully. This week we pick up with the very first Doctor, mention very briefly “Dr. Who”, and blow through the Second Doctor–essentially all the black and white (and missing)episodes. Join us on a journey through space and time as we ask… who is Doctor Who?
2024-06-0651 min
Fiction HackReady Player One. Fiction Hack: Episode 011Are you ready player one? Ross has read the book, Colin has seen the movie–can one convince the other to do the other? It’s a roundabout discussion that drifts into deeper waters as we question the value of nostalgia in the pursuit of truth.
2024-06-021h 05
Fiction HackProtagonists and Antagonists. Fiction Hack: Episode 010We all think we know what we mean when we talk about protagonists and antagonists, but do we actually? Let’s dive deeper into the words’ origins…
First up, as I hope I made clear, I am not using these two words in their conventional meaning. The accepted usage of “protagonist” today is simply “main character”. I think that this loses an important nuance, however, and one that we would have to invent terminology to redefine both protagonists and antagonists. Why go to that hassle when we can just use the old word in a new way?
2024-05-2942 min
Fiction HackThe Problem with Die Hard: Episode 009What is the problem with Die Hard? It’s just a fun movie right? I mean, Bruce Willis is really good in it, Alan Rickman gives a career-making performance, and there are a couple cool explosions. What’s not to like? What’s the problem with Die Hard? Well…
Full show note available on our Website:
Fiction Hack: Episode 0092024-05-2554 min
Fiction HackRemembering Steve Ditko: Fiction Hack Episode 008This week we are remembering Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Question, Rorshach, and much, much more. Just like the heroes he created and helped develop, Ditko was a mysterious, complex, and principled individual. Today we try to open a little of that up for you.
Full Show notes available on our website:
Fiction Hack: Episode 008
2024-05-2148 min
Fiction HackStar Trek: Fiction Hack Episode 007
What’s this? Ross is the layman and Colin is the expert? Have we entered a mirrorverse? That would explain why both Colin and Ross are wearing dark goatees (Ross has a darker goatee on top of his beard–it’s weird). This week we talk Star Trek!
Star Trek is massive. There have been 7 TV shows (including the Animated Series) totalling incorporating seasons, totalling 740 episodes. Additionally, there have been and a whopping 13 movies.
I haven’t even tried to count the Star Trek novels. Here’s a list on Wikipedia, though.
Star Trek novels have been publishe...2024-05-1759 min
Fiction HackAnt-man and The Wasp: Fiction Hack Episode 006Marvel Studios is about to release its 20th movie, Ant-Man and The Wasp! As a long-time comic nerd, that blows my mind. Ant-Man is a very unlikely hero who has been around since the beginning and has a hard time keeping his own series. The Wasp has generally been a tag-along character to him. Along with Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s been one of the most obscure characters picked to headline his own movie. So who is Ant-Man and/or The Wasp? Who are they in the comics, and who are they in the movies?
My Fantastic Fo...2024-05-1352 min
Fiction HackChekhov’s Gun and the Mystery box: Fiction Hack Episode 005As Russian playwright Anton Chekhov once said: “I’ve got a gun!” Why is this an important statement in the history of fictional narrative? And how does it relate to some sort of box that J. J. Abrams once got as a kid? (Hint: Alfred Hitchcock)
The answers are inside…
The Chekhov’s gun quotes are from Wikipedia:
“Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going...2024-05-0939 min
Fiction HackCharles Dickens sucks: Fiction Hack Episode 004This this episode Colin talks about why he does not have much time for Charles Dickens. Ross makes the case that while there is much to dislike about Dickens, there is also much to love.
2024-05-0531 min
Fiction HackJump the Shark: Fiction Hack Episode 003In episode 3 of the Fiction Hack Podcast, Ross and Colin talk about what it means to ‘jump the shark’.2024-05-0138 min
Fiction HackStar Wars is dead to me, and this is why: Fiction Hack Episode 002I this episode Ross Explains why he, a once die hard fan of Star Wars, couldn't care less.2024-04-2935 min
Fiction HackLet’s Start a Podcast: Fiction Hack Episode 001In 2018 Ross Lawhead and I started a podcast called Fiction Hack: Unlocking a Deeper Experience in Modern Story.
In this first episode we defined what the podcast would be about, and decided on a name.
2024-04-2831 min
Fiction HackCaptain Marvel and Shazam. Fiction Hack Episode 23Captain Marvel and Shazam. Fiction Hack Episode 23 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2019-04-1755 min
Fiction HackPlot Vs Character - NaNoWriMo Special 4. Fiction Hack: Episode 22Plot Vs Character - NaNoWriMo Special 4. Fiction Hack: Episode 22 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-12-0551 min
Fiction HackRemebering Stan Lee. Fiction Hack Episode 021Remebering Stan Lee. Fiction Hack Episode 021 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-11-2536 minFiction HackNaNoWrimo interview with F. T. Kulpa and Wendell Mitchell SnowIn another NoNoWriMo special episode this week we have some special guests. F. T. Kulpa and Wendell Mitchell Snow are NoNoWriMo enthusiasts who have been taking part for several years. They share some of their insights and experiences.2018-11-1649 min
Fiction HackUsing Theme - NaNoWriMo Special 2. Fiction Hack: Episode 20Using Theme - NaNoWriMo Special 2. Fiction Hack: Episode 20 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-11-1329 min
Fiction HackAct Structure - NaNoWriMo Special. Fiction Hack: Episode 19Act Structure - NaNoWriMo Special. Fiction Hack: Episode 19 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-11-1054 min
Fiction HackPowers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula - Episode 18Powers of Darkness is the recently rediscovered early draft of Dracula. Somehow, this early manuscript found its way into the hands of an Icelandic translator and was translated into Icelandic in 1900. For over a hundred years the Icelanders have been reading this book as Dracula, despite there being major, significant differences between the English version and the translated version. With a translation back into English, and a scholarly edition of Powers of Darkness now on the shelves, it is open to speculation as to the origin of these changes. Join us as we try to unravel some of the issues...2018-11-0145 min
Fiction HackThe First Shared Universe - Halloween Special II: Episode 17What was the first shared universe? The answer may be surprising (unless you listened to our last episode). Join us as we discuss the little-seen 1943 classic Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, as well as the following Universal Monster movies, and Ross compares Halloween as a kid in the US and the UK.2018-10-2646 min
Fiction HackUniversal Horror Movies - Halloween Special I: Fiction Hack Episode 16Why are the Universal Horror Movies important and why should we still talk about them today? Because believe it or not, the Hollywood movie industry is still making billions upon billions using the storytelling models that this specific series of movies developed that were kicked off over 85 years ago. Come inside and listen… if you dare!2018-10-2357 min
Fiction HackSpiderman in film. Fiction-Hack: Episode 015Want to know the history of Spider-Man in film? You've come to the right place! We do a box office and critical analysis of all of the Spider-Man movies up to the present day. Find out why the stories are recycled so much, why they keep recasting the character, and why he's suddenly started showing up in the Avengers movies.2018-10-161h 02
Fiction HackDr Who Part 2. Fiction Hack: Episode 014Dr Who Part 2. Fiction Hack: Episode 014 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-10-0854 min
Fiction HackTruth and Story. Fiction Hack Episode 013Truth and Story. Fiction Hack Episode 013 by Colin Munro and Ross Lawhead2018-09-2643 min
Fiction HackDr Who part 1. Fiction Hack Episode 012So who is Doctor Who, anyway? It’s a fair question, and one that we have to travel 50 years into the past in order to answer fully. This week we pick up with the very first Doctor, mention very briefly “Dr. Who”, and blow through the Second Doctor–essentially all the black and white (and missing)episodes. Join us on a journey through space and time as we ask… who is Doctor Who?2018-09-1851 min
Fiction HackReady player One. Fiction Hack: Episode 011Are you ready player one? Ross has read the book, Colin has seen the movie–can one convince the other to do the other? It’s a roundabout discussion that drifts into deeper waters as we question the value of nostalgia in the pursuit of truth.2018-09-151h 05
Fiction HackProtagonists and Antagonists. Fiction Hack: Episode 010We all think we know what we mean when we talk about protagonists and antagonists, but do we actually? Let’s dive deeper into the words’ origins…2018-09-0442 min
Fiction HackDie Hard 30 year anniversary. Fiction Hack: Episode 009What is the problem with Die Hard? It’s just a fun movie right? I mean, Bruce Willis is fun, Alan Rickman gives a career-making performance, and there are a couple cool explosions. What’s not to like? Well…2018-08-2854 min
Fiction HackRemembering Steve Ditko. Fiction Hack: Episode 008This week we are remembering Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Question, Rorshach, and much, much more. Just like the heroes he created and helped develop, Ditko was a mysterious, complex, and principled individual. Today we try to open a little of that up for you.2018-08-2448 min
Fiction HackStartrek. Fiction Hack: Episode 007What’s this? Ross is the layman and Colin is the expert? Have we entered a mirrorverse? That would explain why both Colin and Ross are wearing dark goatees (Ross has a darker goatee on top of his beard–it’s weird). This week we talk Star Trek!2018-08-2159 min
Fiction HackAntman and The Wasp. Fiction Hack: Episode 006With the new Antman and the Wasp movie coming out soon, Ross shares some of his knowledge of the history of the character and the whole Marvel Universe.2018-07-0452 min
Fiction HackCheckov's Gun and the Mystery box. Fiction Hack Episode 005Whats a 'spoiler' whats and 'awesome'? And why does Anton Chekhov have a gun? This week Ross and Colin talk about Checkov's gun. They also talk a lot about J. J. Abrams' mystery box.2018-06-2739 min
Fiction HackCharles Dickens sucks. Fiction Hack Episode 004This this episode Colin talks about why he does not have much time for Charles Dickens. Ross makes the case that while there is much to dislike about Dickens, there is also much to love.2018-06-2031 min
Fiction HackJump the Shark Fiction Hack Episode 003In episode 3 of the Fiction Hack Podcast, Ross and Colin talk about what it means to 'jump the shark'.2018-06-1238 min
Fiction HackStar Wars is dead to me, and this is why. Episode 002Ross Lawhead is a big fan of Star Wars but he has become disenfranchised with the franchise. In this Episode he explains why he liked it so much and why the new movies have made him realise he is now just 'over it'.2018-06-0535 min
Fiction HackLet's start a podcast. Episode 001In this episode Colin and Ross sit down and try to decide what this podcast will be called and what it will be about.2018-06-0531 min