Shows
Prose and ConsDeus ex MachinaDeus Ex Machina.God from the machine.Writing tool? Or something we should avoid?Paddy, James, and Phoenix dive into this very topic in this episode of Prose and Cons.Like with most genres and writing “rules,” it helps to do your research so you can properly be in conversation with the thing you’re trying to talk about or use—you have to learn the rules to break them, and in the case of Deus Ex Machina A T-REX COMES CRASHING THROUGH THE WALL AND ENDS THE PODCAST DESCRIPTION!
2025-07-081h 01Prose and ConsAllegory vs. ApplicationJimmy was walking to school one day when he tripped over a rock and fell. With a jolt, Jimmy woke up from the dream only to remember that he never walks to school.What does this passage mean?!?!Does Jimmy represent the US empire falling only to wake up and realise the empire was all just a dream? An illusion of power?Could be! But is it what the author intended? Or is it just what you felt while reading? Is it an allegory? Or are we simply applying the story to our...
2025-06-0958 minProse and ConsWhat We Are Reading - A Deep DiveBetween all the writing, it is sometimes easy to forget just how much we love to read. Jump in for a cozy and fascinating conversation between James and Phoenix as they discuss their current reading list--what works, what doesn't, and how about George R.R Martin "cheating" with Fire and Blood and still making it still work? Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like c...
2025-05-2654 minProse and ConsDEATH: What a Terrible Day for this Man.Death . . . what is it good for?Lots of things!Need to fundamentally alter the way your story functions and your characters interact? A character death might be right for you.In this episode of Prose and Cons, Ally, James and Phoenix analyse various character deaths across a number of stories that got it right. They’ll go into what the authors did well and ultimately why these deaths felt so impactful, and maybe even left us stunned.BIG SPOILER WARNINGS: Lord of the RingsLio...
2025-03-171h 22Prose and ConsThe Penguin: a masterclass in plot and characterThis week, we explore hit HBO crime drama The Penguin. Its been much lauded - but *why* is it so good? Join Ally, Paddy and Phoenix this week as they explore the techniques used to create the mesmerising plot, and exceptional protagonist, of The Penguin.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six...
2025-01-061h 06Prose and ConsCelebrating 100 Episodes of Prose & ConsIt has been three years since we started this thing – three years and 100 episodes!Join all six of us as we reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and our hopes for the future.Burn out, hits to our motivation, wins, losses, emotions, we get into it all.Also, Ridley Scott, sorry to hear the movie wasn’t so good, but we’d still be happy to work with you.Also also, Phoenix had fun bleeping something out in this one for the sake of bleeping something out.STEPH...
2024-12-231h 26Prose and ConsShow Don't Tell 2: The TelleningThe mic sits in front of me, cold, unplugged, as an obligatory software update tries to keep me pacified with a graphic that clearly doesn’t actually indicate how much progress has been made. ... Maybe this information isn’t so important.On this episode of Prose and Cons, Matan leads a discussion with Paddy and Phoenix, dissecting the age-old editor's note 'Show don’t tell'.What are the prose of telling?What are the cons of showing?They’ll get into all this and more.STEPHEN...
2024-11-2652 minProse and ConsText-based Games and Gamified LiteratureYou’re sitting there, maybe standing, and you’re thinking about listening to this podcast. You have a choice: press play, and you’ll be swept away, or you can close your podcast app and know a normal life. The choice is yours. On this episode of Prose & Cons, Phoenix, Alex, and Paddy bask in some Saturday morning energy and discuss their thoughts around and relationships with text-based games and literature that has adopted a gamified approach. This isn’t a technique-heavy episode, but feel free to kick back, relax, and enjoy a fun discuss...
2024-10-281h 04Prose and ConsWhat makes a character interesting enough to write?Today is a bit of a grab bag of an episode about characters and what makes them interesting to us, interesting enough to write about. James, Paddy and Phoenix go over a number of topics including paleo art, the importance of not overpopulating your worlds with vapid characters, writing characters within the context of their relationships and, of course, the importance of occasionally wearing someone else's pants.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 101 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a p...
2024-07-2558 minProse and ConsWhere does inspiration come from?"If a story is in you, it has to come out." So says William Faulker, and it may well be true. But where does the inspiration for these stories come from? What sparks our creativity and where do we find the impetus to write?On today's episode, Alex, James, Phoenix and Matan sit down to talk about the origin of inspiration in writing: both from their own experience and with the art of writing more generally, tackling creativity, motivation and the formulation of ideas.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 100 TOTALSend us a...
2024-07-1646 minProse and ConsAuthor Deep-Dive: Dan SimmonsToday we’ve got some book recommendations for you. Join James and Phoenix as they delve into the writing styles of Dan “the man” Simmons (Phoenix added “the man,” so don’t worry if Dan doesn’t respond to that if you call out to him).We’ll get into his mastery of genre, the scope of his voice, and the interesting author lineage of influence behind him as we take a good hard look at three of his works:HyperionThe TerrorCarrion ComfortSit back, relax, and enjoy a little book conversation.STEPHEN KIN...
2024-07-0956 minProse and ConsGenre Deep Dive: Dystopian Literature“The Spider hears everything through all its jangling threads.” Sarah dropped her rolled, diluted tobacco ration to the ground and pressed it into the soil with the ball of her foot, as though the ever-watching Omni-Mayor were right there under her shoe.“That’s no reason to give up hope,” I said, not even believing my own words.“Who said anything about giving up?”——If you haven’t guessed from this little flash-dash-micro fiction that Phoenix is very proud of, today we’re talking Dystopian literature, film, and so on.James leads Matan an...
2024-06-171h 00Prose and ConsAbsolute Prose Highlights: How to Break a StorySome lovely new discussions are on the horizon as the team has been quite busy off in the writing world. In the time being, Phoenix has selected one of his favourite episodes; if you're in the early drafting stages or the developmental stage of your manuscript, this is definitely worth a listen.Why can't we just give our character a magic wand and be done with it? Nothing says we can't, but will it be good? Or will it completely ruin the story? In this episode, Ally, Matan, Phoenix, Paddy, and James look at all the ways...
2024-06-111h 08Prose and ConsAbsolute Prose Highlights: How to Break a StorySome lovely new discussions are on the horizion as the team has been quite busy off in the writing world. In the time being, Phoenix has selected one of his favourite episodes. If you're in the early drafting stages or the developmental stage of your manuscript, this is definitely worth a listen.Why can't we just give our character a magic wand and be done with it? Nothing says we can't, but will it be good? Or will it completely ruin the story? In this episode, Ally, Matan, Phoenix, Paddy, and James look at all the ways...
2024-06-101h 07Prose and ConsAbsolute Prose Highlights: All Storytelling is WrestlingWe're back with another Absolute Prose classic episode: Ally's sensational "All Storytelling is Wrestling" ep! WrestleMania 39 was on the horizon, and the producers here at Precipice Fiction Inc. felt it was time to unleash Ally's true form on the world. A writer behind the keyboard, a slayer in the analysis of storytelling tools used in the WWE, Ally leads a willing, yet maybe slightly nervous, team into the unknown world of wrestling in this special extended episode—Ally had a lot to say, Phoenix took notes.We went over:The storytelling structure of a fight.How fa...
2024-06-031h 27Prose and ConsNon-linear NarrativeAnd then James said, “I think that’s it.” And we all said our goodbyes.But for this to make sense, let’s go back a bit, back to the beginning.In this episode of Prose and Cons, James, Alex, and Phoenix talk about non-linear storytelling—stories where the end is the beginning or sometimes there are new beginnings that come in the middle.They'll talk through numerous examples as well as touch on some traps to watch out for if you yourself are planning on telling a story this way.If you wan...
2024-03-121h 02
Indulge In A Must-Listen Full Audiobook On Your Commute.The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection by A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria BurnhamPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/756087to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection
Author: A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria Burnham
Narrator: Benjamin Balte, Thomas G. Burt, Caroline Levien, Nate Gothard, Aimee Smith, Rupert Degas
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 7, 2024
Genres: Apocalyptic & Dystopian
Publisher's Summary:
#### Six writers - six worlds - six incredible stories. The New Mythic: the new voice of 21st century speculative fiction. An all-new anthology of chilling horror, apocalyptic science fiction and awe-inspiring fantasy, by an award winning ensemble of international writers...
2024-03-076h 00Dive Into An Vivid Full Audiobook And Elevate Your Mindset.The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection by A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria BurnhamPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/756087to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection
Author: A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria Burnham
Narrator: Benjamin Balte, Thomas G. Burt, Caroline Levien, Nate Gothard, Aimee Smith, Rupert Degas
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 7, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Publisher's Summary:
#### Six writers - six worlds - six incredible stories. The New Mythic: the new voice of 21st century speculative fiction. An all-new anthology of chilling horror, apocalyptic science fiction and awe-inspiring fantasy, by an award winning ensemble of international writers...
2024-03-076h 00Listen to Top Full Audiobooks in Science Fiction & Fantasy, Apocalyptic & DystopianThe New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection by A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria BurnhamPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/756087to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection
Author: A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria Burnham
Narrator: Benjamin Balte, Thomas G. Burt, Caroline Levien, Nate Gothard, Aimee Smith, Rupert Degas
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 7, 2024
Genres: Apocalyptic & Dystopian
Publisher's Summary:
#### Six writers - six worlds - six incredible stories. The New Mythic: the new voice of 21st century speculative fiction. An all-new anthology of chilling horror, apocalyptic science fiction and awe-inspiring fantasy, by an award winning ensemble of international writers...
2024-03-076h 00Listen to Best Full Audiobooks in Science Fiction & Fantasy, FantasyThe New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection by A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria BurnhamPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/756087to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The New Mythic: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Collection
Author: A. R. Eldridge, Phoenix Raig, Paddy Boylan, Matan Elul, James Healy, Alexandria Burnham
Narrator: Benjamin Balte, Thomas G. Burt, Caroline Levien, Nate Gothard, Aimee Smith, Rupert Degas
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 0 minutes
Release date: March 7, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Publisher's Summary:
#### Six writers - six worlds - six incredible stories. The New Mythic: the new voice of 21st century speculative fiction. An all-new anthology of chilling horror, apocalyptic science fiction and awe-inspiring fantasy, by an award winning ensemble of international writers...
2024-03-076h 00Prose and ConsAbsolute Prose Highlights: Imposter SyndromeThis marks the 6th and final episode of our Absolute Prose run. This final highlight selection was made by – last but not least – Phoenix. Imposter syndrome is something that has plagued more or less everybody at some point in their lives in some form or another. If you've not felt it, that's fantastic – keep doing what you're doing. If you have felt it, you are far from alone. This is one of the things that a writing group, or community in general, can help a lot with.Kick back and enjoy our little sharing circle. After all, sometimes we fee...
2024-03-0454 minProse and ConsOur Complicated Relationship with Fan FictionHey all you Potter Heads and Naruto fans. Hi to the Trekkies and Star Wars . . . the people who love Star Wars. Today we’re diving deep into the dense, dense jungle of Fan Fiction.Ally, Phoenix, and Matan explore the beauties and pitfalls of this widely enjoyed and audience-specific practice, touching on things like:Writing to tropes vs. writing to genre.Leaning on cameos and nostalgia.The shared problems between Fan Fiction and mass production of sequels.What IF Naruto was hyper-intelligent?Special shout to Like Stories of Old on YouTube and their video essay “The...
2024-01-011h 06Prose and ConsHappy Holidays!As everyone here at Prose and Cons is busily bustling around Santa's workshop style—picture Paddy running with some ribbon, James checking off some comically long list, and Matan doing something with one of those old wooden mallets that seem to be staples of elf workshops—we will be skipping our regularly programmed episode for this week in favor of doing our busy things.We will, however, be back at you with a new episode next week.Happy Holidays!Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================...
2023-12-2503 minProse and ConsAbsolute Prose Highlights: Interview with Kealan Patrick BurkeFor those of you who have been listening for a bit, you may have heard this one already, but for those of you who are new, this episode is a great place to start.Yes, this is a rerun. We’re going to be investing some time in the expansion and improvement of Prose and Cons as well as Precipice Fiction as a whole. In order to give ourselves more space to do this, we’ll have a new release schedule.For the next few months, we’ll be alternating between new episodes and a specia...
2023-12-201h 02Prose and ConsThe Medium Has Its Own Necessities - Books vs. MoviesCould the book be better than the movie? Paddy, Alex, Matan and Phoenix discuss the value and issues inherent in adapting an IP from one source to another. We go deep on classics like Bladerunner, the Shining, Annihilation and Apocalypse Now and compare them to their literary progenitors.- Should a movie adaptation be completely faithful?- What is entailed in keeping the "spirit" of a work?- Our most loved and love-to-hate adaptions.-Plus: birdseed and what constitutes too muchSTEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 5 TODAY, 81 TOTALSend us a m...
2023-12-1453 minProse and ConsGenre Deep Dive: High FantasyHail and well met my good traveler! I must say I am pleased to see that the dragon of Ar’kanék has not bested you and that you were able to come and hear my tale.Dear traveler, sit and enjoy as I tell you the story of four young, handsome magi who talked about High Fantasy for a bit over an hour. That’s right! In this episode of Prose and Cons, Paddy leads Phoenix, Matan, and Alex through the realms of High Fantasy. They delve deep into genre staples, what may or may not...
2023-12-041h 09Prose and ConsVideogame NarrativesToday Phoenix, Paddy and Alex delve down into the fascinating rabbit hole of the ludo-narrative! That's right, we're talking videogames and how they relate to storytelling. We're looking at our favourite games and how they use the medium in interesting ways to tell fascinating stories through the interplay of gameplay mechanics and narrative intrigue. STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 75 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, a...
2023-11-281h 03Prose and ConsBonus episode - EggboyIt's just Alex and Paddy today, going deep on bicameral minds, Jordan Peele, what horror and comedy have in common, paving the road to hell with adverbs, and Alex's new short horror story: Eggboy.(This one's a bonus episode; if you're after a more - ahem - structured podcast experience, maybe check out one of our more recent episodes instead.)STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 5 TODAY, 75 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by...
2023-11-2046 minProse and ConsShow Don't TellShow don’t tell—how many times have you heard that one? Chances are we’ve all received this note at one point or another in our writing journies, but what exactly does it mean? Also, what about telling? When should we tell rather than show?This week on Prose and Cons, Paddy, Phoenix, and Alex dig into this writing note of notes and delve into the inverse as well—when to tell instead of show.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 70 TOTALContact us here at https://www.precipicefiction.com/contactpage/Send...
2023-11-1341 minProse and ConsMore Opportunities for Writers Than Ever: Interview with Catherine JinksAlex sits down with established and prolific Australian writer Catherine Jinks and discusses all things writing: how she got started in her career, what the traditional book market looks like today, writing grants and all the opportunities and options writers have today that weren't necessarily available when she started.You can find Catherine on YouTube at Storybook Cottage WriterSTEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 70 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging...
2023-11-071h 03Prose and ConsGetting NaNoWriMo-readyOne month, 50,000 words, and half a million people worldwide - NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is one of the very best ways to jumpstart your writing project. But 50,000 words can be a mighty steep hill... and in just one month!? Well fear not! Ally, Alex, Phoenix and James are here to take you through their NaNoWriMo tips, tricks, experiences and pitfalls to get you (yes, YOU) NaNoWriMo-ready.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 70 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a...
2023-11-021h 01Prose and ConsHalloween SpooktacularWelcome all! Step up if you dare, to a very spOoooOOky episode of Prose and Cons. Follow Phoenix, Paddy, and Alex through the deep woods, the darkness of homes left to themselves, and some off-putting reddit recipe reviews. In this Halloween Spooktacular, the three bring to the table the stories that have well and truly spooked them, and talk a little about why this might have been and what can make writing so spooOOoOooky.You’ll note that the Stephen King counter gained a healthy sum this episode.If you feel lik...
2023-10-3051 minProse and ConsThematic ConflictWhat do Titanic, Princess Mononoke and The Matrix have in common? They're all great examples of "thematic conflict". But what is thematic conflict? Why is it so important? And how can we use this oft-overlooked, but very powerful, concept in our own writing?STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 62 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you...
2023-10-2339 minProse and ConsRobots All The Way Down: AI and its Effect on WritersToday Phoenix, Ally and Paddy get together to discuss the big cyborg elephant in the room: AI. What does it mean for the future of writers and editors? What is Amazon doing to combat the flood of AI generated stories in the marketplace? Are writer's being replaced by AI? All this and more.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 62 TOTALSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros...
2023-10-181h 00Prose and ConsNarration Tips, Tricks and StyleHead hopping, third-person dissonance, jarring changes in perspective? Join Phoenix, Alex, and James as they narrate the world of … well … narration. Third person, third-person tight, even second person, what are the ins and outs, the dos and don’ts, the … pros(e) and cons (heh) of each? It’s a massive umbrella topic, but fundamental to almost all, if not all, narrative works. Rather than unconsciously betraying your writing with a small slip-up, learn the rules so you can bend and break them to work for you.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 TODAY, 61 OVERALLSend us a message...
2023-10-091h 05Prose and ConsConfronting your Shadow: Interview with Shelley RobinsonWitch of Words, Doula of Dialogue, Alchemist of Artistic Expression: Shelley Robinson helps authors find their creativity and overcome their emotional hurdles. Join us as we interview this great sage, discussing conquering self-doubt, the crippling "fear of exposure", and how to find (and own) your superpower as a writer. If you've ever struggled with the expression of your art, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Find Shelley Robinson at:https://shelleyannrobinson.wordpress.com/https://linktr.ee/shelleyrobinsonCheck out Shelley's podcast, Novel Sentence: for writers trying not to lose the plot.
2023-10-0252 minProse and ConsWriting Groups: The Pro(se) and ConsIn this episode, Paddy, Alex and Matan discuss the merits of writing groups, why you need them, what the etiquette is and what to do if you find yourself stuck in a dud one!Having started from a purely feedback based writers group, our guests today all have plenty of experience with the good, the bad and the weird of writing groups.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 TODAY, 59 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers...
2023-09-2648 minProse and ConsGenre Deep Dive: Cosmic HorrorH.P. Lovecraft has, in recent decades, become a large part of the modern zeitgeist. From references across a multitude of popular media to tabletop roleplaying games, most are well and truly familiar with the famous tentacles that we’ve come to associate with the work. But what is Cosmic Horror as a whole? Who are the other players? What are the elements that make up a truly unsettling piece of this particular style of fiction? After all, H.P. himself didn’t actually write about tentacles all that much, yet it seems to be what most focus on.
2023-09-2143 minProse and ConsImposter SyndromeImposter syndrome: the feeling that, no matter how good you seem to be, deep down you know you're a fake. And worse - that sooner or later, people are going to find out.It's all too common, and even moreso in the world of writing, where taste is subjective and there's no simple measure of success.So how do we deal with it? And just how common is it? And can we help others struggling with seeing the worth in their writing? Join Matan, Phoenix, James and Paddy for a personal look into this difficult condition.
2023-09-1349 minProse and ConsWriting Mistakes 101: The Book of Boba FettYeah, look, we’re not going to beat around the bush, The Book of Boba Fett was not great. But, as they say, another person’s failed attempt at representing a well-known IP is another writer’s treasure.In all seriousness, though, it not always obvious in the moment when a bit of writing isn’t working. Yes, in this episode we do poke fun at The Book of Boba Fett, but as writers, we get it – this happens. Let’s see what we can learn from this.We’ll talk:The benefits of character flaw...
2023-09-041h 13Prose and ConsUnreliable NarratorsBut what about when the narrator isn't giving the full story? When about when you can't trust them at all? And where's the line between unreliable narrator and ineffectual storyteller?In this episode, we break down everything you could ever want to know about writing unreliable narrators - from different types, to best examples, to pitfalls to avoid.(Note, dear listener, that this ep contains spoilers for several books and films, but telling you which would reveal that they unreliable narrators... It's a Gordian knot that's beyond our abilities to sever, so potential spoiler warning...
2023-08-2849 minProse and ConsMaking MonstersWe've got a MONSTER of an episode for you today ... I'm truly sorry about that. But it's true! Matan, Paddy, James and Alex discuss monsters in all their incarnations and ask some questions: How do you write about something that is 'indescribably horrific'?The different frames in which to place your monster: horrific, challenging or redemptive.What even is a monster anyway?Answers to these and much MUCH more, constant listener. Get ready for an oversized creature feature of an ep from Precipice FictionSTEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 4 TODAY, 54 OVERALLSend us a me...
2023-08-2154 minProse and ConsBonus episode - Oppenheimer: James vs. PaddyThe episode so nice we did it twice! Sorta. As James and Paddy couldn't make our Barbenheimer episode extravaganza, we're releasing their own micro-episode just on Christopher Nolan's new film Oppenheimer.James and Paddy don't always see eye-to-eye on movies (and by "don't always" we mean "never"), so tune in for a particularly varied discussion on the film and the history that inspired it.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we...
2023-08-1437 minProse and ConsStory SettingsWhat is Lord of the Rings without Middle Earth? What is Star Trek without the Final Frontier? To some settings, the right setting can be absolutely crucial; and to others, next to irrelevant. So when does it matter? And why? In this episode, we explore setting in depth, asking questions like:Why is setting important at all?Does setting always matter?Is a setting ruined by leaning into popular tropes?Where actually is Hogwarts?STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 TODAY, 50 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================
2023-08-0955 minProse and ConsBarbenheimer: I'm a Barbie Girl, Destroyer of WorldsWho could imagine something so explosive, something that could impact the world so much, such as . . . Barbenheimer! That’s right. This week on Prose and Cons, Phoenix (who was very sleepy for this one), Ally, Alex, and Matan explore Barbie, Oppenheimer, and the many spaces of grey and pink in between.Some things we’ll touch on:Barbie and the feminist discourse.Oppenheimer—A cinephile’s dream.The THIRD Nolan brother.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 48 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is...
2023-08-011h 03Prose and ConsThe Relationship Between Art and Science: An Interview with C.M. KosemenOn this special, extended episode of Prose and Cons, Phoenix talks with C.M. Kosemen, the author of All Tomorrows and co-author of All Yesterdays (as well as an all-around impressive artist). From evolutionary biology to Paleoart, the two explore the intimate relationship between art and science.What is Paleoart and how does it work?The various ways science can inform our literature and, subsequently, our art in general. A special reading from the latest revision of ‘All Tomorrows’.What does the snake people's music sound (or feel) like?Learn a nifty little technique to cool down your compu...
2023-07-241h 44Prose and ConsWhat We Read as KidsFrom sweet childhood memories to the mildly traumatic literary moments, in this episode of Prose and Cons, Alex, Ally, and Phoenix explore yesteryear and all those glorious, early literary influences, trying to see if there’s some kind of throughline to discover.Some themes in this one:How we got interested in reading.Some deep lore on Phoenix.Whether you read a lot as a kid or hardly read at all, all are welcome in this beautiful literary world.Warning: Highly relatable if you’re AustralianAlso, Brandon Sanderson, we love and appr...
2023-07-191h 06Prose and ConsBeing a Writer in the 21st Century – Interview with Sapir EnglardHello Listeners! Today we managed to snag ourselves another delightful interviewee. Our very own Matan Elul grabbed none other than Galatea Sensation Herself, Sapir Englard, for a talk about publishing, sexual tension and life as a writer in the 21st century.Sapir A. Englard is the author of the massive digital hit, THE MILLENNIUM WOLVES, published in 2019 on the Galatea app and which has amassed more than 125 million reads. Sapir’s success has been written about in the Boston Globe, Forbes, Tech Crunch, and more. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Sapir is a full-time writer an...
2023-07-1244 minProse and ConsThe Benefits of Taking a BreakBreak time!Put down the tome you’ve been reading to research global wind patterns and take a break—there’s plenty of space around this proverbial water cooler here. This week, Paddy, Alex, and James reflect on some of the benefits that taking a break has had on their work.Sometimes plot develops when you’re going for a jog.Why not step away and … trade stocks instead?Ideas for when a break might be beneficial or, on the other hand, when it might be good to push through.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 48 OVERALL
2023-07-0349 minProse and ConsWriting DialogueEven great writers don't always nail dialogue - so how can we improve? Join Paddy, Phoenix, and Matan, as they explore this super-important topic, breaking down, what makes good dialogue, what makes bad dialogue, and their own tips and tricks for making the most out of every spoken word.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 48 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like...
2023-06-2746 minProse and ConsThe Great Precipice Villain DraftWhat do “Mom” (from Cowboy Bebop), the Overlook Hotel, and Lucifer (yes, from the Bible) have in common? Well, they’re dueling it out of course! This week on Pros and Cons, Matan, Alex, Phoenix, and Paddy dive deep into villains and their roles in literature, finishing things off with the first-ever Precipice Villain Draft! Which team will win? You, the listener, must decide.We get into:Villains as a force of nature vs villains due to trauma.Who’s the real meta villain?How we write villains and more.Also! Once again! The STEPHEN KING cou...
2023-06-191h 03Prose and ConsA Look Under the HoodJoin us this week for a special look under the hood of Phoenix, James, and Paddy's individual writing practices, discussing things like:How we balance writing around the rest of our lives (and how anybody actually finds the time to write);Challenges we're experiencing - and tips we can provide - from our current projects;How we approach our writing, from planning to prose; andHow to use using Tinder to maximise the editing process (you read that right).Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose...
2023-06-1247 minProse and ConsWhy We Write Pt. 1We have a book. We have a podcast where we talk about writing. We thinking about writing quite a lot. But why do we do it? Today, James, Paddy, and Alex go on an inward journey, looking at their own inspirations and goals with this thing we all do. Pt 2, with Ally, Matan, and Phoenix will be coming sometime in the future.- What made them start writing?- How uninspired learning can sometimes turn someone away from wanting to learn something.- Savouring those beautiful, cheeky moments when you...
2023-06-051h 05Prose and ConsScreenwriting vs. ProseYou got your book in my movie!Well, you got your MOVIE in my BOOK!Join the prose and cons team as they dive into perspective, voice, and some beautiful internal dialogue about wood floors as they look at the differences between writing for film vs. writing a book.- What tools can be shared between film and books?- Leaning into the innate strengths of your chosen medium.- Everyone should play DredgeSTEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 44 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at...
2023-05-2951 minProse and ConsGenre Deep Dive: MysteryWe're back again with another genre deep dive, and this time, James, Ally, and Matan dive deep into the mysteries of mystery. From the crime procedural drama to the "cozy" mystery, from red herrings to the dark night of soul, the gang break down the conventions and structures of this most mysterious of genres.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons....
2023-05-2242 minProse and ConsWhat I Wish I Knew Before Starting My NovelI need coloured rectangles STAT! It's time to go deep into some novel talk. Join Paddy, Ally, James, and Matan as they talk about their novels, their years of work, and what they wish they had known back when they started. We'll get into things like:- How long a scene feels versus how long the scene actually is.- The John Wick Assassin Economy- Being allowed to tell (it doesn't have to all be "show").- How much does bread cost in YOUR world?STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 43 OVERALL
2023-05-161h 08Prose and ConsHow To Create Realistic CharactersJames, Paddy and Phoenix go into what makes a character memorable, realistic and ultimately loved. Among other things we discuss:- using the Lord of the Rings to break down character complexity- Complexity of motive- Making characters fit to purpose rather than necessarily “realistic”- Using paradox and contradiction to create depth- Why just stacking character traits doesn’t make a realistic character- Redeemable moments- Building complexity in layers- Giving grounding details and textureSTEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 43 OVERALLS...
2023-05-0952 minProse and ConsPressing the Reset Button on a ProjectHey! You there! Yeah, you—the writer. We see you. Come join our group therapy session. We'll discuss project resets, changes in vision, and all those yummy, difficult decisions that we often find ourselves having to make as we continue to add ability points into this mutually-chosen talent tree o—writer.- Which one of us is currently rewriting an entire novel—changing it from third to first person? (Yes you read right).- Even the writers of Disney aren't immune from needing to crumple up the digital paper and start, more or less, afresh.S...
2023-05-011h 10Prose and ConsGenre deep-dive: GrimdarkThis week we dive into the black, seamy void that is grimdark! The gang talks about what the genre is and is not, it's history as a reaction and it's cultural resonance. Is grimdark a pejorative term, or is the genre a useful and incisive tool for social commentary? All this and more.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 42 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel...
2023-04-251h 00Prose and ConsHow to Break a StoryWhy can't I just give my character a magic wand and be done with it? Nothing says you can't, but will it be good? Or will it completely ruin the story? In this episode, Ally, Matan, Phoenix, Paddy, and James look at all the ways to rip, tear, break, and shatter a story. We get into all sorts of stuff, such as:- Shock factor done well vs. done not so well.- How to create meaning and avoid making things feel meaningless.- James's tenuous relationship with vomit zombies.A special shout-out to "...
2023-04-171h 08Prose and ConsDoes Editing Count As Real Writing?Does editing count as real writing? We all have those days where we fill up a blank page with 2000 words of new material and that feels bloody great. But what about editing, sculpting those words so they're good and they flow? The gang talks about it today as well as- The Differing editing styles: layering vs sculpting- Different editing passes- Why Mark Twain was a very sneaky man regarding his editors- Why it can sometimes be best to finish a work before starting to...
2023-04-1052 minProse and ConsInterview With A Master of Horror: Kealan Patrick BurkeIn a special episode, Alex sits down with Bram Stoker Award winner Kealan Patrick Burke for a little chat about all things ghostly and ghoulish includingWinning the Bram and the Horror Writer’s associationWhy there's no dichotomy between self-publishing versus tradThe value of novellasGetting your book made into a movieSelling yourself to agentsand much more. Enjoy!STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 5 TODAY, 37 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging wri...
2023-04-031h 00Prose and ConsAll Storytelling is WrestlingAre you ready to RUMMBBLLLEEE!With WrestleMania 39 on the horizon, the producers here at Precipice Fiction Inc. felt it was time to unleash Ally's true form on the world. A writer behind the keyboard, a slayer in the analysis of storytelling tools used in the WWE, Ally leads a willing, yet maybe slightly nervous, team into the unknown world of wrestling in this special extended episode—Ally had a lot to say, Phoenix took notes.We'll go over:- The storytelling structure of a fight.- How far back does Ally's obsession go? (fa...
2023-03-281h 27Prose and ConsArchetypes, Stereotypes & ClichesWell isn't that just CLICHE?! Well ... is it?Join us in today's discussion, where Paddy, James, and Alex explore the gray area and fine lines between archetypes, cliches, and stereotypes. Were Gandalf and Obi Wan trendsetters? Or do they fall into the bucket of old, wise men? - How can we use cliches as a tool and avoid them as a trap?- Can Alex do a Russian accent? (the answer is yes.)- Is it Robert Green or Richard Green? (It's neither. Robert Harris, we apologise for getting your name wrong a...
2023-03-2056 minProse and ConsHow To Submit To Writing CompetitionsFresh from not one but TWO shortlistings for the Aurealis Competition, this week we’re getting into the weeds about writing competitions exploring the following topics: -Are they worth it? -Can you use old work? -What sort of research do you need to do?-How do you maintain your confidence in the face of rejection?-A checklist of what judges are looking for-How do you avoid predatory competitions?Let the Precipice team give you their experience of competitions with a list of do’s a don’t...
2023-03-131h 06Prose and ConsFood in LiteratureGet your ears ready for some mild ASMR. That's right! This week we're diving into all things munchy, crunchy, and delectable—it's time to talk about food in literature! What are the different ways you can utilize food to expand your writing palette (food pun intended)? Do you have to love food to write about it well? Join the conversation, and the fun and games, as we go! Get ready for:- The birth of "Spirit Cast"—our Spirited Away themed podcast within a podcast- The revealing of "the forbidden meat"- Tips...
2023-03-0651 minProse and ConsWhere Characters Come FromThis week we're getting into it and sniffing around where characters come from. From our own twisted psyches? From people we know? What are the parameters you need to get right to create good characters? Should they be plot-agnostic or have baked in conflicts? We do our best to answer these, plus:- Harry Potter spoilers- character archetypes - wild card characters who willfully insert themselves into our stories WITHOUT CONSENT- bipolar Gandalfand plenty more!STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 1 TODAY, 31 OVERALLSend us a message!C...
2023-02-271h 06Prose and ConsStories with MessagesDoes every story have a message? Does every story NEED a message? Is a story better off if it's making a point, or are some stories better off pointless? This week, we explore messages in stories, from didactic parables to pure, simple entertainment.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 30 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you...
2023-02-2042 minProse and Cons'The Last of Us' Game vs. Series *SPOILERS**SPOILER ALERT FOR THE FIRST 5 EPISODES OF 'THE LAST OF US'* The Precipice gang go off on a critique tangent today, comparing ‘The Last of Us’ in both its TV and video game iterations. There’s a lot of talk about zombies, storytelling devices and the validity of changing up a story’s medium. Is the new series an artistic triumph or a hacky cash-grab? We dig in to find out.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerg...
2023-02-131h 12Prose and ConsHow to Endure as a WriterWriting is fun, creative and expressive, but keeping up a regular practice can sometimes be a grind. In this epsiode, we give our tricks and insights into staying motived, balancing work and life, our different approaches to being productive, and explore the fascinating 'Pomodoro technique'.If you've ever struggled with regular writing, or are just looking to maximise your daily word count, this is the episode for you.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 THIS EPISODE, 30 OVERALLSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is...
2023-02-0641 minProse and ConsBooks We Loved And Will Probably Never FinishNote: Apologies for the re-upload on this one, there was an issue with the original that was creating gaps in the audio. We will be back to our regular scheduled programming next week!Today we talk about books that we did not finish... but not because we didn't like them!Today's episode features:- DNFing perfectly serviceable books for treatises on latrines in the Middle Ages- excessive feast scenes in the Redwall series- icecream eating ninjas- nasty POV switchouts- the majesty of two-headed lizards and dustbowl...
2023-02-0249 minProse and ConsBooks We Loved And Will Probably Never FinishToday we talk about books that we did not finish... but not because we didn't like them. More like, um... just because. Listen, we go into it!Today's episode features:- DNFing perfectly serviceable books for treatises on middle-age latrines- excessive feast scenes in the Redwall series- icecream eating ninjas- nasty POV switchouts- the majesty of two-headed lizards and dustbowl traipsing turtlesand our complete inability to end a show with a modicum of structure ;)STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 THIS EPISODE, 30 TOTALT...
2023-01-3009 minProse and ConsAdapting Books to FilmThis week on prose and Cons, the gang explore the world of books adapted into films. From the best film adaptations to the very worst, we investigate what makes a great adaptation, what makes a book adaptable, and the books we would most love to see adapted.(Also, James, you are objectively wrong and No Country for Old Men was a great film.)STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 TODAY, 28 TOTAL.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for...
2023-01-2355 minProse and ConsThe Subtle Art of TikTokIn this episode, Alex discusses the value of using TikTok's organic reach to sell books, including:- Why TikTok is more than 12 year olds doing silly dances- The openness and viability of BookTok as a community for authors- How NOT to use TikTok- What to make for your first videoSTEPHEN KING COUNTER: 0 TODAY. 26 TOTAL.https://www.tiktok.com/@areldridgeauthorSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, b...
2023-01-1650 minProse and ConsHow What We Read Affects What We WriteToday we go IN on the correlation between reading and writing: James, Paddy and Alex and discuss their most recent written work and how it is related to what they're reading right now. Along the way they discuss:Unorthodox formatting choicesHilary MantelCherrypicking the good from the lousyBiochemistryMore Hilary MantelAvoiding being distracted by awesome irrelevanceReading versus audiobooking and much more. Join us, intrepid listener, as we venture into the deep of associative reading.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 2 TODAY. 26 TOTAL. Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================
2023-01-0953 minProse and ConsGenre Deep-dive: Soft Science FictionOnce again it's time to delve deep into genre, and this time we're plunging into the bizarre worlds of 'soft science fiction.' What is 'soft' science fiction? How does it differ from 'hard'? Why are there fierce internet battles over how 'soft' is defined? And are Jedi just wizards with space magic? All will be revealed in this all-informative episode of Prose & Cons.STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 24 TOTAL.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging...
2023-01-0248 minProse and ConsCharacter FlawsHow do you tackle a well-written character flaw? In this episode we test out Ally’s awesome character personality slider tool, fable arcs, sound out our pet peeve character flaws, discuss research/sensitivity and play a rate-your-character-flaws game!STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 0 TODAY, 24 TOTAL.This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul, Phoenix Raig and James Healy.
2022-12-2649 minProse and ConsWriting Your CareerJoin Paddy and Alex for a special one-on-one conversation as they drill down into the whys and hows of their individual careers, both their commercial and creative sides. They talk sustaining a living in self-publishing, choosing the genre and format of their next work, accepting that they 'can't all be zingers', and how to make the Dunning-Kruger effect work for your career. Also, find out which writing lessons they are stealing from Stephen King this week. STEPHEN KING REFERENCE COUNTER: 4 TODAY, 24 TOTAL.• Alex's Tik Tok channel: https://www.tiktok.com/@areldridgeauthor?lang=en• 'Golden Hour...
2022-12-191h 00Prose and ConsWriter's BlockThe gang spend this episode talking about writer's block in all its forms: from the micro of trying to write more than 500 words in a day, to the big picture, middle-of-the-night scaries of self-doubt, Alex, Ally, James and Paddy reveal their secrets to dealing with this dreaded authorial bugbear. (NOTE: The book Alex tries and fails to find in this ep is Daily Rituals by Mason Curry.)Choice quote: "Make more word spaghetti, baby writer!"Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons...
2022-12-121h 06Prose and ConsCritiquing CritiquesHave you ever heard the phrase "show, don't tell"? It's one of many critiques that writers will hear over the course of their early career (and possibly beyond) - but what does it mean? And does it always apply? We go over some of the most common, and some not-so-common, critiques and advice that you can receive as a writer, and try to revive an ongoing mountain lion joke with limited to middling success.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast...
2022-12-0548 minProse and ConsWhat's your favourite Genre?With our genre-spanning anthology releasing in two days, we discuss our favourite genres, why we love them so, what we DON'T love about them, and why behind every mystery, at the end of every road, and at the heart of every romance, there is a mountain lion.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six...
2022-11-281h 08Prose and ConsPreparing To Publish (Pt. 2)This week on Prose & Cons, we continue our deep dive into getting our publication up and running: the genesis of some of the stories, the advantage of multiple editors and why everyone loves Hilary Mantel (RIP).This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul, Phoenix Raig and James Healy.Send us a message!Contact...
2022-11-2152 minProse and ConsPreparing to Publish (pt. 1)This week on Prose & Cons, we dive into the nitty (and the gritty) of getting our publication up and running: where we're at, how we're doing it and some tips for all you self-publishers out there.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul...
2022-11-1448 minProse and ConsWhen is a story finished?It's season 2! Precipice Fiction is back, and our long-awaited anthology is nearly complete - so what better subject to discuss than "when is a story done?" Hear what the gang has to say in our triumphant return episode.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge...
2022-11-0753 minProse and ConsEnd of season 1Announcing the end of our first season! Thank you so much to all our listeners. We won't be gone for long - we'll see you again for Season 2 in November 2022!Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul, Phoenix Raig and James Healy.
2022-09-2706 minProse and ConsGenre Deep-dive: HorrorIn this episode, we deep dive into the horror genre, with James leading the discussion. We talk about the importance of 'the warning', how to effectively seed narrative tension while keeping your characters from running for the hills, and how to engender ambiguity into a story to give it resonance (all while making surprisingly few Stephen King references).Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel...
2022-09-2056 minProse and ConsGenre deep-dive: horrorThis episode, we do a deep dive into the genre of horror, with James leading the discussion. We talk about the importance of the Warning, how to effectively seed narrative tension while keeping your characters from running for the hills, how to engender ambiguity into story to give it resonance and make surprisingly few Stephen King references.This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy B...
2022-09-1956 minProse and ConsFeedbackToday Ally, James, Matan, Paddy and Phoenix discuss writing feedback! We talk about the value of consuming bad content, using non-writer feedback as a helpful tool, when to ask for it, the relationship between plotting and feedback and the absolute worst feedback ever.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria...
2022-09-1350 minProse and ConsPlanning vs. PantsingWe all know what 'planning' a story is - but what is 'pantsing'? Why does Alex do it? Why doesn't Ally? Are we wearing pants while we're recording this? Find the answers to all but the latter in this week's episode, all about how we approach - or don't approach - planning our stories.Need something edited? Check out Phoenix's editing gig here: https://www.fiverr.com/share/Z6xx7aSend us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons...
2022-09-0550 minProse and ConsAction and ChoreographyThis episode the gang discuss action sequences, including sex scenes *gasp*! We discuss what the primary purpose of action is, different ways to get the effect across and try our hardest not to make too many dirty puns.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge...
2022-08-2942 minProse and ConsHouse of the Dragon - Discussion extravaganzaWARNING: Spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 1.The TV show! The book! The Prose & Cons Podcast discussion! Yes, it's all happening here this week on Prose & Cons - we've watched House of Dragon, and now we dissect it in meticulous and erudite detail. Join us for our roundtable discussion on HBO's adaptation of George R.R. Martin's 'Fire & Blood'. It's a good one, folks - don't miss it!Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers...
2022-08-231h 18Prose and ConsCreativityStrap in writers, we're going deep into the psychology of creativity in this one. Ally Burnham hosts a show filled with insight into what creativity is, where it comes from and the creative mindset. A particularly informative and chin-stroking episode of Prose & Cons.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria...
2022-08-1548 minProse and ConsPerspectiveIn this episode, the gang talk about perspective in writing. What are the choices of perspective available to a writer? What are the strengths and challenges of each? Will Paddy ever finish reading Moby Dick? Find out on this exciting new episode of Prose & Cons.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six...
2022-08-0840 minProse and ConsThe Pilot Episode - Tropes & GenreTender & fresh-faced, Alex, Ally & Paddy lay down the pilot episode. Listen to our very first recording together - it's endearing, we promise. The topic of the day is "tropes & genre", even if it takes us a little while to get there... Enjoy!Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham...
2022-08-0145 minProse and ConsWorldbuildingIn today's episode Ally, Paddy and Alex discuss worldbuilding: what is the 'Goldilocks Zone' for exactly how much to give the reader? They touch on hard and soft magic systems and discuss ways to make your worldbuilding feel less info-dumpy.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan...
2022-07-2549 minProse and ConsResearchToday, 4/6ths of the gang discuss research in writing - its role, importance and the ways in which it's done, answering questions like: "How much is too much?", "When is it ok to ignore your research and make stuff up?", and "Will the history professor I randomly phone up know that I'm not actually a world-famous bestselling author?"Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel...
2022-07-1853 minProse and ConsStories within storiesIn this episode, Alex, Paddy and Matan discuss the idea of embedded narratives: sub-stories or interludes within books, including dreams, stories within stories and the epistolary mode. They also discuss examples of when this is done well and poorly.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex...
2022-07-0747 minProse and ConsOn DraftingThis week, the gang discusses the drafting process. From first draft to final pass, we talk about technique, experience, theory, and Hemingway's scratch-and-sniff autobiography.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul, Phoenix Raig and James Healy.The New Mythic: A...
2022-07-0458 minProse and ConsMaking Characters RealIn this week's episode, the writing group discuss how to create authentic, relatable and memorable characters, as well as the difference between likeable and "likeable" characters.Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, Alex Eldridge, Matan Elul, Phoenix Raig and James Healy.The New...
2022-06-2752 min
Prose and ConsMeet the Writing GroupMeet our speculative-fiction writing group, and hear our 'Avengers Assemble' origin story - which involves mother's day, a guitar, and a man named Jack. We also talk about the 'craft' of writing groups, developing our 'feedback dexterity', and infinite horsepower!Send us a message!Contact us at: precipicefiction.com/contact/=============================================This is Prose & Cons - a podcast for emerging writers, by emerging writers. Because sometimes we feel like pros, and sometimes we feel like cons.Brought to you by Precipice Fiction. Six Writers. Six Worlds. Alexandria Burnham, Paddy Boylan, A...
2022-06-1356 min