What do you do when you've got multiple projects to juggle? This week's episode is all about figuring out what to prioritize when it comes to our creative endeavors. How do we decide what needs to get done first? How do we stick with a project once we've chosen to prioritize it? How important is it as a new author to consider which book to make your debut novel? Yale and Justin hash out all that and more in this episode of Quick Bits. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch

Story from Scratch #80: Prioritization (Quick Bits)

This week on Quick Bits, we talk about negativity. Ever get into that headspace where you question whether you're any good at this creative thing at all? We've been there too, and it's a natural part of the process. This episode explores some of the factors that may contribute to a negative view of one's creative output and strategies for dealing with the fallout of such frustrations. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #79: Everything I Make Sucks (Quick Bits)

This week, Kevin Valentine joins us once again to chat about his process writing the KRZ: Tiger Winds webcomic. We touch on pitching, finding the right collaborator, and seeing our brainchildren come to life in a visual format. Check out Tiger Winds: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/krz-tiger-winds/list?title_no=330086&fbclid=IwAR2eYnTlD5LqJxXSis3Uy513G_Zrt7ZJKqhBGN4cvx1_GCrK99_EYXcOClM Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #78: Writing for Webcomics ft. Kevin Valentine

This week, we're joined by Kevin Valentine, author of the webcomic KRZ: Tiger Winds. We talk about the inspiration behind Kevin's LGBTQ+ focused series, the shift the story underwent from prose to comic form, and growing as a writer over the years.  Check out Tiger Winds: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/krz-tiger-winds/list?title_no=330086&fbclid=IwAR2eYnTlD5LqJxXSis3Uy513G_Zrt7ZJKqhBGN4cvx1_GCrK99_EYXcOClM Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #77: Comics and KRZ ft. Kevin Valentine

This week on Quick Bits, Yale and Justin discuss our tendency to lost interest in our stories, whether while writing them or years afterwards. Sometimes, it's okay to move on from a project. But the reverse is also true--sometimes, our love for an old project spontaneously reignites. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #76: Falling in and out of Love with Stories (Quick Bits)

This week, Yale and Justin discuss the merits (and drawbacks) of introducing a large cast of characters all at once. Is it better to slowly introduce your main cast one at a time, or are there situations where you might want to establish the whole cast right off the bat? If so, how do you prevent the reader from becoming overwhelmed?  Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #75: Frontloading Characters

This week, in a special episode, Yale and Justin take an in-depth look at two stories from tdotSpec's Speculative North Magazine. First, we examine Not a Vampire by Jeremiah Kleckner (which can be found in Issue 2), and then we discuss The Alchemy of Curses by Joshua Grasso (which can be found in Issue 1). If you'd like to check out those stories or any of the other amazing works published by tdotSpec, you can grab a free digital copy at tdotspec.com or buy a paperback version of any of the Speculative North issues through Amazon. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #74: Tales from Speculative North

This week, Yale and Justin discuss to what extent they've planned out what books and series they intend to write in the future. Some writers develop complex worlds in which they plan to write dozens of novels, and others have only a single story they want to tell. Where do you fall on that scale? Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #73: Our Future Writing Plans (Quick Bits)

This week on Story From Scratch, we wonder just how clear we need to spell things out for our readers. Is it okay to make the reader work hard once in a while, or does subtlety only alieante your audience, relegating you to a niche?  Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #72: Obfuscation

This week, Yale and Justin talk about their old writing... and how terrible it was. From frontloading paragraphs upon paragraphs of exposition, to going on author diatribes about things that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot, we've done it all. Sometimes it's worthwhile to look back and reflect on how far we've come (especially if we can get a good laugh out of it). Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #71: Cringing at Our Early Writing

This week on Quick Bits, we discuss Justin's concept of a dynamic character arc. What if instead of having an arc where a character doesn't change until the climax of the novel, one were to write a story in which a character goes through multiple significant changes of the course of the novel? Yale and Justin debate whether this style of storytelling is actually feasable and has the potential to be satisfying. Examples are provided from some of Justin's works-in-progress, so beware of potential spoilers! Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #70: Dynamic Character Arcs (Quick Bits)

This week on quick bits, Yale and Justin talk about where to end a particular writing session. Do you stop at the end of a scene? End of a chapter? Is it better to write for a set amount of time or to write a set amount of words? Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #69: When to Stop (Quick Bits)

This week on Quick Bits, Justin and Yale revisit the topic of themes. Do you ever wonder how to straddle that line between conveying a message and force-feeding your opinions down the reader's throat? Do you have concerns about making definitive statements on grander concepts you fear you lack authority on? Well, we do--so join us as we hash out the intricacies of thematic subject matter. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #68: Pretentious Themes (Quick Bits)

Welcome to Quick Bits! For the month of May, due to our busy schedules, we'll be publishing these shorter, more-focused episodes, each delving into a single topic. This week, we (by which we mean mostly Yale) discuss what software and hardware we use for writing. We learn how meticulously organized Yale is, and how meticulously disorganized Justin is. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #67: Our Favourite Writing Tools (Quick Bits)

This week, for a change, Yale and Justin discuss things they actually like about the writing process. It's easy to find things to gripe about, but at the end of the day, we're doing this writing thing because, well, we like doing it. Please check out our partners, the publisher tdotSpec at http://tdotspec.com/ Follow us at: IG: @storyfromscratchpodcast Twitter: @storyfscratch

Story from Scratch #66: Things We Like About Writing

Fantasy writers Yale Wang and Justin Dill embark on a journey of improvised story-crafting. The two 'discovery' writers will guide you from premise to planning to a full working novel. Join in as they discuss writing, story-telling, anime, and much more.