The Great Plot VS Pants Debate, Round 1

What this episode covers

Stuart says you’ve got to plot your stories. Cullen isn’t so sure! Maybe you can just fly by the seat of your pants? We lay out our arguments in the (timeless?) Pants vs Plot debate. Also featured: Joseph Cambell was a moron; is Save the Cat worthless?; the creativity of David Lynch; and examples of stirring scenes from Dune Part II and The Fellowship of the Ring. 00:00 The Plotter vs. Pantser Debate 02:15 The Plotter Opening Statement: The Importance of Plotting in Speculative Fiction 05:29 The Pantser Opening Statement: The Joy of Discovery in Writing 10:56 The Utility of Knowing Your Story's Themes 14:59 The Simplicity at the Heart of Complex Stories 20:40 Navigating Plot Structures 28:41 Exploring the Themes of 'The Lord of the Rings' 40:29 Exploring David Lynch's Creative Process 45:30 Dune: Themes of Power and Revenge 52:27 Stuart's Pathos, Ethos, and Logos Toolkit 57:16 Closing statements: The Balance of Plotting and Discovery in Writing Stuart’s Examples: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Interpreted by Peter Jackson, screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair DUNE by Frank Herbert Interpreted by Dennis Villanueva, Screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Dennis Villanueva, Eric Roth. Referenced in this conversation: The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Joseph Cambell Seven Basic Plots, by Christopher Booker Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler The Heroine's Journey: Woman's Quest for Wholeness by Maureen Murdock Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting Date Record: Oct 14, 2025 Date Publish: Oct 15, 2025 Music by Cullen McHael Edited by Cullen McHael Produced by Cullen McHael Hosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954 PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/ Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Food Saved My Life

Mar 19, 2026 ·34m

Eat More Vegetables: The 4 Foods That Beat Ozempic (Naturally)

Feb 18, 2026 ·11m

How to End Heart Disease with Dr. Fuhrman

Feb 11, 2026 ·45m

Revolutionizing Breast Health: QT Imaging, Overdiagnosis, and What to Do Instead

Jan 27, 2026 ·35m

The Dark Side of the Supplement Industry

Nov 12, 2025 ·35m

Electrolytes, Energy, and the Deadly Salt Fix

Oct 17, 2025 ·40m

Similar Podcasts

Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? HOMELAND HOMELAND The Church is a body not a building. It's the bride of Jesus Christ! Jesus is coming back for a mature bride. That means it's time for the church of Jesus Christ to move from milk to meat. This is the hour of maturity!HOMELAND is an announcement that the church is being set free. Only the church has the ability to transform the world. The kingdom's of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior!All of creation has been waiting for this moment! Sons and daughters of God are rising up and taking their seat! Destiny Architecture® Meditations Heather Larson Bring your mediation practice into the Valueverse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Inking Neon: Light Up Your Stories?

This episode is 1 hour and 5 minutes long.

When was this Inking Neon: Light Up Your Stories episode published?

This episode was published on October 24, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Stuart says you’ve got to plot your stories. Cullen isn’t so sure! Maybe you can just fly by the seat of your pants? We lay out our arguments in the (timeless?) Pants vs Plot debate. Also featured: Joseph Cambell was a moron; is Save the Cat...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Inking Neon: Light Up Your Stories episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.