Just Another Word Podcast

In this epsiode we conclude our exploration of character by looking at the glue that holds a narrative together. We dive into Synthesis  and create three-dimensional people who breathe on the page. In this episode, we discuss: The Soldier-Healer Model: Analyzing Kaladin Stormblessed from The Stormlight Archive to see how the friction between contradictory identities creates a character that resonates with our own internal wars. The Built-in Conflict: How synthesizing a "Vagabond" status with a "Machiavellian" mind forces a story to practically write itself through the inherent tension of those two worlds colliding. In your next draft, are you building your characters out of a single piece of stone, or are you synthesizing a "mess" of traits that will force them to fight with themselves before they ever face a villain? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we look at the labor of the secret and the burden of the mask.  In this episode, we discuss: The Performance of Identity: Using the historical model of the Chevalier d’Eon to show how a surreptitious life can navigate the highest circles of power while hiding a truth that would ensure total ruin. The Student in the Stacks: Analyzing Kvothe’s secret research in The Kingkiller Chronicle as a masterclass in how stealth becomes the only thing keeping a character's life purpose alive. The Meaningful Concealment: Why every character needs a secret. In your current draft, does your protagonist have a secret they are actively guarding, or are they walking through the world with nothing to hide and nothing to lose? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode we explore the quiet, steady power of the planner and the thinker.  In this episode, we discuss: The Careful Giant: Using the model of Perrin Aybara from The Wheel of Time to show how prudence is born from responsibility, not fear. The Satisfying Obstacle: Why a "brutally prudent" antagonist who leaves no loose threads creates a more earned victory for the hero than a villain who is easy to overcome. In your current project, is your hero surviving on lucky breaks, or have you pitted them against a prudent antagonist who has already planned for their escape? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we look at the roll of the dice and the whim of a tyrant to explore the terrifying force of the unpredictable. In this episode, we discuss: The Whim as Law: Using the model of the Absolute Monarch to create a conflict where merit doesn't matter and the rules change with the King’s mood. The Terror of the Random: Analyzing the "Anton Chigurh" effect, why removing logic from a conflict through an arbitrary coin flip is the ultimate test of a protagonist’s resolve. In your current project, is every outcome earned through cause and effect, or are you brave enough to let the coin land on its edge and force your characters to survive the arbitrary? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we look at the power of the unadorned. We explore the Austere archetype and why stripping away the noise often reveals the most unyielding truths of a character. In this episode, we discuss: The Medieval Model: Using the "Architecture of Silence" found in Cistercian monks to create characters who cannot be bribed or tempted. The Weight of Less: How the "Precedent" of an austere character's silence ensures that when they finally speak, every other character in the room is forced to listen. In your current draft, are you hiding a character’s weakness, or have you stripped the room bare to see what they are actually made of when the fire goes out? Subscribe for more episodes!

In this episode, we go back to Renaissance Italy to meet the "Prince of Florence" and explore the cold, calculating heart of power.  In this episode, we discuss: The Architect and the Arsonist: Comparing Thomas Cromwell to Littlefinger to see how manipulation moves a plot. The Historical Backbone: How anchoring your worldbuilding in the cynical realities of real-world politics like the War of the Roses makes even the most fantastical elements feel plausible and grounded. In your current draft, are your leaders defined by their morality, or are they treating your characters like variables in a Machiavellian equation where the only result that matters is power? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we explore characters who are impossible to pin down. In this episode, we discuss: The Quicksilver Element: Tracing the word from the Roman messenger god to the liquid metal that shatters and reforms, providing a metaphor for characters who refuse to hold a permanent shape. Consistency in Inconsistency: The secret to writing "random" behavior that feels earned, ensuring that rapid mood shifts reveal deeper layers rather than just serving the plot. In your current draft, is your character a solid rock, or are they quicksilver? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we look at the ultimate tool of the rebel and the most dangerous weapon in a writer’s arsenal: the power to take a foundation and flip it. In this episode, we discuss: Subversion from Within vs. Below: Exploring the difference between the high-level politician dismantling control from a desk and the disruptor throwing a wrench into the gears from the ground floor. The Shutter Island Effect: Why subverting a reader’s observations creates a story that lingers long after the final page by forcing a total re-evaluation of the facts. In your current draft, are you building a predictable fortress, or are you acting as the termites in the floorboards, preparing to pull the rug out from under your audience? Subscribe for more episodes!

In this episode, we talk about the most painful part of the creative process: cutting away what we love to save what we need. In this episode, we discuss: The Three-Day Pivot: Why I'm moving from a daily model to three episodes a week. In your current project, are you holding onto a habit because it’s useful, or are you just afraid to kill a darling that’s keeping you from your best work? Subscribe for more episodes as we move into our new three-day-a-week rhythm!

In this episode, we explore what might be the most misunderstood resident of the social ladder. In this episode, we discuss: Gravitas over Status: How the word "vagabond" shifts a character from a "problem to be solved" to a weathered observer whose lack of a destination is a deliberate identity. The Gleeman Model: Using the example of characters like Thom Merrilin (from The Wheel of Time) to show how a vagabond can have a vocation that keeps them mobile, useful, and perpetually untrusted. In your current draft, is your wanderer just someone looking for a home, or do they carry the perspective of someone who has realized that belonging to a place means closing your eyes to the rest of the world? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we explore the invisible architecture of human interaction. We look at precedent, not as a legal term, but as the weight of history that dictates how characters trust, fear, and manipulate one another before a single line of dialogue is even spoken. In this episode, we discuss: The Predictability of the Past: Why a character’s "baseline" behavior should dictate how other characters interact with them. The Break in Pattern: How to signal that something is "terribly wrong" by having a character violate their own established precedent. The Dialogue Trap: Why you should avoid "As You Know, Bob" backstory dumps and instead "smuggle" history into the subtext through instinctive physical actions and behaviors. Is your character’s behavior a sudden surprise to their lifelong friends, or are you building the weight of their history into the subtle patterns of their movements? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to look at the blueprints of human behavior!

In this episode, we explore the Venerable archetype and the quiet, heavy burden of being a monument in a world that keeps moving. In this episode, we discuss: The Burden of the Pedestal: Why the venerable character rules through history rather than power, and the collective "standing up" that happens when a legend enters the room. The Relic of a Former Age: Exploring the friction that occurs when an ancient master is called back to action in a world they no longer recognize, forcing them to be a monument that moves. Is your legendary character an unyielding statue, or are you allowing the reader to see the cracks where the human is struggling to live up to being a living legend? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we reach the peak of the pyramid to look at the one who doesn't just hold power, but is the power. We explore the Hegemon and why this archetype is the ultimate engine for conflict in our most epic stories. In this episode, we discuss: The Social Island: How the burden of the crown creates a unique character study of isolation. The Voice of Certainty: Analyzing the terrifyingly calm dialogue of someone who has forgotten the meaning of the word "no," and who views their own will as the literal law of the land. Is the ruler at the top of your world's power structure a traditional tyrant, or are you exploring the tax of authority? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we move into the basement of the mind to meet the character who has gone so far down the rabbit hole they’ve forgotten that not everyone lives in the dark with them.  In this episode, we discuss: The Island of Knowledge: Why the abstruse character differs from the pedant; it’s not about being right, it’s about being thorough to the point of isolation. The Signal-to-Noise Conflict: How to create tension by forcing your protagonist to dig. The Deep Dive Voice: A look at how an abstruse character treats the plot-critical answer as a mere footnote to a lecture on the history of their obsession. Is there a character in your draft who lacks a filter for their passion, making the "simple" act of helping others feel like an archaeological dig? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we step into the world of the observer, the scientist, and the tracker.  In this episode, we discuss: The Power of Proof: Why the empirical character is the ultimate engine for plot progression, using the "Sherlock Holmes model" of accumulating observable facts to solve the puzzles of the world. The Driven Journey: How a single piece of physical evidence can become more powerful fuel for a protagonist's journey than any prophecy. The Red Herring Trap: The dangerous gap between data and truth, and how a character’s clinical reliance on evidence can lead to a "cold blindness" that ignores the vital emotional context of a scene. Is your character's next move based on a "gut feeling," or have you provided the empirical evidence they need to justify their choices to the reader? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to map the "blueprints" of humanity!

In this episode, we’re looking at the specialist who prioritizes the "correct" over the "useful." We dive into the Pedantic archetype. The Strength of the Flaw: Why a pedantic character's greatest social disadvantage is also their narrative superpower. The Viewpoint Challenge: How to keep a hyper-pedantic narrator from becoming tiresome. Which of your characters would be most likely to correct someone's grammar? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to build the "blueprints" of our characters this month!

In this episode, we explore the archetype that refuses to be contained: the Polymath. In this episode, we discuss: The Collision of Interests: Why the Polymath’s true value in a story isn’t their intelligence, but the friction created when their different obsessions come into conflict. What secondary hobby or obsession could you give your protagonist that directly contradicts their primary profession? Subscribe for more episodes as we continue to explore the blueprints of character this month!

In this episode, we turn the page on the calendar and turn a corner in our craft. After a month of sharpening our sensory tools, we begin a brand-new series: Character Archetypes. In this episode, we discuss: The Advantage of the Blueprint: Why using recognizable roles like the Hero, the Mentor, or the Trickster provides a "safety net" for the reader, allowing you to focus on the subversion and the "messy human" beneath. Are you treating archetypes like a cage that limits your characters, or are you using them as the foundation to build a person who feels both universal and unique? Subscribe for more episodes as we spend this month breaking down the "stamps" of the human experience!

In this final installment of our five-part mini-series on the Five Senses, we finish with the sense that grounds us in our own skin and confirms reality: Touch. We explore "haptic" and why the secret to powerful prose lies in the "feedback loop" between a character and their environment. In this episode, we discuss: Awareness: Why haptic description goes beyond simple texture to include the weight of an object, the resistance of a door, and the way the world pushes back against a character's movement. Touch as Conversation: How to move to a "haptic" approach, treating every physical contact as a meaningful exchange of information. Is your character merely walking through a scene, or is the world reacting to their presence through weight, resistance, and physical connection? Subscribe for more episodes and thank you for joining me on this deep dive into the five senses!

In this episode, we take a bite out of the world as we reach the penultimate stop in our five-part mini-series on the Five Senses.  In this episode, we discuss: The Visceral Shortcut: Why describing a taste—like the metallic "taste of iron"—bypasses logic to trigger immediate physical responses like a puckered lip or a tightened throat. The "Double-Edged" Nature: How to transition from physical flavors to metaphorical character traits, using "acerbic wit" to define a personality that is as sharp and cutting as poorly aged vinegar. Is the atmosphere of your scene as sweet as honey, or does it carry an acerbic bite that mirrors the sharp, cutting tension between your characters? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me for the grand finale of our series on the five senses: Touch!

In this episode, we tune our ears to the world as we continue our five-part mini-series on the Five Senses. We explore "Sound" through the word "susurrus"—a beautiful, whispering term that serves as a vital warning for storytellers: just because a word is "literary" doesn't mean it’s the right tool for the job. In this episode, we discuss: The Trap of the Niche: Why reaching for a high-level vocabulary word can accidentally "kick" the reader out of the story, and why words with simple translations—like "rustling"—often carry more resonance. The Pretentious Exception: How to use academic or rare language as a characterization tool to show, rather than tell, that a character loves being the smartest person in the room. Are you using sound to build an immersive atmosphere, or is your vocabulary drawing the reader's eye away from the story and toward the author? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me for the rest of our five-part series on the senses!

In this episode, we open our eyes to the light, but we aren't looking at the obvious. We continue our five-part mini-series on the Five Senses by focusing on Sight. We explore "nacreous"—the luster of the mother-of-pearl—and why the most effective visual storytelling happens when the writer provides the spark and lets the reader build the fire. In this episode, we discuss: The Mother of Pearl: Diving into the origins of "nacre" to understand a light that doesn't just sit on the surface, but seems to glow with depth and layers from within. The "Sight Trap": Why trying to provide a 4K blueprint of a scene actually pushes the reader away, and why your job is to be the spark that lets the reader's imagination become the cinematographer. Controlling Focus: Techniques for using hyper-specific words like "nacreous" alongside consistent context clues to render an image instantly without overstaying your welcome. Are you overcrowding your reader's eyes with too much detail, or are you providing a single, iridescent anchor that lets them co-create the world with you? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me for the rest of our five-part series on the senses!

In this episode, we kick off a five-part mini-series on the Five Senses by diving into the "air" of your story: Smell. We explore "petrichor"—the blood of the stone—and why scent is the ultimate storyteller's shortcut to the human nervous system. In this episode, we discuss: The Blood of the Stone: Breaking down the ancient Greek roots petra (stone) and ichor (ethereal fluid of the gods) to understand why this word evokes a sense of wonder and transformation. The Amygdala Connection: Why scent is the only sense that bypasses mental filters to strike the emotional heart of the brain, making it the most powerful tool for triggering a character's memory. Anchoring the Scene: Techniques for using petrichor to build tension, ground internal monologues, and create sharp contrasts between sterile urban settings and the raw, earthy relief of a breaking storm. What specific scent in your story triggers a memory for your protagonist? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me for the rest of our five-part series on the senses!

In this episode, we have reached the summit. We’ve traveled from A to Y, and it is only fitting that we end at the highest point.  In this episode, we discuss: Managing the Descent: Why you shouldn't rush the view once your character reaches the top, and how to use prose to bring your story to its natural, hard-earned conclusion. The sun is at its zenith and the alphabet is complete—what will you do with the final choice at the peak of your character's journey? Subscribe for more episodes and thank you for walking through the alphabet with me!

In this episode, we explore a word that is as much about a feeling as it is about a function.  In this episode, we discuss: The Character of the Explainer: How using niche language like "yare" acts as a window into a character’s high standards, isolation, or private passions. Is your prose bogged down and sluggish, or is it "yare" ready to guide your reader exactly where you want them to go without any wasted energy? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, ground ourselves in the words that try to capture the sound of the world’s bones.  In this episode, we discuss: The Skeletal Soundscape: Why the xylophone is the ultimate literary shorthand for the macabre, using its "rib-like" keys to evoke the rattling of bones and Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre. Phonetic Contrast: How to use the rare, hard "X" sound to "poke" the reader’s attention and build rhythmic, staccato prose that mirrors the striking of wood. Are you settling for the "lightning bug" of a generic description, or are you finding the "lightning" in the sharp, wooden clack of a xylophonic metaphor? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we open the door to the unexpected, the lighthearted, and the delightfully strange.  In this episode, we discuss: Mischief vs. Whimsy: Distinguishing between the sharp, rule-breaking edge of mischief and the gentle, surreal wings of whimsy. The Puck Principle: Lessons from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on how whimsical characters humanize high drama and remind us that the world is a playful, benevolent place. The Reality of Levity: Why dark masterpieces like Pan’s Labyrinth use whimsy not to distract from horror, but to provide the contrast necessary to make the shadows feel truly deep. Are you obsessing over the pathos of your story, or are you looking for the spaces where a little "pure imagination" can take root and lift the heart? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we step onto my own doorstep to look at a word that carries the weight of history, duty, and quiet tension.  In this episode, we discuss: The Spanish Roots: Tracing the name Vigil to the rugged soil of Asturias. The  Nature of Identity: How characters are shaped by their names. Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the paradox of the "one" and the "many." We look at Carl Sagan’s "Pale Blue Dot" to understand why the universal is never found in the vague, but is instead hidden in the hyper-specific, microscopic details of a single life. In this episode, we discuss: The Specificity Paradox: Why a moth-eaten wool sweater and the scent of pipe tobacco resonate more deeply than a generic "feeling of sadness," and how hyper-specific details trigger a reader's own unique memories. Piercing the Veil: Techniques for using local superstitions and physical reactions to anchor your story in truths that transcend culture and time. Are you trying to write for everyone by keeping things general, or are you writing for one person with the brutal specificity that makes a story belong to the world? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we look at the layer of the story that makes the world feel truly alive. In this episode, we discuss: The Art of Balancing Focus: How to "smuggle" depth into your prose through sensory integration, ensuring your world breathes without stalling the forward momentum of your plot. The Lived-In Detail: Why using the senses to describe the "same air exhaled by many before" creates a reality that feels larger than just two characters talking in a room. How are you using sensory texture to show the "tertiary" depth of your world without slowing down your primary plot? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the quiet, dizzying realization that you are not the lead character in every story.  In this episode, we discuss: The Invisible Backpack: How to imbue background characters with the weight of their own ambitions, routines, and heart-wrenching decisions, even if they never speak a line of dialogue. The Storyteller’s Perspective: Techniques for creating profound fiction by using specific background details, NPCs with their own agendas, and the power of the unresolved thread to make a world feel like a living ecosystem. Are you writing your background characters as furniture, or are you acknowledging the invisible weight each one carries into your world? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the person who doesn't just tell a story, but performs it. We look at the legacy of Mark Twain and the difference between a "witness" who reports facts and a "raconteur" who weaves an experience that captures the room. In this episode, we discuss: The Reporter vs. The Raconteur: Distinguishing between the straight line of information and the "switchbacks" and "side-paths" that seek to enchant and amuse. Being Interesting, Not Just Accurate: How to take your prose from "reporting" to "raconteuring" by killing the obvious word and giving your narrative voice a distinct personality. Are you simply reporting what happened in your story, or are you performing the events to ensure they stay with the person who hears them? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the linguistic shorthand of the streets and the invisible ways slang shapes our prose.  In this episode, we discuss: The Defunct Slang Trap: Why slang is a living thing that can easily become a fossil, and the importance of recognizing when your character's vocabulary is anchoring them to a time the world has moved on from. Integrating the Street: How to use slang like salt—seasoning your dialogue to provide instant backstory and social class cues without over-seasoning into caricature. Are your characters speaking in dictionaries, or are they using the "wallpaper" language of shortcuts and lived-in history? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we look at the knot that holds the truth together. We explore "paradox"—a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself but reveals a deeper, more complex reality.  In this episode, we discuss: The Paradoxical Character: Analyzing Aragorn as the "King in Exile".  Building the Knot: How to use internal conflicts and thematic contradictions to move beyond "boring" traits and create an emotional payoff that the reader must earn by solving the riddle themselves. Is your protagonist "just brave," or are they a paradox? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we aren’t just looking at a word; we’re listening to the language itself. We explore "onomatopoeia"—the primal tool that allows a storyteller to bypass the logic of the brain and hit the listener directly in the ear by "making names" out of the very sounds they describe. In this episode, we discuss: Composing the Scene: How to use percussive or sibilant words to build a 3D soundtrack within your prose, turning a simple description into an immersive physical experience. Are you using words that merely describe an action, or are you choosing "names" that breathe, click, and hum to make your readers hear the story? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we step into the mist to find the shapes that refuse to be defined.  In this episode, we discuss: The Precision of Vagueness: Why being intentionally nebulous can turn a biological problem into a psychological terror, and how leaving a monster's "edges blurry" keeps the reader in a state of unease. The Clouded Mind: Using nebulous goals and moral grey areas to create layered characters and atmospheric tension that forces your reader to slow down and squint at the truth.  Is your character’s goal a solid, sharp objective, or is it still a shifting cloud waiting to condense into a purpose? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we listen for the sound of honey in the air. We explore the "mellifluous" quality of the human voice—from Paul McCartney to the sophisticated villain—and why the most dangerous words are often the ones that are easiest to hear. In this episode, we discuss: The Seduction of the Smooth: Why a mellifluous voice is the ultimate mask for sirens and swindlers. Prose as Music: How to use "liquid consonants" like m, l, r, and s to create a continuous breath in your writing, ensuring your reader slides through your descriptions rather than stumbling over them. Are you using honeyed words to soften your reader's suspicion, or are you looking for the squeaky hinges in your dialogue to add a drop of flow? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we stand in the doorway, caught between where we’ve been and where we are going.  In this episode, we discuss: The Uncanny "Vibe": How storytellers can use physical settings like vacant offices or night-time playgrounds to signal that the rules of reality are thinning. The Narrative "Middle": Why the Second Act of a story is essentially a liminal state, and how to use "Threshold Guardians" to heighten the tension of a character's internal change. Are you rushing your characters through the doorway, or are you letting them linger in the "in-between" where the real transformation happens? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we look at the invisible hand that guides a protagonist and the delicate balance between a lucky break and a broken story. In this episode, we discuss: The Portion of Fate: Exploring why your character’s story exists specifically because they survived the improbable. The Ta'veren Principle: Lessons from Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time on how to establish "fated" luck early so your readers accept the impossible rather than calling it "plot armor." Managing the Resource: Why kismet is a limited currency—easy to use for getting characters into trouble, but expensive to use for getting them out. How are you managing your protagonist's "portion" of luck to ensure their survival feels like destiny rather than a convenience? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore why, for a storyteller, joy is not the opposite of sadness, but a resilient state of being that can survive even the darkest chapters of a story. In this episode, we discuss: The Reaction vs. The State of Being: Distinguishing between the surface-level flicker of happiness and the deep, abiding resonance of joy that is rooted in purpose rather than circumstance. The Paradox of Sad Joy: Why joy is often most visible when juxtaposed against grief, and how it represents the presence of meaning within suffering rather than the absence of it. The Emotional Anchor: How to use the hunt for joy as a character arc, moving a fragile protagonist from external reliance to internal conviction. Is your protagonist chasing the fleeting peak of happiness, or are they discovering an earned joy that remains even after they've lost everything? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore a light that doesn't just burn, but glows from within. We look at why F. Scott Fitzgerald chose the word "incandescent" to describe Daisy Buchanan and how this specific type of brightness differs from the volatile hunger of a flame. In this episode, we discuss: The Power of the Doublet: How storytellers can use similar words like "fiery" and "incandescent" to distinguish between volatile anger and unwavering resolve, providing a map for the reader. The Internal Pressure: Using incandescence to describe characters functioning at their highest frequency just a step away from a breaking point. Is your character a wildfire that might burn out, or a star radiating a steady, white-hot intensity? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we step into the fire of conviction and explore the danger of the "wrong" truth. We look at the "heretic"—not as a villain, but as the person who looks at the unquestionable and asks "Why?" In this episode, we discuss: The Roots of Choice: Tracing the Greek origin hairetikos to understand how being "able to choose" became a dangerous act of subversion. The Heretic vs. the Zealot: Why the collision between these two extremes creates the ultimate narrative friction, and how they are often two sides of the same coin. The Power of the Choice: Using the heretic archetype to force your audience to question their own assumptions and showing the moment a character chooses their own eyes over the safety of the crowd. What "sacred" wall or tradition is your protagonist finally willing to pull down? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we turn up the volume on the person who simply cannot find the "off" switch. We explore the "garrulous" soul and why, for a storyteller, this chatter is often a mask for something much deeper. In this episode, we discuss: The Chatter of the Crow: Tracing the word back to the Latin garrire and its ancient connection to the incessant, noisy calling of birds. The Texture of Triviality: Why garrulousness feels like a clock that ticks without telling the time, often serving as a desperate reach for connection or a way to avoid the weight of silence. The Art of the Bore: How to use rambling characters for comic relief or weaponized distraction without falling into the "writer's trap" of making your own prose pointlessly wordy. When does the chatter in your story need to flow to reveal a character's flaws, and when is it time to cut through the noise to find the melody? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we step into the shadows to explore the "fugitive"—a word that carries the weight of high-speed chases and the quiet, desperate need to escape oneself. We discuss why calling someone a fugitive is more than a legal status; it is a description of a soul in motion. In this episode, we discuss: The Fugitive Adjective: How to use the word to describe elusive scents, vanishing thoughts, and details that actively try to escape our grasp. The Storyteller’s Perspective: Why choosing "fugitive" over "traveler" infuses your prose with urgency, whether you are writing an external escape from the law or an internal escape from the past. What is chasing your characters, and what happens when they finally run out of road? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the beauty of impermanence and the nature of the world around us. We look at how embracing the fleeting moments in our narratives can increase emotional impact and remind the reader of life's fragility.   In this episode, we discuss:   The Art of the Sand Mandala: Lessons from Tibetan monks on precision, meditation, and the power of letting go of what we create.   What "ephemeral" moment in your story is so bright that it leaves a lasting memory long after it has vanished?   Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we explore the concept of "rested potential" and why silence shouldn't be mistaken for absence. We look at how the dormant "churning beast" within our characters is often just waiting for the right moment to erupt. In this episode, we discuss The "Impending" Narrative: How storytellers use dormancy to build tension, subvert expectations, and reveal hidden powers at the perfect moment. What "dormant" power or secret is currently waiting to be revealed in your protagonist? Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

In this episode, we dive into the "bad sounds" of life and art. We explore why cacophony is more than just noise and why as storytellers we must learn to tame it. In this episode, we discuss: The Etymology of Chaos: Breaking down the roots to understand why "bad sound" is a natural part of the human experience. Cacophony as a Narrative Tool: How to use disorientation to your advantage, using Lady Macbeth’s famous sleepwalking scene as a masterclass in "intentional chaos." What "cacophony" are you currently trying to tame in your own creative work?  Subscribe for more episodes and to join me in this journey through the alphabet!

What does it mean to be Bittersweet and how does that relate to stories. Jump in with Timothy to see some examples of why this word is so valuable as a concept and how it can improve your storytelling. 

The first episode of Just Another Word podcast looks at the word "advent" and defines what it means to start something.