Story Geometry

Episodes

1. 19

   S2 Ep17: Workshop Diaries

   Attending a literary workshop can be fraught with highs and lows of creative feedback, a gorgeous natural setting, and amazing peers. Who happen to be alone 90% of the year, creating magic on a screen. Hear two first hand accounts of navigating the wilds of a writing conference in Northern...

   Jan 3, 2017

   28m
2. 18

   S2 Ep16: The 80s, Espionage, & Editing

   Meet 90 year old debut author Lillian McCloy, who was stationed in six countries while raising three kids as the wife of a CIA undercover agent. Host Ben Hess gets to explore the real experiences of this spy family, well beyond the detective fiction of his youth. He also compares the editing of...

   Oct 15, 2016

   26m
3. 17

   S2 Ep15: Page to Screen

   Host Ben Hess takes his passion for film to the literary world and explores the ins and outs, ups and downs, of the often circuitous adaptation process. Guests include National Book Award finalist Andre Dubus III (House of Sand and Fog, Townie, Dirty Love), Willa Award winning novelist BK Loren...

   Sep 13, 2016

   33m
4. 16

   S2 Ep14: On the Move

   Between 35 and 40 million Americans - that’s 11% to 14% of the population - move every year according to the US Census Bureau and real estate metrics site HomeData. Episode 14 features two chapters and spotlights authors at very different stages of their writing journey, Pulitzer Finalist in...

   Aug 9, 2016

   25m
5. 15

   S2 Ep13: Sexuality in Lit

   This episode, Sexuality in Lit, features three writers who have incorporated sex and sexuality into their work in very different ways. Chapter 1, Tina’s Transformative Performance, features Fenton Johnson’s (The Man Who Loved Birds) account of a live concert in the late 60’s. Amber Keyser, is our...

   Jul 6, 2016

   27m
6. 14

   S2 Ep12: Three Beginnings

   Host Ben Hess is fascinated by beginnings - get it right, and you've hooked your reader. Get it wrong, and all your hard work is set aside for another story or book. He explores how strong works begin with interviews and readings from science and environmental writer Craig Childs (Apocalyptic...

   Jun 1, 2016

   21m
7. 13

   S2 Ep11: Language for the Ineffable

   How do we elegantly write about ‘unexplainable’ concepts like spirit, sex, beauty, or death? In a lightly edited panel discussion, national and regional award winners Mark Doty, Greg Glazner, and Lidia Yuknavitch provide thoughtful consideration to this challenging task while referencing literary...

   Apr 25, 2016

   29m
8. 12

   S2 Ep10: What's Your Scaffolding?

   How do authors approach writing a book-length piece, whether fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir? As he continues tackling his work-in-progress novel, host Ben Hess explores varying approaches to structure, character development, and plot with debut novelist Elizabeth Marro (Casualties) and...

   Mar 28, 2016

   20m
9. 11

   S2 Ep9: Initiative vs Destiny

   Season Two of Story Geometry kicks off with Episode 009, an exploration of Initiative vs Destiny. Host Ben Hess is in conversation with award-winning writer Fenton Johnson where Fenton also reads from his latest novel, The Man Who Loved Birds, and literary nonprofit Writing by Writers Co-Founder...

   Mar 1, 2016

   28m
10. 10

    S1 Ep8: Filling Your Tool Box

    We break down four foundational tools for the writer’s toolbox pulled from award winning writers Mark Doty, Greg Glazner, Pam Houston, and Lidia Yuknavitch. The tools are: number one - Find Inspiration, number two - Form / Structure, number three - Rhythm of Language, and number four - Reading...

    Dec 30, 2015

    21m
11. 9

    S1 Ep7: Business of Writing, Volume II

    Host Ben Hess breaks down the business of writing into three categories - number one - patronage and support, number two - publishing, whether traditional or self, large press or small, and number three - distribution & promotion. Authors and teachers Steve Almond, Greg Glazner, and Tanya Chernov...

    Dec 12, 2015

    36m
12. 8

    S1 Ep6 - Location, Location, Location

    In an exploration of how place, setting, and location inform our writing, we travel around the United States, from the Deep South with National Book Award finalist Dorothy Allison and award winning novelist Josh Weil and then up to New York City with New York Times Bestselling writer Tom Barbash...

    Nov 22, 2015

    18m
13. 7

    S1 Ep5: Pissing People Off

    This episode is an excerpt of a live, free-flowing panel discussion at the recent Writing by Writers Conference in Tomales Bay, California between poet, novelist, and National Book Award finalist Dorothy Allison, memoirist, journalist, fiction writer, and teacher Steve Almond, and award winning...

    Oct 29, 2015

    43m
14. 6

    S1 Ep4: Business of Writing, Volume I

    So you’ve slaved over your stories, essays, book proposal, or fiction manuscript … and now what? Ben Hess explores the business of writing with nonfiction agent Gordon Warnock, independent editor and writer Jay Schafer, in addition to writers and teachers Gary Ferguson and Pam Houston.

    Oct 13, 2015

    19m
15. 5

    S1 Ep3: The Deep End

    Aspiring novelist Ben Hess explores writing from the deep end of loss, grief, and uncertainty with teachers and authors Tom Barbash, Gary Ferguson, Alan Heathcock, Pam Houston, and Josh Weil. Links: Writing By Writers - http://writingxwriters.org Tom Barbash -...

    Sep 21, 2015

    18m
16. 4

    S1 Ep2: The Writing & Teaching Life

    Insights on the craft & community of writing from award-winning published authors and teachers.

    Aug 29, 2015

    17m
17. 3

    S1 Ep1: Origins

    Aspiring novelist and screenwriter Ben Hess spent time at the April 2015 Writing By Writers Boulder Generative Workshop and gained insights on the origin of stories, on getting going using Pam Houston’s glimmer technique. The words of wisdom came from award winning writers and teachers Pam, Gary...

    Aug 29, 2015

    21m