Writing in the Dark

In this episode, Julia and Ralph are joined by award-winning novelist and Army veteran Nancy Stroer to dissect a short story by Benjamin Inks in which Jack Fleming, a fictional character invented as a joke, becomes a larger than life hero who inspires both American soldiers and Afghan citizens.Reading: “Jack Fleming Lives!” by Benjamin InksThey explore how the story’s choices about pacing, world building, and humor create an engrossing narrative with an almost unbelievable and yet totally convincing ending. Their discussion also touches on Tim O’Brien (author of The Things They Carried) and how sometimes fiction is the only way to tell the truth.Nancy’s first novel, Playing Army, shares some of these themes; in it Lieutenant Minerva Mills struggles with the constraints of military life as she tries to avoid deployment to Bosnia, hoping instead to reconnect with her father who disappeared in Vietnam. Guest BioNancy Stroer holds degrees from Cornell and Boston University and served as an Army maintenance officer in the beer-soaked trenches of post-Cold War Germany. Her work has appeared in Stars and Stripes, Soldiers magazine, Hallaren Lit Mag, the Wrath-Bearing Tree, Consequence Forum and Things We Carry Still, an anthology of military writing from Middle West Press.In addition to writing, Nancy is a teacher and trainer, and an adjunct faculty member of the Ellyn Satter Institute, a 503(c) not-for-profit organization that helps individuals and families develop a more joyful relationship to food and their bodies. Her debut novel, Playing Army, was a 2025 Military Writers Society of America bronze medalist for literary fiction.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Writing in the Dark is back! To kick off Season 4, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Betsy Ellor to discuss The Daughter Cells, a short story by Daniel M. Lavery from the collection Merry Spinster.Reading: The Daughter CellsThey explore how the author turns Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of self-sacrifice into one of agency, complete with body horror, funny and biting critique of human culture, and a reimagined plot with a triumphant, if dark finale.They also discuss Betsy’s new book, Hera, Kingdom of Lies, and how she created a story that centers Hera’s experience, drawing parallels between the immortal goddess’s experience and today’s overwhelmed working moms, both of whom struggle to maintain order amid chaos and patriarchy.This conversation highlights the staying power of our oldest stories, why we come back to them again and again, and inspiring new interpretations that make these stories more relevant than ever. Guest BioBetsy Ellor lives near the beach in a house filled with color and chaos. When not at her desk, she’s usually hiking, hunting for shells, or annoying her teenage son. She’s the editor for the anthology Heroic Care: 35 Writers & Artists Show What It Means to Care, and author of Sara Crew and My Dog is NOT A Scientist. Her latest novel, Hera: Kingdom of Lies, is a Circe meets Scandal reimagining in a way every working woman will relate to. Her writing has been published in Spine Magazine, 5 Minute Lit, and The Creative Collective.Find her on Instagram, Substack, and Threads.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Time is fake? Time is a fungus? Time is f——?As the year draws to a close, Ralph and Julia debate the truth of time and its role in the creative process. They discuss how they evaluate progress beyond word count and reflect on what they learned from this season’s guests. They also explore what’s in store for next year and how to keep pursuing creative goals joyfully. Thanks to all our guests and listeners for making this year’s trip around the sun an instructive and entertaining journey. Until next time, keep writing in the dark—we’ll see you there.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Greetings Space Travelers,Ralph & Julia here from Writing In The Dark. We are thrilled to share a very special episode with you about our most recent Journey To Jupiter. In this episode, we’ll take you on a ride in our spaceship and share some of the experiences of working with a variety of amazing writers as they each explore their own authentic storytelling. We’ll be sharing some of the sounds from the retreat, including Julia’s talk on The Player’s Box. These snippets are a small part of the overall writing retreat experience we offer each year.We hope you enjoy our behind the scenes episode and encourage you to look for your own opportunities to blast off and elevate your writing through community, learning, and retreat.Wanna know more about the Journey to Jupiter Writing retreat? It’s all here.Until next time, keep writing in the dark—we’ll see you there.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Heather Sweeney to discuss Casey Mulligan Walsh’s Still, a micro-nonfiction published in Split Lip Magazine. Read: Still by Casey Mulligan Walsh (learn more about the author here)Nearly all one sentence, this 500-word flash is a breathless rush that captures the unthinkable loss of a child and conveys staggering emotion through the clever use of the word still. This conversation explores how the smallest forms can be the most challenging, the author’s choices about what details to include and exclude, and the power of imagery and repetition. Prompt: Write a 1,000 word flash piece, either fiction or nonfiction. Then rewrite the piece in 500 words. Rewrite it again at 250 words. Then 100 words. Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Guest Bio: Heather Sweeney is the author of the upcoming memoir Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage. She writes about divorce, life as a military spouse, parenting, and women’s health, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, HuffPost, TODAY.com, Newsweek, Business Insider, Good Housekeeping, Healthline, and Military.com, among many others. She lives in Virginia with her boyfriend, two college-aged kids, and their geriatric Labrador retriever.Her forthcoming memoir Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage is about a woman’s journey from being overshadowed by her husband’s military career to rediscovering her identity as a single mother entering a new stage in life, when she learned that the hardships of military life—the forced independence, frequent loneliness, required adaptability, and fierce resilience—had trained her for life after divorce. You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Jennifer Savran Kelly to discuss Megan Mayhew Bergman’s short story Housewifely Arts, published in her collection Birds of a Lesser Paradise.Read: Housewifely Arts“I am my own housewife, my own breadwinner.”In this heart-wrenching story, a woman goes on a road trip with her son to find the African gray parrot that can still mimic her dead mother’s voice. This conversation explores how the author deftly moves through the front and back story and uses specific detail to create a deeply emotional narrative. They discuss the themes of the story, including expectations of mothers, gendered roles around parenting, mother/child relationships, and parental loss, and the deep character and precision of literary fiction.Prompts: * Find a book of photography and flip through it till you find an image that makes you stop and linger. Take it in for another minute then go to your notebook and write.* Pick one of Jenny Holzer’s Truisms and use it as a writing prompt.Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Guest Bio: Jennifer Savran Kelly (she/they) lives upstate New York, where they write, bind books, and work as a production editor at Cornell University Press. Their debut novel Endpapers was a finalist for a 2024 Lambda Literary Award and was a fall/winter 2023 Indies Introduce pick. Their short work has been published or is forthcoming in Short Story, Long; Potomac Review; Black Warrior Review; and elsewhere.Read Jennifer’s latest story, Man Next Door.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Steve Weddle to discuss Jordan Harper’s short story My Savage Year, published in the Southwest Review. Together they dig into a well-crafted tale that’s engaging in the most unsettling of ways.Read: My Savage YearIn this story, the narrator revisits a crime that occurred when he was in high school and has haunted him for decades. He admits that his perspective is unreliable, leaving the reader to decipher what is fact and what is fiction and whether the narrator was more than just a witness. Julia, Ralph, and Steve explore the twists and turns of this unsettling story and the craft of compelling crime fiction.Prompt: Take a narrator reflecting on an event from the past and experiment with deception and withholding in a way that prevents the reader from knowing for certain what is true and what is not.Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Guest Bio: Steve Weddle is the author of Country Hardball, which the New York Times called "downright dazzling”, and The County Line, a novel set in 1930s Arkansas. He is the co-founder of the crime fiction collective Do Some Damage and the co-creator of the noir magazine Needle.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dissect the pilot episode of the television series The Bear, whose protagonist Carmy returns to Chicago to run a restaurant amid grief and strained relationships with family members and kitchen employees. Season 4 starts June 25.Read: The script of Season 1, Episode 1Watch: On Hulu They unpack the very specific world of this show, examining the characters, conflict, and setting and discussing techniques prose writers can borrow from the screen and use to enrich their own narratives. Prompt:  Pick a setting and describe it in as much detail as possible, including the physical objects as well as the people in it. Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome special guest E. J. Wenstrom to discuss Charles Yu’s short story “Open” from his 2012 story collection Sorry Please Thank You.Reading: Open by Charles YuE. J., Julia, and Ralph explore this speculative short story and its portal—in this case a literal door that appears in a living room—which may or may not save the main characters’ relationship. They discuss portals and their use in genre fiction, how Yu does so much in a small space, and his work on the TV show Westworld. This conversation examines how speculative tropes can deepen character development and storytelling and the complex interplay between reality and fantasy in science fiction.Prompt:Write a scene in which a portal appears to one or more characters. Do they step through it? What is on the other side? How does that challenge or enhance the character?Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the story? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Guest Bio:E. J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. She writes dark speculative fiction for adults and teens, including the young adult dystopian novel Departures and the award-winning Chronicles of the Third Realm War series (start with Mud). When she isn’t writing fiction, she co-hosts the Troped Out and Fantasy+Girl podcasts.Start the Chronicles of the Third Realm War series for free with the prequel novella when you join E.J.’s newsletter.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome special guest Caroline Manring to help dissect Elizabeth McCracken’s short story “Something Amazing,” from her 2014 story collection Thunderstruck.Reading: “Something Amazing” by Elizabeth McCrackenManring applies her poetic training and knowledge to the story, discussing the soundtrack and musicality of McCracken’s prose. She explores how melody, prosody, and other poetic techniques convey the themes of grief, loss, and hope. This conversation pays special attention to how words sound, symmetry and stasis in sentences, and using alliteration and metaphor to convey emotion and enhance meaning. Writers who want their work to sing will enjoy this conversation, including the prompt to find and enhance the poetry in their prose. Prompt:  Read a sentence or paragraph aloud, thumping the table for each stressed syllable. Notice the rhythm of that beat. Are your sentences flowing in a rhythmic pattern? Or do the stressed syllables come all at once? Change some of the words and reread the sentence aloud again, noting how the rhythm and tension may have shifted. How does that change the experience and emotion of the writing?Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the story? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Caroline will be joining this year’s Journey to Jupiter Writing Retreat as an instructor! Learn more and apply now: 2025 Journey To Jupiter application & info.Guest Bio:Caroline Manring is a poet and essayist whose collection Manual for Extinction won the National Poetry Review Book Prize. Her other books include Flesh & Language (forthcoming, Cornerstone 2027) and Ceruleana (NineMile), and her prose and poetry has appeared in Colorado Review, Conduit, Denver Quarterly, Sixth Finch, Seneca Review, Verse Daily, and elsewhere. She writes the humor series Notes from the Dishwasher Cafe on Substack, and lives in Ithaca, New York, where she also raises twins, leads bird walks, and plays fiddle in a family band.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia and Ralph explore Danielle Evans’ short story "Boys Go to Jupiter,” dissecting the complicated protagonist Claire as well as the story’s themes of racism and grief. They discuss how the backstory unfolds, the effect of the pacing, and what questions remain after the gut-punch ending. Do you have feedback on this episode or thoughts on the story? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or leave a comment.Reading: “Boys Go to Jupiter” by Danielle EvansPrompt: Write about a character making a poor choice, intentionally or not.What is the consequence of that choice? What in that character's backstory may have caused them to make that choice? Join us: 2025 Journey To Jupiter application & infoYou can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker kick off Season 3, which will focus on narrative craft particularly through the lens of shorter works. In this episode, they discuss Kathryn Schultz's 2017 New Yorker piece “Losing Streak.” They explore the personal and academic voices used, how each reveals and deepens the themes of loss and grief, and the structure and specificity choices the author makes. This episode also includes a writing prompt and information about the 2025 Journey to Jupiter Writing Retreat. Reading: “Losing Streak” by Kathryn SchulzPrompt: Write about a thing that you've lost. What was the significance of that thing? How did you feel about losing it? Now go back and look at your word choices. What is revealed in the specificity of your language choices? Is there a more specific way to describe the same thing?Join us: 2025 Journey To Jupiter application & infoYou can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, Bluesky, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Writing in the Dark, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker reflect on a productive and joyful year as they delve into their writing experiences, the importance of creative community, and their annual Journey to Jupiter retreat. They highlight their achievements, including Julia's new Story Connection series and Ralph's progress with his novel and the 5am Writers Club, and their favorite episodes from this season. They discuss the concept of rigorous creative rest, the value of shared creative spaces, and their plans for the new year. You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this emotional episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker reconnect with three writers who attended the Journey to Jupiter retreat: historical fiction writer Susan Klobuchar (Instagram, Bluesky, Substack), UCLA student Meredith Parker Fenwick, and YA writer Shawn T. Anderson. They discuss their transformative experiences at the retreat, the importance of creative community, how their writing progressed at and after the retreat, and how they navigate uncertain and challenging times as artists. Tune in for a raw and unfiltered dialogue on finding inspiration, fostering community, and burning bright through dark times. Books discussed:* Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson* Crying in the Bathroom by Erika Sánchez* Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner* Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinYou can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Writing in the Dark, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive deep into the revision process. They discuss the joy of making creative messes, the importance of iterative drafts, and the various methods writers can use to refine their stories.Julia and Ralph draw from their own experiences and share strategies like using the Revision Machete™️ to excise unnecessary text, shape character arcs, improve pacing, and solidify emotional resonance. They encourage writers to find their own unique processes and experiment with different tools to enhance their storytelling and would love to hear from listeners about their process and what works for them.You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the concept of creative rest, exploring how rest is essential to fueling creativity and improving storytelling. They discuss the importance of taking breaks both within and between projects, reconnecting with the joy and wonder that inspires great work, and the crucial role of creative communities. Listeners are encouraged to embrace rest as a vital part of their creative process and stay open to the richness of the liminal space between finishing one project and starting another. You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Writing in the Dark, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive into the complexities of plotting in both genre and literary fiction. They discuss the layering process of crafting a plot, the significance of both internal and external changes in storytelling, and the unique challenges of writing memoir. They attempt to define the term “plot” and explore the importance of pivotal moments that instigate change as well as practical tools for plot development. Julia and Ralph also discuss the differences and similarities between genre fiction, literary fiction, and memoir. Whether you're climbing a mountain of literary exploration or riding the roller coaster of genre storytelling, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for writers at any stage of their journey. Books and authors discussed:* The Stand, Stephen King* Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead* Gone Baby Gone, Dennis Lehane* Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders* The Martian, Andy Weir* Verity, Colleen Hoover* Luster, Raven Leilani* The Situation and the Story, Vivian Gornick* I Have Some Questions For You, Rebecca Makkai* The Fury, Alex MichaelidesYou can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker welcome Penny Zang and Caroline Manring to discuss their experiences at the first Journey to Jupiter writing retreat in 2023. Penny and Caroline reflect on their favorite aspects of the experience, what it helped them uncover in their works in progress, and how it affected their approach to the writing process. They touch on the importance of rigor and routine, the challenges of revision, and the inspirations they drew from curated readings. This conversation also explores the challenges of balancing daily life with creative work, the liberating power of rewriting from scratch, and what’s in store for this year’s Journey to Jupiter retreat. Tune in for a joyful conversation that underlines the magic and power of creative community and how transformative it can be to gather with other writers.Books and authors discussed:* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)* Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube (Blair Braverman)* Lost & Found (Kathryn Schulz)About Caroline:Caroline Manring is the author of the poetry collections Ceruleana (NineMile Books) and Manual for Extinction (winner of the National Poetry Review Prize), and her new short collection, Coil, is forthcoming in fall 2024 from Herring Alley Pamphlets. She holds degrees from Cornell University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and writes the weekly humor series Notes from the Dishwasher Cafe on Substack. Her essays and poems have appeared in Colorado Review, Conduit, Denver Quarterly, New Ohio Review, Seneca Review, and elsewhere. She lives with her husband and twin children in Ithaca, New York, where she also plays fiddle in a family band.About Penny:Penny Zang’s debut novel, Doll Parts, is forthcoming from Sourcebooks in 2025. She is from Maryland and graduated with an MFA in Fiction from West Virginia University. Her work has appeared in the Potomac Review, Louisville Review, and Superstition Review, among others. She lives in South Carolina, where she teaches English at a two-year college. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Substack.A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss the importance of scene development in both literary and genre fiction. They delve into how scenes function as the building blocks of storytelling and the difference between scenes and fragments. Julia and Ralph share their personal approaches to writing scenes, handling authenticity, and the joy of seeing a story come together. They also touch on the challenges and rewards of creating believable character actions and dialogue. Tune in to hear their insights on navigating the complexities of scene construction and finding the perfect balance between internal and external conflict. Books and authors discussed:* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)* Chain Gang All Stars (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)* The Hobbit, J.R.R. TolkienA reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the nuances of setting and world building, exploring different approaches across literary and genre fiction. Julia comes from the literary side, emphasizing character-driven narratives and sophisticated language, while Ralph champions the creative possibilities within genre fiction. They discuss how setting can serve as a character or container, influence plot dynamics, and reflect or establish the tone of a story. The conversation also covers the challenges writers face in balancing detail with narrative flow, and the potential of setting to either enrich storytelling or distract readers. Both hosts share personal practices and preferences, underscoring the value of setting in crafting engaging, immersive stories.Books and authors discussed:* The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)* Dragonlances series (Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman)* Razorblade Tears (S.A. Cosby)* Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)* Crook Manifesto & Harlem Shuffle (Colson Whitehead)* Michael Chabon* The Martian (Andy Weir)* Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout)* I Have Some Questions For You (Rebecca Makkai)* The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)* N.K. JemisinA reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Listen to previous episodes.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.  Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 4 is here! A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support our work. Thanks, as always, for listening.In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive into the complexities of creating engaging and unforgettable characters. They discuss various techniques and philosophies to help develop rich characters, including putting characters in challenging situations to reveal their unique qualities, desires, and motivations. This conversation also unpacks the role of observation, the impact of backstories and secrets, how authenticity and relatability are essential to memorable characters, and the value of community feedback in refining character portrayal.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Listen to previous episodes. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 3 is here! A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support our work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Show notesIn this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the mess, struggle, and joy of the first draft, sharing their own writing routines and challenges. They discuss different drafting techniques, including outlines and character-driven prompts, as well as how to embrace the inevitable messiness of shitty first drafts. They also explore the internal and external pressures that can come with drafting, the importance of establishing personal benchmarks to celebrate progress, and the benefits of a strong creative community. This episode aims to demystify the often intimidating first draft process, urging writers to experiment and find joy in the journey of storytelling.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website, Bluesky) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Listen to previous episodes. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 2 is here! Thanks, as always, for listening.Show notes:In this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss how they come up with story ideas and populate them with compelling characters. They explore the importance of authenticity and specificity, pushing characters to the brink, and allowing plot to transform characters. They also share their experience of coaching other writers on the unpredictable yet fascinating journey from a simple idea to a concrete, engaging story. Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website, Bluesky) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Listen to previous episodes. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:In the first episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker discuss their differing approaches to setting resolutions and goals, with Ralph touting the beauty of process-oriented goals and Julia admitting her aversion to traditional goal-setting. They explore the importance of rest, reset, and change, and the cultural forces that work for and against us in those realms. The conversation also examines the importance of a creative community and how public declaration of goals garners support, builds motivation, and encourages others to do the same, fostering a sense of camaraderie within the creative community and dispelling the myth of loneliness in creative pursuits.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and produced by Aaron Fyler. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In the season finale Dark, Ralph and Julia go in depth on our experience leading the Journey to Jupiter retreat. For a closer look at the attendee experience, check out these posts from crew members Penny, Lori, Paul, Adam, and Caroline.Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Keep writing in the dark—we’ll see you there. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

3…..2……1……Ralph and Julia go behind the scenes on how the Journey to Jupiter retreat came to be, the work they’ve done to make this in-person gathering out of this world, and why they picked the books they’ve asked participants to read.Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Ralph and I discuss the delicate art of giving and receiving feedback Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In Part 2, Ralph and Julia discuss how they came to be people who call themselves writers. They talk about their first novel projects and their evolution and values as instructors. If you didn’t hear the first part of this conversation, you can find it here.Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is the first part of a two-part series on how Ralph and Julia came to be people who call ourselves writers. In this first part, they discuss what their creativity looked like in their teenage and young adult years. Find Ralph on Twitter and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Ralph and Julia discuss white space and how blankness, silence, and omission create tension and narrative drive. Find Ralph on Twitter @RW_Igloo and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

Ralph and Julia discuss characters, in their books and their lives, and how they use imagination and connection to deepen their writing and get through challenging days at the desk. Find Ralph on Twitter @RW_Igloo and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe

In Finding Daybreak, the debut episode, Ralph Walker and Julia F. Green discuss the joy of writing in the dark and what they draw on to get through the darkest moments of writing.Find Ralph on Twitter @RW_Igloo and Julia on Substack.Thanks, as always, for listening. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe