The Atomic Material of Story

On Ending Twice

There’s an oft-repeated piece of craft advice about endings: slice them off early. But what if you haven’t yet found the story’s final punch? Let's look at stories that do the opposite of ending early. In fact, they keep on ending. These are stories that end twice. The double-ending is a second punch that the writer gets to strike. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Atomic Material of Story

What happens in a story's opening? If you ask me, the atomic material of the story should be present from the very start, and the work of the story is to combine those atoms into a variety of narrative molecules. You’re constructing a periodic table just for this story. What can you build from there? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

On Lamination

Last time, I talked about choosing books based entirely on whether I find the prose laminated (it pushes me out) or permeable (it lets me sink in). What causes a piece of writing to be laminated—that is, it may have a beautiful sheen, but it keeps me on the outside? This week, I explain what laminated writing is. Listen in to learn how to avoid the readings that will inscribe bad habits in your own writing, and find the readings that will spur your best work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

On permeability vs. lamination

Ask any writer how to improve, and they’ll probably say one thing: Read. Abundantly, widely, constantly. But what are you reading? How do you choose the work that’s worth apprenticing yourself to, both because it’s a worthy teacher and because it’s specifically inspiring to you at this moment in your writing life? My method is to separate the laminated from the permeable. What does that mean? Listen in this week to learn how to find the readings that will best spur your writing. — *This podcast is a supplement to The Craft Lab for Writers newsletter. Get full access and subscribe at craftlabwriters.substack.com [http://craftlabwriters.substack.com/].Want small-group guided writing, accountability, and inspiration for your long-term writing goals? Join The Lab [http://craftlabwriters.com/] now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Leap, Part 2

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit craftlabwriters.substack.com [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] How do we make ourselves want to write our work? In Part 1 [https://craftlabwriters.substack.com/p/the-leap-3b4] of this podcast, I discussed the problem of getting stuck partway through a project—especially a project that we want to finish. We think it’s worthy, but something internal is getting in the way. How to get past that block? This week, I’m giving some examples that show how we you can re-invigorate your passion for our own work.