Les and Jack on Writing - Uncensored

About Les and Jack on Writing - Uncensored

Les Edgerton and Jack Holland discuss the writing of a publishable novel in a relaxed, chatty format. They saw the need for some real-life info on effective writing versus the cookie-cutter bumper sticker advice many podcasts are based on. Their advice is based on what works in the real world of publishing. Example: Write what you know. Bullshit, bumper sticker advice. Better: Write what you can convince the reader you know. If a writer followed the first piece of advice, chances are pretty good he or she would never write a book based in the far past or distant future… they couldn’t as they didn’t live then so they don’t know. Same applies to writing a murder mystery, a man writing as a woman and vice versa, and any other number of other instances. Therefore, it’s bullshit advice. But, if one writes a novel about a physician and their day job is selling hamburgers at Mickey D’s. and they’ve researched a doctor’s life and craft, they can probably pen a book that most readers (even including doctors) can accept as a true account. This is just one example of the bad and misleading writing advice that’s out there and is our raison d’ etre for this podcast. Jack Holland is a screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. As a playwright, he has had thirty staged readings and a couple of productions in Los Angeles and New York. As a screenwriter, he has had a script optioned, worked as a script analyst for the Delaurentiis Company, worked as a script doctor on several independent projects, and developed various projects for Rhythm and Hues Studios. He also produced and directed several short films including the award winning GUILT KNOCKS which was featured at the Mata Hari film festival in Bonn, Germany. He is now working on his first novel. Les Edgerton is the author of 23 books, including the writing craft books, HOOKED and FINDING YOUR VOICE. He has taught creative writing at various universities, including UCLA, the University of Toledo, Vermont College and several others. He has conduced an online novel-writing class for over ten years from which over three dozen writers have published the books they wrote in class. He is also an ex-con which gives his crime novels a level of verisimilitude most other authors don’t enjoy. Jack and Les discuss in each episode the many examples of poor advice regularly trotted out to beginning writers. Plus, as a bonus, they’re often funny. And, often… not.

Publisher

Jack Holland and Les Edgerton

Category

education · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

1 May 2023

Latest episode

8 Aug 2023

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Aug 2023

   How to Create True Emotion

   Spoiler Alert: reveals about Lord of the Flies Les and Jack talk about how to create true emotion in novels and poems. They also talk about the following: Jack's work in progress. The importance of settings in a novel. The Island of the Sequined Love Nun written by Christopher Moore but which Les mistakenly attributes to another author, Tim Dorsey. https://www.amazon.com/Island-Sequined-Love-Christopher-Moore/dp/038097505X/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christopher-Moore/author/B000APFLHC https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IGV64Y Also Discussed: Cargo Cults Sons of Anarchy Trees Lounge Mark Boone Junior Steve Buscemi Pipelines

2. 

   24 Jul 2023

   Outlining

   Les and Jack discuss Les's recommended method of outlining, the reasons for it, and examples. We also discuss melodrama, David Mamet, Music, Hollywood, Corky's progress, and sprouting wings.

3. 

   13 Jun 2023

   Scenes and Sequels

   Les and Jack go over and discuss scenes and sequels in fiction writing.

4. 

   1 Jun 2023

   Protagonists and Antagonists - Part Three

   This episode continues with protagonists and antagonists. It also touches on rattlesnakes, The Silence of the Lambs, The Great Gatsby, Thelma and Louise, and On The Waterfront. As well as Freeport, Texas.

5. 

   17 May 2023

   Protagonists and Antagonists - Part Two

   Les and Jack discuss antagonists and protagonists. They also cover the story problem that drives the protagonist and related issues.

6. 

   12 May 2023

   Protagonists and Antagonists - Part One

   Les and Jack discuss antagonists and protagonists. They also cover the story problem that drives the protagonist and related issues.

7. 

   1 May 2023

   Character Description and Story Pacing

   The first episode of Les and Jack talking about writing a novel. Areas covered include character description and story pacing.

Contact Les and Jack on Writing - Uncensored

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.