We’re two writers who have decided to put our writing life online to help other writers, and because we like talking about writing.
Each week we dig into our writing process, what is working and what is not, our wins and failures, and share them with you. Writing Naked is about being vulnerable, on the page and on the podcast. Writing can be scary, hard, and painful. But it can also be wonderful. Wherever you are, other writers have been there, too. And on Writing Naked, we talk about it.
Cody and Andrew talk to Portland author Jamie Yourdon about writing, life, and desserts. Jamie writes literary fables and ghost stories, with two out currently (The Space Between Two Deaths (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952919002) and Froelich's Ladder (https://www.amazon.com/dp/194243619X)). He is currently working on a Snow White retelling. We dive into his writing process, art vs commerce, and how a small silver spoon fits into it all.
Jamie Yourdon's Website https://www.jamieduclosyourdon.com/ (https://www.jamieduclosyourdon.com/)
Sign up for Cody and Andrew's Fiction Newsletter! (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
5 Feb 2024
Pale - Read by Cody T Luff
Cody takes on the podcast alone in this reading of his short story, "Pale". Regrets, redemption, revenge, these themes wind through weird western stories like a sidewinder over sand dunes. What happens when a retired gunslinger answers for his past crimes? Find out in, "Pale", a Weird Western horror story.
If you want to read along, here is the link. https://worlds.workingtitle.us/pale/ (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/pale/)
Or you can sign up for our Free Fiction Newsletter. (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
29 Jan 2024
Erik Grove - Interview
Portland, Oregon author Erik Grove talks writing with Cody and Andrew. Erik discusses his writing cocktail mix, spills the tea on his process, and explains why ideas aren't the problem. Not even the question. We delve into Erik's writing journey, how he goes about publishing, and why play in writing is all-important.
Visit Erik's website for more Grove goodness: https://erikgrove.com/ (https://erikgrove.com/)
Sign up for Erik's Portland area writing event newsletter, PDX Write Week! (https://mailchi.mp/405eedff7ab0/pdx-write-week-newsletter-signup)
As always, for free fiction every month from Cody and Andrew, subscribe to Cody and Andrew's Free Fiction newsletter. (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
22 Jan 2024
Together
Community is key for writers to develop their full potential. Whether bouncing ideas off another writer, finding people that understand the peculiar writer's mind, or just commiserating with other people that grok the word mines, we write best when we have a community. In this episode, Cody and Andrew talk about what makes good and bad community, navigating critique groups, and what to do about finding a place you fit as a writer.
Subscribe to Cody and Andrew's Free Fiction newsletter. (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
Here are the rules we use for our FourXFours:
Four writers each write one story per week for four weeks, totaling 16 stories. Every week one of the writers gives a writing prompt and all the writers write a story to that prompt for the next week. We typically turn in stories by midnight on Thursday and meet on Sunday to go over the stories. We provide only verbal feedback.
Critque 3 minute monologue per critiquing author followed by 10 minute table discussion
total of ~25 minutes/story
Critique Format
Reflection - what did I feel in the story that resonated
Highlights - interesting points, characterization, world, turn of phrase, etc. Best line. Alternative First Line, etc.
Lasting impressions -what did you take home from the story.
If you do a FourXFour, let us know!
Drop us a line a contact@workingtitle.us or check us out at worlds.workingtitle.us (https://worlds.workingtitle.us)
Thanks for listening!
15 Jan 2024
Lara Messersmith-Glavin - Interview
Cody and Andrew interview Willa Literary Award Finalist and Portland author Lara Messersmith-Glavin about her writing life, process, and publication journey. On the way we touch on recent work, her different approaches to creative non-fiction and fiction, how she summons her writing, her cetacean/angler fish-mermaid-climate fiction/non-fiction-horror WIP, and her future plans.
Lara's Website, Queen of Pirates. (https://www.queenofpirates.net/)
Purchase Spirit Things (https://www.upcolorado.com/university-of-alaska-press/item/4172-spirit-things)
Purchase Winding Paths (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLSBSTKF?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_3B8PC70K0RVYSNTFPFN6&peakEvent=5&dealEvent=1) (Cody, Andrew, and Lara all have work in this anthology)
Subscribe to Cody and Andrew's Free Fiction newsletter. (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
4 Jan 2024
Starting and Starting Again
Andrew and Cody talk about the New Year, where they are going next, and the issues with starting to write or starting anew on an old project.
Subscribe to read more of Cody and Andrew on their free Newsletter! (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
19 Dec 2023
Genre Part 1
Cody and Andrew discuss genre! What is it, how it is defined and used, and how we use it in our writing. There are gray areas of genre, poles of fantasy and science fiction, core tropes that describe the central aspects of a genre and are critical for readers to buy in to your story. And then there is moving beyond or between genre to create a hybrid or undefined story. How do you do that? What do Cody and Andrew do in their writing, and why?
Subscribe to our Monthly Fiction Newsletter (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/) and get a free story every month.
4 Dec 2023
Spongecake and Other Layers
In this episode, Cody and Andrew give a brief update on their writing (rejections, submissions, and novel progress), and then dive right into the layering scenes with dialogue, action, and plot. Andrew uses too many baking analogies and talks about the One Immortal Writing Rule. Cody talks about where he begins with layering.
Subscribe to support the podcast! (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup/6375593525961a0031fe0c8d/monthly)
27 Nov 2023
The Craft of Dialogue Part 2
Andrew and Cody talk about their current projects and dive deeper into the Craft of Dialogue. Specifically, how they navigate dialogue scenes with multiple characters and why they avoid writing dialect.
Read new stories monthly from Andrew and Cody by subscribing to their newsletter. (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/#/portal/signup)
Check out the Winding Paths anthology (https://demagoguepressllc.gumroad.com/l/winding-paths-pre-order) from Demagogue Press.
20 Nov 2023
The Craft of Dialogue Part 1
Cody and Andrew discuss dialogue; purpose, what makes it special, how to make it sound like people, and the many ways dialogue can go wrong. Andrew reads from his forthcoming story "Ava", appearing in the game-themed anthology Winding Paths from Demagogue Press. (https://demagoguepressllc.gumroad.com/l/winding-paths-pre-order)
Pre-Order Winding Paths here. (https://demagoguepressllc.gumroad.com/l/winding-paths-pre-order)
Subscribe to our Story Newsletter (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/)
The Craft of Dialogue
* What is the purpose of Dialogue?
* Dialogue Failure Modes
* What makes dialogue special?
* how do we make dialogue sound like people? Instead of the author talking to ourselves?
* How do you separate your characters? How do you make them sound different? Difference inside spoke word with characters?
The three stories in each scene:
* Personal story
* World story
* Plot
Three fundamentals of writing dialogue:
1) demonstrating what is at stake
2) hiding something at all times - unsaid as important as what is said.
3) revelation - something comes out
Realistic dialogue hack
The characters are talking about a mystery, while keeping secrets from each other, and lying to protect themselves.
13 Nov 2023
All Things Serve the Arc
Cody and Andrew put their writing life online to help other writers. In this episode, they discuss their current projects, submissions, writing blocks, and why Cody loves writing action scenes. Cody talks about the difference between action scenes in film and prose, and Andrew the recapitulation of story arc within each scene. Oh, and Cody reads from his debut novel, Ration.
Like, subscribe, and read our stories at worlds.workingtitle.us (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/).
6 Nov 2023
A Cookie for an Elephant
Andrew and Cody talk about getting an idea off the ground, which ones to pick out, and sketching the elephant between the ideas. Also, writing for anthologies, and mentions of two new anthologies with their work. Oh, and why an editor might not pick your piece to publish.
Read Andrew and Cody's work at Working Title Worlds (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/).
Mentions
Winding Paths - Winding Paths: A Playable Reading Experience (https://demagoguepressllc.gumroad.com/l/winding-paths-pre-order)
Cozy Cosmic (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-cozy-cosmic-john-shirley/20581369?ean=9781630231118)
29 Oct 2023
Rituals
Where Andrew and Cody talk about writing progress, drafting methods, and growing your writing process. We also touch on creativity, various writing exercises for story generation, and why a smidgen of fear is necessary for writing
Read Andrew and Cody's work at Working Title Worlds (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/).
Mentions
John Cleese
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide (https://bookshop.org/lists/writing-naked-podcast)
Lecture on creativity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g&ab_channel=VideoArts)
22 Oct 2023
Chainsaw Bears
Progress so far, what went right/wrong
For more information check out https://worlds.workingtitle.us/ (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/)
15 Oct 2023
Ending Up with a Story
Cody and Andrew discuss the concepts for their stories and planned story development. How does research for fiction work? How much is too much? What purpose does research have for fiction, especially science fiction or fantasy? How do you start the actual writing, after you are done going down the research rabbit hole? How do you turn ideas into marks on the page?
Read Andrew and Cody's work at Working Title Worlds (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/).
9 Oct 2023
The Tyranny of the Blank Page
Andrew and Cody talk about starting a novel, getting ideas, how they generate story, and a crazy stunt they will try and pull off this month.
Read Andrew and Cody's work at Working Title Worlds (https://worlds.workingtitle.us/).
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