Why Is This Good?

In this episode, we discuss “The Comet” by W. E. B. Du Bois. What kind of science fiction did Du Bois write? How can the pace of the prose reflect the pace of the action? How can elevated language drive a story and help the depiction of characters and events? Why would we want to […]

In this episode, we discuss “The Art of Losing” by Yoon Choi. How does point of view help reveal a character’s mental state? How does point of view in this story help build tension? How can a story explore an idea with plot? How can side-plots and side-characters help explore a theme? How does point […]

In this episode we discuss “The Saddest Case of True Love” by Simon Van Booy. How does a story within a story within a story function? What effects can this structure create? Are there ambiguities in this story that suggest more than is said about the narrator? How does narrative perspective impact our understanding of […]

In this episode, we discuss “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen. What can we learn from this timeless story? How can a situation drive a story? What does the structure of the story provide for the overall effect? What does that structure require, and how can we apply those necessities to other stories? How […]

In this episode, we discuss “Gryphon” by Charles Baxter. How does a character telling a story as a memory color the way we read it? How do we write about children? How do we write for adults when we write about kids? What makes a story “Y.A.”? Should we include more kids in our stories […]

In this episode, we discuss “Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov. Can a simple story be a vehicle for beautiful presentation? What is the hidden story embedded here? What does it mean to find the “meaning” of a story? What is the point of literary criticism? What is the point of literature? What makes a […]

In this episode, we discuss “Trilobites” by B. D’J. Pancake. How can a character’s preoccupations and thought processes help build the fictional dream? How do we understand that a character isn’t confronting what’s really on his mind? How can an author draw the reader’s attention to things neither they nor the character are saying? How […]

In this episode, we discuss “Cougar” by Maria Anderson.  How does a mood help drive a story?  How can we create a symbol?  Why are so many stories so sad?  How do mood, symbolism, theme, and other story elements work together? If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com For daily […]

In this episode, we discuss “White Noise” by Emma Cline. How can you write fiction about a real person? How true to life should a fictional portrayal be? What can we learn about excellent characterization? If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com For daily writing tips, industry news, and great […]

In this episode, we discuss “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner. Why is this story so good? How does the ‘we’ point of view work? What kind of narrative structure is at work here? How do character and plot work together? How can we portray a complete life? If you enjoy this episode, consider […]

In this episode, we discuss “The Feminist” by Tony Tulathimutte. What can we learn from a story that delves so deeply into contemporary social issues? What can we learn from a protagonist that confidently refuses to acknowledge his own shortcomings? How does he nevertheless remain sympathetic? What can we learn from a story that spans […]

In this episode, we discuss “God’s Work” by Kevin Canty. How can a character’s internal struggle drive a story? How can a story driven by a character’s internal struggle be structured? Can we glean any tips for getting published in the New Yorker? If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com […]

In this episode we discuss “The Fifth Story” by Clarice Lispector. What can we learn from a piece of metafiction? What can we gain by telling a story in several different ways? How does fiction help us dig deeper into our feelings? If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com For […]

In this episode, we discuss “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor. What can we say about a story with so much already written about it? How is this story like a Greek Tragedy? How can we use the form of a Greek Tragedy to inform our own fiction? How can fiction […]

In this episode, we discuss “River of Names” by Dorothy Allison. What can we learn from this dark story? How do lists help develop the mood? How does a strong mood help capture the reader and create a memorable story? Where does a story end? If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter […]

If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at NaplesWritersWorkshop.com For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/NaplesWritersWorkshop In this episode, we discuss “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” by ZZ Packer. What can we learn from such a strongly character-driven story? How does story relate to character? […]

If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at NaplesWritersWorkshop.com For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/NaplesWritersWorkshop In this episode, we are joined by our friend and author, Karl Luntta.  Karl is the author of the novel Know it By Heart (Northwestern University Press/Curbstone) […]

If you enjoy this episode, consider subscribing to our newsletter at NaplesWritersWorkshop.com For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at Facebook.com/groups/NaplesWritersWorkshop In this episode, we are joined by our friend and author, Karl Luntta.  Karl is the author of the novel Know it By Heart (Northwestern University Press/Curbstone) […]

In this episode, we discuss “Girl Alone” by Sallie Bingham. What can we learn from this tightly packed feminist story? How can quickly drawn and distinct characters help a story? How can character interactions help develop a theme? How can we make flashbacks work in a story? What can we learn from a climactic scene […]

In this episode, we discuss “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin. What can we learn from a non-traditional story that is not driven by character or scene? How can a story create a takeaway instead of an ending? Can we have a happy story? How can argument rather than […]