We chat about where we are in our novel projects. Christy talks about her slow crawl towards the end of her book. We discuss how synopses can help you clarify narrative arc and how writing friends can help you get out of your own way. Chris explains how his project management expertise applies to crafting a novel. Christy tries to convince Chris to channel his anxiety into a horror novel and encourages him to write down of his messiest emotions to ensure his very complicated series finale does not lack soul.

Shout outs:

• Diana Ma
• Todd Lubsen
• Amanda Kost
• Titus Grupp
• Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein
• Isaac Asimov
• The Ologies episode on Teratology (Monsters)
• Stephen King, and especially Misery
• The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
• No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
• Ms. Tennell, our high school religion, ethics, and philosophy teacher
• Aunt Beth, as always

Links and such

• Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C ⁠
• Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠
• Chris' Author Website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠
• Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠
• Chris’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Christopherlodwig/
• Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠
• Christina's email: cscheuer@gmail.com
• Chris' email: ChrisLodwig@gmail.com

We’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. We finally got to chat with Terry Scheuer (Christy’s dad) about his many concerns around writing and editing.

We cover so much ground in this one, it’s like a writing (and editing) 101 class! Have you ever wondered how editors do their work while still honoring the author’s voice and intention? Terry did! He asked us about it. He also had concerns about the definition of “good” literature. Did you know authors make a “promise” to their readers and that readers get very annoyed when an author doesn’t “fulfill” that promise? Well, we talked about that too--as well as how to be creative and innovative while withing the confines of a genre, and why writing a novel is very different from telling a good story at a bar.

Shouts out:

• The Unbeatable Lily Hong by Diana Ma
• Nora Roberts
• James McBride
• John Batiste
• Taylor Swift
• Elliot Smith
• The Pixies
• Sting
• Cormac McCarthy
• Anne of Green Gables
• Anna Karinina by Leon Tolstoy
• Blanchet High School
• Crime and Punishment
• War In Peace
• Moby Dick
• A Separate Peace
• Ethan From
• The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Artful Edit – Susan Bell

Links and such

• Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C 
• Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠
• Chris' Author Website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠
• Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠
• Chris’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Christopherlodwig/
• Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠
• Christina's email: cscheuer@gmail.com
• Chris' email:  ChrisLodwig@gmail.com

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In this episode, Chris does himself (and Christy) a huge favor and writes a synopsis of Interface, his work-in-progress. They discuss how creating the synopsis was very clarifying and how it helped him identify and solve problems with character development, plot, and pacing.

Shouts Out

• All the introverts at the Scheuer family Christmas party! (Like, we literally shouted at them)
• Toby Hinnebusch (Rest in peace, cousin)

• 
  

Links and such

• Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C ⁠
• Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠
• Chris' website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠ 
• Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠
• Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠
• Christina's email: cscheuer@gmail.com
• Chris' email:  ChrisLodwig@gmail.com