The Story Craft Cafe Podcast

The Writer's Life With Scott Moon | SCC 198

Scott Moon is the co-author of the bestselling Homeworld Lost, The Last Reaper, Terran Strike Marines, and Darklanding series. His solo works include Blue Sun Armada, Invasion Day, the Chronicles of Kin Roland, and more. As a lifelong fan of reading and a chronic daydreamer, he has retired from twenty-six years of public service to make his own schedule, indulge his imagination, and pursue a variety of hobbies. He’s an 80s kid who survived to (relative) maturity and it shows.
You can join his Facebook Group, The Scott Moon Base, or learn more than you ever wanted to about his writing process at Scott’s Science Fiction Substack.

Identifying Your Writing Weaknesses (Fireside Chats with Hank and Doug) | SCC 197

Writing isn't easy. As much as we love it, we know there are roadblocks, hurdles, and areas we can improve.
In this Fireside Chat, Hank and Doug discuss their own writing weaknesses, how they discovered them, how they work on them, and ways you might do the same.

Final Q&A Session | NaNoWriMo | SCC 196

Day 22: Final Q&A Session - Friday❓ Last Q&A with Hank & Doug!As we approach the end of NaNoWriMo, this is your last chance to bring your story questions to Hank and Doug! Whether it’s plot twists, character development, or just some final advice, they’re here to help you end NaNoWriMo strong. Let’s get those stories wrapped up beautifully! ✨📌 Get more answers at: www.dabblewriter.com/nanowrimo-day/2024-nano-day-22#WritingQandA #NaNoWriMo #StorySupport #DabbleWriter

Finishing Up | 60-day Novel Challenge Week 9 | NaNoWriMo | SCC 195

Day 26: 60 Days with Hank and Doug - Finishing Up - Tuesday 🎬 Finishing Up Your Novel & Wrapping Up the Month We’re almost there! Join Hank, Doug, and Josh as they share their final tips for wrapping up NaNoWriMo and finishing your novel. Whether you’re writing the last scene or just looking to end strong, this session is all about those final steps. 📌 Watch the full session here: www.dabblewriter.com/nanowrimo-day/2024-day-26-nanowrimo #NaNoWriMo #FinishYourNovel #FinalPush #DabbleWriter

Third Act | 60-day Novel Challenge Week 8 | NaNoWriMo | SCC 194

The final Challenge live stream is all about the end of your novel; in Week Eight of the 60-Day Novel Challenge, we’re talking all about writing the thrilling conclusion to your story. It’s time for The Third Act and Climax, where all your plotlines and character arcs converge in an epic resolution.
Each week we will be:- Discussing our own work for week's activities and exercises- Talking about the wins and struggles of the week - ours and yours!- Sharing personal insights from our own author journeys- Answering questions from viewers and participants
This week’s focus: Writing the climax, resolving your main conflict, and finishing your story strong.
We’ll walk through the final template information, discuss how to land a satisfying resolution, and answer any questions you have about wrapping up your novel!
Make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss any of these streams. We’re all in this together—let’s get writing!
🔗 Template Download: https://bit.ly/3XBxdVh🔗 Join the Challenge: https://www.storycraft.cafe/c/join-the-challenge/

Paranormal Romance and Romantasy With Sarah Hawley | SCC 193

Sarah Hawley is the author of Servant of Earth and the Glimmer Falls series (A Witch’s Guide to Fake-Dating a Demon, A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire). She has an MA in archaeology and has excavated at an Inca site in Chile, a Bronze Age palace in Turkey, and a medieval abbey in England. When not dreaming up whimsical love stories, she can be found reading, dancing, or cuddling her two cats.

Midpoint and Big Change | 60-day Novel Challenge Week 7 | SCC 192

As we go into Week Seven of the 60-Day Novel Challenge, we hit one of the most pivotal points in your story: the midpoint. It’s where your protagonist faces their biggest challenges, weaknesses, and must make a significant shift.
Each week we will be:- Discussing our own work for week's activities and exercises- Talking about the wins and struggles of the week - ours and yours!- Sharing personal insights from our own author journeys- Answering questions from viewers and participants
This week’s focus: Crafting a powerful midpoint, revealing key information, and shifting your protagonist from reactive to proactive.
We’ll cover this week’s template exercises and talk about how to keep your midpoint meaningful and impactful!
Make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss any of these streams. We’re all in this together—let’s get writing!
🔗 Template Download: https://bit.ly/3XBxdVh🔗 Join the Challenge: https://www.storycraft.cafe/c/join-the-challenge/

Crushing the First Act | NaNoWriMo | 60-day Novel Challenge Week 6 | SCC 191

Join Hank, Doug, and Josh as they dive into writing an unforgettable first act. For more resources, videos, tips, and prizes, check out https://www.dabblewriter.com/nanowrimo

Lou Diamond Phillips - Crafting Stories in your Genre | SCC 190

Lou Diamond Phillips is currently starring in the FOX series “Prodigal Son,” having recently starred on the acclaimed Netflix series, “Longmire,” based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels by Craig Johnson. Other recent credits include Amazon’s “Goliath,” SyFy’s “Stargate Universe,” CBS’ “Blue Bloods,” and recurring roles on Fox’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and Netflix’s “The Ranch.” He received an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Drama or Comedy” for his roles in both Amazon’s “Conversations in LA” and History Channel’s “Crossroads of History.” Recent film credits include Warner Brothers’ “The 33,” “Created Equal” directed by Bill Duke, and Sundance Festival favorite “Filly Brown,” for which he was named Best Actor at the Imagen Awards. 
As a director, Phillips recently helmed episodes of AMC’s hit series “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Longmire,” and ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. As a writer, Phillips has co-written the screenplays for ‘Trespasses,’ and HBO’s ‘Dangerous Touch.’ He wrote the Miramax feature ‘Ambition.’ He recently produced his play ‘Burning Desire,’ a romantic comedy in two acts, which received it’s world premiere at The Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut. Phillips was also asked by his good friend, novelist Craig Johnson, to write the forward to his collection of short stories ‘Wait For Signs.’ 
Originally born in the Philippines, Phillips was raised in Texas and is a graduate of University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in Drama. 
Drawing from a lifetime of work in the film industry, Lou used his screenwriting experience in order to write an original science fiction novel called The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira. It is his first novel, inspired by a reading of the famed fable of the same title by Hans Christian Andersen.

60-Day Novel Challenge Week Five: The First Act | SCC 189

It’s Week Five of the 60-Day Novel Challenge and time to start writing! In this live stream, we’ll be tackling The First Act—setting the stage for your novel, introducing key characters, and establishing your story’s world. If you’ve been following along, you’ll have everything you need to get started once the writing portion of the Challenge starts tomorrow!
Each week we will be:- Discussing our own work for week's activities and exercises- Talking about the wins and struggles of the week - ours and yours!- Sharing personal insights from our own author journeys- Answering questions from viewers and participants
This week’s focus: Writing the first act, setting up your story, and introducing key elements.We’ll also cover the exercises from the template and talk about how to hook your readers right from the start!
Make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss any of these streams. We’re all in this together—let’s get writing!
🔗 Template Download: https://bit.ly/3XBxdVh🔗 Join the Challenge: https://www.storycraft.cafe/c/join-the-challenge/