Story Works Round Table | Conversations About Craft

SWRT 345 | Journaling for Writers with Marcy Sproull

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn explore the transformative power of journaling with Marcy Sproull. Join ...

SWRT 344 | Ask Alida: Scenes, Sequels, and Series

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, we present a double episode featuring lively discussions from our monthly Ask Alida Q&A session. J...

SWRT 343 | The Importance of Voice in Fiction with Trish MacEnulty

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn are joined by Trish MacEnulty, an accomplished author known for her award-win...

SWRT 342 | The Art of Performing Audiobooks with Wendy Wessel

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of the Story Works Round Table, Wendy Wessel, a talented voiceover artist based in Minneapolis, joined Alida Winternheimer at t...

SWRT 341 | Ask Alida: Crafting Emotional Resonance

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, we explore the profound significance of storytelling in human experience, discover why writing matters...

SWRT 340 | Writing Regional Fiction, bringing culture to life with Arlon Jay Staggs

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold engage in a lively discussion with debut novelist Arlon Jay Staggs,...

SWRT 339 | Writing Your Rules: Speculative Fiction Plots and Characters with Mark J. Wilson

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold are thrilled to welcome author Mark J. Wilson, whose journey from b...

SWRT 338 | Ask Alida: The Craft of Subplots

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida answers questions all about subplots. This is a recording of our monthly Ask Alida live Q...

SWRT 337 | Writing Romantic Comedies with Lexi Haddock

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold welcome Lexi Haddock to dive into the enchanting world of romance w...

SWRT 336 | Going Indie with Catherine Lyon

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Alida Winternheimer sits down with Catherine Lyon to explore the world of independent publishing, or "going indie." They share their ...

SWRT 335 | Author's Chat: Anthology Collaboration

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, we delve into the art of anthology writing with authors Sarah Branson, Annie M. Ballard, and Christy M...

SWRT 334 | Author's Chat: Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Kathryn takes the host position and Alida joins our Author Panel as we talk all things mystery, thrill...

SWRT 333 | Exploring Women's History through Story with Jane Rubin

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Alida sits down with the inspiring Jane Rubin, who shares her remarkable journey from a healthcare executive to an accomplishe...

SWRT 332 | Culture, Trauma, and Memory in Somia Sadiq's Gajarah

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Alida and Kathryn are honored to host Somia Sadiq, an award-winning entrepreneur and global peace negotiator, who shares her j...

SWRT 331 | Taking Up Space with Susan Swan

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Story Works Round Table, Alida welcomes Susan Swan, an acclaimed novelist and professor emerita at York University, to join us and disc...

SWRT 330 | Writing Ancient Historical Mysteries with NL Holmes

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn sit down with N.L. Holmes, an archaeologist turned novelist, who crafts mysteries set in ancient Egypt. Join us as we exp...

SWRT 329 | Staging Your Action Scenes with CC Robinson

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn have a lively discussion with award-winning author CC Robinson about the art of stag...

SWRT 328 | Creating Writing Rituals & Celebrations with Elizabeth Barbour

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this enlightening episode, Alida and Kathryn welcome Elizabeth Barber, a life and business coach, shamanic practitioner, and joyful ritualist, who ...

SWRT 327 | Embracing The Heroine's Journey with Danielle Anderson

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Alida welcomes Danielle Anderson, a seasoned nonfiction book coach and editor, as we delve into the concept of the heroine's journey....

SWRT 326 | Writing Through Chronic Illness with Beth Biss

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Alida and Kathryn explore the intersection of writing and chronic illness with author Beth Biss. Beth shares her personal journey of ...

SWRT 325 | Is Art Enough? with Stephanie Elizondo Griest

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author of Art Above Everything. In this perspec...

SWRT 324 | The Healing Power of Nature and Memoir with Jon Lurie

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Alida engages in a profound conversation with Jon Lurie as we explore the healing power of nature and the intricate journey of memoir...

SWRT 323 | What Makes Writing Objectively Good?

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, we gather a diverse panel of writers to tackle the complex question: what makes writing objectively go...

SWRT 322 | A Writer's Responsibility to Ghosts of the Past: Historical Fiction with J.E. Weiner

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold sit down with J.E. Weiner, the author of the captivating novel ...

SWRT 321 | Worldbuilding Historical Fantasy with Bjorn Leesson

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode of the Story Works Round Table, we welcome Bjorn Leesson, an author whose passion for history and the supernatural has culminat...

SWRT 320 | Spicy Scenes with Paulette Stout

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table as we welcome back the talented author Paulette Stout to talk about the art of writing spicy scenes. Join ...

SWRT 319 | Writing to Your Theme with Paulette Stout

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table as we welcome back the talented author Paulette Stout to discuss her latest novel, What We Give Away. This capt...

SWRT 318 | Authors Talk YA Fiction

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table for a fascinating discussion with YA authors K.T. Angelhart, Tricia Copeland, and C.C. Robinson as they explore...

SWRT 317 | Authors Talk Writing Memoir

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table for an insightful conversation about Memoir with special guests Candace MacPhie author of Finding Color, Randi-...

SWRT 316 | Writing Series with Alethea Lyons

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table as we sit down with Alethea Lyons, author of the supernatural dark fantasy Seer of York series, published by Br...

SWRT 315 | Getting to Know Your Characters with Sarah Branson

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Branson joins us at the Story Works Round Table to talk about getting to know your characters. We dig into the different roles characters play, ...

SWRT 314 | Science Fiction & Our Possible Futures

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the Story Works Round Table for far-ranging, philosophical, and fun conversation about science fiction with special guests Brad C Anderson,...

SWRT 313 | Intuitive Creativity with Chindia Ilonka

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Story Works Round Table features Chindia Ilonka, the visionary leader and author of Quantum Rebel. Discover how to align with your soul, h...

SWRT 312 | Folklore of North America with Mike Bass

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to journey through the captivating world of folklore? This week on the Story Works Round Table podcast, Alida has the pleasure of sittin...

SWRT 311 | Flying Pirates (& Speculative Fiction) with Sarah Branson

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how Sarah Branson blends her experiences as a midwife and science teacher into her speculative fiction series featuring a flying pirate prota...

SWRT 310 | From Lightning Strike to Novel with Ben Hawken, part 2

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn continue our conversation with Ben Hawken, author of the new novel "Chandelier." In part t...

SWRT 309 | Immigrant Stories & Historical Events - Fiction with Grishma Shah

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for an insightful episode of Story Works Round Table as we welcome Grishma Shah. Grishma shares the journey of crafting her novel, Anagram Des...

SWRT 308 | Authors Talk Ghost Stories

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for Halloween, the Story Works Round Table brings you a special episode featuring five incredible authors of ghost stories: Gabi Coatswor...

SWRT 307 | From Lightning Strike to Novel with Ben Hawken

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn sit down with Ben Hawken, author of the new novel "Chandelier." Ben shares his remarkable ...

The Revision Mindset

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn delve into the often daunting world of revision. Join them as they explore the mindset shift...

Navigating the Feedback Landscape: A Writer's Guide

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feedback is an essential part of the writing journey, but it can also be one of the most challenging aspects to navigate. In this week's episode of St...

Writing Senses with Paulette Stout

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

his week at the Story Works Round Table podcast, Alida and Kathryn explore the power of sensory details in writing with award-winning author Paulette ...

SWRT 303 | Lainey Cameron interviews Alida about A Stone's Throw, novel

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the Story Works Round Table is turned: Alida is interviewed by guest host, Lainey Cameron, award-winning author, podcaster, and book market...

SWRT 302 | Transitions: bridging the white space in your stories

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week at the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk transitions. What are the good, bad, and better ways to keep your readers reading pas...

SWRT 301 | 6 Things I Know That Will Help You Write Your Story

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week at the Story Works Round Table, Alida shares 6 powerful tips that will help you get your personal story down on the page. Whether you're wri...

SWRT 300 | Finding Penrose - Paula Sheridan's life to book to film journey

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Paula Sheridan back to the Round Table to discuss her new project, Finding Penrose.Paula's novel has already capt...

SWRT 299 | Authors Talk Women's Fiction

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week at the Story Works Round Table, five authors sit down to talk women's fiction. Alida Winternheimer is joined by D. Liebhart, Heidi McIntyre,...

SWRT 298 | Writing Whimsey

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn discuss writing with whimsey. Whimsical writing can add humor and charm to writing, but it's not only for children's stor...

SWRT 297 | Dialogue

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk dialogue. We've noticed what may be some poor advice and some frightening trends in d...

SWRT 296 | Writers Book Club: Chekhov

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss Chekhov's story, "The Woman with the Little Dog." You can get the link to read it ...

SWRT 295 | Writers Book Club: Gina Berriault

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss Gina Berriault's short story, "The Woman in the Rose Colored Dress." At only 2 1/2...

SWRT 294 | What Is Genre, Anyway?

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Carlee, and Robert go deep with the question of what makes a genre a genre? Discover the nuances of c...

SWRT 293 | Revision with D. Liebhart

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn are joined by D. Liebhart.  Revision is more than just fixing typos and filling plot ...

SWRT 292 | Marketing & Community withe Alexa Bigwarfe

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"It's never too early to start thinking about marketing and building your community. It's never too early. It can be too late." Ever thought it's too ...

SWRT 290 | Life to Fiction with D. Liebhart

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discover the compelling intersection of personal experience and fiction on this week's wri...

SWRT 290 | Heroes with Screenwriter Tim Auld

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn welcome screenwriter Tim Auld back to the round table to discuss heroes. What makes a hero...

SWRT 289 | Scripting Didacticism with Screenwriter Tim Auld

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn welcome screenwriter Tim Auld to the Story Works Round Table to discuss the trend i...

Swrt 288 | Stakes & Agency

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida, Robert, and Kathryn discuss the relationship between stakes and agency. How do these aspects of plot and character work together to ...

SWRT 287 | Crafting Character Arcs

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk about creating character arcs. Most characters won't utterly transform from villain t...

SWRT 286 | Writers Book Club: A Christmas Carol

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn tackle a holiday classic, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Most of us have seen th...

SWRT 285 | Self Discovery Through Writing

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn solve the world's problems with one simple, three-part edict. We're kidding, but we're kind of not. Writing and reading a...

SWRT 284 | Writers Book Club: Naming My Father

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Dr. Martha Highers to the Writers Book Club to discuss "Naming My Father," a personal essay that won the Under th...

SWRT 283 | Characterization

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week at the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss characterization, with examples from a short story by Junot Díaz. They analyze ho...

SWRT 282 | Writers Book Club: Fiesta, 1980 by Junot Diaz

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week at the Story Works Round Table, listener and fellow writer Dave sits down with Alida and Kathryn to discuss the short story by Junot Diaz, "...

SWRT 281 | Bookends

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn discuss bookending a story with a prologue and epilogue. Bookends can't just be tacked on;...

SWRT 280 | Writers Book Club: Ethan Frome

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're back from summer break with a new season and a new format. In addiction to the regular conversations about craft, we'll be reading a s...

SWRT | Summer 2023

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Story Works Round Table is back next month with some exciting new shows! Want to sit at the round table? Reach out and let us know!  Visit WordE...

SWRT 279 | The Storyteller's Workbook

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Adrienne Young and Isabel Ibañez to the Story Works Round Table to chat about their new book, The Storyteller's ...

SWRT 278 | Outlining Your Novel

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss the process of outlining. There is more to talk about than we might first t...

SWRT 277 | Contests with Paula Sheridan of Page Turner Awards

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida has Paula Sheridan of the Page Turner Awards joining me at the Round Table to discuss contests. We tal...

SWWT | Character Traits

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about traits: Make your character traits significant to your story...and here's why and how. A new session ...

SWRT 276 | Things We Say

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Kathryn turns the table on Alida. We talk "things we say," all those bits and bobbles of craft speak that ge...

SWRT 275 | Craft and Conscience with Kavita Das

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, Craft & Conscience, all about writing...

SWWT | Openings

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about openings. You need to pack a lot into your opening, just don't throw in the kitchen sink! If you enjo...

SWRT 274 | Craft and Conscience, special guest Kavita Das

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, called Cra...

SWWT | Simple Sentence-Level Revision for MAJOR Improvement

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get Alida's musings on life, writing, and the writing life in A Room Full of Books & Pencils and stay up to date on book launches, special offers,...

SWRT 273 | Writing Good Sex Scenes

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn mention unmentionables. We have a clean conversation about the craft of writing our charac...

SWWT | Supporting Characters' Relationships

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Story Works Writing Tip is all about supporting characters' relationships. Use them to give a boost to your protagonist's arc! If you enjo...

SWRT 272 | Chapter End-hooks

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about ending chapters so that readers can't wait to "jump the gap" and get on with the next one. What kind of end-ho...

SWRT Holiday Message & Gift

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have a special gift for you this holiday season! We’ll be spending extra time with our families this holiday season, but will be back with all ne...

SWRT 271 | Character Motivation

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode previously aired as 061.   This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert character motivation. It’s cruci...

SWRT 270 | Backstory

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table: conversations about craft, Kathryn and Alida discuss writing backstory. It’s been coming up for both of us...

SWWT | Twists

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Writing Tip, Alida talks twists. Plot twists aren't all about the plot, they're really about... Show notes and more at ww...

SWRT 269 | Villains & Act II

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss what to do with your villain in act II. As we know, they aren't usually black-ha...

SWWT | Agency

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Story Works Writing Tip, Alida defines agency and describes active and passive protagonists. Agency is about character as much as plot....

SWRT 268 | Writing Scary Stories

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If Halloween inspired you get your Boo! on, this episode of the Story Works Round Table is for you. Alida and Kathryn talk the craft of scaring the pa...

SWWT | Speaking vs Dialogue

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Writing Tip, Alida talks about writing natural sounding dialogue without falling into the trap of writing like we speak. ...

SWRT 267 | Agency

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss character agency. In this, Robert's final episode as a co-host, he brou...

SWWT | 3 Things to Know about Backstory

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Story Works Writing Tips, Alida talks backstory. There are 3 primary ways to introduce backstory into your now-story. Use them all for va...

SWRT 266 | Writing Humor

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Rober answer a listener's question about writing humor into our stories. Is comed...

SWWT | Trouble Matters

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Story Works Writing Tip, Alida discusses trouble and it's role in your story's arc. Story Works Writing Tips are bite-sized lessons rea...

SWRT 265 | Read Widely to Improve Craft

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss all the ways reading widely benefits you as a writer. There is so much ...

SWWT | Plot & the Short Story

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I am excited to bring you something all new. As you know, the Story Works Round Table is bi-weekly, but I’d hate for you to miss a healthy...

SWRT 264 | Writing Physicality

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn get physical (and you won’t believe the scenes that get Robert in trouble!). ...

SWRT 263 | Act II

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert dig into Act II. If this sounds familiar: Robert: A big problem is that when yo...

SWRT 262 | Non-protagonist POVs

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss using a non-protagonist as your point of view character. What pitfalls ...

SWRT 261 | Arcless Protagonist

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alida, Robert & Kathryn discuss the merits and pitfalls of writing a hero without a character arc. It has been done to great success, so why do so...

SWRT 260 | Short Stories

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about short stories. Why, as novelists, do we love writing the short story? What can we learn by writing short stori...

SWRT 259 | Retreat & Research

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn discuss the benefits of writing retreats, especially when your story requires location-s...

SWRT 258 | Love & Writing

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss Love & Writing. How many ways can you write love and all its compli...