The Story Craft Cafe Podcast

Dabble’s 60-Day Novel Challenge: Finale with Doug! | SCC 259

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Did you win our 60 day Novel Challenge? Need a tune up this summer? Join us for the epic wrap up show and relive the 60 day glory, or use this as mo...

Incorporating Sly Humor In A Modern Twisty Thriller With Elizabeth Arnott | SCC 258

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Arnott is an award-winning writer and journalist and has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook. Her work—covering...

Fireside Chat: Building Story Bibles | SCC 257

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When writing a series, or even a standalone books, doing some prework can not only make you job as a writer easier, it can even ensure that your reade...

Fireside Chat: Subverting Tropes | SCC 256

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trope has become a dirty word in some writing circles, but the truth is that tropes are the building blocks of genre fiction. So, how do you keep your...

Ramping Up Tension With Contained Thrillers With Taylor Adams | SCC 255

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

TAYLOR ADAMS is the author of several acclaimed thrillers, including The Last Word, Hairpin Bridge, and No Exit. No Exit has been published in thirty-...

Fireside Chat: Taking A Whisp Of An Idea And Turning It Into A Story | SCC 254

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Writing a book is hard work, but hard work can be satisfying and fun. Having an idea and knowing where that idea is going can sometimes be the easy pa...

Using Prequels To Add To Your Worlds With Lincoln Child | SCC 253

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Preston & Child, the New York Times bestselling author duo known as Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child individually, are at the top of their game. ...

Crafting Plots That Steal Sleep From Your Readers With Matthew F. Jones | SCC 252

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew F. Jones is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels as well as a number of screenplays. His novels have been widely translated and sev...

Fireside Chat: Defining Your Ideal Reader | SCC 251

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Thrillers Based On Things You Didn't Know About Witness Protection With Brad Meltzer | SCC 250

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

High Octane Puzzle Fiction With Kit Frick | SCC 249

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been five years since heiress Clare Monroe tragically died on New Year's Eve at her family's fabulous Italian estate. Since that time, her coll...

Fireside Chat: How To Be A Year-Round Writer | SCC 248

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all love a good writing challenge, don't we? NaNoWriMo (RIP) was an excellent challenge that helped a ton of writers get started as writers. We at ...

Fireside Chat: Balancing Art and Commerce | SCC 247

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As authors we envision a life of creating stories that entertain and move readers, or so we hope. The reality is, though, that we must learn to balanc...

Writing Thrillers That Feel Like Real Life With Blaine Lee Pardoe | SCC 246

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Blaine Pardoe is an award winning New York Times bestselling author who lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia. He is the author of numerous science fiction,...