Category: structure

48. The Magician’s Workshop by Kate Heartfield – Lessons from Interactive Fiction

~ Jed Herne ~ Leave a comment

I normally analyse novels. On this episode, I’m pulling lessons from another storytelling form to see how it can improve our writing. Enjoy!

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Or click here to listen online.

Show Notes:

My email – send me your comments/questions/queries – I respond to every message -> jed.herne1(at)gmail.com

Twitter: @jedherne

Fires of the Dead – just $0.99 on Amazon for a limited time: https://amzn.to/39W9Xaq

The Magician’s Workshop: https://www.choiceofgames.com/magicians-workshop/

Sky Pirates of Actorious: https://www.choiceofgames.com/sky-pirates-of-actorius/

40. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy – Writing an Amazing Series

~ Jed Herne ~ Leave a comment

For months, I’ve struggled with how to write a series. See, most of my ideas come to me as stand-alone books, but this current project felt like something bigger than one novel.

A few weeks ago, I had an epiphany.

Now, I think I’ve cracked the code on writing a series.

And today I’ll share it with you.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Or click here to listen online.

Show Notes:

My interview on A Writer’s Explorations

A huge Q & A writing talk I gave to primary school students

My previous episode analysing Skulduggery Pleasant Book 6 – Death Bringer

Derek’s 2010 blog article that I quoted

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

Save the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder

SEND ME A QUESTION:

Jed.herne1(at)gmail.com

Or

JedHerne.com/Question

33 – A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. – Exploring Theme through Structure

~ Jed Herne ~ Leave a comment

My debut fantasy novella, Fires of the Dead, is available on amazon for pre-order! Get it here: https://amzn.to/31KMCUR

Or use this link to read a free sample chapter: https://jedherne.com/dead/

A Canticle for Leibowitz is a 1959 post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel by Walter M. Miller Jr. It’s often described as one of the first post-apocalyptic stories. Without it, there would be no Book of Eli, The Stand, or most other post-apocalyptic tales.

Don’t just take my word for it. It won the 1961 Hugo Award – one of science fiction’s highest honours. Legendary scientist Carl Sagan described it as: “so tautly constructed, so rich in the accommodating details of an unfamiliar society that [it] sweep me along before I have even a chance to be critical”.

It’s a remarkable novel. I don’t have the space in one episode to fully analyse it, so today I’m focusing on just one thing: how it uses an unconventional structure to explore the theme and emotionally gut-punch readers. Enjoy!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Stitcher

Or click here to listen online

Show Notes:

Fires of the Dead, by Jed Herne – https://jedherne.com/dead/

Watch my YouTube channel for writing advice every weekday:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjB-qFoNxNbQq0S3boWxIA?view_as=subscriber  

Join my exclusive free Reader Club email newsletter to stay up to date with my writing projects:  https://jedherne.com/club/

Twitter: @jedherne

Email: jed.herne1@gmail.com

26 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – Ring Structure

~ Jed Herne ~ Leave a comment

I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, and it’s finally here: an analysis of one of my top novels of all time … In this episode, I dive super deep into the circular structure of Rowling’s masterpiece. Be warned: you won’t look at Harry Potter the same way after hearing this dissection … Enjoy!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Stitcher

Or click here to listen online

***

Shownotes:

Harry Potter as Ring Composition and Ring Cycle By John Grangerhttp://www.lulu.com/au/en/shop/john-granger/harry-potter-as-ring-composition-and-ring-cycle/paperback/product-13042044.html

Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme (Piano Version) Piano Version by Patrik Pietschmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTPXwbDtIpA

John Williams – Buckbeak’s Flight (Extended) | London Symphony Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLiXPbjaZrA

Get my free short story! A Clockwork Prison

Want awesome short stories, bite-sized writing advice, and lists of the best books to improve your craft? Join my VIP email list!

Email: jed.herne1 [at] gmail.com