Les and Jack on Writing - Uncensored

Les Edgerton and Jack Holland discuss the writing of a publishable novel in a relaxed, chatty format. They saw the need for some real-life info on effective writing versus the cookie-cutter bumper sticker advice many podcasts are based on. Their advice is based on what works in the real world of publishing. Example: Write what you know. Bullshit, bumper sticker advice. Better: Write what you can convince the reader you know. If a writer followed the first piece of advice, chances are pretty good he or she would never write a book based in the far past or distant future… they couldn’t as they didn’t live then so they don’t know. Same applies to writing a murder mystery, a man writing as a woman and vice versa, and any other number of other instances. Therefore, it’s bullshit advice. But, if one writes a novel about a physician and their day job is selling hamburgers at Mickey D’s. and they’ve researched a doctor’s life and craft, they can probably pen a book that most readers (even including doctors) can accept as a true account. This is just one example of the bad and misleading writing advice that’s out there and is our raison d’ etre for this podcast. Jack Holland is a screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. As a playwright, he has had thirty staged readings and a couple of productions in Los Angeles and New York. As a screenwriter, he has had a script optioned, worked as a script analyst for the Delaurentiis Company, worked as a script doctor on several independent projects, and developed various projects for Rhythm and Hues Studios. He also produced and directed several short films including the award winning GUILT KNOCKS which was featured at the Mata Hari film festival in Bonn, Germany. He is now working on his first novel. Les Edgerton is the author of 23 books, including the writing craft books, HOOKED and FINDING YOUR VOICE. He has taught creative writing at various universities, including UCLA, the University of Toledo, Vermont College and several others. He has conduced an online novel-writing class for over ten years from which over three dozen writers have published the books they wrote in class. He is also an ex-con which gives his crime novels a level of verisimilitude most other authors don’t enjoy. Jack and Les discuss in each episode the many examples of poor advice regularly trotted out to beginning writers. Plus, as a bonus, they’re often funny. And, often… not.

Listen on:

Episodes

Tuesday Aug 08, 2023

How to Create True Emotion

Tuesday Aug 08, 2023

Spoiler Alert: reveals about Lord of the Flies
Les and Jack talk about how to create true emotion in novels and poems. They also talk about the following:
Jack's work in progress.
The importance of settings in a novel.
The Island of the Sequined Love Nun written by Christopher Moore but which Les mistakenly attributes to another author, Tim Dorsey.
https://www.amazon.com/Island-Sequined-Love-Christopher-Moore/dp/038097505X/
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christopher-Moore/author/B000APFLHC
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IGV64Y

Also Discussed:
Cargo Cults
Sons of Anarchy
Trees Lounge
Mark Boone Junior
Steve Buscemi
Pipelines

Sunday Jul 23, 2023

Outlining

Sunday Jul 23, 2023

Les and Jack discuss Les's recommended method of outlining, the reasons for it, and examples. We also discuss melodrama, David Mamet, Music, Hollywood, Corky's progress, and sprouting wings.

Monday Jun 12, 2023

Scenes and Sequels

Monday Jun 12, 2023

Les and Jack go over and discuss scenes and sequels in fiction writing.

Thursday Jun 01, 2023

Protagonists and Antagonists - Part Three

Thursday Jun 01, 2023

This episode continues with protagonists and antagonists. It also touches on rattlesnakes, The Silence of the Lambs, The Great Gatsby, Thelma and Louise, and On The Waterfront. As well as Freeport, Texas.

Tuesday May 16, 2023

Protagonists and Antagonists - Part Two

Tuesday May 16, 2023

Les and Jack discuss antagonists and protagonists. They also cover the story problem that drives the protagonist and related issues.

Friday May 12, 2023

Protagonists and Antagonists - Part One

Friday May 12, 2023

Les and Jack discuss antagonists and protagonists. They also cover the story problem that drives the protagonist and related issues.

Monday May 01, 2023

Character Description and Story Pacing

Monday May 01, 2023

The first episode of Les and Jack talking about writing a novel. Areas covered include character description and story pacing.