Going Cross Country

The podcast is back after a two-week hiatus due to JT driving to the East Coast and back to see his sister. Today’s episode is all about that eleven-state tour (NV, UT, WY, NE, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, MD, DE, and back). For those scoring at home, JT drove over 5,500 miles. Also:Visiting theContinue reading “Going Cross Country”

Messages to Us

Episode 114 of the “helping writers write” podcast touches on messages to our younger selves. What we have learned and what would we say to ourselves if we could go back in time. “Never give up” is the obvious advice, but the rest is not so obvious. Also discussed:-Paris (France)-Mark Twain-Our Basement-Retirement-Significant Birthdays-Going to College-OurContinue reading “Messages to Us”

Spring Cleaning

Episode 112 of our writer’s podcast tackles Spring Cleaning, the ritual of opening the windows, letting in the fresh air, and getting your house organized. For writers, it’s about the craft of writing: organizing your manuscripts, filing documents in their proper folders, and reorganizing your brain for the next manuscript. Also discussed: our basement (sigh),Continue reading “Spring Cleaning”

That Which We Leave Behind

Time for another CC and JT Amateur Hour “where production values go to die.” We like to help writers write. The past is always present, and it grips us all in more ways than one. CC and I discuss how to fold the past into your writing. We talk about the Hume Museum. Peggy theContinue reading “That Which We Leave Behind”

The Doldrums

We discuss “the doldrums,” which we define as a normal interruption in the creative writing process. You have a story, but you don’t what to with it or which direction to take it. We’re going through this phase ourselves. We have some ideas on what got us there and what it will take to getContinue reading “The Doldrums”

Adult Books

In today’s Amateur Hour, CC and I discuss the books that took us from childhood reading to adult fiction, and the impact they continue to have on us as adults. We chat about sump pumps, our works in progress, and “From Tundra to Tiara,” as well as our plans for the future. Have a listenContinue reading “Adult Books”

Episode 100

Twenty-two months since we started in isolation, and here is our 100th episode of the CC and JT Amateur Hour (“where production values go to die”). This episode coincides with the debut of “From Tundra to Tiara,” so honestly, how could we not do this today? Not all is sunshine as real life taught usContinue reading “Episode 100”

Christmas Memories

Ah, “the horror of the holidays are upon us,” as my grandfather used to say. One common theme, no matter your culture or beliefs, are the strong emotions we feel during these days. CC and I remember two of our strongest Christmas memories, and we use them to illustrate how to transcribe those memories intoContinue reading “Christmas Memories”

Writing for the Holidays

Flickr image made available from Steve McFarland via Creative Commons. We chat about writing about the holidays, why Hollywood keep making holiday movies, and why people keep watching them. Themes include family, winter, and love. Minor spoilers of Love Hard, Die Hard, A Christmas Carol, and other holiday classics. And we don’t make the rules.Continue reading “Writing for the Holidays”

Alien

In space no one can hear you scream. Welcome to the Halloween 2022 Podcast, and we pick what we feel is the iconic horror film of the genre: Alien! We thoroughly spoil this 1979 classic that pushes back on all (well, most) of the clichés, and we explain why we feel this is mandatory viewingContinue reading “Alien”

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