Frivolous Comma Podcast

We speak with speculative fiction writers, new and established, to tease out what inspired them, how they work, what kind of beverage keeps them going, how they think about their work and their relationship to it, and much more.

Last refreshed: August 16th, 2025 at 12:32 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Latine Panel

A virtual round table discussion focusing on building the Latine community in speculative fiction.

Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 6

J. Dianne Dotson: Tackling Structure, Psychological Horror, & Appalachian Wonder

Episode Description: Diving between the worlds of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, J. Dianne Dotson reflects on what inspires her writing, how she maintains confidence in her craft, and how loneliness grew into her passion for world-building. With degrees in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Dianne is currently a science writer. In this episode, she explains how she weaves scientific research into her books and how her childhood in Appalachia sparked her passion for ecology, astronomy, and writing. ...

Apr 14, 2023•51 min•Ep. 5

Greta Hayer: The Auger’s Real World, Retellings, & Finding Community

Episode Description: Piecing together a whole new world full of depth and creativity and making magic from the typical: Greta Hayer takes us inside her passion-filled process of weaving short stories from history, her studies and her travels to South Korea. Taking from history can get tricky, she explains the hardships and struggles of fantasy writing and the solutions she’s found along the way. A history graduate, she loves retellings and often applies that love to her own works. Greta Hayer is...

Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 4

P.A. Cornell: Transforming Inspiration into Stories, Pantsing vs. Plotting, & the Value of Writing in a Community

Shownotes: Quick Note: In the conversation, the host refers to this article on Tor.com and incorrectly attributes it to R.F. Kuang. The article is written by SL Huang, but was edited by R.F. Kuang. Apologies for the error. Early Speculative Love [00:00-11:00]: PA reveals her early experience writing speculative fiction and the works that nourished her love for the genre. Short Stories Concepts [11:00-25:00]: To plan or not to plan? PA explains the inspiration and writing process behind some of h...

Sep 06, 2022•58 min•Ep. 3

Kelly Robson: Speculative Fiction, Character Building, and Advice for Consistent Writing

Episode Description: Growing up a natural writer and avid reader, Kelly Robson has always known that writing was stamped into her destiny. However, it wouldn’t be until much later in life that Kelly would finally heed the call to adventure and treat her craft with the reverence that she does now. Her penchant for systems infuses her stories with recurring elements like infrastructure and nuanced character relationships that she unpacks with as much flair as she does with sensitivity. In this epi...

Aug 01, 2022•54 min•Ep. 2

Shingai Njeri Kagunda: Questioning Boundaries, Colonization, and the Healing Benefits of Exploring Grief

Early Writing Inspiration [00:00]: Shingai discusses her early writing gigs and how her culture inspires her speculative writing. Western vs. Nonwestern Storytelling [5:50]: “Stories are stories”. Shingai illuminates the pitfalls of boxing fiction within rigid categories and the advantages of genre-fluid storytelling. Memory and Imagination [10:00]: Shingai explains the struggle and the importance of capturing national history—particularly traumatic history—through fiction. Writing to be Seen [2...

Jul 15, 2022•59 min•Ep. 1

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