Hint: This trope might be shaped like a candlestick. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these tropes fully analyzed with a guest on a future episode. And If you’re writing this ho...
Dec 17, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope may keep you up at night. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these tropes fully analyzed with a guest on a future episode. And If you’re writing this holiday seas...
Dec 16, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope has been handed down for generations. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these tropes fully analyzed with a guest on a future episode. And If you’re writing this ...
Dec 15, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope comes from a place of authority. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these tropes fully analyzed with a guest on a future episode. And If you’re writing this holid...
Dec 14, 2022•4 min
Jason Pargin, New York Times Bestselling Author of the John Dies at the End and Zoe Ashe books series, joins the podcast to talk about the end of the world. What is it about this trope that has a hold on society? And is our worldwide demise enough stakes to get the audience truly invested? You won't want to miss this one. Your survival depends on it.
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Drink up, me hearties! Writer Brad Allis returns to the podcast to discuss the role of taverns in speculative fiction. Why are they such useful locations for story telling? We talk about our favorite fictional taverns and some of our own original cocktails.
Nov 29, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Writer and co-founder of the Round Table Writers, Odin Halvorson, joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about fictional placemaking. What can we learn from fantasy classics like Westeros and Narnia? And how can we push the boundaries of maps to present entirely new concepts, particularly in the science fiction genre? We talk about all this and more.
Nov 22, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 27
The damsel in distress is a classic trope that typically places a female character in danger so that the hero can save the day. Author Bibiana Krall returns to the podcast to discuss this trope, how it impacts everyone, and the ways we can de-stress the damsel role.
Nov 15, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Could computers one day take all our jobs? It's a scary possibility, but that's not all A.I. can do. Author Neal Holtschulte joins the podcast to talk about technological singularity in fiction and in real life. How close are we to this singularity? And what does it mean for humanity?
Nov 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 25
If future theologians were to examine artifacts from today, what conclusions could they reach about our society that could be interpreted as modern gods? Author Andrew Dart joins me to discuss our modern rituals and belief systems. Which modern god do you subscribe to? And what is the sacrifice in doing so?
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Happy Halloween! Author Bibiana Krall returns to the podcast to talk about Halloween traditions and share spooky stories, followed by a live tea leaves reading! To get the full experience, watch the video on Spotify or YouTube. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5MvhLXzUWQp7FbkeMiMKRk?si=-uwnxdasS9GZEvB7ETnpng YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCqKsIfTIkHxYTH3guo6xzVQ
Oct 25, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Writers: So you want to write about a mass emergency? Learn from guest writer and former firefighter Thomas Slatin about real life emergency response and communications. Topics covered include alien invasions, incoming meteors, nuclear fallout, and more.
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Digital Publishing expert and Writer Nick Coveney joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about sexuality in speculative fiction, specifically the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation. We discuss how fiction can be used to challenge "norms", the pressures (and importance!) of representing a marginalized group, the political backlash to having more diverse voices in books, and how authors like J.K. Rowling can hurt a community. Also, do you love X-men? Stay for the deep dive at the end.
Oct 11, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Fantasy Author Danielle Orsino joins the podcast to talk about dragon representation in fiction! We cover the differences between western and eastern dragons, common tropes, and Danielle's unique method for making her dragons as realistic as possible on the page.
Oct 04, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Fight sequences can be thrilling on the screen, but how can you make them equally thrilling on the page? Writer Matthew. C Brown joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about our favorite fight scenes, tips and trick for writing one, and some pitfalls to avoid.
Sep 27, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The Chosen One is arguably one of the most loved or hated story tropes, and Author Lucy A. McLaren joins the podcast to explain why. We cover some famous examples, discuss how the Chosen One is the perfect setup for a villain, and how marginalized characters bring a fresh perspective to the trope.
Sep 20, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Author Rob Hart explores the horrors of working in an Amazon-esque corporation in his dystopian thriller “The Warehouse”. Learn about the real-world conditions and events that influenced this book, Rob’s world-building strategies, and how to create a complex billionaire villain. How far away are we from a corporatocracy? And...how can we prevent one?
Sep 13, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 17
We're back! Get a sneak preview of the Fall 2022 season topics: Corporatocracy, The Chosen One, Fighting Words, Dragons, Sexuality in Speculative Fiction, Emergency Responders, Modern Gods, Runaway A.I., De-Stressing the Damsel, Maps, Taverns.
Sep 06, 2022•4 min
Don't fret, we'll be back soon in the fall. Learn how you can participate in future episodes, or tell us what tropes you'd like to learn about next!
Jul 05, 2022•1 min
"The Body Scout" by Lincoln Michel has been heralded as a “timeless and original” sci-fi thriller ( New York Times ) about a hardboiled baseball scout who must solve the murder of his brother in a world transformed by body modification. Sit back as Vickie Lan and author Lincoln Michel take you on a tour of this cyberpunk world. *NOTE!* Reading the book is not a requirement for following along with this episode. There will be world-building spoilers, but no plot spoilers. If you prefer zero spoil...
Jun 28, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Vickie Lan and Author Bibiana Krall talk about ghost stories and real-life hauntings! Why do ghosts come back? How can writers capture a chilling encounter in an authentic way? And why should you ignore the shadow in the corner? Learn all this and more in this deliciously spooky episode.
Jun 21, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Conspiracy theories seek answers for the patterns we see in everyday life. They can be fun, they could be important, and they can also be dangerous. Aspiring writer Mike Crawford joins the podcast to discuss Q-anon, Flat Earth, the Dead Internet theory, and more.
Jun 14, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Have you ever finished a book and wanted to throw it across the room? Or have you ever left the theater with tears running down your face? Beta-reader Elizabeth Brown joins the podcast to talk about unhappy endings. What purpose do they serve? Do you love or hate them? And what famous happily-ever-after story should have ended on a low note? DISCLAIMER: we do talk about endings of popular fiction! If you prefer to not be spoiled, you may need to skip this episode or fast-forward at your discreti...
Jun 07, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Middle Earth, the Wizarding World, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe are just a few examples of shared universes where independent stories exist with interconnecting characters, locations, and events. Matthew C. Brown returns to the podcast to discuss the joys and challenges of writing a shared universe.
May 31, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 12
BSFA-Award-Winning Author Gareth L. Powell joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about space colonies! Will we ever leave Earth? Which planets would make good homes? And how can science fiction writers warn us of potential pitfalls? Go on a tour through our solar system with us.
May 24, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 11
It's hard to look anywhere without seeing comic book superheroes. From Marvel's MCU domination to DC's attempt to reboot their characters again...and again...and again...maybe it's time to give superheroes an upgrade. Author Brad Allis revisits Speculative Sandbox to talk about the evolution of superheroes in pop culture and what superheroes would be like today if they took on modern problems with modern solutions.
May 17, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
It's not easy being a hero. It's even worse being the mentor. Why do most mentors die a gruesome death right before the hero wins the day? Writer Jonathan Carlson and Vickie Lan unpack this trope, looking at popular examples from books and movies, and discuss ways to make this plot device feel fresh again.
May 10, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Vickie Lan answers questions submitted to the Speculative Sandbox Instagram or Twitter DMs.
May 09, 2022•14 min
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Vickie Lan chats with editor and "Bookish Brews" blogger Amanda Khong about speculative fiction that is meaningful to them, magic, and the importance of representation in the book industry.
May 04, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Greek mythology set the standard for many story tropes and character archetypes seen in today’s fiction. From tragedies to triumphant battles, petty arguments to unrequited love, the Greek Gods continue to leave a lasting impression because they are undeniably relatable. USA Today Bestselling Romance Author Carly Spade joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about the allure of the greek gods, their shadier pasts, and her approach for retelling their stories to a modern audience.
Apr 20, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 7
