What does the High Evolutionary and Nazi Germany have in common? The "playing god on society" trope is prevalent in both fiction and real life, and for speculative fiction writers, it's an opportunity to examine the systems and world-building that enables such villainous acts. Disclaimer: this episode briefly summarizes some of the horrifying events that happened during the Holocaust. Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by i...
May 22, 2023•7 min
Got a graveyard of WIPs in your Google Drive? #WriterProblems Caitlin Fisher first came on the show to discuss time travel tropes and is back again to talk about the process of writing a first draft and how they help coach beginner writers to finish their first drafts in the face of imposter syndrome, comparison, and self-doubt. Listen in to learn: How to stop being an "aspiring" writer and claim the title of writer The change to their writing routine that allowed them to write 104k words in a y...
May 15, 2023•32 min
Author Neal Holtschlute joins the podcast to take a tour through the universe to hunt for single-biome planets. These are staple locations in science fiction, most notably used in Star Wars, where a single eco-system wraps an entire planet. How realistic are single-biome planets? And do we have some right in our own solar system?
May 08, 2023•50 min
Is mind control REAL? Author A.R. Mirabal joins the podcast this week to talk about all the ways a mind can be controlled in fiction and in real life, including conditioning and the hive mind. We even go into the challenges of overcoming a very real form of mind control - the algorithm.
May 01, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 42
You have your King. You have your Queen. Now what? Learn from S.G. Blaise the ins and outs of castles. From defense and court life to waste management (or the lack thereof), S.G. takes us on a tour of anything you may want to know for your storybook setting.
Apr 24, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 41
"You can't have fantasy fiction without some sort of dogma, it seems." Author Quillem McBreen has a wealth of knowledge on the topic of dogma in speculative fiction. Learn about the different guiding principals explored in fantasy novels like "Game of Thrones", "American Gods", and "Wheel of Time", as well as the dogmatic systems that have a impact on our everyday lives.
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 40
How is madness portrayed in fiction, and what impacts do our stories have on the real world? Author Ian Young joins the podcast today to talk about his personal experience with madness, the importance of mental health education, and the ways writers can use madness effectively in their stories.
Apr 10, 2023•39 min
The Avatar movie franchise is just one of many fictional works that explore corporate colonialism, the practice of a corporation maintaining or extending its control over other countries, especially in establishing settlements or exploiting resources. Writer Lindsay DeFrates join the podcast today to talk about what drives corporate colonialism, how it impacts the native populations, and how fiction can be an effective tool for change.
Apr 03, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Isolated settings. Superstitions. Natural forces. Author Kacey Rayburn joins the podcast to talk about folk horror. What makes this sub-genre so chilling? We cover the common elements and themes, unpack some of well-known titles (Midsommar anyone?) and ask ourselves the big question: Is the scariest part of folk horror the demon in the woods....or is it us?
Mar 27, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 37
If you could travel back to any time period, when would it be? Writer Caitlin Fisher and I discuss this question, as well as tackle the tangled and complex topic of Time Travel. From the MCU’s multi-verse to the Grandfather Paradox, how can writers explore time travel in their work? And can we do our own time-travel right now, with our memories?
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Author John James Minster joins Speculative Sandbox to discuss all the ways we can come back after death: resurrections, reincarnation, realistic revivals, ghosts, and more. Have a taste for the horror? John also gives some advice on how to make your story particularly terrifying.
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Author J. Dianne Dotson joins the podcast to talk about food in fiction. We’ll start off with an appetizer of rapid-fire questions, followed by a starter salad of literary devices, then the main course meal of food across different genres. Then, for a little dessert, we tease a future of lab-printed food.
Mar 06, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Matthew C. Brown returns to the podcast to talk about Magic Systems! We discuss the fundamentals of magic in fantasy, whether or not science fiction and technology are magical, and how we can challenge the traditional light versus dark in binary magic systems. Stick around until the end, where we debate the classic question: if magic users existed in our modern society, should they be forced to reveal themselves?
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 33
U.S.S. Enterprise. Millennium Falcon. Battlestar Galactica. Author and aerospace engineer S.J. Schauer takes our listeners to school with a discussion on spaceships. How can writers apply real-world concepts to their spacecrafts? Is light-speed travel really possible? And what is the most impractical spacecraft seen in fiction?
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Author Salem Miles joins the podcast to talk about Meet Cutes! What happens when two potentially-romantic characters cross paths? From character dynamics to real-world experiences, this is an episode you won't want to miss this Valentine's week.
Feb 13, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Award-winning Author Nicholas Eames kicks off the spring 2023 season with a deep dive into the ensemble cast in his novel "Kings of the Wyld."
Feb 06, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Author Marsheila Rockwell takes over the podcast this week to talk about tie-in fiction. Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.
Jan 30, 2023•20 min
Author Andrew Dart takes over the podcast this week to talk about plotting and pantsing a novel. Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.
Jan 23, 2023•13 min
Author and Podcaster Jacob Devlin takes over the podcast this week to talk about tricksters in speculative fiction. Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.
Jan 16, 2023•11 min
Author Lucy A. McLaren takes over the podcast this week to talk about how she uses counseling strategies to develop her characters. Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.
Jan 09, 2023•9 min
Author Matthew C. Brown takes over the podcast this week to take you back to the beginning...of your story. When is a prologue helpful or hurtful? And how can writers improve their beginnings to hook their readers? Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.
Jan 02, 2023•19 min
Happy New Year! Learn what's planned for next year and hear a roundup of our 2022 episodes.
Dec 27, 2022•18 min
Hint: This trope has mystical origins. 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 season, ...
Dec 25, 2022•3 min
Hint: This trope has extreme disparities. 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 seaso...
Dec 24, 2022•4 min
This trope is not what it seems. 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 season, consid...
Dec 23, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope may come back again. 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 season, c...
Dec 22, 2022•5 min
This trope might leave you feeling reflective. 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 ...
Dec 21, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope goes up and down. 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 season, cons...
Dec 20, 2022•4 min
Hint: This trope may give you a sinking feeling. 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 holida...
Dec 19, 2022•3 min
Hint: This trope is unsettlingly shaped. 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 season...
Dec 18, 2022•4 min
