Odyssey SF/F Writing Workshop Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Scott Andrews
Odyssey is an intensive six-week workshop for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror held each summer on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Top authors, editors, and agents serve as guest lecturers. These podcasts are excerpts from guest lectures. For more information, visit http://www.odysseyworkshop.org.
An excerpt from the lecture E.C. Ambrose gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2020 on "How To Middle" a.k.a. plot turns.
An excerpt from Holly Black's question and answer session at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on writing young adult and middle grade fiction.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Nisi Shawl gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on dialect and representation.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Nisi Shawl gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on dialect and representation.
An excerpt from Barbara Ashford's question and answer session at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 in which she discussed using her theater experience to enrich her fiction writing.
An excerpt from Holly Black's question and answer session at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on the writing process.
An excerpt from the lecture Fran Wilde gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on worldbuilding.
An excerpt from the Odyssey Online course "Standing Out: Creating Short Stories with that Crucial Spark," taught by Scott H. Andrews in winter 2018.
An excerpt from the lecture Sara King gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on tension.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Paul Witcover gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on description.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Paul Witcover gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2019 on description.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Theodora Goss gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on Creating Characters.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Theodora Goss gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on Creating Characters.
An excerpt from the question and answer session Scott H. Andrews held at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on worldbuilding in short fiction, reading large volumes of submissions, and the importance of voice.
An excerpt from the the question and answer session Meagan Spooner held at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on collaboration and writing for the young adult audience.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Hand gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on Secret Knowledge and Secret Wounds.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Hand gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on Secret Knowledge and Secret Wounds.
An excerpt from the question and answer session E.C. Ambrose held at Odyssey in the summer of 2018, in which she covers setting and research.
Part two of an excerpt from the question and answer session Nisi Shawl held with Odyssey in the summer of 2018 on her writing process, avoiding didacticism, and writing the other.
Part one of an excerpt from the question and answer session Nisi Shawl held with Odyssey in the summer of 2018 about studying plot, clarity, and ambiguity.
An excerpt from excerpt from the question and answer session Dan Chaon held with Odyssey in the summer of 2018 about incorporating backstory, creating open endings, staying innovative and creative, and about his own writing process.
An excerpt from excerpt from the lecture J.A. White gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2017 on writing across a large canvas.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Gemma Files gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2017 on using personal experience to generate horror ficion.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Gemma Files gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2017 on using personal experience to generate horror ficion.
An excerpt from excerpt from the question and answer session David Brin held with Odyssey in the summer of 2017 about writing as magic--how to learn from the magic of others.
An excerpt from excerpt from the lecture Mark Gottlieb gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2017 on the elevator pitch.
An excerpt from the question and answer session Scott H. Andrews held at Odyssey in the summer of 2017 on making your stories stand out.
An excerpt from the question and answer session E.C. Ambrose held at Odyssey in the summer of 2017, in which she covers writing process, characters, and connecting theme.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Mary Robinette Kowal gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on using the "MACE" quotient.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Mary Robinette Kowal gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on using the "MACE" quotient.
An excerpt from the lecture N. K. Jemisin gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on micro worldbuilding.
An excerpt from the lecture Meagan Spooner gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on characters.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Melanie Tem and Steve Rasnic Tem gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on characters.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on researching your story elements.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on researching your story elements.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Scott H. Andrewsgave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on Magazine Submissions and Rejections.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Scott H. Andrewsgave at Odyssey in the summer of 2016 on Magazine Submissions and Rejections.
An excerpt from the lecture Kij Johnson gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on scale and complexity of the short story and the novel.
An excerpt from the lecture Alma Alexandergave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on discovering and developing characters.
An excerpt from the lecture Kij Johnson gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on choosing and prioritizing descriptive detail.
An excerpt from the lecture Kij Johnson gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on description.
An excerpt from the lecture Brendan DuBois gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on the fantastic world of the short story.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture E.C. Ambrose gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on Making It Real.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture E.C. Ambrose gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on Making It Real.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Alex Hughes gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on Productivity for Writers.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Alex Hughes gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2015 on Productivity for Writers.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Delia Sherman and Ellen Kushner gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on Characterization.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Delia Sherman and Ellen Kushner gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on Characterization.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Gordon Van Gelder gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on the Fiction Publishing Market.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Gordon Van Gelder gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on the Fiction Publishing Market.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Melanie Tem and Steve Rasnic Tem gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on Beginnings, Middles, Ends, and Structure.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Melanie Tem and Steve Rasnic Tem gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on Beginnings, Middles, Ends, and Structure.
An excerpt from the lecture Catherynne M. Valente gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on the "system of credit" in openings and on titles.
An excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Hand gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on using intense personal experience in fiction writing.
An excerpt from the lecture Alex Jablokov gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2014 on how character functions within plot.
An excerpt from the lecture Holly Black gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on creating a magic system.
An excerpt from the lecture Sheila Williams gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on examples of how short story openings can appeal to an editor.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Nancy Holder gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on short story and novel contracts.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Nancy Holder gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on short story and novel contracts.
An excerpt from the lecture Nancy Holder gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on the secret to a satisfying short story.
An excerpt from the lecture Adam-Troy Castro gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on writing the Middle-Grade novel.
An excerpt from the lecture Jack Ketchum gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 entitled "Don't Waste My Time."
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on writing a series.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on writing a series.
An excerpt from the lecture Jack Ketchum gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2013 on writing from the wound.
An excerpt from the lecture Lane Robins gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 on Information Dissemination.
An excerpt from the lecture Lane Robins gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 on Outlining, for Writing Your Manuscript and for Selling It.
An excerpt from the lecture Craig Shaw Gardner gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 on How to Make Fantastic Characters Alive and Believable.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Barbara Ashford gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 on "Tension Headaches" and character complexity.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Barbara Ashford gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2012 on "Tension Headaches" and character complexity.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Barry B. Longyear gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Building a Professional Imagination.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Barry B. Longyear gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Building a Professional Imagination.
An excerpt from the lecture John Joseph Adams gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on the Short Fiction Market.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Gary A. Braunbeck gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Establishing and Maintaining Emotional Realism in Your Fiction.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Gary A. Braunbeck gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Establishing and Maintaining Emotional Realism in Your Fiction.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Bear gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Narrative Structure and Types of Plot.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Bear gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Narrative Structure and Types of Plot.
An excerpt from the lecture Sheila Williams gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on the Short Fiction Market.
An excerpt from the lecture James Patrick Kelly gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2002 on his Approach to Plot.
An excerpt from the lecture Theodora Goss gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Finding Your Voices.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Elaine Isaak gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Description and Making Your Setting Real.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Elaine Isaak gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2011 on Description and Making Your Setting Real.
An excerpt from the lecture Bob Mayer gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2004 on the Original Idea.
An excerpt from the lecture James Morrow gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on a Calypso Wheel Model for Fiction.
An excerpt from the lecture Michael A. Arnzen gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on how to make the reader squirm via sensory immersion.
An excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Hand gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on creating unsympathetic characters.
An excerpt from the lecture Laura Anne Gilman gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on revision.
An excerpt from the lecture David G. Hartwell gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on titles, pseudonyms, and other writing advice.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Gregory Frost gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on viewpoint, voice, and psychic distance.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Gregory Frost gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on viewpoint, voice, and psychic distance.
An excerpt from the lecture Alex Jablokov gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2010 on how plot works in genre fiction.
An excerpt from the lecture Ginjer Buchanan gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on book publishing and getting your novel published.
An excerpt from the lecture Carrie Vaughn gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on goal-setting and building a writing career.
An excerpt from the lecture Lori Perkins gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2003 on what agents do and how they do it.
An excerpt from the lecture Carrie Vaughn gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on suspense, pacing, and the delivery of information.
An excerpt from the lecture Carrie Vaughn gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on ideas for short stories versus ideas for novels.
An excerpt from the lecture Jack Ketchum gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on crafting strong openings.
An excerpt from the lecture Jeffrey Carver gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on story structure.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on the protagonist-sidekick relationship.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Patricia Bray gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2009 on the protagonist-sidekick relationship.
An excerpt from the lecture Catherine Asaro gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2004 on developing a scientific novum for your story.
An excerpt from the lecture P.D. Cacek gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on debunking alleged truths about writing.
Part two of an excerpt from the lecture Bruce Holland Rogers gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2003 on structures for flash fiction pieces.
Part one of an excerpt from the lecture Bruce Holland Rogers gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2003 on structures for flash fiction pieces.
An excerpt from the lecture Allen Steele gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on creating a world's environment.
An excerpt from the lecture Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on the difference between writing a novel and writing a short story.
An excerpt from the lecture Jenny Rappaport gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on writing a strong query letter.
An excerpt from the lecture Jenny Rappaport gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on how to get an agent.
An excerpt from the lecture Nancy Kress gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on writing in scenes.
An excerpt from the lecture Melissa Scott gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 on world-building--how to show it.
An excerpt from the lecture James Maxey gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on Writing Strong Openings.
An excerpt from the lecture Barry B. Longyear gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on Revision and Writing Your Own Unique Stories.
An excerpt from the lecture Craig Shaw Gardner gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2008 on Humor in Speculative Fiction.
An excerpt from the lecture Shawna McCarthy gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 on Selling Your Stories to Magazines.
An excerpt from the lecture Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on Theme and Idea.
An excerpt from the lecture Patricia McKillip gave at Odyssey in the summer of 1998 on Fantastic Landscapes.
An excerpt from the lecture Thomas Monteleone gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2002 on developing original ideas while Writing for Anthologies.
An excerpt from the lecture Rodman Philbrick gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2007 on Viewpoint.
An excerpt from the lecture Michael A. Arnzen gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2007 on Humor in Fiction.
An excerpt from the lecture Michael A. Burstein gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2007 entitled "The Plot Skeleton."
An excerpt from the lecture Nina Kiriki Hoffman gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2007 entitled "Writing for Teens."
An excerpt from the lecture Robert J. Sawyer gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 entitled "Is Your Science Fiction Element Extraneous?"
An excerpt from the lecture Elizabeth Hand gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2005 on using personal experience in fiction writing.
An excerpt from the lecture Christopher Golden gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 on setting the scene for the reader.
An excerpt from the lecture Terry Bisson gave at Odyssey in the summer of 1999 on setting.
An excerpt from the lecture Melissa Scott gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2003 on world-building parameters.
An excerpt from the lecture Robert J. Sawyer gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 on point of view.
An excerpt from the lecture Gardner Dozois gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2004 on getting published.
An excerpt from the lecture Jeff VanderMeer gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2006 on why fantastical fiction is important.
An excerpt from the lecture Charles L. Grant gave at Odyssey in the summer of 2000 on characterization.