Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD
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Writing the Wrong Way is the perfect podcast for serious writers who want to stand out in a crowded industry by becoming more productive while taking more artistic risks. Jonathan Ball is an award-winning author of dark, experimental artworks. He holds a PhD in creative writing and uses an analytical approach to show serious writers new ways to write, edit, and work so they can create innovative art that stands taller than the crowd. https://www.strangerfication.ca/

  1. Sep 15

    Conor Mc Donnell on Letting the Reader Work

    Poet and pediatric anesthesiologist Conor Mc Donnell joins the podcast to talk about how he lets his readers do the work when it comes to his poetry. Mc Donnell discusses how he balances writing with a demanding medical career, why his long poem "What We Know So Far" grew out of news headlines and medical language, and how wordplay, notebooks, and “accretive” composition shape his projects. Along the way they get into language as a virus (via Burroughs), the influence of David Lynch and M. John Harrison on narrative structure, the musicality of poetry (Joy Division, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins), and why writers should be willing to train and even lose some readers in order to reach the right ones. Find all of Conor's work at https://www.conorgmcdonnell.com/ Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠⁠on Apple TV⁠⁠.

  2. Sep 8

    Building Trust with the Reader in The Eye Collector

    In this solo episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Ball talks about his writing decisions behind Image Comics’ The Eye Collector, focusing on how to build—and earn—reader trust during a strange, complex story. Using specific examples from the first three issues, Jonathan explores techniques like “selecting” the right readers, training them to handle ambiguity, layering subtext, and using questions, myths, and mirrored scenes to signal that the writer has a plan. Along the way, he discusses the cosmic horror genre, postmodern storytelling, and the unique demands of serialized comics, offering practical insights for writers who want to challenge their audience without losing them. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠on Apple TV⁠.

  3. Jul 21

    Quick Notes on The Eye Collector and All Else

    Step into the strange orbit of The Eye Collector in this special off-the-cuff episode, recorded as Jonathan hurriedly packs for San Diego Comic-Con. He discusses how the new Image Comics series has been meticulously constructed to disorient you, invite your theories, and even risk pushing some readers away on purpose. From cosmic horror in a perspective-free void to mythological subversion, “dividing the audience” by design, and the wild publishing journey from Heavy Metal to Image Comics, this episode is a recap of the last few months of Jonathan’s busy life as a professional writer/publisher, and a preview of what’s to come. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠online⁠⁠. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch The Princess and the Dragon on Apple TV. Check out Last Breeds, a graphic novel from Gungnir Books.

  4. Jul 7

    Writing Dragons with David Ly

    Poet and novelist David Ly joins the podcast to talk about his debut novel Not All Dragons, a “cozy fantasy” about an amnesiac boy, a mermaid, and a journey through the magical world of Lanelia. Jonathan and David discuss character-first fantasy, the anxieties of worldbuilding, and how poetry can shape prose. David also explains dragons as queer monsters, reclaiming monstrosity through the anthology Queer Little Nightmares, and his new speculative project Queer Little Daydreams—including how writers can submit their own work. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠online⁠. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

  5. Jun 30

    Steve Orlando on Writing Comics for Marvel and DC and Beyond

    Jonathan welcomes acclaimed comics writer and editor Steve Orlando to talk about what really makes a great Big Two writer. They get into finding a character’s “core wound,” balancing decades of lore with a fresh take, managing dense event books without boring readers, and the real job of editors versus writers. Steve also shares insights on collaborating with artists, building a sustainable writing routine, breaking into Marvel and DC from indie comics, and how to stay motivated through years of rejection. Pick up The Eye Collector from Image Comics at your local comic shop, or online. Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

  6. Jun 4

    David Jón Fuller on Bringing the Theatre into the Novel While Writing VENUE 13

    In this episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Ball talks with novelist and actor David Jón Fuller about his new book Venue 13 (Turnstone Press), a haunted-theatre novel set in Winnipeg’s summer festival scene. They discuss how David built the book like a five‑act play, blending prose, script formatting, stage directions, and monologues that break the fourth wall. The conversation ranges from pantsing vs. outlining, to character-first story design, to the nuts-and-bolts of revision with editors and critique partners. Find more of David’s work at https://www.davidjonfuller.com/ Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fictionat ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

  7. May 19

    Books as Anti-Social Media with MC Joudrey

    Jonathan welcomes publisher–author MC Joudrey to talk about Marmalade Parade, his experimental new novel from Guernica Editions. They dig into the realities of running an independent press, why Joudrey chose not to publish this book through his own At Bay Press, and the shifting landscape of self, indie, and hybrid publishing. Along the way, they explore the book’s unusual structure, its themes of memory, identity, and material possessions, and why demanding, formally inventive fiction still matters in an age of shrinking attention spans and social media “visual trash.” Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  8. Feb 17

    Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul on Kickstarting the Laundrymen 2 Comic Book

    Jonathan welcomes back comic collaborators Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul to talk about their newest book - The Laundrymen 2: Blood of the Saucermen, which is still available through Kickstarter until March 2, 2026: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radchenka/the-laundrymen-books-1-2/rewards Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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About

Writing the Wrong Way is the perfect podcast for serious writers who want to stand out in a crowded industry by becoming more productive while taking more artistic risks. Jonathan Ball is an award-winning author of dark, experimental artworks. He holds a PhD in creative writing and uses an analytical approach to show serious writers new ways to write, edit, and work so they can create innovative art that stands taller than the crowd. https://www.strangerfication.ca/

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