My Writing Sucks

Makenna J. Myers
  • 5.0 (2)
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If you're listening to this podcast, you probably think your writing sucks. And here's there honest truth--you're right and you're wrong. Join me as I put my English degree to use and analyze the first fantasy novel I wrote when I was fourteen, using that text to pull out relevant advice to help you improve your writing. Basically, I read my old cringey writing to make you feel better about yours! Want to connect with me? Check out my Instagram @makennajmyerswrites

  1. 09/17/2023

    Starchild Epilogue

    In this episode, I read the epilogue from the original draft of Starchild as well as multiple scenes from a second (and wildly different!) draft that I wrote in college to illustrate how complete the revision process can be. And I remind you to be proud of yourself—because it’s true!

    36 min

  2. 09/17/2023

    Starchild Part Nine

    In Part Nine, Ruby finds herself at the center of a high-stakes intergalactic conflict. The most pretentious, angsty-boy villain I’ve ever seen in fiction makes an appearance, sacrifices are made, and Ruby and Fiora are forced to say goodbye.  I talk about how Starchild has never been Ruby’s story, some really irritating plot holes, and, despite it all, how much I love Ruby and Fiora’s friendship.

    53 min

  3. 09/17/2023

    Starchild Part Eight

    Part Eight is explosive, to say it lightly (catastrophic to say it less lightly). Somehow, at the exact same moment, a mysterious spaceship crashes onto the Lorencip’s property and Ruby’s dad comes home after his (ambiguously long) absence. Seventeen year old me attempts to manage this emotional fall out to a varying degree of success. I discuss how bizarre Ruby’s parents are as characters, how seventeen year old me keeps skirting away from any scenes with emotional resonance, and the importance of saying less.

    41 min

  4. 07/27/2023

    Starchild Part Seven

    Part Seven desperately wants to be a climax. And a psychological horror film. The story goes from zero to attempted murder real fast when Fiora loses her mind on the bully girls who haven’t been mentioned since Part One. I discuss Starchild’s unbalanced plot, the basics of a climax, and how and why (despite it all) Ruby and Fiora still resonate with me as characters.

    37 min

  5. 07/27/2023

    Starchild Part Six

    Part Six rivals Part Five for the world’s longest exposition dump—but this time, it’s Ruby doing the dumping (and yes, that is the worst way I could have ever phrased that). Join me as I rapidly lose my mind reading this saccharine mess out loud. I discuss writing without limits and bring depth to your secondary characters.

    41 min

  6. 06/20/2023

    Starchild Part Five

    In Part Five, Ruby gets an entire galaxy’s worth of trauma dumped on her in perhaps the most long-winded exposition dump I have ever read. Neither she nor I know what to do with all this information. I talk about the shape of story and the role of your subconscious in writing.

    39 min

  7. 06/20/2023

    Starchild Part Four

    Part Four might as well be titled “Meet the Lorencips!”—your average, dorky Midwestern family. Except, occasionally they talk in a language Ruby has never heard before. And none of them seem to know what “meatloaf” is. Also, they have a semi-sentient AI hologram in the basement. Fiora holographically takes Ruby to her home planet, and it quickly becomes apparent why the Lorencips came to Earth. I discuss the importance of not italicizing different languages in fiction, characters thinking about their emotions rather than feeling them, and Starchild as an immigrant narrative.   Below is a link to the article I referenced for further reading on italicization:  “The Case Against Italicizing ‘Foreign’ Words.” Barokka, Khairani.  https://catapult.co/stories/column-the-case-against-italicizing-foreign-words-khairani-barokka

    37 min

  8. 05/28/2023

    Starchild Part Three

    In Part Three, seventeen-year-old me reveals that Fiora is truly an alien in literally the most boring way possible. I discuss not rushing your plot and going whole-hog with your worldbuilding. This episode also features a heaping dose of my seventeen-year-old self’s commentary on The Bachelor because that was exactly what this story needed.

    35 min
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5
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About

If you're listening to this podcast, you probably think your writing sucks. And here's there honest truth--you're right and you're wrong. Join me as I put my English degree to use and analyze the first fantasy novel I wrote when I was fourteen, using that text to pull out relevant advice to help you improve your writing. Basically, I read my old cringey writing to make you feel better about yours! Want to connect with me? Check out my Instagram @makennajmyerswrites

Information

  • Creator
    Makenna J. Myers
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Makenna J. Myers
  • Show Website
    My Writing Sucks