Plot Lab

Kristi Leonard & Beth Uznis Johnson | Fiction Writing Podcast

Plot Lab takes pop culture headlines, trending topics, and viral moments and turns them into original fiction ideas, with a guest author. Hosts Kristi Leonard and Beth Uznis Johnson bring the prompts and then the brainstorming begins. Part game show, part writers' room, every episode is a front row seat to the messy, surprising, wildly fun process of watching a story take shape. It's story creation as a spectator sport. To keep the creativity flowing, join our online community, Prompt Incubator. Listeners can use prompts from our episodes–even the ones not selected–and generate their own original stories. Share your work, like your favorites, and even submit your own prompt ideas for future episodes. The Incubator is a space to give and receive feedback, to connect with the writing community, and explore how stories originate and expand. If you’re a reader, writer, lover of stories, or simply curious about the creative process, Plot Lab is for you. Join us every two weeks as our guest author chooses their favorite prompt from which to build a new story. We’ll explore our infinite sources of inspiration, elements of story–like character, dialogue, and what’s at stake–and offer a glimpse into the creative process. Plot Lab, from spark to story. rex-verify-bzhcpper000v

Episodes

  1. 10h ago

    Melissa Faliveno and the Midwestern Instinct to Keep Going

    Plot Lab, Episode 1: Melissa Faliveno and the Midwestern Instinct to Keep Going What happens when you hand an acclaimed author three headlines and ask, What story do YOU think is hiding in there? For our inaugural episode of Plot Lab, Melissa Faliveno, author of the novel Hemlock and the essay collection Tomboyland, steps into the lab with hosts Kristi Leonard and Beth Uznis Johnson for a brainstorming session and discussion. First, we play a warm-up game called One Star Wonder, challenging Melissa to identify a beloved classic novel from one particularly grumpy one-star review. Then, the real experiment begins. We give Melissa three completely unrelated headlines. She chooses the one that sparks her interest and, from there, the three of us start the storytelling process. What Melissa envisions as a dramatic, opening image gradually becomes a story about a lonely man, the life he has lost, his carefully maintained world, and the impending danger that might finally force him to look toward the future. Along the way, we discuss different elements of story, like what makes a character feel real, how grief and loneliness sneak into the smallest details, how a dramatic setting can elevate tension, and how nothing raises the stakes like a ticking clock. Then, we try to answer one of our favorite questions in storytelling: What larger transformation is really taking place for our character? Meet Melissa Faliveno Melissa Faliveno is the author of Hemlock (Little, Brown, 2026) and the essay collection Tomboyland, a Best Book of 2020 pick by NPR, NYPL, Oprah Magazine, and Electric Literature. She teaches creative writing at the UNC and lives in the woods outside Chapel Hill. Melissa’s fascination with the natural world runs deep. A talking deer helped inspire Hemlock, and in this episode she talks about animals behaving badly, tornadoes, the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the strange places where story ideas begin. Find Melissa online at her website Books Mentioned Hemlock Tomboyland F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Join the Experiment The headlines we bring into the lab don’t just belong to us. They’re writing prompts for you, too. Grab one, let it collide with your imagination, and write your own story. Then share it in our Prompt Incubator community, read what others are creating, and look for your writing on a future episode. Join our community here Insta: @plotlabpod Facebook: Plot Lab on Facebook Website: Visit Plot Lab

    Melissa Faliveno and the Midwestern Instinct to Keep Going

  2. Trailer

    Plot Lab Trailer

    Plot Lab takes pop culture headlines, trending topics, and viral moments and turns them into original fiction ideas, with a guest author. Hosts Kristi Leonard and Beth Uznis Johnson bring the prompts and then the brainstorming begins. Part game show, part writers' room, every episode is a front row seat to the messy, surprising, wildly fun process of watching a story take shape. It's story creation as a spectator sport.

    Plot Lab Trailer

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Plot Lab takes pop culture headlines, trending topics, and viral moments and turns them into original fiction ideas, with a guest author. Hosts Kristi Leonard and Beth Uznis Johnson bring the prompts and then the brainstorming begins. Part game show, part writers' room, every episode is a front row seat to the messy, surprising, wildly fun process of watching a story take shape. It's story creation as a spectator sport. To keep the creativity flowing, join our online community, Prompt Incubator. Listeners can use prompts from our episodes–even the ones not selected–and generate their own original stories. Share your work, like your favorites, and even submit your own prompt ideas for future episodes. The Incubator is a space to give and receive feedback, to connect with the writing community, and explore how stories originate and expand. If you’re a reader, writer, lover of stories, or simply curious about the creative process, Plot Lab is for you. Join us every two weeks as our guest author chooses their favorite prompt from which to build a new story. We’ll explore our infinite sources of inspiration, elements of story–like character, dialogue, and what’s at stake–and offer a glimpse into the creative process. Plot Lab, from spark to story. rex-verify-bzhcpper000v

Information

  • Creator
    Kristi Leonard & Beth Uznis Johnson | Fiction Writing Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leonard Lifestyles, LLC & Big Bad Words, LLC
  • Show Website
    Plot Lab