Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction

Justin & Kurt
  • 4.5 (80)
  • BOOKS
Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction

Point Blank is a podcast about hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction. Mixing serious analysis and humor, the co-hosts (Justin and Kurt) discuss classic or contemporary works of crime fiction in each episode. In addition to major works, they offer shorter reviews, and examine noir-ish topics such as alcoholism in detective fiction, the femme fatale, and race and labor in crime fiction. Stroll with Kurt and Justin down the rain drenched alleys and mean streets as they explore the fascinating world of crime fiction.

  1. 11/21/2024

    E85: The Long Goodbye

    That's it.  Join us for our last episode as we discuss The Long Goodbye and reflect on the show. Thank you to all who have listened and supported the show along the way.   Leave the show in your podcast feed if you want to be notified of our future projects.

    1h 2m
  2. E84: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 10)

    06/30/2024

    E84: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 10)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 10, Writing Rat Face concludes. Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    22 min
  3. E83: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 9)

    04/29/2024

    E83: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 9)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 9, the penultimate episode of Writing Rat Face, Justin (and Rat Face) race toward the finish line.  Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    19 min
  4. E82: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 8)

    01/10/2024

    E82: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 8)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 8 of Writing Rat Face, Justin emerges from the middlegame slog and finds himself (and Rat Face) moving toward the story climax. He uses chess analogies, examines a potential femme fatale,  discusses the problem of individuality, and comtemplates how a characters' dream world might grease the wheels of a stuck narrative.  Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    20 min
  5. E81: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 7)

    12/11/2023

    E81: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 7)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 7 of Writing Rat Face, Justin shares a plot building technique that has helped him with story logic & flow.  Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    20 min
  6. E80: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 6)

    11/27/2023

    E80: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 6)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 6 of Writing Rat Face, Justin continues to doggy-paddle through the middle part of the novel. He also continues to ask critical questions about his central character, Rat Face, which inevitably leads to questions about the author himself.  Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    20 min

  7. 11/13/2023

    E79: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 5)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 5 of Writing Rat Face, Justin interrogates his central character, Rat Face, and comes away with a better understanding of Rat Face's emotional and philosophical journey. Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    14 min
  8. E78: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 4)

    10/30/2023

    E78: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 4)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 4 of Writing Rat Face, Justin hits the 13,000 word mark, confronts the question of setting, discusses the importance of internal consistency, and gets to know his central character's primary motivation -- who is Rat Face and what does he want? Justin also considers a twist that will raise the stakes for Rat Face and the readers. Email the show: pointblanknoir@gmail.com Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    22 min
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4.5
out of 5
80 Ratings

About

Point Blank is a podcast about hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction. Mixing serious analysis and humor, the co-hosts (Justin and Kurt) discuss classic or contemporary works of crime fiction in each episode. In addition to major works, they offer shorter reviews, and examine noir-ish topics such as alcoholism in detective fiction, the femme fatale, and race and labor in crime fiction. Stroll with Kurt and Justin down the rain drenched alleys and mean streets as they explore the fascinating world of crime fiction.

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