Lori leads our discussion about character develoment. How do we go about it? And what do we look for - or hate - in a character?

References Include:

The Gentleman of Moscow by Amor Towles

The Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Embassytown by China Miéville

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The Witches Secret by Stacie Murphy

Stacie was enthralled by something we read in the group frecently - a collection of linked literary flash fiction from Max Paradise. She asked Max to join us on Boxing Day 2025 to talk about how we decide on what form to use for a particular project. Whether it's a short story that becomes a novella and then a novel, a short story or a novel that was never going to be anything but, or a magnum opus designed to punish readers that sits in a shoebox, Lori, Michael, and Stacie had a great meal and conversation with Max.

The gang wrapped up Season One with some introspection, predictions, and a little trash talking. From how we fared in our writing goals and what we hope to accomplish next year to a discussion of media we consumed and what constitutes "a lot of reading." All that, plus a call for listener input on what we're doing right and wrong.

Rounding out the three-part series of "Beginnings" (Ep 5) and "The Messy Middle" (Ep 8), the gang tries to land the plane with "Endings." Also, there's a wedding going on.

The gang went back to Carnegie Diner to talk about how they approach revising. From too many beta readers to the need for hearing the same critique multiple times. Lori tells Klein how irritating some of his comments are to her and Stacie catches up with AWG member and poet Catherine Puma to talk about her recent success.

Stacie wanted us to share our origin stories...so we did. From whales, a boy and his dog, and A Deadly Fortune, we explain how and why we started writing. We also talk about where the ideas for our current WIPs came from: a Disney World dinner, playing dress up, and a Bible character who got the short end of the stick. All that, plus Big Ass Cookies, deciding to write, UNC basketball, and more.

Back in May the gang began a three-part series with Beginnings. Here's the Middle part. Navigating the messy middle!

The gang tackle a central question all artists ask themselves: is this project done? How does one decide to stop tinkering and send a story out into the world?