Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin explore how to make your characters more interesting, from finding unexpected flaws and contradictions to challenging your assumptions about who they are. They discuss techniques for pushing beyond obvious character choices, making protagonists as compelling as their supporting cast, avoiding stereotypes, and using real-world observations to create characters who feel distinctive and alive.

Chapters:

00:00 Introductions
00:20 Are Great Characters Discovered or Designed?
01:20 Basing Characters on Real People
08:04 Designing vs. Discovering Characters
11:15 Exercises for Creating Better Characters
25:58 What Line Won’t Your Character Cross?
27:58 Playing Against the Mood of a Scene
32:25 When Side Characters Outshine Your Protagonist
41:12 Avoiding Stereotypes
51:20 Outro

Links from This Episode:

AJ Saxsma's Trauma as Engine Workbook (The Name that Bryan Couldn't Think of—mentioned at 25:58)
https://andrewverse858.gumroad.com/l/wwkql

Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/158297263X/

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Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin discuss why every writer needs good critique partners—and how to find them. They explore what makes a critique relationship work, why different partners bring different strengths, how to give and receive useful feedback, and why critiquing someone else’s work can make you a better writer. Plus, they look at how many outside readers a manuscript needs and the value of seeking perspectives beyond your usual circle.

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Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin present the writing Battle Royale: Scrivener vs. Word. They break down the relative merits of both apps, from drafting and organizing a novel to editing, collaboration, and publishing. Which tool does what better—and which one belongs in your writing workflow?

00:00:00 Introductions
00:00:14 Why Bryan Writes in Scrivener
00:10:24 Why Pete Switched to Word
00:15:07 Editing and Working with Feedback
00:17:32 Formatting and Publishing with Scrivener
00:29:54 Collaboration, Snapshots, and Workflow
00:37:34 Publishing and Final Thoughts
00:47:50 Outro

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• Word, by Microsoft

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Working Writers is a podcast about the craft, tools, publishing, and business of writing, hosted by Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin.

Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin dig into writing and critique groups: why they matter, what writers can learn from critiquing other people’s work, and how the right group can make you a better writer. They also talk about online versus in-person groups, finding writers who share your level of commitment, recognizing when a group isn’t right for you, and more.

00:00 Introductions
00:56 Why Writers Need Writing Groups
06:28 Learning by Critiquing Other Writers
11:58 What Different Writers Bring to a Group
15:32 The Online Writing Workshop
17:50 Online vs. In-Person Writing Groups
23:06 Writing Groups Might Come with Networking Opportunities
36:30 Writing Group Etiquette and Group Dynamics
44:53 How to Find Your Writing People
47:48 Outro

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Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin talk about trusting your readers, revealing worldbuilding through your characters, and resisting the urge to explain everything you’ve created. They look at examples from science fiction and fantasy, discuss when backstory actually belongs on the page, and explain why it’s perfectly fine—even desirable—for readers not to understand everything right away.

In their inaugural episode, Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin talk about how important it is for every author to have their own newsletter and corresponding email list. They also talk about some of the resources available for managing your email list, how often to publish your newsletter, and ways to keep the content fresh and authentically in your voice.

Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin introduce Working Writers, a podcast about the craft, tools, publishing, and business of writing.