How big should a story be? We explore the scope of storytelling and how it changes between character-focused dramas, plot-driven adventures, and everything in between. When character drama is the primary driver, can a plot become too big or too small for the characters at its center? From the intimate conflicts of Downton Abbey to the world-changing stakes of The Lord of the Rings, we discuss how to find the right scale for the story you want to tell.Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

Maintenance can feel like it gets in the way of a story, whether it’s recovering from injuries, repairing vehicles, gathering food, maintaining a ship, or simply taking care of yourself. But these everyday necessities can also make worlds feel real, create consequences, and introduce new obstacles and opportunities. We explore how storytellers can turn maintenance from a distraction into an advantage, who does it well, and what happens when stories neglect it entirely.

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

Character agency can shape how we experience an entire story. Some characters are driven by their own choices and motivations, while others seem to have the story constantly happening to them. We explore the strengths and difficulties of both approaches, examples of when they work or fall flat, and characters who balance taking control with being swept up by forces beyond their control.

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

We sit down with the trio of creatives behind Outer Giant Studios to talk about building their worlds, working as a creative team, and bringing their independent, human-made stories to life. We dive into Hyper Object, their sci-fi fantasy series with crystal magic, as well as their upcoming novel Keeper, where reality-bending powers, alien worlds, and old enemies collide.Check out more of their work at Outer Giant Studios. https://outergiant.com/

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

In stories involving magic, there are countless ways characters access and use it. Some simply think or point, while others use wands, staffs, chants, gestures, or prayer. We explore where these different methods might come from, what purpose they serve, and the pros, cons, and challenges they create for characters, worldbuilding, and the story itself.

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

We’ve talked about the Hero’s Journey, traveling in stories, vehicles, weapons, and even maps. But what makes for a good QUEST? We explore the elements that make a quest feel real and satisfying, how obstacles and deadlines build suspense and urgency, what raises the stakes along the way, and how the most frustrating delays can lead to the most satisfying payoffs.

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

Character backgrounds and how they influence motivations and thus the story. How do we go about writing backgrounds for characters, and how do different backgrounds affect motivations? We've spoken before about motivation, but there are many, many sorts of things in characters' pasts that give them each their own flavor. Sometimes these things form a central focus for a character's behavior; sometimes these things only have an influence in very specific circumstances, like a time bomb waiting to go off. What are some good examples, and how do we keep the formation of a background feeling genuine rather than contrived for story purposes?

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine

We recommend stories all the time, but what actually makes a recommendation good? We explore how our tastes, relationships, and favorite story elements shape what we recommend, why we trust certain people to know what we will enjoy, and how even our best intentions can lead to recommendations that get it so, so wrong.

Bards and Balladeers Podcast - bardsandballadeerspodcast.com

Discord - https://discord.gg/QVQWczk4Fh

C.E. Linares (Cait) - linktr.ee/celinares
Ozgur K Sahin (Oz) - www.ozgurksahin.com
M.R. Moraine (Rio) - linktr.ee/mistermoraine