Fictional Problems
Welcome, wanderers of the written word, to Fictional Problems, the podcast where two mostly-human writers embark on a quest to conquer the many-headed beast known as speculative fiction. Whether you’re tuning in from a dystopian megacity, a haunted library, or a coffee shop on the moons of Jupiter, this is the place where we talk all things writing. The monsters. The magic systems. The space-time paradoxes we accidentally write ourselves into at 2 a.m. Your hosts are Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin, two relatively unknown scribblers armed with nothing but questionable outlines, half-finished novels, and a reckless amount of worldbuilding notes. This podcast is about the how of writing, our personal processes, the strange rituals we swear by, and the philosophical rabbit holes we dive down just to figure out how a telepathic fungus economy might work. Each episode, we’ll share the nuts and bolts of our storytelling, from character arcs to plot twists to how many metaphors are too many. So grab your quill, your keyboard, or your neural input node, and join us. This is Fictional Problems. Let the overthinking begin...
Episodes
Episode anniversary: the hosts mark one year and roughly 38 episodes, reflecting on why they started the podcast and what it has meant for their writing and friendship.
They discuss defining themselves as writers, the value of the podcast as a ‘third thing’ that keeps friends connected, and how life events outside the show have shaped the past year.
Along the way they cover generational change, cultural pushbacks, aging...
We're back with part two of our birthday celebration — a free-flowing year-in-review covering TV, film, books, culture, and the noisy world of streaming. We debate whether it's a golden age or a churn of low-quality content, rage about misplaced award categories, praise standout shows and films, and share heartfelt moments that prove why good storytelling still matters.
Join us as we talk Pluribus, Widow's Bay, The Pit, Break...
Welcome to Fictional Problems, the podcast where Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin examine famous plot holes and story inconsistencies in speculative fiction. In this episode, they discuss examples from Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Terminator, Jaws, Game of Thrones and more, explain what counts as a plot hole versus a plot device, and debate whether these gaps truly harm a story or are just ...
This episode of Fictional Problems explores where writers find inspiration, how a single line or image can spark whole stories, and the challenge of turning intense influence into original work.
Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss examples from TV, literature and comics, the line between homage and plagiarism, and how tools like AI change the creative process.
#WritingTips #newpodcastepisodealert #Fantasy #speculativefic...
This episode of Fictional Problems explores the third part of a three-part series on monsters, focusing on cosmic horror. Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss Cthulhu, the slumbering Azathoth, and H.P. Lovecraft, examining the mythos, its themes, and how writers craft the unknowable.
The conversation covers Lovecraft's influences and flaws, how cosmic horror blurs science fiction and fantasy, the importance of personal fea...
This episode of Fictional Problems (part two of our monsters series) explores the dragons of Western mythology — what they look like, where they came from, and why they keep appearing in our stories.
Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss historical origins, symbolic roles (force of nature, weapon, treasure-guardian), and modern reworkings where dragons become tools, companions, or metaphors for power, greed, and heroi...
Join the Fictional Problems hosts as they begin a multi-part exploration of monsters in fiction. From Dracula and Frankenstein to the werewolf and Jekyll and Hyde, they examine how monsters reflect societal fears, moral anxieties, and changing cultural norms.
Through examples from classic literature and folklore, the episode discusses monsters as archetypes, cautionary tales, and teaching tools — and how stories evolve as soc...
This episode of Fictional Problems, with Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin, breaks the podcast's own rules to share practical do's and don'ts for writers.
They cover when not to write, how to accept and filter feedback, setting realistic goals, managing multiple projects, and finding the poetry in your prose, offering candid tips to help authors finish their work and enjoy the process.
This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where we discuss all things writing, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland. On today's episode, hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin explore how to write intelligent characters: can an author create someone smarter than themselves, and what does intelligence look like on the page?
They cover practical approaches, research and worldbuilding, expertise versus wisdom, emotional intell...
On this episode of Fictional Problems (in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland), hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin explore "placeholder" characters — figures whose abilities are presupposed rather than shown — and how that presupposition can leave readers feeling cheated. They discuss examples from Sherlock Holmes to fanfic, and the pitfalls of Mary Sue/Gary Stu characters.
The hosts argue for showing a char...
This is Fictional Problems, a podcast where we discuss all things writing, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland. Join hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin as they explore a viral definition of the writing process.
"You can create the characters, you design their personalities, their past, their dynamics, and then they refuse to behave the way you plan. At some point, you stop arguing with them and just take notes."
The ...
This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland, reflect on their recent appearance on The Marlon Show (Dublin South 93.9 FM).
Joined by authors Daniel Wade and Donna Kennedy, they review a lively debate about AI in writing — covering fraud and deception (the Sam Blake case), using AI as a tool versus whole-cloth generation, questions of expe...
This episode of Fictional Problems explores why writers consider themselves "good writers." Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss motivations, processes, influences, worldbuilding, pacing, and the difference between craft and commercial success.
They reflect on publishing, external validation, the role of ego and inspiration, and how writers learn by blending influences into original work. Join them for an honest conversati...
This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where we discuss all things writing, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland, with hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin.
In this episode, we examine Brandon Sanderson's Three Laws of Magic and several of Stephen King's rules on writing. We debate hard vs. soft magic, the importance of consistency and limitations, and practical tips (and traps) for writers.
#brandonsanderson #stephen...
This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where we discuss all things writing in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland. Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin dig into subplots, secondary characters, and the connective tissue that broadens a story—from exposition techniques to integrating side arcs naturally.
Using examples like Star Wars, Aliens, and A Song of Ice and Fire, they cover how to introduce, transition, and re...
This episode explores the value of reader comments and respect for reviewers, the power of a perfectly timed “mic drop” moment in storytelling, and how genre conventions—like how you kill a vampire—are flexible tools in worldbuilding. We also pitch a tongue-in-cheek campaign for every TV show to try a zombie episode, and discuss why long-running franchises can benefit from disappearing for a while.
Join host...
In this episode of Fictional Problems, hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin tackle more Fictional Comments from fictional listeners about writing dilemmas: preventing time-travel fatigue and paradoxes, handling memory editing and what defines identity, and signalling unreliable narrators who don't realise they're unreliable.
We also discuss making machines and AI into characters and how to avoid writing dragons as humans with wing...
Fictional Problems explores writing craft through made-up listener letters in this playful episode. Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin launch a new segment, "Fictional Comments," to debate real author dilemmas using fictional prompts.
Topics include whether character deaths should have memorable last words or haunting off‑page endings, whether magical societies would develop permits and paperwork, and how writers cope with revie...
In this episode of Fictional Problems, Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin continue their discussion of identity fiction with a focused critique of recent Star Trek shows.
They contrast classic TNG episodes like "Measure of a Man" and "Chain of Command" with newer series, arguing modern entries prioritise surface identity politics over deep character-driven storytelling, and examine issues like representation, pacing, and franchise ste...
This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where we discuss all things writing, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland. Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin explore the idea of "woke" writing and ask what happens when identity is prioritised over story.
In this episode, they debate how those choices affect characters, themes, and audience engagement, draw on examples from film and TV, and consider whether storytelling should...
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