The Story Craft Cafe Podcast

Story Crafters talking about the magic of storytelling and giving you the tools to craft your story. We’re launching a new kind of online writing community. One where we can all find support, encouragement, ideas, and inspiration. A place where we can all write together. A place where we can celebrate failures and successes, find mentors, and work together to get published.

Episodes

Fireside Chat: Building Story Bibles | SCC 257

March 6, 2026 • 66 mins

When writing a series, or even a standalone books, doing some prework can not only make you job as a writer easier, it can even ensure that your readers will have a better experience with your books. How do you go about it, and how can this addition to your process make you a better story teller?

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Fireside Chat: Subverting Tropes | SCC 256

February 27, 2026 • 59 mins

Trope has become a dirty word in some writing circles, but the truth is that tropes are the building blocks of genre fiction. So, how do you keep your writing consistent with reader expectations (using tropes), while also allowing you to tell a story that is fresh and exciting? This is what we'll explore next to the fire. Come join us!

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Ramping Up Tension With Contained Thrillers With Taylor Adams | SCC 255

February 20, 2026 • 34 mins

TAYLOR ADAMS is the author of several acclaimed thrillers, including The Last Word, Hairpin Bridge, and No Exit. No Exit has been published in thirty-two languages and is a Hulu Original film. Adams lives in Washington State.

Revered by authors and readers alike for his singular cinematic intensity and the tenacious, unforgettable characters who drive it, Adams plunges us deep underground in this harrowing tale of a caving expediti...

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Fireside Chat: Taking A Whisp Of An Idea And Turning It Into A Story | SCC 254

February 13, 2026 • 61 mins

Writing a book is hard work, but hard work can be satisfying and fun. Having an idea and knowing where that idea is going can sometimes be the easy part. We've all heard the trite question, "where do your ideas come from?" asked of every author we've come to respect and admire. But here's the truth: Ideas are EVERYWHERE. The bigger, and most important, question is: How do you take that whisp of an idea and turn it into an actionabl...

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Using Prequels To Add To Your Worlds With Lincoln Child | SCC 253

February 6, 2026 • 49 mins

Preston & Child, the New York Times bestselling author duo known as Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child individually, are at the top of their game. Their writing has been praised as “consistently exciting and never predictable” (Associated Press) and “[there’s] nothing else like them” (Washington Post).

PENDERGAST: The Beginning joins Pendergast as a brazen rookie under the supervision of Special Agent Chambers. While investigat...

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Crafting Plots That Steal Sleep From Your Readers With Matthew F. Jones | SCC 252

February 2, 2026 • 35 mins

Matthew F. Jones is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels as well as a number of screenplays. His novels have been widely translated and several times have been named on best novels of the year lists. Three of his novels, A Single Shot, Deepwater and Boot Tracks, have been made into major motion pictures. He has taught creative writing at a number of colleges and universities, including Randolph Macon College, Lynchburg C...

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Fireside Chat: Defining Your Ideal Reader | SCC 251

January 23, 2026 • 63 mins

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Thrillers Based On Things You Didn't Know About Witness Protection With Brad Meltzer | SCC 250

January 23, 2026 • 37 mins

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High Octane Puzzle Fiction With Kit Frick | SCC 249

January 9, 2026 • 36 mins

It’s been five years since heiress Clare Monroe tragically died on New Year's Eve at her family's fabulous Italian estate. Since that time, her college roommates have harbored a dark secret--their lies and misdeeds led to her death all those years ago.

What happened that fateful night was a series of horrible accidents, but Luca, Harper, Sirina, and David are guilty, nonetheless. And their desperate decision to conceal the truth de...

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Fireside Chat: How To Be A Year-Round Writer | SCC 248

December 19, 2025 • 66 mins

We all love a good writing challenge, don't we? NaNoWriMo (RIP) was an excellent challenge that helped a ton of writers get started as writers. We at Dabble even started our very own 60 Day Novel Challenge to help encourage and empower people to take that plunge and get their novels written, but do we have to wait until October or November to write? What if you're inspired in the middle of Spring? The good news is that most writers...

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Fireside Chat: Balancing Art and Commerce | SCC 247

December 12, 2025 • 57 mins

As authors we envision a life of creating stories that entertain and move readers, or so we hope. The reality is, though, that we must learn to balance art and commerce. As authors we must wear many hats throughout our career. Join us as we talk it out.

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Writing Thrillers That Feel Like Real Life With Blaine Lee Pardoe | SCC 246

December 5, 2025 • 51 mins

Blaine Pardoe is an award winning New York Times bestselling author who lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia. He is the author of numerous science fiction, military history, true crime, horror, and business leadership books. He is considered one of America's best writers about the Great War. His books have been published in six languages and he has been a featured speaker at the U.S. National Archives, the United States Navy Museum, and...

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