In this week's episode the hosts discuss the problem with using your characters as a soapbox to communicate your message, as well as the myriad of other ways writers can communicate their opinions on everything from politics to religion and more by honing their craft and applying specific thematic strategies to their story, without compromising the quality of the entertainment. Join Ash and Karissa as they take a look at soapboxing in stories, offering their thoughts, feelings, and general advice on the subject.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss when and how to use cliffhangers most effectively, as well as the different types of cliffhangers authors can utilize to make sure the stakes remain balanced from book to book within a series, as well as the importance of intermediate cliffhangers within a single story. Join Ash and Karissa as they take a look at cliffhangers, offering their thoughts, feelings, and general advice on the subject.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss the different types of book piracy and the legal, practical, and moral implications of each one, both for authors and readers. Join Ash and Karissa as they take a (painfully) honest look at this topic, while offering their thoughts, feelings, and general advice on the subject.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss the importance of giving your WIP (work-in-progress) a rest, as well as some different ways to do so without losing momentum. Join Ash and Karissa as they compare their different approaches to WIP-focus and naptimes, as well as their respective strategies for making sure writing remains a joy rather than a job (even if it's both).

In this week's episode and in honor of Easter, the hosts discuss one of the most thematically important tropes of all, the resurrection trope. Join Ash and Karissa as they debate when and how the resurrection trope is best used, as well as when it might be better to avoid the trope altogether. Bonus examples of some of the best and/or most creative uses of the trope in popular fiction!

In this week's episode the hosts discuss arguably the biggest baddest foe a writer can face, and exactly what weapons can be used to bring it down; this episode is all about writer's block. Join Ash and Karissa as they do their best figure out both the cause and solution to a problem that every creator faces eventually! If you're looking for a way out of writer's block, this episode is meant for you.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss the big and small differences between their favorite genres - namely middle grade, young adult, and new adult fiction! Join a very exhausted Ash with sub-par audio and an always-on-the-ball Karissa as they pin down the best part of each genre, and do their best to predict changes for the New Adult genre in the coming years. Bonus rants on the history of milk pasteurization in the United States and how to choose the best eggs.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss some of the best monster tropes out there and how to write them in a way that stands out above the rest! From dragons and mermaids to angels, demons, fae, and even gods and goddesses, monsters/magical creatures play a massive role in fantasy writing, and the way those creatures are presented can make a huge impact on the overall quality of the story. Join Ash and Karissa as they obsess over their favorite and least-favorite qualities of the different monster tropes.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss some of the most common coping mechanisms used and habits developed by writers due to an unfortunate tradition of glamourizing self-destruction for artists. Join Ash and Karissa as they chat about how to recognize when a habit/coping mechanism is helping you versus hurting you, and how developing healthier habits can lead to a happier daily life while also helping your writing.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss everything to do with verb tense, from rules of gramma to how, when, and why you can break them, as well as how to choose which tense best serves your book (i.e. past, present, or future). Grammar freaks (AKA Karissa's people) will particularly enjoy this episode, and writers who like to bend the rules a little (AKA Ash's people) will find plenty of clarity and reassurance here as well

In this week's episode the hosts discuss how, when, and why to recap what happened in your last book. This episode focuses specifically on series as the hosts break down what it is about those exposition-heavy first chapters that loses readers, and how to avoid it by delivering your previous book's summary in sneaky, roundabout ways.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss what it takes to write a truly strong female character. From the concept of physical strength to emotional strength and more, the hosts work out how to utilize and break free from societal realities to write female characters that truly inspire.

In this week's episode the hosts discuss everything to do with book-to-movie-to-television adaptations, from pet peeves, to favorite approaches, changes they wish to see, and even advice for writers who hope to see their own stories told on the big screen some day!

In honor of Valentine's Day, in this week's episode the hosts discuss how to write a compelling love interest, as well as what pitfalls to avoid, and how to draw on real life to craft the most universal element of any story in any genre - love.

In this week's episode, the hosts discuss how to incorporate the senses into your writing in an intentional way, as well as what purposes the senses can serve in storytelling - you may be surprised by the answer.

In this week's episode, the hosts are joined by special guest Kendall Shaw AKA The Duke AKA Dr. Spoons Palermo from That Pretentious Book Club, for an in-depth discussion of how, when, and why to kill off characters. A particularly spirited episode, this one is bound to make the writers chuckle and satisfy any fans of Avatar the Last Airbender.

In this week's episode, the hosts discuss what makes a good or bad plot twist, as well as how to build up to the twist for the perfect reaction. Bonus discussions on how to deal with the very mixed feelings of seeing others succeed in the publishing industry when personal success can feel far off.

In this week's episode, the hosts discuss what it takes to build a magic system for your fantasy novel, as well as the importance of doing the groundwork to make your system feel authentic. From comparisons to some of the most popular fantasy series of all time to first-hand experience, this episode is particularly fun and a definite must-listen for fantasy writers of all kinds.

In this week's episode, Karissa AKA Lewis lets the listeners in on her theory of the primary four components it takes to write to a truly good book. A somewhat shorter episode than usual, this one is still jam-packed with excellent writing advice, and accented by the "charmingly throaty" voice of a very ill Ash AKA Tolkien.

In this week's episode the TSS hosts discuss what it takes to write a truly compelling ending, as well as what common problems can result in a disappointing/dissatisfying ending. Not only do the hosts determine that it is important to answer any plot questions posed throughout the story, but they discuss the importance of giving some indication of what happens to the characters even after the book is closed and returned to its shelf.

In this first-ever Christmas special from Story Sirens Production Studio, sister podcasts That Pretentious Book Club and The Scripturient Society team up for the most bookish company Christmas party of all time! Absolutely chocked full of laughter and silliness, this episode is made to fill the void that every super-lame-company-holiday-party has left in its wake. From silly games to a truly wild game of bingo, this episode has got something to satisfy everyone's humor.

In this week's episode, the hosts discuss whether or not it's worth it to focus on "marketable" writing, as well as exactly what "marketable" writing refers to in regard to the constantly changing trends of the literary industry.

In this week's episode, the hosts discuss Ash's least favorite writing trope of all time - amnesia. From discussions on whether or not amnesia can be used correctly as a trope, and if so how to do it, to the risks an author is running by engaging in this historically heartbreaking and infuriating plot device, the hosts of plenty to say on this topic.

In this week's episode, Ash and Karissa discuss how to write the perfect villain. While certain tropes are popular for a reason, it can be hard to write compelling villains that are unique where it counts. The hosts do their best to figure out what makes a great villain, as well as how to distill those practices into their own writing.

In this week's episode, Ash and Karissa discuss the concept "write what you know" as well as whether or not this is really an applicable writing practice, and if so, how. From discussions over what is considered valuable "life experience" to genre-specific requirements for certain fields of knowledge, the hosts do their best to spread some light and encouragement on this heavily debated topic.

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa discuss love triangles - how to write them well and which pitfalls to avoid. As a lover of love triangles, Ash has a lot to say on the subject - and as a hater of love triangles, so does Karissa, resulting in a fun and thorough take on when and how to use this favorite trope, plus a bonus discussion on the hosts' paranormal hypotheses to start this conversation off!

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa discuss the dramatic principle Chekhov's Gun, which essentially states that every element introduced to a story should be used by the end of the story. The hosts discuss this concept in relation to foreshadowing, as well as how, when, and why to employ it.

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing, the process of self-publishing, as well as how to tell when it might be a good idea to self-publish versus when an author might want to wait. Ash brings her own experience with self-publishing and a wry sense of humor to bear on this episode.

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa are joined by a special guest from sister podcast That Pretentious Book Club to discuss everything fanfiction! From discussions over the practical use of fanfiction to dishing long-held fanfiction secrets, if you have read, written, or thought about reading or writing a fanfiction, this episode has something for you. Disclaimer: this episode is particularly ridiculous, so if you just hate laughing, maybe skip this one.

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa discuss how to deal with query letter rejection. From personal anecdotes about the trials of querying and a rough tally of each writer's rejections (and counting), it's clear that rejections may actually present important opportunities for authors to understand both themselves and their writing.

In this week's episode Ash and Karissa discuss the problem with main characters who love reading by default. From discussions of fun, unique hobbies the hosts would like to see more of, to delving into the actual purpose of the hobbies, interests, and jobs we give our characters (aka plot support, character building, and setting cohesion), there are plenty of ways to create a well-rounded character without resorting to only the hobbies/interests we know for ourselves.

Romantic subplots are something many of us have become accustomed to in just about every book (especially in the Young Adult fiction universe), but do these sometimes do more harm than good to the quality of the story? In this episode of The Scripturient Society Ash and Karissa discuss when, why. and how to use romantic subplots - as well as how to determine when you might not need one at all.

Romantic subplots are something many of us have become accustomed to in just about every book (especially in the Young Adult fiction universe), but do these sometimes do more harm than good to the quality of the story? In this episode of The Scripturient Society Ash and Karissa discuss when, why. and how to use romantic subplots - as well as how to determine when you might not need one at all.

In this episode of The Scripturient Society Ash and Karissa open a dialogue all about dialogue! This discussion includes debate over the best way to communicate emphasis in dialogue without looking like an amateur, how to use the iceberg method to layer your message authentically into your story without preaching at your readers, as well as easy tips for getting your dialogue into better shape fast.

In this episode of The Scripturient Society Ash and Karissa discuss the differences between first, second, and third person, as well as how to figure out which one is right for your book. This episode also features some true crime discussion (specifically how it influences story building for people like Karissa) and tales of oceans filled with tuna fish.

In this episode of The Scripturient Society Ash and Karissa discuss what makes a bad boy versus a psychopath and how to build a convincing character template for both. They also discuss a potential beetle rapture and the problem with the "nice guys never win" dilemma among other quandaries.

In this debut episode of comedy-podcast-for-writers The Scripturient Society, get to know the hosts, Ash O'Rourke of That Pretentious Book Club (a comedy podcast about books) and Karissa Harlow (arguably the most writer-y writer in the world). This week the hosts discuss the unique and potentially cringe-worthy origin of their friendship before jumping into an in-depth discussion about all the necessary elements of and common pitfalls involved in writing first chapters.