In this week's episode, The Crü discuss how writers can use pacing and atmosphere to create tension in their writing. We use our prompt---another card from Betrayal at the House on the Hill---to springboard into writing moments that linger in uncertainty and force the reader to anticipate what comes next. We cover a plethora of practical tricks of the trade to help you build dialogue, balance internal and external tension, and show emotions through characters' physicality. Then, of course, we share our own stories starting around the 14:20 mark.

Like this weeks episode and wish you could read as well as listen? Subscribe to our Substack for a summary of our opening discussion, a story from the episode, and a writing prompt!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram (if that's your sort of thing). Please do send us an email with your story if you write along, which we hope you will do.

Episodes of Radio FreeWrite are protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license. All Stories remain the property of their respective authors.

You can't edit a blank page!

On this week's episode of our creative writing podcast, The Crü return to a Spooky Season favorite: Betrayal at the House on the Hill. Without stretching too far, our prompt, Sacrificial Dagger, leads us to discuss the process of drafting. There process of drafting can help overcome writer's block, earn experience in self-editing, and, ultimately, give you the experience you need to write better first drafts.

And then we get into the good stuff: spooky stories that match our crisp October weather. Those begin around the 12:15 mark.

Like this weeks episode and wish you could read as well as listen? Subscribe to our Substack for a summary of our opening discussion, a story from the episode, and a writing prompt!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram (if that's your sort of thing). Please do send us an email with your story if you write along, which we hope you will do.

Episodes of Radio FreeWrite are protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license. All Stories remain the property of their respective authors.

Few have done more to create community than Dolly Parton. This week, the Crü lament her loss by singing (not literally; you're welcome) her praises. We explore what inspired Dolly's songwriting, her philanthropy, and her enduring commitment to children's literacy. Then we try our own hand at creative writing and flash fiction inspired by her songs.

Our writing prompts include 9 to 5, Love Is Like a Butterfly, Two Doors Down, Wildflowers, and Blue Smoke. Song links are included if you're interested (and you should be interested).

Inspired by Dolly's work promoting children's literacy, some of us even try writing stories for children. SOME of us didn't get the memo (cough Murph cough and also PC).

The original stories begin around 21:40.

Whether you're a Dolly Parton fan, or someone who's about to be a Dolly fan but maybe doesn't know it yet, we have something for you here.

Like this weeks episode and wish you could read as well as listen? Subscribe to our Substack for a summary of our opening discussion, a story from the episode, and a writing prompt!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram (if that's your sort of thing). Please do send us an email with your story if you write along, which we hope you will do.

Episodes of Radio FreeWrite are protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license. All Stories remain the property of their respective authors.