Dissecting Dragons

Episode 253: The Good Neighbours - Festive Faeries and Winter Elves

Somehow, the dragons made through almost an entire year of podcast episodes with Madeleine talking about faeries and honestly? That's just poor showing on our part. So in the run up to Yule, we resent for your entertainment, this episode on seasonal fey. Thanks to Cecily Mary Baker, the vague notion that fairies might be connected to seasons became cemented in modern minds (Daisy Meadows is continuing in this vein with a fairy for pretty much anything!) But where did this idea originate? Was it literary heavy weights such as Chaucer and Shakespeare? Or does it go back further to Celtic gods and goddesses? What's the relationship between women and winter within the monomyth? And just what do mischievous fey do on the run up to the solstice? Join us for an episode about creatures which are concerned with anything but spreading good cheer.

 

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Episode 252: Why is There Never a Happy Ending? - and Other Questions Writers Get Asked

This week the dragons take a look at some of the most common questions asked of them and other writers. Where do you get your ideas? Is it possible to make a living as a writer? What's the weirdest thing about being published? How do you write dialogue? Whether you're a curious newbie writer or generally interested in the process, this is a light entertaining episode with a personal touch. And hopefully, it will answer some of your questions. 

 

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Episode 251 To Queer or not to Queer - Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Speculative Fiction

Following recent hits such as The Haunting of Bly Manor and series finales such as the last few episodes of long running show Supernatural, the dragons decided to revisit the topic of LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in speculative fiction. While viewers and readers can now find far more examples of excellent work in this area, there are also a few retrograde instances. Jules and Madeleine look at the perils and pitfalls to avoid with including this branch of diversity, as well as examining where it has been done well.

On the slab this week Supernatural, Bly Manor, Sherlock, Schitts Creek and many more.

 

Please note that this episode contains spoilers for all of the above!

 

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Episode 250: The Usual Suspects - Cast Calling for your Novel

In order to tell a story effectively, a writer needs the right set of characters, including the correct protagonist. But how do you find the right cast and what should you be looking for in both your protagonist and your secondary and tertiary characters? Not to mention your antagonist! This week the dragons take a look at how you can facilitate telling the best version of your story possible by casting your book correctly. They also take a look at what happens when authors mis-cast or ignore signs that a supporting character is more compulsive. Drawing on their own work and speculative fiction behemoths such as A Song of Ice and Fire, Jules and Madeleine discuss how to create a set of characters best fitted to your story and your target audience.

 

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Episode 249 - The Goddess' Chariot - Myths and Folktales of the Moon

The moon has had a profound effect on the development of the human psyche. When we first became conscious of ourselves as sentient creatures and began to track the passage of time, the moon and the sun became inextricably linked to the process. It's no surprise then that every pantheon and culture has its own set of moon myths, deities and superstitions - many of which resonate in the way speculative fiction is written today. This week the dragons take a look at some of the moon mythos and just what this reflects in terms of the changing perceptions humans have held of themselves and their societies. 

 

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Episode 248: All the Feels - Emotion and Characterisation in Speculative Fiction

All fiction requires capturing a reader's interest and one of the best ways to do this is to create sympathetic and empathetic attachments between the reader and your characters. But how can writers ensure they do this effectively every time? Understanding and being able to process your own emotions effectively is a skill that transfers readily to writing. Character arcs are built in part from a character's ability to respond to an emotion in a positive or negative way, and choosing to act accordingly. This, in turn, can shift and redirect the plot. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at a more advanced lesson in character creation, drawing on their own work and that of their favourite authors.

 

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Episode 247: Sweet, Awkward and Tongue-tied - The Unromantic Hero in Speculative Fiction

We're all familiar with the fairy tale prince and the various genre permutations of said character, culminating in the 'alpha male' of paranormal romance. It's not that the dragons think there's anything wrong with readers/ viewers liking these characters, it's just that they personally find them less interesting. This week's episode is dedicated to looking at the atypical romantic hero in speculative fiction - forget rippling abs and a domineering presence, Jules and Madeleine are all about the sweet, nerdy, awkward characters who often get relegated to the sidelines.

On the slab this week: The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Oaken Throne by Robin Jarvis, The Last Unicorn and many more.

 

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Episode 246 - Casting Long Shadows - How Horror Influences Other Genres

For their final Halloween Season episode, the Dragons are delighted to welcome special guest Claire Waller. Claire is the author of the dark YA thriller 'Fugly' and wearing her alter ego's hat, also authored the creature feature 'Predator X' and the Lovecraftian flavoured 'Nine Eyes'.

 

This week the dragons take a look at exactly why horror is so effective and popular, despite its propensity to examine the darker aspects of human nature. It's a little recognised fact, but horror makes its way into almost every genre, adding dark contrast to even the cosiest story. Jules and Madeleine delve into why this works. Under the microscope this week - Fugly by Claire Waller, Alien, The Thing and many more. 

 

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Episode 245: Old Gods & Ancient Stones - What Folk Horror has to say to a Modern Audience

Continuing their Samhain trail in the run up to 31st October, the dragons are pleased to welcome Phil Breach as a guest on this week's episode. Phil is the author of various pieces of weird fiction, dark fantasy and folk horror, both in prose and verse, which makes him the perfect addition for this week's topic. 

 

Folk Horror has existed as a genre far longer than the phrase used to describe it. It's a nebulous sub-genre without firm boundaries but done correctly, it holds a dark mirror up to society and to our connection, or lack thereof, with the natural world. What are the key components of folk horror? How does it reflect and distort our expectations of community? Why is landscape such a huge influencer? Join the dragons for a lively discussion and stay to hear two of Phil Breach's beautifully atmospheric poems. On the slab this week: The Wicker Man (1973), Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series, In the Company of Wolves, Alan Garner's The Owl Service and many more.

 

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Ep 244 - Of Fates and Phantoms - The Anatomy of the Ghost Story

Continuing their Hallowe'en Season themed selection of episodes, this week Jules and Madeleine discuss how ghost stories work. While simple on the surface, ghost stories are fiendishly difficult to write effectively, despite being one of our oldest story forms. The dragons delve into why and how to plan and structure a ghost story, as well as looking at the difference between ghost stories and more main stream horror, before considering some of their favourite tales. On the slab this week - The Woman in Black, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters and many more. 

 

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