Rationally Writing

Authors discuss the importance of research in fiction writing. They cover inspirational and spot research, utilizing expert feedback, and exploring realism in world-building and combat scenes.

Professional game writer Kuiper joins Daystar and Alexander to discuss writing as a skill and ways to improve. They cover topics such as not getting attached to ideas, focusing on specific writing skills, crafting engaging plots, and exploring unconventional methods to enhance writing abilities.

Guest Erratic Errata discusses world building in A Practical Guide to Evil, covering topics like societal axioms, reconstructing tropes, free will and deities, video game inspiration, and differences in worldbuilding approaches.

Exploring reader feedback, the podcast covers topics like Paretto's Principle, typos vs style, continuity, deep criticism, and spoiler feedback. They discuss analyzing trends, actionable feedback, and debating time constraints in novel writing.

Special guest CthulhuRaeJepsen discusses pseudonyms and his story Worth the Candle. Topics include writing under a pseudonym, world-building in a unique game setting, exploring character dynamics and romance in a party setting, narrative significance of quest names and achievements, magic systems and game mechanics in storytelling, and the world of magic items and Forge Frenzy.

Discover the importance of considering second-order effects in worldbuilding for rational plots. Topics include Battle School concept, Inadequate Equilibria as Story Elements, Shadows of the Limelight, Consequence of the Consequence, Aesop Exacerbation, and Confronting Civilizational Inadequacy.

An in-depth analysis of the movie 'The Prestige' covering psychological motivations, plot twists, character complexities, and integration of fantastical elements in storytelling. The discussion explores foreshadowing, clashing ideologies, magic, and storytelling, highlighting the movie's well-constructed and rational aspects. Repeat viewings and the intricacies of the cloning machine as a technological marvel are also discussed.

Daystar and Alexander discuss the portrayal of children in fiction, exploring the challenges of keeping them realistic. They touch on the advantages of child protagonists, the struggle with creating smart/mature children characters, and the impact of predictive processing on stories like 'Wonder'. In Pokemon, they discuss the concept of 'The One of a Species'.

Daystar and Alexander delve into the unique aspects of prose fiction mediums, discussing technological limitations, conventions, new media opportunities, and the integration of music. They explore subjectivity in storytelling, the concept of 'Mediumception,' and the challenges and benefits of incorporating visuals, accents, and silences in prose fiction.

Daystar and Alexander delve into power dynamics in fiction, discussing protagonists, antagonists, and power creep. They explore rationalist fiction and the role of powers in shaping identities. The conversation also touches on power in romance stories and the different axes of power differentials.