Are You Now or Have You Ever Been S2 E2 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on October 12, 2026October 9, 2026 by admin

Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast Cover

In Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (S2 E2 of Angel), Angel asks the team to investigate an abandoned Hollywood hotel where it a darker version of Angel lived in the 1950s. Along with the recap of Are You Now or Have You Ever Been, this podcast episode focuses on: (1) themes of shame, forgiveness, and fear; (2) how the 1952 and present-day story weave together; (3) 1952 Angel as a transition between Angelus and Angel; and (4) the episode rating from 0 to 10. Check out Unmeasu...

Choosing the Viewpoint Character

Posted on October 6, 2026October 6, 2026 by admin

Deciding which character will tell a story might be the most important part of any piece of fiction. The authors whose viewpoint characters I love the most are the same ones whose books I race to read the first week they're for sale. (Louise Penny, Sara Paretsky, John Sandford, to name a few.) Sometimes as a writer I think the choice is obvious, then discover it's not. For instance, when I wrote the first draft of No Good Tidings, my Q.C. Davis holiday mystery novelette, I wrote it from the p...

Judgment S2 E1 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on September 28, 2026September 25, 2026 by admin

In Judgment (S2 E1 of Angel), the Angel Investigations team is in top form until Angel makes a deadly mistake. Along with the recap of Judgment, this podcast episode focuses on: (1) how body language illustrates character growth; (2) foreshadowing that signals Angel and his team are on the wrong path; (3) a strong theme that all the same evokes little emotion; (4) why the woman Angel strives to protect doesn't engage the audience; and (5) the episode rating from 0 to 10. Check...

Willow and Rory: Same Character? (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast)

Posted on September 7, 2026September 4, 2026 by admin

At heart, are Willow Rosenberg and Rory Gilmore the same character? And why do so many fans love them both? This between-seasons podcast bonus episode focuses on: (1) how Rory and Willow differ in their love of books and learning; (2) a challenging Season 6 for both characters; (3) social skills, introversion, and having an extroverted, popular best friend; (4) comparing Rory's ambition and Willow's drive; and more. Check out The Awakening Complete Supernatural Thriller Series...

All Of Angel Season 1 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on August 10, 2026September 4, 2026 by admin

All of Angel Season 1 is covered this time on Buffy and the Art of Story. Along with a discussion of the plot turns for the entire season this podcast episode focuses on: (1) themes of disconnection, found families, mundane human evil, and more; (2) character growth for Angel, all the key characters, and side characters like Kate and Lindsey; (3) how Angel the series establishes a world that both differs and draws from the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and (4) a rating of Seas...

To Shanshu in L.A. S1 E22 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on July 27, 2026August 7, 2026 by admin

In To Shanshu in L.A. (S1 E22 of Angel), Angel desperately strives to save Cordelia's and Wesley's lives as Wolfram & Hart begins raising a great evil. Along with the recap of To Shanshu in L.A., this podcast episode focuses on: (1) ever-escalating conflict; (2) gamechangers that reset the series; (3) the impact of strong foreshadowing and bookends; (4) how I Will Remember You informs the action without being mentioned; and (5) the episode rating from 0 to 10. Check out Th...

Blind Date S1 E21 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on July 13, 2026July 10, 2026 by admin

In Blind Date (S1 E21 of Angel), attorney Lindsey McDonald comes to Angel to help save a group of children his evil law firm's assassin plans to kill. Along with the recap of Blind Date, this podcast episode focuses on: (1) a strong origin-story-like subplot for the antagonist, Lindsey; (2) more than one character pushing against your protagonist; (3) themes of right and wrong, trust and relationships, and the reasons for our life choices; and (4) the episode rating from 0 to 10. ...

First Trials and Time Served

Posted on July 1, 2026July 4, 2026 by admin

Before my first trial I felt like I was going to throw up. My palms sweated. My thoughts raced. I'd argued more times than I could count in front of judges, including in appellate courts. But not in front of a jury. To calm me down, my trial partner reminded me that it was low stakes. Our client had already served 18 months in prison while awaiting trial. That was the longest he'd need to serve if the jury found him guilty. In other words, either way he was being released this week. W...

War Zone S1 E20 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast – Angel)

Posted on June 29, 2026June 26, 2026 by admin

In War Zone (S1 E20 of Angel), Angel gets in the middle of a war between vampires and street kids who hunt vampires, led by new character Charles Gunn. Along with the recap of War Zone, this podcast episode focuses on: (1) how well the origin story for new character Gunn works as a twentieth episode of Angel the series; (2) ways the plot and subplots connect through theme more than story; (3) how much practical reality should your fantasy hero deal with? and (4) the episode rating ...

Story Ties, Themes And Terrible Mothers

Posted on June 17, 2026 by admin

What themes tie the stories you love together?

Most novelists have themes that turn up over and over in their fiction. It's part of why readers return to their books again and again. Stephen King often includes groups of outcast kids who must band together to fight evil, evil lurking beneath the surface of small-town life, and the role of faith in both evil and the fight against evil. And, as these examples make clear, good vs. evil overall. At first I didn’t recognize many common themes in my own novels. Common Themes, Very Different No...