Claim OwnershipRadio FreeWrite
Subscribed: 4Played: 26
Subscribe
© 2026 Radio FreeWrite
Description
A podcast for lovers of stories- reading them, hearing them, and writing them. We provide a new prompt every week, then share the stories we have created from that prompt. We discuss the stories and the art of storytelling while encouraging listeners to create their own stories along with us.
182 Episodes
Reverse
In this episode of Radio FreeWrite, The Cru explores the absurd, satirical style of Gilbert and Sullivan and explores how far you can push an idea once you follow it to its most ridiculous logical conclusion. But it goes deeper than just playful storytelling. We dive into the power of creative partnerships, from legendary collaborations to our own experiences trying (and sometimes failing) to find the right artistic partner. What makes a collaboration work? Can another writer strengthen your ...
This week on Radio FreeWrite, The Cru takes a step back from writing to talk about... reading. What should writers be reading? Does it matter if it’s fiction, nonfiction, or even audiobooks? And do audiobooks actually count as reading? We dig into all of it, including: Why writers need to read widely across genresConsiderations of audiobooks and oral storytelling in modern writingHow classic works like Frankenstein, Beowulf, and The Iliad still influence storytelling todayHow and when to use ...
In our 151st episode, The Cru dives into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson, author of the infamous short story The Lottery. We explore what makes Jackson’s writing so enduringly disturbing, from her use of the uncanny and the “horror of the mundane” to her razor-sharp final lines. Along the way, we discuss why The Lottery remains a staple of high school reading lists even as many readers find her lesser-known stories far more powerful. We also touch on Jackson’s life, her dual career wr...
We gathered on a cold, snowy, generally Clevelandwintery evening in January to celebrate our 150th episode at Forest City Brewery! Joined by a few friends and a lot of Spud's extended family, we recorded an intimate live episode. Enjoy! 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). Plea...
This week on Radio FreeWrite, we do something a little different. Instead of writing to a new prompt, we bring in a finished draft and talk through what happens after the writing part is over. We listen to a complete short story together, then start dissecting it to figure out where it’s strongest and weakest points are. Then, we chat about how it might grow. From there, the conversation wanders into line edits versus big-picture fixes, giving feedback without rewriting someone else’s ...
The Cru dives deep into one deceptively small word with outsized consequences: had. Before writing from the prompt fanfaron—a swaggering bully or cowardly boaster—we get into a lively craft discussion about the pluperfect tense (the “past of the past”). Why does it so often feels forced? How, as a writer, do you know it's actually doing meaningful work on the page? Murph makes the case against overusing had, PC breaks down how context can replace grammar, and Father Spud champions the musical...
The Cru is joined by Carolyn, aka The Whisky Type, to chat all things writing, typewriter, and whisky related. We had a great conversation about the importance of sharing your work, and the joy common to cigars, whisky, and typewriters: they're all meant to be enjoyed slowly. After you tune in, be sure to check out Carolyn's website! NB, stories begin around the 17:15 mark, and while they weren't sponsored by Lagavulin (yet!), like many a Scottish babe they owe some significant part of their ...
In our 146th episode, the Cru gather for their annual yuletide retreat to Spliff's Christmas Cabin. There, we discuss hygge: the nordic word for coziness, conviviality, and joy. When a writer attempts to give their piece a vibe---a general impression, a feeling they want the reader to experience---how do they pull it off without it feeling saccharine? The last thing you want is your readers feeling pandered-to. We've got a bagful of tricks for you to try out, including some excellent ad...
In this episode, The Cru chat about the frustrating demands of writing in the social media age. Modern authors are increasingly expected to build their own followings and endlessly promote themselves online—and that… just ain’t us. At the same time, PC scored his first contract through a Twitter contest, so the benefits of online interaction are real. Can writers be private, authentic, and still get published? Join us live! Come write with us at Forest City Brewing on January 16th, 2026! Door...
What does first person pov sound like with minimal use of "I" and "my?" The Cru conclude their series on points of view in fiction with a series of experimental pieces that push the common boundaries around points of view. This was our annual "Brekkie Eppie," too, so expect some breakfast talk (particularly about Sandwich's delicious cinnamon rolls). Stories begin around the 2-:45 mark! Like this weeks episode and wish you could read as well as listen? Subscribe to our Substack for a summary ...
In our penultimate episode on point of view in fiction, we load you up with omniscient narrator tips. We discuss everything from the Quran to Tolkien as we tackle third person omniscient in our craft discussion. When do you limit, and when do you embrace the godlike power of omniscience? What are the biggest traps writers fall into with omniscient narrators? We discuss it all. And we have mulled cider, which was extremely pleasant for us, but I doubt it translates to audio particularly w...
Poet and podcaster Johna joins us to chat about writing, reading, and buying too many books. On her program, Booking It! With Johna, she interviews indie authors about the hustle and hurdles of life as a writer. We also cover the dangers of book stores (spoiler, Ohio has a ton of great ones), the anxiety of sharing drafts, and omnipresent impostor syndrome. Check out Johna's book of poetry, My Lonely Love, too! Stories begin around the 15:10 mark and include a voyeuristic gaze...
Ok, he didn't get (sort of) married on the episode, but he's had three weddings to plan so far this year and has been absent for some time, and we were so thrilled upon his return that we promptly forgot about third person omniscient, which was ostensibly the focus of the episode. Krispy isn't legally married (which makes him no less wedded to his wife, in our humble opinion; they just haven't clued in Uncle Sam yet), but perhaps that will come in a later episode. What do we talk ab...
This week the Cru swap tales and writing tips for overcoming every writer's stalking shadow: writer's block. PC focuses on writing to a deadline; WebEater lauds the primacy of the editing process (you can't, after all, edit a blank page!), and Murph Kobayashi Marus the whole thing by changing his mindset. Stories start around the 20:30 mark and include a meet cute; a meat cute; a prehistoric intellectual/inventor; and another meet cute (but this time through the nostalgic eyes of a lost...
This week author Olivia Snow joins the Cru to talk regency romance writing, writing while parenting, and the mutual suffering all writers share. We talk shop along the way, from character creation to outlining to marketing, and take a good long look at how to create real depth for characters. The flash fiction portion of the podcast kicks off at 12:40 and includes a crusty (or at least, suspected to be crusty) duke, a light haunting, a snowball fight, and the alteration of travel p...
The Cru sit down with board game designer Bruce Glassco, author of Betrayal at House on the Hill, to chat about narrative game design and literary inspiration in board games. Bruce shares his inspiration for a haunted house game, as well as the challenges (and tricks to overcome them) of writing a horror-genre board game. It's a fun conversation ranging from Wuthering Heights to the challenges of playtesting. Stories begin at the 25:45 mark and include a cursed bargain and the price of eterna...
This week you will hear all about second person point of view. You'll enjoy a few choose your own adventure-style (NB- they can't be actual Choose Your Own Adventure stories, as that's trademarked) stories, and you'll hopefully share in the nostalgia the Cru has for those marvelous works of the 80s and 90s. You'll also learn about the immersive narration second person pov provides, including the dangers of using the reader as a character. It's a fun writing challenge, and you're sure to enjoy...
Welcome to Spooky Season! In our writing craft discussion this week, we focus on first person narration. It can be particularly powerful for horror, but can wear on readers when they have to read "I, I, I" over and over again. So, it must be treated with care! BUT, for those willing to practice with it, it opens plenty of doors. From unreliable narrators to the horrific tension found only inside the head of a madman, we cover it all. Stories this week begin around the 20:40 mark and include a...
This week the Cru studies Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. We discuss his life, his career, and the styles and themes towards which he gravitated. Place and time were super important to Mahfouz, and Krispy shares what it was like to walk through Cairo following Mahfouz's footsteps. Then we shamelessly steal his style as an author imitation challenge, learning from his style to strengthen our own. Stories begin at the 23:30 mark and include the life of a jinn, told through her own words; a train...
In this episode, the Cru dives into the world of submissions: the grind of rejection slips; the rare joy of a personal note from the editor; the endless predawn hours of "why did I have to fall in love with writing;" and the importance of READING THE DANG GUIDELINES when sending your work to literary magazines. We swap insights on what editors look for, how to handle feedback, and the value of old-fashioned gumption. Stories this week begin around the 31:30 mark (yeah, we packing in a LOT of ...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States