Sunday, October 18, 2026

TELL THE DAMN STORY, ep. 437: Your Story’s Not Working? Then Try Telling It Another Way.

You’ve got the idea. You’ve written some scenes. But have you found the best way to tell your damn story? In episode 437, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore how research, curiosity, and experimenting with different formats can help writers find their way. Chris shares a work in progress that’s led him through microfiction, punk rock oral histories, and World War Z. Alex recalls finding the right dialogue for his Sherlock Holmes play—and an experience in Africa that brought unexpected life to his fiction. Come join the conversation. Then tell us: What unexpected discovery helped YOUR story? Subscribe for more conversations about telling your damn story. MORE TELL THE DAMN STORY: https://tellthedamnstory.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: ☕ Did this episode help you tell your story better? Help us keep sharing decades of creative experience—free of charge—by buying TTDS a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tellthedamnstory Have questions or comments for us? Post in the comments section below or ... Write: TTDSOnAir@gmail.com And follow us on ... @Tell The Damn Story www.Facebook.com/Tell The Damn Story 00:00 Inspiration from everyday observations 05:28 Deciding on the book's format 09:40 Choosing a Shorter Story Format 12:55 Learning from storytelling formats 14:18 Elle Marie Wood's book discussion 19:07 Encouraging creative exploration 20:51 Experimental storytelling formats 27:29 Discovering the creek's grim scene 29:20 Homework as creative inspiration 31:45 Finding Your True Calling