Videos

What makes a villain memorable? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan explore why modern villains need more than evil plans and sinister laughs. From Silas Barnaby and S...

When is a writer not alone? You sit at a keyboard wrestling with plot problems, self-doubt, unfinished drafts, and that nagging voice asking whether you're good enough to keep going. This week on Tel...

Even writers with decades of experience hear the negative voices. In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan tackle one of the most common—and most painful—challenges creative...

What happens when Frankenstein's monster survives the torch-wielding mob... and becomes a private detective? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan welcome back prolific ...

Wouldn't it be great if all you had to do was write your book, put it up for sale, and then watch the customer lineup? Well, that's not how it works. In this episode, cohosts Alex Simmons and Chris ...

"...to Build Characters Who Last." What do you do with a monster who's been alive for 160 years, speaks a dozen languages, and sees the moral essence of every human being in colors and shapes — but j...

Hey, Storytellers! This week, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan are getting real about something every creative struggles with at some point—confidence. They’re sharing stories about their own writing ...

In a world filled with chaos, negativity, and nonstop bad news… why should writers create stories with hope? In this solo episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex Simmons explores what it really means to...

How do you create sympathy for a character when all the basic ways appear impossible? Alex and Chris explore the art of crafting believable, relatable characters and explain the power of nuance in st...

What does it really take to break into comics, animation, and film—and stay there? In this episode of Tell The Damn Story, Alex and sit down with screenwriter Brandon Easton to talk about the grind b...

"... Aspiring and Emerging Writers" In this episode, Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons take a candid, often humorous look at the journey of building a writing discipline, especially for emerging authors. ...

... The Art of Backstory Exploration" Today, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan enthusiastically discuss the craft of building unforgettable characters, taking inspiration from none other than Michael B. J...