Inkstains

Host John Urbancik often has conversations about writing related stuff, sometimes just with himself. This week, he discusses Point of View, focusing on First Person and Third Person Limited. He delivers an InkStains Challenge and adds an unexpected twist. And we find out who will be our first ever Guest Host (in two weeks). Stories include creating shadows, the last man on Earth, and things to consider when moving. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  As our host prepares to move overseas, he's no longer living in today. He's focused on tomorrow. He's writing possible future stories from his own, yet-to-be-lived life. He also talks about gardens. A lot. He makes a terrible metaphor and he runs with it. He talks about the things interfering with his creative processes. And he reviews 2008's Speed Racer. Stories this week include a boy with a coin trick, the heat of summer, and prep work for the eclipse. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

Humankind is a social animal. But sometimes, we cannot focus on everyone else, we have to focus on ourselves. Even still, we sometimes come together as a community, as we will with Scares that Care Weekend. Summer of Movies continues with Oceans 8 and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Stories include lights in the dark, a Midnight garden, and the Widow's Alley. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  Where do we get our ideas? The question never dies, so let's explore some real answers. Including coloring outside the lines, tigers in the clouds, and all the color Slushees you can't find. This week's InkStains Challenge will hurt you. And we review Ant-man and The Wasp as well as Universal's recent The Mummy, the one with Tom Cruise no one wanted to like. Stories include imagination, trying to find oneself in Midnight, and the Heart of Darkness. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

Revisions in fiction, revisions in real life. We discuss the revision process and the mechanics of how it's done. As our host plans to move to Madrid, and officially enter his Spanish Period, he contemplates his forthcoming memoir: Hombre Lobo Americano en Madrid. And he considers the things undone in his immediate neighborhood. And yours. Stories include love spells, the carnival in Midnight, and an offer you cannot refuse. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  With the upcoming move to Madrid, our host finds himself short on time to get an episode recorded, so he goes off script without notes, thoughts, or a net. And he talks about adventure. This week's story is the opening excerpt from Madmen, Poets, & Thieves, a Midnight novella. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

Let's talk about characters. What makes a good, compelling character? Is it the color of their eyes or the song on their lips? Or is it something else entirely? The most elaborate InkStains challenge yet. Summer of Movies continues with The Incredibles 2, directed by Brad Bird. Stories about heartbreak, a poet's death, and cute little baby godlings. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  It's time to pack up and move. Again. As a means of rediscovering inspiration? Spanish Lessons. Closing the Library. Naming Your Characters. And the Summer of Movies continues with How to Talk to Girls at Parties, based on the Neil Gaiman short. Stories this week include breakfast in New Orleans, the god of love in love, and a man inherits a magic chest. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

The Summer of Movies begins with Solo: A Star Wars Movie and this near-spoiler-free review. Spreadsheets, dry erase boards, index cards, sticky notes, and other ways to organize future projects. Stories this week include a random stranger at gunpoint, discussion of time as a river or city, and a man waking up in an airport. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  To build suspense in fiction, we look at the movies. Psycho and The Matrix: Reloaded and look at the motorcycle freeway chase. We discuss conflict, and issue a new InkStains challenge with multiple possibilities. Then we talk about music, the listening of music, and the advantages of vinyl over iPhone music broadcast on weak FM bands to your car stereo. Stories this week include Starry Night, a King in Yellow, and a clock. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

Our host takes a part time gig at the movies. Which feels like failure. But is it? Some thoughts on Mo*Con and The Scares that Care Telethon. We get into titles, their purposes, and how to find them. And Summer of Movies officially began in February. Talk about Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War, and Deadpool 2, but only spoils Zoolander and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Also: trailers, and how Bohemian Rhapsody got it right. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

Host John Urbancik answers listener questions. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  Host John Urbancik goes through some of his favorite things. In Part Two, he discusses art, museums, and books. The early influences and the current favorites. The things that interest, intrigue, and inspire. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

  Host John Urbancik goes through some of his favorite things. In Part One, he discusses movies, TV, and music. The early influences and the current favorites. The things that interest, intrigue, and inspire. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

  Rhythm isn't limited to just the meter of specific sentences. Paragraphs have rhythm. Chapters. Entire novels. Also, let's talk photography, and interconnectedness of art. Also discussed: keyboards, conventions, and the summer of movies. Stories include ink dragons, unsubstantiated scientific theories, and a haunted ship. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

It's time for an old fashioned road trip through Nashville, Indianapolis, York, and Richmond. What do you pack for the road? Prepare as best you can, and seek out the unexpected. A listener creates his own InkStains challenge. And John Urbancik gets excited. Stories include: reflections, how I write a novel, and the search for magic. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  First: do you need a formal education to be a writer, painter, musician, or artist? What other kind of education is there? A Ten Day InkStains Challenge! (Work till your fingers bleed?) Reading outside your own demographic. How I'm not reading enough other points of view. Stories this week include: Life on the Road, a nonfiction piece about Creativity, and the Master of Winds. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

We've survived another April Fool's Day. Faux pregnancies and spaghetti trees abound. Some thoughts about stupidity in humor, and about the importance of whimsy. Enthusiasm, symbolism, the things that work for you, and building a community. Also convention and appearance information. InkStains on the Road. Hungry hungry muses. And stories, including: the nature of maps, the nature of cities, and a procession of fools. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.

  A trip to the Hermitage Museum & Gardens collides with classic cosmic horror in one writer's head, and the results are instantaneous yet indescribable, and provides evidence that you need to get out of your house every once in a while to kickstart something. Get out of your house and out of your genre, and do a better job of exploring and discovering. Stories include a tower climbed for love, what the middle child does at a park, and the Master of Clocks asks for a day off. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.  

Sliced Bread has been a thing since 1928. Before that, we had wrapped bread. All invention, and all art, draws upon what came before us and moves us forward. This week's InkStains challenge asks you to seek a particular inspiration. Reading Clickers Forever causes host John Urbancik to consider his own legacy and yours. Stories include the computers taking over, John Urbancik Appreciation Month, and the scales we face at the end. John Urbancik discusses writing, photography, art, and creativity, and also reads stories.