Inkstains

Host John Urbancik discusses takes a break from telling stories to get together with a bunch of friends in a hotel room in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Normally, such a thing would not be for the public, but this time we've got James A Moore and Christopher Golden from Three Guys with Beards; Brian Keene, Mary SanGiovanni, and Dave Thomas from The Horror Show with Brian Keene; and special guests Tim Lebbon and Rio Youers!

Host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity on InkStains. This week: part two of the reading of the novella NECROPOLIS. Two couples and a woman on her own are in the necropolis when twilight falls. But it's a long twilight, and a lot can happen, especially as they each realize they're not as alone as they thought. After, John Urbancik discusses how you can explore real life issues and fears in your fiction.

Host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity on InkStains. This week: part one of the reading of the novella NECROPOLIS. Two couples and a woman on her own are in the necropolis when twilight falls. But it's a long twilight, and a lot can happen. After, John Urbancik discusses the birth of this tale, and some of the various little things that came together to make it happen.

Host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week: He talks about current events in the least direct way possible as part of a discussion about important (or not important) tools for creating art (things like vision, education, ambition, etc); he talks about balance, between the day job and the art, and between the violence of real life and the need to create art; and he answers a user question about why particular ideas get worked on while others get pushed aside. Readings include an iteration of what life should be, a story about a doll, and another story about dolls.

Host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week: Impossibilities, where he tells you why you shouldn't just give your work away for free; he talks about a recent road trip with another horror author and what went wrong; he tells you why he's reading Paperbacks from Hell, discusses little epiphanies, and answers a listener question about people watching. Readings include an alien invasion of Great Britain, a sales pitch for a new form of transportation, and a meta-fictional tale of what really happened in the dark woods of Pennsylvania.

Host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he describes The Pasture. It's not just where he puts old stories and false starts out to die, but it's also a garden. Readings include an egg thief, an explanation of what happens when you die, and a chase through a carnival.

Join host John Urbancik as he discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he takes on Failure -- and why we should be doing more of it. Readings include a carousel in an antique shop, an old magician, and a man with nothing left to lose who bets everything on a spin of the wheel.

Join host John Urbancik as he discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, in the first show recorded at the new DarkFluidity Studios, he talks about the systems and tools stolen from his own past lives to assist with the details of his longer projects. Readings include a roller coaster on the side of a mountain, riding the lightning, and a brutal road trip.

Join host John Urbancik as he discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he records for the last time from the DarkFluidity Studios in Florida before boldly stepping into the unknown future, so he talks about all our futures, and about hope. Readings include a mermaid washing up on shore, a woman discovering an artist on the other side of the world who has sketched her face, and a ghoulish Halloween tale.

Join host John Urbancik as he discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he explains his obligations -- not to publishers, and not even to readers or listeners, but to himself. Readings include an unused bolt of lightning, the boathouse before the Riverman, and a princess and her tiger.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses the movie Baby Driver, specifically its use of music, and how he incorporates music into his fiction. Readings include a race through the woods, magic in the City of Night, and a crime noir set on the highways of New England.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses his recent road trip, including stops at Necon (The North Eastern Writer's Conference) and the Frazetta Museum in Pennsylvania. Readings include a rat and a dying man in the subways, a story about the City of Night, and what happens to the freight elevator when the close the art museum.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he talks about some of his favorite authors, artists, films, and musicians, and why choosing favorites can be so hard to do. A listener asks to explain how actions are stronger than words and the pen is mightier than the sword can both be true. Readings include a haunting in New Orleans, a poet at a desk, and a ship sailing to the end of the earth.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses Time-Life's Mysteries of the Unknown and other forms of research, then later explore expository writing and fake childhood memories. A listener asks about Dungeons & Dragons. Readings include an open air market and a search for a gift for a daughter, if I were the moon goddess, and the poetry of thunder.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses questions writers must ask, and doesn't limit his discussion to just the 5 W's. Readings include the final scenes of a summer blockbuster, a story of Midnight, the City of Night, and a piece about constellations.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses focus, and applies it not just to the obvious arts of film and photography, but also to culinary arts and poetry and fiction. And a listener asks him to sing. Readings include an artificial intelligence calling itself Adam, the restoration of magic, and a man trying to jump to the moon.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses the power of language and explains why words matter. He answers listener questions about his favorite genres. Readings include a world without chocolate, the daughter of gods, and a story about what happens after the hero saves the day.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he discusses the magic of writing, music, illustration,and painting. He answers listener questions about stories, music, and scents that recall the past. Readings include a bourbon infused noir piece, something about a juggler, and a tale of an enchanted sword at the bottom of a lake.

Join host John Urbancik discusses writing and photography and art and creativity. This week, he's asked if his photographic eye affects the way he writes. He answers listener questions about tying shoes and when he knew he wanted to write. Readings include another New Orleans inspired ghost story, a magician with only one trick, and the reviled Hero Killer.

Host John Urbancik discusses outlines and answers listener questions about when the words won't flow and after-work rituals. Readings include a ghost story about New Orleans jazz, non-fiction about the muse, and the Clock Man.