Media Carnivores

Writers often have more ideas for books and screenplays than they have time to write. So how does a writer choose one project over another? Brent and Erik delve into their own careers to share...

Technology has changed both the kinds of stories we tell and how we tell them. Brent and Erik talk about how technology has reshaped the media landscape. This episode also includes our official launch of...

Fan fiction is prevalent on the Internet, and some pieces—like Fifty Shades of Grey, Death Comes to Pemberley, and Amazon’s Kindle World program—have shown that there might be commercial success for certain projects. So is...

Writers don’t often talk about failure. But, almost by definition, writers will fail either artistically or commercially at some point. As Brent says, how we deal with failure determines whether we will be a successful artist. Your...

Academy Awards nominations just came out and the Oscar season has launched in full force. Is this award season meaningful, or just a bunch of nonsense? Brent and Erik look at the annual awards. Your Hosts...

Is Amazon evil? We tackled this question during the early days of the Hachette-Amazon dispute and enough has changed over recent months that we thought this question was worth revisiting again. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger...

Brent and Erik wrap year with a look at the TV, movies, books, and more that stood out in 2014. They discuss the best (and some of the worst) in media this year. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger...

What is “The Thing I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know?” It’s Brent’s new book, the continuation of the story about Russell Middlebrook (from Geography Club) in his early twenties. Brent talks about how the book came to...

How should an artist’s personal life, personal opinions—and possible crimes—affect our view of the artist’s work? Is it ethical to watch the work of an artist who has been alleged to have done terrible things? Your Hosts Brent...

It’s the time of year where we gather around the TV and watch our favorite Christmas specials. But why do we do this? And what makes these specials stick with us for decades? Your Hosts Brent...

It seems like a lot of movies and books with great potential fall apart in the final act or descend into cliche. Why is that so common? Brent and Erik look into this—unfortunately—all-too-common phenomenon. Your Hosts...

Do we expect (and maybe even encourage) artists to be depressed or otherwise eccentric? Does standing on the outside of society and holding up a mirror mean you will always be disappointed, frustrated, and (metaphorically) alone? Brent...

Should novelists also write for the stage? What can you learn from the act of writing a play, and from observing an audience watch it? We look at the benefits (and economics) of writing drama. Your...

Over time, the portrayal of men has changed substantially in movies and television, including sitcom dads, action heroes, character leads in cable dramas, and more. How are men portrayed and characterized? What direction is the going? Your Hosts...

Brent and Erik go into detail about the marketing steps they take to launch a book. This episode also contains an offer to be a beta reader from Brent for his next book! Your Hosts...

“Write what you know” is common advice to new writers. But is it always a good idea? Brent and Erik take different sides and look at what it means for writers and for the stories...

Paranormal romance has been the “it” genre in publishing for years now. How long can it last? And what comes next? We look at some of the biggest recent genres (paranormal romance, zombies, chicklit) and...

Is movie sex actually sexy? We ask the question, and look at why some scenes are sexy (and why some are terrible), why there is sex in movies at all, and why there are so few gay...

Is Nicholas Cage a good actor? This is the question that has haunted America (and Abed) for years. We delve into this important question from both sides (Erik thinks he’s great; Brent thinks he’s terrible)....

Should writers self-publish? Brent Hartinger and Erik Hanberg continue the discussion from Part I by talking about their decisions to traditionally publish or self-publish their books. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik Hanberg Media Consumed This Episode Geography Club (book)...