Inking Neon: Light Up Your Stories

In 2006 Peter Watts published Blindsight, a darkly creative and hugely popular sci-fi novel about first contact. We’re reacting to this classic, appreciating its themes, and trying to extract lessons for ourselves as writers. How do you challenge your readers with really creative ideas without losing them? Watts managed it, and we think we know how.
Edited by Cullen McHaelProduced by Cullen McHaelHosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael
Follow us!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeonApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOFAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-storiesiHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/

Matt Dinniman’s breakout best seller is certainly popular, but is it good? We explore 7 reasons for its runaway success and try to extract some lessons to apply to our own writing. Jump on the ride and let us know what you think we missed!
 
The book itself: https://mattdinniman.com/books/dungeon-crawler-carl/
 
00:00 Introduction to Lit RPG and Its Appeal
04:38 Reason #1: The Vibe of Carl
11:15 Reason #2: Unhinged Chaos 
17:38 Reason #3: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
21:25 The Two Kinds of Humor
23:18 Reason 4: Viscera
28:57 Absorb For +1 to Humor. Don't Sell Your Day Job.
37:52 Reason #5: They Call Them "Novels"
45:33 Short Readings
49:23 Reason #6: Can You Go Wrong With a Talking Cat? (Yes)
56:57 Reason 7: The Payoff Paradox
01:00:48 Summary and Final Thoughts
Date Record: Mar 28, 2026
Date Publish: Apr 4, 2026
Edited by Cullen McHael
Produced by Cullen McHael
Hosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael
 
Follow us!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/

In episode 7 of Inking Neon we sit down with author J.A. Merkel to discuss sustaining energy in a long running series, and techniques for building emotional realism. J.A. Merkel is the author of The Fall Gauntlet, a gladiatorial science-fantasy series. 
 
Pick up your copy of Bear by J.A. Merkel here: https://store.jamerkel.com/products/the-fall-gauntlet-book-1-bear-ebook
 
00:00 Introduction to JA Merkel
03:01 Reading from Bear - Book 1 of The Fall Gauntlet
16:59 Short Stories As Strategy for Finding a Market
21:41 Turning a Short Story Into a Series
24:50 Planning for a Long Series
31:35 Merging Old and New: The Deeper Themes of Science-Fantasy
46:40 Writing Emotional Realism
53:34 Game Design Informing Fiction
57:55 Final Thoughts on Writing and Market Awareness
 
Follow us!
 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/
J.A. Merkel: https://jamerkel.com

Author Sill Bihagia reads from her book Red Demon and shares insights about how to find your family in science fantasy, what’s next in the world of mushroom brain science, and loads more. Join us and explore the craft of storytelling (and mycelia social networks)!
 
Pick up your copy of Red Demon by Sil Bihagia here: https://www.sillauthor.com/book-for-sale 
 
00:00 Introduction
03:01 Reading from Red Demon by Sill Bihagia
18:57 Diving Deeper into Found Family
23:42 Fight Scene Dynamics
29:43 The Fascinating World of Mushroom Magic and Hard Science Souls
31:37 Neuroscience and Memory
34:49 Mushroom Community
44:11 Global Reach of Indie Authors
46:54 Character Development and Found Family Dynamics
50:02 The Importance of Kindness in Character Interactions
54:56 What Readers Want
59:32 The Essence of Found Family
01:05:49 Embracing Unconventional Relationship
 
Follow us!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/
Sill Bihagia: https://www.sillauthor.com

Swashbuckling adventure author Nicholas Atwater joins us to share hard-earned insights learned from writing his book, Echoes of the Imperium. We discuss how to make your protagonist interesting in more than one way, and also how most great things come from spite. Well… most of our great things. You be the judge? 
 
00:00 Introductions
02:32 Reading from Echoes of the Imperium, Chapter 1
09:02 Why a Goblin Captain?
15:54 How to Write Big Ensembles? 
23:06 Protagonists Worth Rooting For
32:06 Managing Reader Bandwidth, and Understanding What You're Asking
42:17 The Evolution of the Mission
50:04 Characters as Investment Opportunities
59:19 Conclusions
 
Grab your copy of Echoes of the Imperium: https://www.nicholasatwater.com/ 
 
Follow us!
Nicholas Atwater: https://www.nicholasatwater.com/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/

Stuart says you’ve got to plot your stories. Cullen isn’t so sure! Maybe you can just fly by the seat of your pants? We lay out our arguments in the (timeless?) Pants vs Plot debate. Also featured: Joseph Cambell was a moron; is Save the Cat worthless?; the creativity of David Lynch; and examples of stirring scenes from Dune Part II and The Fellowship of the Ring.
00:00 The Plotter vs. Pantser Debate
02:15 The Plotter Opening Statement: The Importance of Plotting in Speculative Fiction
05:29 The Pantser Opening Statement: The Joy of Discovery in Writing
10:56 The Utility of Knowing Your Story's Themes
14:59 The Simplicity at the Heart of Complex Stories
20:40 Navigating Plot Structures
28:41 Exploring the Themes of 'The Lord of the Rings'
40:29 Exploring David Lynch's Creative Process
45:30 Dune: Themes of Power and Revenge
52:27 Stuart's Pathos, Ethos, and Logos Toolkit
57:16 Closing statements: The Balance of Plotting and Discovery in Writing
Stuart’s Examples:
 
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Interpreted by Peter Jackson, screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair
DUNE by Frank Herbert Interpreted by Dennis Villanueva, Screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Dennis Villanueva, Eric Roth.
 
Referenced in this conversation:
The Hero With A Thousand Faces, Joseph Cambell
Seven Basic Plots, by Christopher Booker
Save the Cat, by ​​Blake Snyder
The Writer’s Journey, Christopher Vogler
The Heroine's Journey: Woman's Quest for Wholeness by Maureen Murdock
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting
 
Date Record: Oct 14, 2025
Date Publish: Oct 15, 2025
Music by Cullen McHael
Edited by Cullen McHael
Produced by Cullen McHael
Hosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael
 
Follow us!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/

Stuart J. Tanner and Cullen McHael trade examples of compelling antagonists in speculative fiction from Sci-Fi to Fantasy, deconstruct the role of the antagonist, and offer advice from hard earned lessons about how and when to consider your antagonist in your writing process. Cullen lists nine kinds of antagonist, which one are you?  
 
0:00 Intro5:28 The Role of the Antagonist8:40 Antagonist Example: The Joker in the Dark Knight15:41 The Antagonist Letdown24:32 9 Kinds of Antagonist: Which One Are You?30:46 The Complexity of Antagonists33:01 The Bully: from Nurse Ratchet to Big Brother41:23 Antagonists Beyond Ideologies48:26 Cullen's Final Comments: Lowering the Bar and Escaping Inflated Expectations53:04 Stuart Final Comments: Joys of Speculative Fiction
Questions of the Day:
When do you decide on an antagonist?
Great Antagonists—what makes them great?
The Joker from The Dark Knight
Roy Batty in Bladerunner
Sauron in The Lord of the Rings
Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Johan from Monster
Failed Antagonists—why? 
Types of antagonist? 
Fallen hero
Competitor hero
Evil mask
Bully
Corrupt priest
Unstoppable force
Grand shadow
Wild beast
Hostile environment
How might you fit an antagonist into the narrative, especially at the first third of the book?
How does your choice of antagonist shape your narrative?
How do we set out to decide what kind of antagonist to use in a given story?
 
Follow us!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InkingNeon
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories/id1838329557
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qSplbBX4oYmd2pYoSAzOF
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c7826f91-085a-4509-9c69-d90fef1bdb5b/inking-neon-light-up-your-stories
iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-inking-neon-light-up-your-294206954
PodBean: https://inkingneon.podbean.com/
Cullen McHael: https://cullenmchael.com 
Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08XW3G4WG/ https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-of-Story/dp/B08JL6GJBR/
 
Music by Cullen McHael
Edited by Cullen McHael
Produced by Cullen McHael
Hosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael

Stuart J. Tanner and Cullen McHael share hard-earned lessons about getting your fight scenes right.
0:00 Intro1:34 What are Fight Scenes For?10:00 The Fun Element11:00 Problem Solving14:39 Scaffolding, Worldbuilding, and Playing With Rules24:22 The Great Challenge: Clarity28:25 Examples of Compelling Fight Scenes32:52 4 Things a Fight Scene Can Do34:56 Establishing Stakes: Costs, Risks, and Invincibility40:17 Reading: Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan45:10 Analysis of Altered Carbon's Effectiveness and Choices55:18 Final Thoughts
Edited by Cullen McHaelProduced by Cullen McHaelHosts: Stuart J. Tanner, Cullen McHael
Questions of the Day:1. Why are fight scenes important in speculative fiction?2. Examples of compelling fight scenes?3. What makes a fight scene compelling?4. Why have fight scenes?5. Where do authors sometimes go wrong with fight scenes?
Book RecommendationsAltered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

On this first episode of Inking Neon, journalist, author, and teacher Stuart J. Tanner is sent to Baghdad at the height of the Iraq occupation and discovers that and other strange worlds. We discuss what makes for compelling characters, the process of investigation in writing, and read from Stuart's book Devas: A Sci-Fi adventure in which a serial murder case spirals out of control when a detective discovers an alien civilization.
0:00 Intro7:21 The Ultimate Challenge10:15 Visitors in a Strange Land19:04 Examples of Compelling Characters29:30 The Case of the Tabula Rasa Character35:34 How to Keep Your Characters from Knowing What You Know43:00 How Do Good Author’s Make Bad Characters?52:41 Reading: Devas, a Sci-Fi Novel
Buy Devas, by Stuart J. Tanner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XWSCFP9