About this podcast
(Speculative Sandbox is currently on break while Vickie writes a book on deadline!)
Join author Vickie Lan to unpack the tropes that make fiction fun!
Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.
Cover image photographed by J.D. Fitzgerald.
Episode cover images and zoom backgrounds feature royalty-free images from Canva and Pexels.
Audio provided by Anchor and Transistor.fm
Episodes
The newest 20 of 130 episodes
- 86. Genre-blending in fiction · 57 min · Season 1 Episode 86Author and ghost writer Leslie Baird joins the podcast to talk about her debut novel "Salomé", genre blending, marketing for authors, and the difference between retellings and…
- 85. Forecasting through fiction · 43 min · Season 1 Episode 85Scientists make technological advancements...science fiction writers explore what happens when those technologies go wrong. But what happens when the fiction inspires the…
- 84. Black Swan Events · 43 min · Season 1 Episode 84How well does fiction capture devastating levels of mass emergencies? Guest author Helen Hynson Vettori, a former EMT/paramedic and retired senior medical intelligence analyst at…
- 83. Cozy Fantasy · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 83It's time to cozy up near the fire with a mug of coffee/tea/hot chocolate as Vickie Lan and author Garrett K. Jones talk about the cozy fantasy book genre. Garett K. Jones can be…
- AUTHOR TAKEOVER: L.L. Madrid and Lora Durance talk about Writing When the World Feels Broken · 35 minAuthors L.L. Madrid and Lora Durance take over the podcast this week to talk about horror, rage, and what it's like writing and reading dark content while living in an unsettling…
- AUTHOR TAKEOVER: Alisa Alering and Gloria Munoz talk about Hopeful Dystopia · 45 minAlisa Alering, author of the book Smothermoss and this week's podcast guest host, interviews author Gloria Munoz about her book This is the Year and what it's like to write a…
- AUTHOR TAKEOVER: Garrett K. Jones talks about writer's block · 20 minAuthor Garrett K. Jones guest-hosts the podcast to talk about writer's block. Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions…
- 82. Death Games · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 82Hunger Games, Squid Games, Dungeon Crawler Carl...Hayley Chow joins Vickie Lan on the podcast to talk about Death Games! From real life to fiction, we cover the social commentary…
- 81. Writing for the screen · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 81What should novel writers know about screen writing? Author Luis Prieto joins the podcast to talk with Vickie Lan about the basics of writing a screenplay (or an audio drama!)…
- 80. Secrets in fiction · 55 min · Season 1 Episode 80Mysteries, suspense, thrillers...how can writers use secrets to advance their plots? Author Teddie Peacock joins the podcast to discuss the many ways to build intrigue and keep…
- 79. Speculative Flash Fiction · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 79Author Avitus B. Carle joins Vickie Lan on the podcast to read her story How We Survive, and to provide insight on the 'flash' side of fiction writing. The video version of this…
- 78. Avenging Angels · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 78Damien Alameda returns to the podcast to discuss with Vickie Lan the Avenging Angels trope! Learn what drives these "angels" and distinguishes them from a classic hero's journey…
- 77. Romance in Speculative Fiction · 50 min · Season 1 Episode 75Author Emily Colin joins Vickie Lan to discuss the building blocks of romance in speculative fiction, including how to keep momentum after the couple gets together, how character…
- 76. Fated Destiny · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 76Author and dream interpreter Megan Mary joins Vickie Lan to discuss the Fated Destiny, Discovered Magick, and The Chosen One tropes. The video version of this episode can be…
- 75. Where are the aliens? · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 75Where are the aliens? While NASA and military officials provide testimonials on the world stage, author Grace Richard joins Vickie Lan to discuss the ways science fiction writers…
- 74. Fragmenting the Author · 50 min · Season 1 Episode 74Alisa Alering, author of the book "Smothermoss", joins Vickie Lan in a discussion about the ways authors use pieces of themselves to make authentic characters, including…
- 73. Uncanny Fiction · 41 min · Season 1 Episode 73Author Becca Mionis joins Vickie Lan in a discussion on uncanny fiction, which, similar to the uncanny valley, leaves readers in a state of unease or confusion. The video…
- 72. In Defense of Tropes · 50 min · Season 1 Episode 72Author Brent Miller joins the podcast to talk about the perceptions of tropes, the slippery slope into cliches, and whether or not it's actually possible to write a trope-less…
- 71. Gonzo Fiction · 53 min · Season 1 Episode 71It's the blurring of fact and fiction as author Garrett K. Jones joins the podcast to talk about Gonzo Fiction, known for its unique narrative style as seen in Fear and Loathing…
- 70. Mythical Archetypes · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 70Author Lauren Teffeau joins Vickie Lan to discuss non-theistic mythical archetypes in fiction, including Carl Jung's 12 brand archetypes and the way archetypes can be used to…
