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/
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