Story Deep Dive

Episode 67: The Deeper Problem: Escalation, Tension Management, and Slow Build Craft in Spinning Silver

…a framework for putting your characters in no-win situations, how deep problems create more tension than loud ones, and the one first-act problem that…

Apr 12 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1:25:49

Episode 66: Fairy Tale Foundation, Jewish History, and Multi-POV Craft in Spinning Silver

…how to choose your points of view on purpose, build theme into your world, and know the difference between a risk worth taking and one that costs you…

Apr 5 • Rachel Arsenault, Dana Pittman, and Story Deep Dive

1:06:19

March 2026

Episode 65: Why Writing a Novel Is Challenging (And What to Do About It)

…a coaching conversation on first-draft mindset, finishing as a skill, and the one rule that gets you off the hamster wheel and to the end.

Mar 29 • Rachel Arsenault, Dana Pittman, and Story Deep Dive

1:00:40

Episode 64: Book Two Stakes, Series Escalation, and Worldbuilding in Sin & Magic

...exploring how book two raises the stakes, deepens the romance, and expands the world—so every choice your characters make pushes the story forward…

Mar 22 • Rachel Arsenault, Dana Pittman, and Story Deep Dive

1

1:04:23

Episode 63: Characters, Found Family, and Book Two Growth in Sin & Magic

…an exploration of how expanding casts, evolving character arcs, and found family dynamics can deepen emotional stakes and keep readers invested across…

Mar 15 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1

1:11:31

Episode 62: World Expansion, Relational Stakes, and Romance-First Plot in Sin & Magic

…a deep dive into how Book Two can expand your world, escalate emotional stakes, and sustain a slow-burn romance—without losing narrative momentum or…

Mar 8 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1:17:06

Episode 61: Series Structure, Reader Promise, and the 6-Book Slow Burn in Sin & Magic

…a craft-focused breakdown of how to sustain tension across a long-arc romance, deepen character investment in book two, and design a series structure…

Mar 1 • Story Deep Dive, Dana Pittman, and Rachel Arsenault

1:09:21

February 2026

Episode 60: Realism, Restraint, and Deep Emotional Stakes in Before I Let Go

…a craft-focused look at how restraint and emotional pacing create deeper tension and more believable, earned relationships in any genre.

Feb 22 • Story Deep Dive and Dana Pittman

1:12:41

Episode 59: Ensemble Cast, Character Depth, and Emotional Stakes in Before I Let Go

…a breakdown of how supporting characters and shared history carry emotional tension and strengthen your story.

Feb 15 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1

1:09:13

Episode 58: Healing, Grief, and Second Chances in Before I Let Go

…a craft-focused look at how internal stakes, emotional momentum, and intentional structure can carry a story even without a traditional villain.

Feb 8

1:18:13

Episode 57: Second-Chance Romance, Deep Character Work, and Realistic Stakes in Before I Let Go

…a masterclass in rebuilding tension after the ending, designing emotionally layered characters, and creating stakes that feel real, earned, and…

Feb 1 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1:01:10

January 2026

Episode 56: Core Story, Ensemble Cast, and Transformation in Mistborn

…a deep dive into how clear story promises, purposeful supporting characters, and layered arcs create novels readers trust—and can’t stop reading.

Jan 25 • Story Deep Dive, Rachel Arsenault, and Dana Pittman

1

1:04:48