Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the woods, there lived a witch named Agatha. She was known for her dark powers and her cunning ways. One day, a young man named Benjamin came across Agatha's cottage while he was wandering through the forest. Intrigued by the tales he had heard about the mysterious witch, Benjamin decided to pay her a visit. Agatha, sensing Benjamin's presence, welcomed him into her cottage with a sly smile. She knew that he had come seeking something, although he himself was unsure of what it was.
I was on the salesfloor this morning, doing a task that I occasionally do, surrounded by the books of the counter. You know those fun little distractions at the checkout. The ones that you pick up for hostess gifts, for that one person you never can buy for, and that “I need a treat and it might be Champlain Chocolate [so yummy], but my waist will thank me for a book instead” books. After finishing my task, instead of taking my normal route back to the stairs to get to the office I now work, I took a new one because I happened to notice the back of a book that was on a display and wanted to check it out. The pink cover and the black text had grabbed my attention and I had a minute to spare. After all, I might work behind the scenes, but I am still a bookseller (and of course lover) at heart.
Doylestown Books ask them to see if I can sign it, and I might be able to swing by and do exactly that, and in fact I may be soon in possession of bookplates also featuring Natalie s signature. Ridiculous in a good way is, WOW HEDGEHOGS CAN TALK NOW, THAT S CRAZY, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE DEEP, COMPLICATED THOUGHTS ABOUT SPACE TRAVEL, HOW RIDICULOUS.
She knew that he had come seeking something, although he himself was unsure of what it was. As they sat across from each other, Agatha studied Benjamin closely. She could see the curiosity and restlessness in his eyes, and she knew that he was ripe for manipulation.
Episode 352: You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton! – Interview with Chuck Wendig
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone I have the honor of considering both a colleague and friend, Chuck Wendig.
Chuck is the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers, Star Wars: Aftermath, the Miriam Black thrillers, and the Atlanta Burns books, as well as Zer0es and Invasive, alongside other works across comics, games, film, and more.
He was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and he served as the co-writer of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus. He is also known for his popular blog, terribleminds, and he’s one of the few people I follow on Twitter and actually read what they post. He has also written books about writing such as Damn Fine Story, and today we’ll be talking about his latest book, a collection of inspirational nuggets titled: You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton!
In this episode Chuck Wendig and I discuss:
- The inspiration behind his latest book, which began as a series of tweets.
- How good writing subverts readers’ expectations in some way.
- Why you shouldn’t take any one piece of writing advice too seriously.
Plus, his #1 tip for writers.
About Chuck Wendig
Chuck Wendig is the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers, Star Wars: Aftermath, the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, and Zer0es and Invasive, alongside other works across comics, games, film, and more. He was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and he served as the co-writer of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus. He is also known for his popular blog, terribleminds, and books about writing such as Damn Fine Story. He lives in Pennsylvania with his family.
You can find Chuck on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton!
In the tradition of inspirational pick-me-ups like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Johnny Sun’s G’Morning, G’Night but with a Calvin & Hobbesian sensibility comes this whimsically nerdy spin, illustrated by Natalie Metzger, on motivating folks into getting creative and “DOING THE THINGS.”
For several years, Chuck has crafted hilarious and inspirational thoughts of the day–they might begin with an optimistic salvo, but inevitably and mirthfully detour into the demon-summoning, robot-making, or confirming that humans are actually mythical hybrid creatures. Equal parts inspiring, sweet, and very funny, Wendig’s profane and imaginative galvanizing quips in You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton! are sure to amp up readers and motivate them to get things done.
If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!
Link to Episode 352
(Right-click to download.)
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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!
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I had no end goal for this. I know some people feel that tweets like these are performative, but I mean, yeah? Obviously? The fuck do you think I’m doing on social media? Once upon a time Twitter may have been a water cooler but it has for a good long while now become a stage, and we’re all on it. Thing is, the performance so to speak was always an earnest one. I did it because I liked it and I hoped other people liked it too. That was the only aim.
Over the course of their conversation, Agatha began to weave her black magic around Benjamin. She cast spells and recited incantations, slowly molding his thoughts and desires to her advantage. Benjamin, completely oblivious to Agatha's dark intentions, found himself falling under her spell, unable to resist her enchantments. As the days turned into weeks, Benjamin started to experience strange sensations. He began to notice subtle changes in his appearance and demeanor. His voice became softer, his body became more slender, and he even found himself liking things that he once despised. Confused and frightened, Benjamin sought out Agatha, hoping that she could provide some answers. Agatha, feigning surprise, pretended to be unaware of Benjamin's transformation. She comforted him, assuring him that everything was as it should be. Deep down, however, she relished in her triumph. She had successfully turned a man into a woman, a feat that had never been accomplished before. As the months went by, Benjamin fully embraced his new identity as a woman. He became known as Beatrice and found solace in the acceptance of the villagers. Agatha, satisfied with her creation, reveled in her power. She had proven once again that her magic was unmatched, that she could bend anyone to her will. However, even as Beatrice flourished in her new life, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was not right. Deep inside, she knew that she had been manipulated by Agatha, that her transformation was not of her own free will. With a newfound determination, Beatrice set out to confront Agatha and break free from her spell. Using her wit and newfound strength, Beatrice devised a plan to defeat Agatha and reclaim her former self. She studied ancient texts, sought guidance from wise elders, and honed her own magical abilities. Finally, the day arrived when Beatrice was ready to confront the witch. In a symbolic battle of wills, Beatrice faced off against Agatha. She summoned all her strength and channeled the forces of good to overcome the dark powers of the witch. With a final burst of magic, Agatha was defeated, and her spell was broken. After the battle, Beatrice vowed to use her newfound knowledge and power for good. She became a guardian of the forest, protecting innocent villagers from the clutches of dark forces. The villagers rejoiced, grateful for Beatrice's bravery and resilience. And so, the story of the witch who turned a man into a woman ended with a triumph of good over evil. Beatrice, once just an innocent wanderer, became a legendary figure, inspiring generations to rise above adversity and reclaim their true selves..
Reviews for "The Witch's Secret: How She Turned Him into Her"
1. Steven - 2 stars: As someone who enjoys supernatural and fantasy stories, I was intrigued by the premise of "Witch turns man into woman". However, I was severely disappointed by the execution of the story. The characters lacked depth, the plot was predictable and lacked any significant twists or turns. The writing style itself was also underwhelming and failed to engage me as a reader. Overall, this novel had so much potential, but it fell flat and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Emily - 1 star: I regret even picking up "Witch turns man into woman". The story was filled with clichés and stereotypes, and it lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional, and their actions and dialogue felt forced. The writing was mediocre at best, with numerous grammatical errors and confusing sentence structures. Additionally, the pacing was extremely slow, making it tedious to get through. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable reading experience.
3. Alex - 2 stars: "Witch turns man into woman" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver a compelling story. The narrative felt disjointed, with random subplots that did not contribute to the main plot. The dialogue was often unrealistic and cringe-worthy, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Moreover, the author's attempt at humor fell flat, and the jokes were more embarrassing than funny. Overall, this book had potential, but it ultimately fell short in execution and left me feeling disappointed.
4. Sarah - 2 stars: For a book with such a unique premise, "Witch turns man into woman" was disappointingly predictable. The twists and turns that could have made it exciting were either too obvious or poorly executed. The characters lacked depth, and their choices and motivations were often questionable and unexplained. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. It's a shame because the concept had so much potential, but the execution simply fell flat.