Fictional Problems

Episode anniversary: the hosts mark one year and roughly 38 episodes, reflecting on why they started the podcast and what it has meant for their writing and friendship.
They discuss defining themselves as writers, the value of the podcast as a ‘third thing’ that keeps friends connected, and how life events outside the show have shaped the past year.
Along the way they cover generational change, cultural pushbacks, aging, and media habits, and end by planning a part two to talk about recent media consumption.
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We're back with part two of our birthday celebration — a free-flowing year-in-review covering TV, film, books, culture, and the noisy world of streaming. We debate whether it's a golden age or a churn of low-quality content, rage about misplaced award categories, praise standout shows and films, and share heartfelt moments that prove why good storytelling still matters.
Join us as we talk Pluribus, Widow's Bay, The Pit, Breaking Bad, The Matrix, Dune, Spider-Man, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and more — with laughs, rants, and reflections on how media reflects society.
#WritingTips #newpodcastepisodealert #fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #birthdaycelebration #BirthdayEpisode #Emmys #WidowsBay #ThePitt #TheOdyssey #spiderman #dungeoncrawlercarl
 
 

Welcome to Fictional Problems, the podcast where Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin examine famous plot holes and story inconsistencies in speculative fiction. In this episode, they discuss examples from Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Terminator, Jaws, Game of Thrones and more, explain what counts as a plot hole versus a plot device, and debate whether these gaps truly harm a story or are just part of the journey.
 
#writingtips #newpodcastepisodealert #fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #indy #gameofthrones #jaws #lordoftherings #harrypotter #backtothefuture #StarTrek #wrathofkhan #plot #TheTerminator #starwars #gandalf #timeturner #jamielannister
 

This episode of Fictional Problems explores where writers find inspiration, how a single line or image can spark whole stories, and the challenge of turning intense influence into original work.
Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss examples from TV, literature and comics, the line between homage and plagiarism, and how tools like AI change the creative process.
 
#WritingTips #newpodcastepisodealert #Fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #inspiration 

This episode of Fictional Problems explores the third part of a three-part series on monsters, focusing on cosmic horror. Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss Cthulhu, the slumbering Azathoth, and H.P. Lovecraft, examining the mythos, its themes, and how writers craft the unknowable.
The conversation covers Lovecraft's influences and flaws, how cosmic horror blurs science fiction and fantasy, the importance of personal fears in creating effective weird fiction, and practical tips for writing eldritch monsters and cult-driven stories.
#WritingTips #newpodcastepisodealert #Fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #monsters #monstersinfiction #cthulhuart #aztharoth #hplovecraft #cosmichorror #eldritchhorror
 
 

This episode of Fictional Problems (part two of our monsters series) explores the dragons of Western mythology — what they look like, where they came from, and why they keep appearing in our stories.
Hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin discuss historical origins, symbolic roles (force of nature, weapon, treasure-guardian), and modern reworkings where dragons become tools, companions, or metaphors for power, greed, and heroism.
Join the conversation to learn how dragons reflect human fears, ambitions, and storytelling traditions.
 
#writingtips #newpodcastepisodealert #fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #monsters #monstersinfiction #dragon #dungeonsanddragons #gameofthrones #HouseOfTheDragon #dragonbooks
 
 
 

Join the Fictional Problems hosts as they begin a multi-part exploration of monsters in fiction. From Dracula and Frankenstein to the werewolf and Jekyll and Hyde, they examine how monsters reflect societal fears, moral anxieties, and changing cultural norms.
Through examples from classic literature and folklore, the episode discusses monsters as archetypes, cautionary tales, and teaching tools — and how stories evolve as societies change.
#writingtips #newpodcastepisode #fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow #monsters #dracula #werewolf #frankenstein #frankensteinsmonster #monstersinfiction #JekyllAndHide #bramstoker #maryshelleysfrankenstein #ClassicMonsters  
 
 

This episode of Fictional Problems, with Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin, breaks the podcast's own rules to share practical do's and don'ts for writers.
They cover when not to write, how to accept and filter feedback, setting realistic goals, managing multiple projects, and finding the poetry in your prose, offering candid tips to help authors finish their work and enjoy the process.
 
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This is Fictional Problems, the podcast where we discuss all things writing, in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland. On today's episode, hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin explore how to write intelligent characters: can an author create someone smarter than themselves, and what does intelligence look like on the page?
They cover practical approaches, research and worldbuilding, expertise versus wisdom, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and pitfalls, such as simplifying or diminishing other characters and offer tips to make brilliant characters feel authentic and believable.
 
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On this episode of Fictional Problems (in association with Speculative Fiction Ireland), hosts Gary J. Martin and A.R. McNevin explore "placeholder" characters — figures whose abilities are presupposed rather than shown — and how that presupposition can leave readers feeling cheated. They discuss examples from Sherlock Holmes to fanfic, and the pitfalls of Mary Sue/Gary Stu characters.
The hosts argue for showing a character's process, limits, and growth to keep stories engaging, using examples from detective fiction, fantasy, and popular media to illustrate how to craft believable development and stakes.
 
 
#sherlockholmes #marysue #garystu #writingtips #newpodcastepisode #fantasy #speculativefictionireland #irishauthors #sciencefiction #podcastshow