Fiction writers from the Naples Writers' Workshop read successful stories and ask "Why Is This Good?"
We discuss how fiction works, the craft of writing, literary art, and what we can learn from examples of excellent writing.
Join us twice each month for our workshop podcast.
Why Is This Good? is hosted by Kristine Gill, J. C. Bronsted, and Rob Curtin.
177: “2BR02B” by Kurt Vonnegut
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “2BR02B” by Kurt Vonnegut. What can we learn from this piece of speculative fiction? How can we build an alternate, speculative world so quickly? How do characters who live in a world help reveal that world? How does choosing just the right set of characters help develop a story’s dynamics to their full potential? How can exaggeration help depict characters?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
June 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
176: “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty. What can we learn from this story where nothing happens? What is the plot? Is it a character portrait? How can we decide where a story begins and how much of it to tell?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
May 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
175: “Foster” by Claire Keegan
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “Foster” by Claire Keegan. What can we learn from this spectacular story? How does the pace of the story work with the point of view to develop tension? How can we show a character grow and learn through a story? What makes a happy ending? How can an action beat in dialogue reveal deep character truths?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
May 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
174: “In the Heart of the Heart of the Country” by William H Gass
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “In the Heart of the Heart of the Country” by William H Gass (starts page 172, click “borrow”). What can we learn from this vibrant, poetic story with an unusual structure? Is there a narrative arc? How can we shape our own stories? How do we develop and connect poetic images?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
April 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
173: “Teenage Wasteland” by Anne Tyler
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “Teenage Wasteland” by Anne Tyler. What can we learn from this story? How can we think about the structure of a story in terms of a Greek tragedy? What’s up with JC’s image of a skipping stone as a story structure? How can we handle universal or timeless stories?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
April 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
172: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. (French version here.) What can we learn from this exemplar story? How can we fit characters to their stories? How can the shape of dialogue on the page help us guide the flow of the story? What did de Maupassant learn from Flaubert, and how has he guided the style of short fiction since? How does the ending of the story work? Where does the emotion come from?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
March 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
171: The Wedding Party by Taylor Koekkoek
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “The Wedding Party” by Taylor Koekkoek. What can we learn from this simple story elevated by literary effects? How can a writer’s eye make a story feel important? How can a non-point-of-view character become the center of a story? How can we use dialogue to show who is controlling a conversation? How can we characterize a non-POV character?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
March 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
170: “Eveline” by James Joyce
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “Eveline” by James Joyce. What can we learn from this famous story? How does Joyce structure the epiphany? Can we use that structure in our own stories? Are there hidden symbolic depths to the details of the story? How can a writer characterize a mood by word choice? How can we distinguish between a plot of events and a plot of choices?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
February 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
169: “A Millionaire’s Girl” by Zelda Fitzgerald
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “A Millionaire’s Girl” by Zelda Fitzgerald. What can we learn from this story written by the less-famous Fitzgerald? How would we describe the point of view of this story? How does the narrator mediate the story and depiction of Caroline? How good a writer was Zelda Fitzgerald?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
February 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
168: “The Catbird Seat” by James Thurber
Interested in our novel mentorship program or have any other questions? Email us at napleswritersworkshop@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining our Patreon. Your support helps us keep the show running. Find out more at http://www.patreon.com/whyisthisgoodpodcast
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
In this episode, we discuss “The Catbird Seat” by James Thurber. What can we learn from this funny little story? How does point of view function in this story? How can an objective point of view allow us to balance what the character knows with what the reader needs to know? How does simple but elegant prose help guide the reader swiftly through the story?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
January 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop