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.
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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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January 15th, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
167: “The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket” by Yasunari Kawabata
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 Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket” by Yasunari Kawabata. What can we learn from this Japanese short story? What is the role of the narrator in this story? How does the narrator offer literal perspective on the story? How can we capture the emotional core of a story?
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January 1st, 2026 by Naples Writers' Workshop
166: “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J. Kim
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
In this episode, we discuss “Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J. Kim. What can we learn from this story that plays off another classic story? How can a clear voice set the tone for a story? What distinguishes fantasy from realist storytelling that wants to comment on real-world issues? How can we shape our own voices for different stories?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
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December 15th, 2025 by Naples Writers' Workshop
165: “The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke
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In this episode, we discuss “The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke. What can we learn from this classic story? What guides the length and development of a short story? What could turn a premise-driven story into a character-driven story? How does understanding the needs of a story determine where it should focus?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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December 1st, 2025 by Naples Writers' Workshop
164: “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake
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In this episode, we discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake. What can we learn from this early success from a young writer? What does it mean for a writer to find their voice? What does it mean to write what you know? Is it actually bad to head-hop point of view? How do you circumscribe the events of a story to create a compelling portrait of a character?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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November 15th, 2025 by Naples Writers' Workshop
163: “The Enormous Radio” by John Cheever
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In this episode, we discuss “The Enormous Radio” by John Cheever (alternate version). What can we learn from this 1947 New Yorker story? How does the distinction between public and private life drive a story? How do stories rely on insights about human psychology? How does a story that predicts the future show us what it means to be human? How can we use fantastical elements to explore the psychology of characters?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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November 1st, 2025 by Naples Writers' Workshop
162: “A Conversation with My Father” by Grace Paley
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In this episode, we discuss “A Conversation with My Father” by Grace Paley. What can we learn from this semi-autobiographical story? How can we develop stories from our own experiences? How can an extended conversation drive a story? How does the tragedy of human mortality color the mood of a conversation? How can we capture a real-life feeling in our stories?
For daily writing tips, industry news, and great short fiction, join our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/napleswritersworkshop
You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter at http://www.napleswritersworkshop.com
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October 15th, 2025 by Naples Writers' Workshop