Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

Writing the Wrong Way is the perfect podcast for serious writers who want to stand out in a crowded industry by becoming more productive while taking more artistic risks. Jonathan Ball is an award-winning author of dark, experimental artworks. He holds a PhD in creative writing and uses an analytical approach to show serious writers new ways to write, edit, and work so they can create innovative art that stands taller than the crowd. https://www.strangerfication.ca/

Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD is a arts podcast hosted by Jonathan Ball, with 187 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Jonathan Ball hosts Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD, a arts show with 187 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

  Building Trust with the Reader in The Eye Collector

  Sep 8, 20261h 9m

  In this solo episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. JonathanBall talks about his writing decisions behind Image Comics’ The Eye Collector, focusing on how to build—and earn—reader trust during a strange, complex story. Using specific examples from the first three issues, Jonathan explores techniques like “selecting” the right readers, training them to handle ambiguity, layering subtext, and using questions, myths, and mirrored scenes to signal that the writer has a plan. Along the way, he discusses the cosmic horror genre, postmodern storytelling, and the unique demands of serializedcomics, offering practical insights for writers who want to challenge their audience without losing them. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠ . Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠on Apple TV⁠ .

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  Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

  Quick Notes on The Eye Collector and All Else

  Jul 21, 202653 min

  Step into the strange orbit of The Eye Collector in this special off-the-cuff episode, recorded as Jonathan hurriedly packs for San Diego Comic-Con. He discusses how the new Image Comics series has been meticulously constructed to disorient you,invite your theories, and even risk pushing some readers away on purpose. From cosmic horror in a perspective-free void to mythological subversion, “dividing the audience” by design, and the wild publishing journey from Heavy Metal to Image Comics, this episode is a recap of the last few months of Jonathan’s busy lifeas a professional writer/publisher, and a preview of what’s to come. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠TheEye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠online⁠⁠ . Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch The Princess and the Dragon on Apple TV . Check out Last Breeds, a graphic novel from Gungnir Books.

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  Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

  Writing Dragons with David Ly

  Jul 7, 202642 min

  Poet and novelist David Ly joins the podcast to talk about his debut novel Not All Dragons , a “cozy fantasy” about an amnesiac boy, a mermaid, and a journey through the magical world of Lanelia. Jonathan and David discuss character-first fantasy, the anxieties of worldbuilding, and how poetry can shape prose. David also explains dragons as queer monsters, reclaiming monstrosity through the anthology Queer Little Nightmares , and his new speculative project Queer Little Daydreams —including how writers can submit their own work. Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠online⁠ . Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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  Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

  Steve Orlando on Writing Comics for Marvel and DC and Beyond

  Jun 30, 202659 min

  Jonathan welcomes acclaimed comics writer and editor SteveOrlando to talk about what really makes a great Big Two writer. They get into finding a character’s “core wound,” balancing decades of lore with a fresh take, managing dense event books without boring readers, and the real job of editors versus writers. Steve also shares insights on collaborating with artists,building a sustainable writing routine, breaking into Marvel and DC from indie comics, and how to stay motivated through years of rejection. Pick up The Eye Collector from Image Comics at your local comic shop, or online . Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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  Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

  David Jón Fuller on Bringing the Theatre into the Novel While Writing VENUE 13

  Jun 4, 202657 min

  In this episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Balltalks with novelist and actor David Jón Fuller about his new book Venue 13 (Turnstone Press) , a haunted-theatre novel set in Winnipeg’s summer festival scene. They discuss how David built the book like a five‑act play, blending prose, script formatting, stage directions, and monologues that break the fourth wall. The conversation ranges from pantsing vs. outlining, to character-first story design, to the nuts-and-bolts of revision with editors and critique partners. Find more of David’s work at https://www.davidjonfuller.com/ Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fictionat ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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