Posts tagged character arcs
#299 – Finding Creative Gold: Writing Advice Inspired by Shrinking and Tires
#299 – Finding Creative Gold: Writing Advice Inspired by Shrinking and Tires

Welcome back to the Spun Today Podcast! In this milestone 299th episode, host Tony Ortiz dives deep into the creative engines behind two unconventional, standout shows: "Shrinking" on Apple TV+ and "Tires" on Netflix. Through a writer’s lens, Tony unpacks what makes these series resonate—not just as entertainment, but as studies in authentic storytelling, sharp dialogue, and the beautiful messiness of life.

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Tony Ortizwriting takeaways, creativity, proof of concept, authenticity, Shrinking Season 1, Tires Netflix series, grief, comedy writing, flawed authority figures, mutual healing, messy relationships, professional boundaries, unorthodox therapy methods, emotional perspectives, self-medicating, character growth, tone balancing, humor in narrative, supporting characters, workplace comedy, team dynamics, independent creation, reluctant protagonist, character arcs, dialogue, banter, creative lessons, inspiration, motivation, writing prompts, creative resetComment
Bonus: Five Essential Writing Lessons from HBO's Succession (Companion to Ep. 243)
Bonus: Five Essential Writing Lessons from HBO's Succession (Companion to Ep. 243)

In this special bonus episode, we’re exploring the brilliant—and often brutal—writing lessons behind HBO’s Succession. Host Tony Ortiz digs deep into the series’ power struggles, betrayals, and psychological dysfunction, offering five key takeaways that can sharpen your storytelling craft.

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Tony OrtizHBO, writing techniques, storytelling, creativity, character development, unlikable characters, empathy, psychological dysfunction, power struggles, betrayals, dialogue, subtext, Logan Roy, Kendall Roy, internal conflict, authority, tension, Tom and Greg, secondary characters, moral cost, system critique, character arcs, negotiation, leverage, outsider perspective, creative process, companion guide, Spun Today Podcast, inspirationComment
Bonus: Five Writing Lessons from Gotham’s Underworld (Companion to Ep. 278)
Bonus: Five Writing Lessons from Gotham’s Underworld (Companion to Ep. 278)

In this special bonus episode, we return to the shadowy corners of Gotham to unpack The Penguin — the gritty, character-driven follow-up to The Batman.

Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot is a study in power, loyalty, and moral decay — and in this breakdown, I explore five key writing lessons from the series

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Tony Ortiz#ThePenguin #WritingPodcast #Storytelling #Screenwriting, writing tips, writing insights, writing tips from the penguin, the penguin series writing tips, writing tips from the penguin series, spun today, spun today podcast, HBO The Penguin, modern crime storytelling, psychological edge, writing takeaways, character transformation, slow corruption, illusion of power, Gotham, setting as character, reflective setting, dialogue, subtext, veiled threats, character arcs, moral ambiguity, legacy, validation, ambition, manipulation, character motivation, anti-hero, creative process, storytelling craft, companion guide, inspiration for writers, emotional debt, loss in storytelling, blurred moral boundaries, creativity fueling, podcast bonus episodeComment