winey writers

sorry, you don't have a dick — Toxic Masculinity and the Romance Novel

this episode, we put on our postgrad caps to discuss 'toxic' masculinity in the romance novel and how we feel about the depictions of men in popular romance. We talk about how romance novels are impacted by our current cultural context (such as an alpha male epidemic), masculinity in queer romance, and changes we'd like to see as we read masculinity in future romance novels. 

alright bitches, here's the knot — Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Welcome to WineyWriters first book club!
This episode we review Ali Hazelwood's first step into new territory with her paranormal romance, Bride. Abby never thought she'd get Harry to read a novel with a marketing tactic built entirely on knotting, yet here we are. Join our honest conversation about Hazelwood's latest release as we discuss world building, character, and plot, and go into unnecessary detail about the spice between Vampyres and Weres. 

put on your cap and goggles and be prepared to swim. — Michael Hauge's Plot Structure

join us this episode as we put Michael Hauge's six stage plot structure to the test and create a romance novel full of mistaken identities, wannabe pilots, men who would definitely play Wonderwall to you on their guitar, and a pretty average ceramic artist. Is Michael Hauge's six plot structure a useful tool when writing a novel, or should you skip it altogether?

we're not butter churning, we're sitting on TikTok. — Dealing with Distractions

this episode we chat about the distractions we face while trying to write, including food, music, social media, rabbit holes on the internet, and cats. We were hoping to discuss how we deal with these distractions and the methods we use to keep ourselves on task (which we do, for the most part) but instead we get, well, incredibly distracted. 

have I missed my chance at success? — The Value of Youth

this episode we discuss an article written by R. F. Kuang for Time called 'Olivia Rodrigo and the Impossible Pressure to Stay a Prodigy'. There is a price and marketability attached to youth, whether that is in beauty, relationships, or careers, and even at 23 we wonder if we've moved past the peak in our lives without even realising. In this episode we address our anxieties about youth, success, and personal growth. 

if you know me professionally, no you don't. — Catch Up Episode

this episode, we return to recording after a short break and discuss what we've been up to in that time...namely reading books and drinking far too much wine. 

you're on OUR pod, bitch. — with Minty Hydrangea

this episode we are joined by local South Australian drag queen, Minty Hydrangea. While educating us on drag culture, performing, and how long it takes to look that good, we discuss life in the Arts, what it's like to jump off stages, how to fix windscreen wipers, and how tall Harry really is. 

well then, study up Harry -- 10 Ways to Beat Writer's Block

this episode, we address the fact that Harry doesn't believe in writer's block by consulting a Penguin Random House article called '10 Ways to Beat Writer's Block'. We judge the methods that are outlined in this article, and discuss whether we think they are useful solutions when we just can't get words on the page. 

Harry Styles? he'd kill a victorian child -- Books That Would Take Out a Victorian Era Child

this episode, we add a literary twist to an old TikTok trend and discuss books that we think would take out a Victorian era child. What qualifies a book for the list, you may ask? On our list are talking lions who are also God, Bella Swan, cannibalism, overtly sexual content, and sentient rats that cook, among other things...

yo, alien, give me EVERYTHING -- with Payton Hogan

this episode we are joined by fellow academic, writer, and creative Payton Hogan to chat about her experience during part-time honours and the growth of her creative process. Somehow, this includes discussions about guillotines, soldering irons, alcoholic woody, and what it would be like to have the power to touch a book and absorb all its knowledge.