Writing Excuses 8.9: Brainstorming with Howard

In this episode Howard pitches three story ideas to the group, and they pick one to brainstorm. The selection process is itself educational (which is good, because it runs for a third of the 'cast...) The story selected is near-future science-fiction with extra-dimensional, magical elements. As the brainstorming continues, we grab some fun secret-history elements, and successfully deepen the conflict. We also learn that there are two stories here, and Howard has to choose which one of them to write. And For Your Disappointment: As of this time the story laid out in this 'cast remains unwritten, so you can't read it. But to Make Up For It: Howard got distracted and wrote a horror piece instead! Here is a sample! (Note: this wasn't one of the pitches, but it DOES demonstrate that Howard really, really wanted to get out of his comfort zone.)