This is K.M. Island and you are listening to the three hundred3rd episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast.

Creativity begets Creativity.

I always been a little envious of those writers among us who are also gifted in other areas such as art or music.

Alas, my own skills do not run in that direction.

However, I do love design.

I had to pretty much give up on graphic and web design after it started

murdering my wrists, but I've revived a little of that love this year and finally making

time to pursue something I've always been

interested in which is interior design. A big redecorating project has had me

outside just about every afternoon this month painting away at doors and furniture and other

odds and ends. Not only has it been fun in its own right and an excuse to get

outside in the beautiful summer weather.

I've also definitely found it to be a jump starter for my daily writing sessions.

The two different projects use totally different parts of my brain

and offered different

creative challenges. So it's kind of ended up being like a full brain workout.

And now I hope you enjoyed this week's podcast, Part 15 of the do's and don'ts of storytelling

according to Marvel, entitled How to Ace the First Act in your sequel. Sequals are special. On the one hand, they still must follow all the

same basic rules of good storytelling. But on the other hand they both simplify and complicate

various aspects of that approach. While the burden of introducing important

elements, characters, settings, conflict, is often lessened.

The stakes will be raised in bringing greater depth to the existing story

...