<span style="font-family:futura-lt-w01-light,sans-serif;" class="wixui-rich-text__text">Study Guides

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Study Guide: Karol Nawrocki's Masterclass in Political Fiction

Blog by The Snark

In this blog, we take a deep dive into the bizarre political spectacle surrounding Karol Nawrocki, a Polish presidential candidate with an unusual flair for self-promotion. His campaign has been marred by an eye-popping scandal involving a crime writer alias - one which, in an astonishing plot twist, turns out to be Nawrocki himself. His literary alter ego praises his own book on TV, only for viewers to discover the ruse. This bizarre political fiction plays out like something straight out of a satirical thriller, offering unexpected lessons for writers about leaning into the improbable. In the world of politics and storytelling, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, and Nawrocki’s spectacle proves it.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (6 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Love Unscripted | Love’s Quiet Desperation… Prufrock’s Struggle with Desire

Podcast duration: 25 mins

In this episode of Alchemy, Tim and LeeAnna take listeners into the brooding, balding, existential swirl that is T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Through dramatic readings, mournful laughter, and an awkward peach moment, they explore how internal monologue, regret, and cultural disillusionment can create some of the most enduring (and heartbreaking) characters in literature. Writers, beware: it’s about to get quietly devastating in here.

Study guide pdf here

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Study Guide: When Confidence is Really Just a Cheap Disguise

Blog by The Snark

In this blog post, we take a dive into the overused term "narcissist" - how it’s thrown around like confetti for any and all annoying behaviors, yet it’s a term that actually describes a deeply debilitating condition. Starting with a humorous dissection of how narcissism is misunderstood, we explore the true definition of narcissistic personality disorder, which involves a fragile shell of confidence masking a deep well of insecurity, anxiety, and self-hatred. The blog touches on how this dynamic plays out in both men and women, and the co-dependent relationship that often forms between the narcissist and their partner. Finally, we discuss how writers can tap into this concept to create a compelling and unlikeable antagonist, blending complexity with distaste.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (6 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Love Unscripted | The Love Archipelago

Podcast duration: 54 mins

In this episode of The Alchemy Podcast, Tim and LeeAnna embark on an exploration of the Love Archipelago, a collection of islands representing different forms of love. From the bittersweet chase of Desire and Disappointment to the idealized notion of Existential Completeness, and even the primal instincts of Love as Animals Wandering through the World, they dive deep into the motivations and environments that shape our understanding of love. Along the way, they offer insights for writers on how to create complex characters who embody or confront these notions of love.

Study guide pdf here

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Study Guide: Wake Up, You Snowflakes: Torture Your Readers, They’re Begging for It

Blog by The Snark

In this sardonic exploration of modern storytelling, The Snark dives deep into the allure of apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, examining how the increasing immediacy of our fears, amplified through phones and media, has fueled a hunger for chaos in narratives. The blog humorously argues that writers should lean into this desire, acknowledging that the best way to engage readers is by torturing them emotionally—because, let's face it, that's what they crave.

From "The Last Selfie" to the ever-present reality of climate change, readers aren't just looking for distraction—they want the raw, unsettling, and deeply uncomfortable truths of the world, played out on the page. So, what’s a writer to do? Embrace the chaos, feed the hunger for disaster, and let the world burn (figuratively, of course).

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (5 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Welcome to Club Confusion… Contradictions and the Human Condition

Podcast duration: 49 mins

In this episode of Alchemy, Tim and LeeAnna dive headfirst into the world of human paradoxes—those delicious contradictions that make us who we are. From the paradox of freedom and control to the messy complexity of love, they explore how we all juggle opposing forces that shape our behavior, beliefs, and relationships. With sharp wit and amusing anecdotes, they reflect on the tensions between personal freedom and societal constraints, the limits of knowledge, the contradictions of love, and much more. In classic Alchemy style, it’s all wrapped up in a chaotic package of humor and thought-provoking insights that will make you rethink everything.

Study guide pdf here

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Study Guide: Omnishambles... The Art of Total Disaster

Blog by The Snark

In this blog, we explore the concept of "omnishambles," a term popularized in British politics to describe a chaotic, out-of-control disaster that touches every facet of a situation. From catastrophic government websites that break everything they were designed to fix, to chaotic weddings involving chocolate fountains and rogue hawks, the concept of omnishambles is a celebration of how things can go wrong in the most beautifully disastrous ways. The blog invites readers to embrace the joy of unexpected chaos, drawing parallels to writing and the creativity required to turn messes into stories.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (5 minutes to read)

Study Guide: An Emotional Autopsy in Three Minutes and Fifty Seconds: Operator: The Most Devastating Song Ever Written (And It's Not Even Trying)

Blog by The Snark

This blog by The Snark delves into the complexity and subtle devastation of Jim Croce's song "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," analyzing the emotional layers of grief, regret, denial, and ultimately acceptance. The blog breaks down the song's deceptively simple structure, revealing how each line conveys contradictory emotions and a deeper story than the narrator is aware of. Through the lens of this song, the blog explores the power of language to stir emotions and the art of writing characters who inadvertently expose their deepest vulnerabilities.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (8 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Panic Mode: Activated

Podcast duration: 26 mins

In this short n' sweet episode of Alchemy, Tim and LeeAnna dive deep into the chaotic world of panic, sharing their personal experiences with crises—from hurricanes and near-misses with waterfalls to panicked pilots and life-threatening situations. They explore how panic can reveal the true depths of human emotion, both funny and terrifying, and how writers can harness moments of crisis to create more relatable, human characters. Whether it’s the absurdity of a near-miss or the frozen terror of a hostage situation, panic can be the key to unlocking new dimensions in storytelling.

Study guide pdf here

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Study Guide: Codependency, Clarity, and One Hell of a Legacy

Blog by The Snark

This blog post explores the life and legacy of Melody Beattie, the woman who named codependency—and in doing so, helped millions of people recognize the toxic patterns they were stuck in. From addiction and grief to literary fame and emotional survival, Beattie’s story is one of grit, messiness, and ultimately, transformation. The post also includes a powerful call to writers: don’t wait to be healed to write. Write because it hurts. Because it matters.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (5 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Small Talk, Big Deal

Podcast duration: 45 mins

In this episode of *Alchemy*, Tim and LeeAnna bravely tackle the most ignored, underestimated, and eye-roll-inducing part of human conversation: small talk. You know the drill—"How’s it going?" "Good." "Good?" "Just good." But beneath the empty words and muffin recommendations lies a jungle of emotional complexity, primal survival instincts, and potentially one or two serial killers.

With help from the science of brain synchrony and a few tragic dramatic readings, your podcasters reveal that small talk isn’t meaningless. It’s how characters—and actual humans—test the waters, create connection, hide secrets, or lay the groundwork for something much, much bigger. Whether it's tension, desire, dread, or plain old confusion, small talk can be a goldmine for writers brave enough to see the signal in the fluff.

Study guide pdf here

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Study Guide: When the Farmer Didn’t Look Up... The First Forrest Gump

Blog by The Snark

Somewhere in this very famous painting, a boy is falling from the sky. Wings melted, hubris punished, myth fulfilled. He’s literally drowning. And you know what everyone else in the painting is doing? Absolutely nothing.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (5 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Enter Stage Left: How to Make a First Impression Without Ruining Everything

Podcast duration: 46 mins

In this episode of Alchemy, Tim and LeeAnna dive into the strange, glorious, and sometimes catastrophic moment when one human meets another. Whether it’s a casual encounter at a coffee shop, a forced networking event, or the first five seconds of an epic love/hate relationship, the “first meeting” is one of fiction’s most powerful tools. The hosts unpack how to make character introductions sing (and not yawn), explore why even background characters deserve their moment in the spotlight, and—because it’s Alchemy—get wonderfully sidetracked by disappearing socks, jean jackets, and the psychological burden of brunch.

Writers, readers, and anyone who’s ever tried to make a good first impression will find something to laugh at—and something to think about.

Study guide pdf here (coming soon).

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Study Guide: A Blast From The Past (But Not The Fun Kind)

Blog by The Snark

(extract) “In the end, as writers, it’s our job to show the truth of the human condition, which is much more complicated than “let’s make everything better and not look back”. If we’re lucky, our characters might just survive that idealism and come out on the other side a little wiser, even if they’ve had a few too many setbacks along the way.”

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (4 minutes to read)

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Study Guide: Take Me to Your Writer | Part 3, The Weirdness Beneath our Skin

Podcast duration: 43 mins

In this episode of Alchemy, Tim and LeeAnna take a deep dive into the physical characteristics of aliens—because let’s face it, when it comes to crafting extraterrestrials, the body can be as weird and unsettling as the mind. From the bizarre somatotopic map to the unsettling concept of the flask-grown homunculus (thank you, Paracelsus), the episode explores the grotesque, the distorted, and the uncanny in alien design. The discussion spirals from mind-bending philosophy to deep-seated body horror, questioning what happens when we create life and where the line between human and monster blurs.

Study guide pdf here (coming soon).

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Study Guide: The Perils of Doing It Again

Blog by The Snark

Extract: “So, there I was, a young writer, freshly armed with optimism and a little too much coffee, listening to an interview with an elderly writer. The kind of writer whose books you have to dust off before opening, because they've been around long enough to gather a respectable amount of literary dust. They asked her, "Would you do anything differently?" and without missing a beat, she said, “No, but I wouldn’t want to do it again!”

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (4 minutes to read)

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Study Guide: Take Me to Your Writer | Part 2, Writing the Otherworldly

Podcast duration: 36 mins

In Alchemy's 25th episode, Tim and LeeAnna explore the intricacies of creating aliens that go beyond the typical sci-fi tropes. With their signature humor and philosophical reflections, they discuss how to craft extraterrestrial characters that can challenge human nature, evoke moral dread, and maybe even make us laugh. From the terrifying Xir aliens to the passive-aggressive, snack-obsessed Snark’s Xir, the episode delves into the role aliens can play as mirrors to humanity—whether they’re pushing our existential buttons or just offering unsolicited advice. Along the way, Tim reflects on his own creative process, reading excerpts from his novel The Theory of My Wonders, where animatronic aliens serve as a strange, otherworldly backdrop to very human drama.

Study guide pdf here (need to add).

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Study Guide: The Ultimate Committee Work Triumph

Blog by The Snark

This blog takes a reverent (and irreverent) look at one of the greatest literary feats in the English language: the King James Bible—written not by one tortured genius in a garret, but by a committee. Yes, a committee. With notes. And arguments. And probably way too many snacks.

The piece explores how this deeply collaborative process somehow produced some of the most emotionally resonant and enduring language in history—despite (or because of?) the infighting, egos, and collective drafting that would normally kill creativity stone dead.

The lesson for writers? Sometimes, embracing the tension of a group effort—or the internal “committee” in your head—can lead to strange, powerful, unforgettable writing.

Study guide pdf here

Blog here (4 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Take Me to Your Writer | Part 1 Build-an-Alien
Podcast duration: 46 mins

In this podcast episode, the first part of ‘Take Me to Your Writer’ Tim and LeeAnna guide you through the process of creating a truly unique and terrifying alien character. The goal is to craft an extraterrestrial being that goes beyond the cliché alien designs, one that pushes the boundaries of imagination and leaves your readers both horrified and intrigued.

The alien-building process is broken down into 13 key parameters. These are essential for crafting a character that feels alien in every sense, not just physically but in its culture, motivations, and interactions with humans.

Study guide pdf here.

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Study Guide: O Holy Night

Podcast duration: 18 mins

In this episode, the Alchemy podcasters dive into the rich history behind the beloved Christmas song O Holy Night. What seems like a simple holiday “jingle” actually has a surprising and remarkable origin story, stretching back to France in the mid-19th century. This episode explores how it came to be, the surprising influence it had, and how it can inspire writers to find the “thrill of hope” even in the most unexpected places. We also look at how familiar things—whether a song, a tradition, or a story—can have an intriguing and often overlooked history that makes them even more meaningful, and can inspire deeper backstories for creative writers.

Study guide pdf here.

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Study Guide: How Not to Kill Your Character… or Your Readers (blog)

Blog by The Snark

Extract: "Ah, The Old Curiosity Shop. Charles Dickens' magnum opus in misery, most famous for bringing us Little Nell—arguably literature’s first contestant on Britain’s Got (Morbid) Sentimentality. Even Oscar Wilde couldn't hold back, quipping that “one must have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without laughing.” A brutal takedown from the king of wit himself. So, how do you, as a modern writer, dodge the Wilde-an dagger and avoid having your big, tragic moment turned into comedic fodder? Let's get into it!"

Study guide pdf here.

Blog here (3 minutes to read)

Study Guide: Shocking Results

Podcast duration: 35 mins

Our podcasters take a wild, unpredictable journey through creativity, with brief stops at electric shock therapy, runaway horses in London, WW1 poetry, The word “Cenotaph”, and a poignant discussion of the Royal Artillery Memorial in London – and especially the Artilleryman Recumbent (the controversial representation of a dead soldier). These tangents, seemingly unrelated, illustrate a larger point: creativity often thrives in chaos and unpredictability. Most particularly the episode explores how creative risks, even in the darkest of subjects, can inspire the most compelling outcomes.

Link to the images of the Royal Artillery Memorial and the Artilleryman Recumbent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery_Memorial

Study guide pdf here.

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Study Guide: Memory & Self-Identity

Podcast duration: 40 mins

In this podcast episode, the Alchemy gang takes a deep dive into the fascinating (and often frustrating) ways memory shapes our self-identity. Tim, LeeAnna (and guest, Seth) explore the distortions of memory over time and how these imperfections influence how we see ourselves and others. With amusing tangents about LeeAnna’s kangaroo hat and Homer Simpson’s identity crisis, the episode highlights how unreliable memory is and how it affects both real people and fictional characters. Writers are encouraged to lean into the messiness of memory, making their characters’ memories and self-perceptions as flawed and complicated as the human experience itself. It’s all about embracing the chaos and letting characters’ identities evolve through distorted recollections and shifting perspectives.

Study guide pdf here.

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