Writing the Wrong Way with Jonathan Ball, PhD

Епизоди

• 
  Conor McDonnell on Letting the Reader Work 15.09.2026 1ч

  Poet and pediatric anesthesiologist Conor McDonnell joins the podcast to talk about how he lets his readers do the work when it comes to his poetry. Jonathan asks Conor about how he balances writing with a demanding medical career, why his long poem What We Know So Far grew out of news headlines and medical language, and how wordplay, notebooks, and “accretive” composition shape his projects. Along the way they get into language as a virus (via Burroughs), the influence of David Lynch and M. John Harrison on narrative structure, the musicality of poetry (Joy Division, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins), and why writers should be willing to train and even lose some readers in order to reach the right ones.Find all of Conor's work at https://www.conorgmcdonnell.com/Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠⁠on Apple TV⁠⁠.
• 
  Building Trust with the Reader in The Eye Collector 08.09.2026 1ч 8мин

  In this solo episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. JonathanBall talks about his writing decisions behind Image Comics’ The Eye Collector, focusing on how to build—and earn—reader trust during a strange, complex story.Using specific examples from the first three issues, Jonathan explores techniques like “selecting” the right readers, training them to handle ambiguity, layering subtext, and using questions, myths, and mirrored scenes to signal that the writer has a plan. Along the way, he discusses the cosmic horror genre, postmodern storytelling, and the unique demands of serializedcomics, offering practical insights for writers who want to challenge their audience without losing them.Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Watch The Princess and the Dragon ⁠on Apple TV⁠.
• 
  Quick Notes on The Eye Collector and All Else 21.07.2026 52мин

  Step into the strange orbit of The Eye Collector in this special off-the-cuff episode, recorded as Jonathan hurriedly packs for San Diego Comic-Con. He discusses how the new Image Comics series has been meticulously constructed to disorient you, invite your theories, and even risk pushing some readers away on purpose. From cosmic horror in a perspective-free void to mythological subversion, “dividing the audience” by design, and the wild publishing journey from Heavy Metal to Image Comics, this episode is a recap of the last few months of Jonathan’s busy life as a professional writer/publisher, and a preview of what’s to come.Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠⁠online⁠⁠.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Watch The Princess and the Dragon on Apple TV.Check out Last Breeds, a graphic novel from Gungnir Books.
• 
  Writing Dragons with David Ly 07.07.2026 42мин

  Poet and novelist David Ly joins the podcast to talk about his debut novel Not All Dragons, a “cozy fantasy” about an amnesiac boy, a mermaid, and a journey through the magical world of Lanelia. Jonathan and David discuss character-first fantasy, the anxieties of worldbuilding, and how poetry can shape prose. David also explains dragons as queer monsters, reclaiming monstrosity through the anthology Queer Little Nightmares, and his new speculative project Queer Little Daydreams—including how writers can submit their own work.Pick up Jonathan's latest work, ⁠The Eye Collector from Image Comics⁠ at your local comic shop, or ⁠online⁠.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Steve Orlando on Writing Comics for Marvel and DC and Beyond 30.06.2026 58мин

  Jonathan welcomes acclaimed comics writer and editor Steve Orlando to talk about what really makes a great Big Two writer. They get into finding a character’s “core wound,” balancing decades of lore with a fresh take, managing dense event books without boring readers, and the real job of editors versus writers. Steve also shares insights on collaborating with artists, building a sustainable writing routine, breaking into Marvel and DC from indie comics, and how to stay motivated through years of rejection.Pick up The Eye Collector from Image Comics at your local comic shop, or online.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  David Jón Fuller on Bringing the Theatre into the Novel While Writing VENUE 13 04.06.2026 56мин

  In this episode of Writing the Wrong Way, Dr. Jonathan Ball talks with novelist and actor David Jón Fuller about his new book Venue 13 (Turnstone Press), a haunted-theatre novel set in Winnipeg’s summer festival scene.They discuss how David built the book like a five‑act play, blending prose, script formatting, stage directions, and monologues that break the fourth wall. The conversation ranges from pantsing vs. outlining, to character-first story design, to the nuts-and-bolts of revision with editors and critique partners.Find more of David’s work at https://www.davidjonfuller.com/Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fictionat ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Books as Anti-Social Media with MC Joudrey 19.05.2026 51мин

  Jonathan welcomes publisher–author MC Joudrey to talk about Marmalade Parade, his experimental new novel from Guernica Editions. They dig into the realities of running an independent press, why Joudrey chose not to publish this book through his own At Bay Press, and the shifting landscape of self, indie, and hybrid publishing. Along the way, they explore the book’s unusual structure, its themes of memory, identity, and material possessions, and why demanding, formally inventive fiction still matters in an age of shrinking attention spans and social media “visual trash.”Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• 
  Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul on Kickstarting the Laundrymen 2 Comic Book 17.02.2026 51мин

  Jonathan welcomes back comic collaborators Lyndon Radchenka and Steven Kaul to talk about their newest book - The Laundrymen 2: Blood of the Saucermen, which is still available through Kickstarter until March 2, 2026:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radchenka/the-laundrymen-books-1-2/rewardsJoin Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Antonio Michael Downing on the Art of the Novel and Sensuality in Prose 25.11.2025 55мин

  Jonathan welcomes author Antonio Michael Downing to talk about his latest novel Black Cherokee and about how his writing career evolved from a love of music.Find more of Downing's work at https://www.antoniomichaeldowning.com/Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Tom Miller on Taking Creative Risks and How All Poets Suck But Him 04.11.2025 48мин

  Jonathan welcomes poet Tom Miller to the podcast to talk about his latest book, All Poets Suck But Me: Why Am I Sad, and about poetry's evolving place within the larger media landscape.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  13 Books for Creative Writers 28.10.2025 1ч 9мин

  Jonathan recommends 13 books from a wide variety of authors to help you find success as a creative writer.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Are You Serial Right Now - Talking Comics with Lyndon Radchenka 21.10.2025 59мин

  Jonathan welcomes back DC Comics writer Lyndon Radchenka to talk about the difference between serialized and episodic stories.Check out Lyndon's work at https://www.infinitestudio.ca/Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Is Ryan Fitzpatrick Country Enough for Morgan Wallen? (Poetry Claps Back) 16.10.2025 58мин

  Jonathan welcomes back poet Ryan Fitzpatrick to talk about his new country music-inspired book of poetry, No Depression in Heaven. Pick up your copy of Ryan's new book the usual way.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Giving the Reader What They Want 30.09.2025 1ч 15мин

  Jonathan talks about managing your audience's expectations by knowing what they will likely expect based on the type of story you're writing.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  The Desert of the Second Act - Meathouse Update 24.09.2025 1ч 4мин

  Jonathan welcomes back podcast producer and aspiring screenwriter Dan Vadeboncoeur to talk about his ongoing Meathouse screenplay and dive into the "messy middle" of the screenwriting process.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Writing an Immortal Poem - Christian Bok on Creating the Xenotext 16.09.2025 53мин

  Jonathan welcomes back poet Christian Bok to talk about his ongoing project, The Xenotext. It's a poem coded into the genome of a deathless bacterium, thereby creating a text durable enough to outlive any apocalypse.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Sky Devil and the Haunted Air 09.09.2025 53мин

  Jonathan welcomes frequent collaborators GMB Chomichuk and Lyndon Radchencka to talk about the latest Stranger Fiction release, Sky Devil and the Haunted Air, soon to be available on Kickstarter at kickstrange.com.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Inside the Making of the Last Breeds Comics Novel (Part 2 of 2) 02.09.2025 50мин

  Jonathan concludes his talk about how he collaborated as a team with fellow writer Matthew Medney and artists Scott B. Henderson and GMB Chomichuk to create ⁠Last Breeds⁠, a comics novel starring an "asshole Tarzan" in a post-apocalyptic landscape.Pick up your copy of Last Breeds at McNally Robinson Booksellers: ⁠https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781962594042/jonathan-ball/last-breeds⁠Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Inside the Making of the Last Breeds Comics Novel (Part 1 of 2) 26.08.2025 52мин

  Jonathan talks about how he collaborated as a team with fellow writer Matthew Medney and artists Scott B. Henderson and GMB Chomichuk to create Last Breeds, a comics novel starring an "asshole Tarzan" in a post-apocalyptic landscape.Pick up your copy of Last Breeds at McNally Robinson Booksellers: https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/9781962594042/jonathan-ball/last-breedsJoin Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠⁠.
• 
  Matthew Medney on Creating Gungnir Books 19.08.2025 58мин

  Jonathan welcomes back writer Matthew Medney to talk about the last few years of his career, how he came to run the long-beloved Heavy Metal imprint, and starting his new publishing company, Gungnir Books.Join Jonathan's Patreon page for free at ⁠⁠staystrange.ca⁠⁠.Subscribe to the Stranger Fiction YouTube channel at ⁠⁠strangertv.com⁠⁠.Purchase books & comics available from Stranger Fiction at ⁠⁠strangerfiction.ca⁠⁠.