{"podcast":{"title":"Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators","slug":"shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439","podcast_index_feed_id":721439,"rss_url":"https://shiftingourschools.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"http://www.shiftingschools.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/1/2/2/b/122be1b60ba51c69d959afa2a1bf1c87/shifting.png","author":"Jeff Utecht","episode_count":300,"summary":"Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing issues facing K12 educators today. Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a new educator, this podcast will inspire you to think outside the box and shift your educational approach. Tune in to Shifting Schools to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and join a community of passionate educators who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of their students. Follow us at @shiftingschools on Twitter and @shiftingschoolspod on Instagram and Tiktok","last_synced_at":"2026-07-19T14:21:10.479438+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439"},"episode":{"title":"Character First Writing: Practical Mini Lessons from Deborah Goodrich Royce","slug":"character-first-writing-practical-mini-lessons-from-deborah-goodrich-royce","published_at":"2026-03-02T14:41:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/character-first-writing-practical-mini-lessons-from-deborah-goodrich-royce","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439","url":"https://pod.shiftingschools.com/","audio_url":"https://pdrl.fm/f0d9c7/pdcn.co/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shiftingourschools/2nd_March_mixdown.mp3?dest-id=621226","summary":"Deborah Goodrich Royce , author of literary psychological thrillers and a former actor, unpacks how she builds tension without forcing the outline. You will hear how sensory observation from her New York Botanical Garden work feeds scene-level detail, why she prefers a \"reveal\" that feels earned over a twist that feels gimmicky, and how an actor's training translates into characters with layered motives and believable self-deception. What you will learn How to pace a psychological thriller so the reader feels pulled forward, not pushed. Character-first plotting: letting voice, backstory, and contradictions shape the turns. Designing \"good reveals\" and planting signals that pay off cleanly later. Key topics Botanical observation as a storytelling skill (attention, pattern, detail). Character development through lived experience and emotional memory. Organic plot development: earning twists through setup, not shock value. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Deborah's background 01:00 Why the New York Botanical Garden matters to her creative life 01:57 Creative growth through lived experience 03:09 The Lincoln quote and what it signals in the book 03:37 Identity, deception, and what thrillers let us examine 04:55 Using \"signals\" from real life to build believable turns 05:46 The actor's lens on role, emotion, and subtext 07:10 Writing thrillers in a fast-paced media environment 07:48 \"Organic\" plotting: how reveals get earned 09:18 Creative community and collaboration 12:31 Openings, pacing, and keeping readers in the scene 14:59 Starting a new project: practical tools and habits 17:30 Visualizing the story with notes and systems 18:09 Readers, book clubs, and what she learns from conversations Want to learn with Tricia this April? Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emp…","meta_description":"Deborah Goodrich Royce , author of literary psychological thrillers and a former actor, unpacks how she builds tension without forcing the outline. You wi…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1565,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/episodes/character-first-writing-practical-mini-lessons-from-deborah-goodrich-royce/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shifting-schools-conversations-for-k12-educators-721439/character-first-writing-practical-mini-lessons-from-deborah-goodrich-royce.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}