Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction

Justin & Kurt

Point Blank is a podcast about hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction. Mixing serious analysis and humor, the co-hosts (Justin and Kurt) discuss a classic or contemporary work of crime fiction each episode. In addition to major works, they offer shorter reviews, and examine noir-ish topics such as alcoholism in detective fiction, the femme fatale, and race and labor in crime fiction. Stroll with Kurt and Justin down the rain drenched alleys and mean streets as they explore the fascinating world of crime fiction.

  • 22 minutes 21 seconds
    E84: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 10)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 10, Writing Rat Face concludes.

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    30 June 2024, 7:10 pm
  • 18 minutes 40 seconds
    E83: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 9)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 9, the penultimate episode of Writing Rat Face, Justin (and Rat Face) race toward the finish line. 

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    29 April 2024, 3:36 am
  • 19 minutes 48 seconds
    E82: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 8)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 8 of Writing Rat Face, Justin emerges from the middlegame slog and finds himself (and Rat Face) moving toward the story climax. He uses chess analogies, examines a potential femme fatale,  discusses the problem of individuality, and comtemplates how a characters' dream world might grease the wheels of a stuck narrative. 

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    10 January 2024, 10:23 pm
  • 19 minutes 55 seconds
    E81: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 7)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 7 of Writing Rat Face, Justin shares a plot building technique that has helped him with story logic & flow. 

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    11 December 2023, 5:38 pm
  • 20 minutes 29 seconds
    E80: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 6)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 6 of Writing Rat Face, Justin continues to doggy-paddle through the middle part of the novel. He also continues to ask critical questions about his central character, Rat Face, which inevitably leads to questions about the author himself. 

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    27 November 2023, 7:56 pm
  • 14 minutes 8 seconds
    E79: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 5)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 5 of Writing Rat Face, Justin interrogates his central character, Rat Face, and comes away with a better understanding of Rat Face's emotional and philosophical journey.

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    13 November 2023, 5:43 pm
  • 22 minutes 20 seconds
    E78: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 4)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 4 of Writing Rat Face, Justin hits the 13,000 word mark, confronts the question of setting, discusses the importance of internal consistency, and gets to know his central character's primary motivation -- who is Rat Face and what does he want? Justin also considers a twist that will raise the stakes for Rat Face and the readers.

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    30 October 2023, 8:17 pm
  • 22 minutes 2 seconds
    E77: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 3)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft.

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.

    In Episode 3 of Writing Rat Face, Justin surpasses 8,000 words and begins to run into more questions than answers. 

    He discusses his thoughts on essential characters beyond the main character, his research process, and thoughts on writers block. He also shares two excerpts from week two of story writing.

    Email the show: [email protected]

    Twitter: @pointblanknoir

    Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction

    Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868

    Support the show:

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime

    Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!

    23 October 2023, 6:16 pm
  • 21 minutes 29 seconds
    E76 Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 2)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. 

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change.

    The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends,  and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. 

    In Episode 2 of Writing Rat Face, the writing is smooth sailing, but how long will the good winds last?

    Justin explains his thoughts on the city as character, rants briefly about art & labor, and shares two excerpts from week one of story writing.

    12 October 2023, 8:08 pm
  • 18 minutes 54 seconds
    E75: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 1)

    Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. 

    Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him.

    In this series of 6 to 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process writing 50,000 words in three months, including  the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends,  and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. 

    2 October 2023, 9:37 pm
  • 40 minutes 13 seconds
    E74: --The Third Man -- The Film

    Welcome!

    In this episode we discuss the film version of The Third Man. For the full plot summary and commentary on the novella, check out episode 73. We riff on our reactions to the film with the written story fresh in our minds. What a masterpiece! Truely a joy to watch, even when you know what's going to happen.

     

    ***Sorry this one took so long to publish. As we briefly discuss in the show, we have both got a lot going on this summer.

    Get in touch:

    [email protected]

    3 August 2023, 3:34 am
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