Story Nerd
Melanie Hill, Valerie Francis
For novelists, memoirists and screenwriters who want to write stories their readers will love. Each week literary editors, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, use films to explain how to craft a story that hooks the reader on page one and holds their attention all the way to the end. The goal is simple: to learn from writers who have come before us...what worked well and what didn't work so well. If you're a writer who loves to write, this podcast is for you!"The only thing that matters, and that...
Notable Guests
Episodes (493)
Our Best Advice: left-brained stories
Story Nerd
The Sixth Sense: the art of the gotcha ending
Story Nerd
Breakout Books v. Words on a Page
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How to Write a Breakout Book
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The Last of Sheila: soooo good
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How do stories work?
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Gosford Park: did he deserve it?
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One Line Writing Secret You Need to Know
Story Nerd
Our Most Embarrassing Literary Moments
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A Most Wanted Man: why now?
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THIS is how your novel gets noticed!
Story Nerd
The Good Liar: surprise v twist
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See How They Run: wasted potential
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: when did Smiley know?
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The Game: why endings are important
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The Dry: an introduction to outback noir
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Crooked House: left-brained stories
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Character Lessons from an Actor
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Our Best Advice: conflict + cast design
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The Lost Daughter: fisticuffs
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Lady Bird: writing female protagonists
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Love, Simon: how (not) to arc a character
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Sex and the City: great world building, but meh
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The Gentlemen: conflict and a detour
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Little Women: why we do (or don't) love it
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No Way Out: conflict triangles
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The Full Monty: writing comedic characters
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The Woman King: when storylines compete
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August Osage County: one for your repertoire
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Best Advice: character development + worldbuilding
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The Electrical Life of Louis Wain: externalize the internal
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Pretty Woman: a masterclass in the fundamentals
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Nanowrimo: how to win
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Don't Worry Darling: where did it go wrong?
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The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas: writing historical fiction
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Big: writing comedic characters
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Everything Everywhere All At Once: was there a script?
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Fatal Attraction: who's the villain?
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District 9: worldbuilding 101
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Bridget Jones's Diary: why we love her
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Story 101: Poetic Device
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Can You Ever Forgive Me: what's hiding under your bed?
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Ray: a product of his environment
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Death on the Nile: the moustache mystery (archive)
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Skyfall: m is for mother? (archive)
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The Water Horse: keep subplots at bay (archive)
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West Side Story: innovative or cliche? (archive episode)
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Wanted: AI Prompt Engineer
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Alec Sokolow: the hero's journey
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Our Best Advice: empathy + stakes
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