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PODCAST

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

arts books

All Episodes

00:50:44

The Matrix: give your story away

Story Nerd ·

2022/08/10

In the first 10 pages of your story, you need to give the ending away. Sounds crazy, right? But, it's true. Why on earth would we do that? It would ruin the story, wouldn't it? Nope. When done right, it makes the story better. How would we do it? Listen to this episode to find out.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner

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00:42:33

Captain Marvel: the alter ego is key

Story Nerd ·

2022/08/03

Did you know that if the alter ego doesn't have a gift to express, the superhero doesn't have a superpower? In this episode Valerie and Melanie discuss the importance of Carol Danvers's gift, and how expressing it ultimately enables her to both outsmart and overpower the forces of antagonism.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's

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00:49:21

The Invisible Man: thriller or horror?

Story Nerd ·

2022/07/27

This week's episode is a bit of a throwback to season one, as Valerie and Melanie debate the genre and whether the antagonist is a monster, or a man who is monstrous. (In the world of storytelling, there's a big difference!) What do you think, is The Invisible Man a horror or a thriller?For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's

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00:39:13

Bend It Like Beckham

Story Nerd ·

2022/07/20

You can't go wrong with a performance story; it's a crowd-pleaser every time. With this genre, the opponent is usually the sole antagonist. But this film has a whole host of antagonists working together to complicate the plot and make life for the heroine very, very difficult. How did the writers weave together multiple forces of antagonism so seamlessly? Tune in to find out. For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and

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00:39:57

Legally Blonde

Story Nerd ·

2022/07/13

We're kicking off a new season with a focus on two new storytelling principles! In Season 2, Valerie is studying The Hero's Gift Expressed and Melanie is studying Forces of Antagonism. Legally Blonde is a beautiful example of both!For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle To learn to

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00:34:06

Genres: best advice for authors

Story Nerd ·

2022/07/06

In this episode, Valerie and Melanie review their key takeaways from the ten films they studied this season. Tune in to learn their best advice for authors, ah-ha moments and resource recommendations. For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle To learn to read like a writer, visit

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00:43:30

Dune: spectacle v. story

Story Nerd ·

2022/06/29

Dune is a true feast for the eyes, and it's got the Oscars to prove it. However, none of the awards (or nominations) were for the writing and there's an obvious reason for that. Join Valerie and Melanie as they do a deep dive into the storytelling aspect of this popular film. For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner

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00:47:02

The Power of the Dog: the epitome of a blended genre...

Story Nerd ·

2022/06/22

If you plan to blend genres in your novel, then do yourself a favour and tune in to this week's episode of Story Nerd. Maybe it's a western and maybe it isn't. Maybe it's something entirely new. Jane Campion and the entire team of professionals brought their A-Game to this one!For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner

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00:47:59

Rogue One: worldbuilding 101

Story Nerd ·

2022/06/15

Oh dear. The scales have fallen from Melanie's eyes this week as she analyzed one of her favourite films. The "spectacle" of film sure does make the movie-going experience a whole lot of fun, but when we strip away the soundtrack, the CGI, the costumes and the actors we admire, we're left with the story. Sometimes that makes us love our favourite stories even more, and sometimes it doesn't.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing

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00:48:09

Knives Out: mastering the whodunnit

Story Nerd ·

2022/06/08

Puzzled about what it takes to write a great mystery? Then grab your notebook because this episode is chock-full of tips. No red herrings in this show, we promise!For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's

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00:51:46

Being the Ricardos: masterful writing, but does it work?

Story Nerd ·

2022/06/01

There's no question that Aaron Sorkin is a master storyteller, and the craft on display here is next level stuff. But, it doesn't necessarily mean the story works. In this episode, Melanie attempts to untangle the genre while Valerie discusses the hazards of prioritizing elevated writing technique over fundamental storytelling basics.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of

en

00:45:31

Turning Red: home run, or swing and miss?

Story Nerd ·

2022/05/25

While this film may not be listed among Pixar's Top 10, there's still plenty to love about Turning Red and we need more stories that explore these themes. From a craft perspective, Melanie sees it as a good example of how the beginning of a story sets up the end, and Valerie considers whether the red panda is a metaphor that works.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of

en

00:57:18

The Courier: when is a spy story not a spy story?

Story Nerd ·

2022/05/18

In this episode, Melanie takes us on a deep dive of spy stories, their conventions and subgenres. It turns out that what we usually think of as spy stories might not be spy stories at all! Meanwhile, Valerie examines the testing plot and offers advice about how to write historical fiction that works.For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to

en

00:53:18

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: what the...

Story Nerd ·

2022/05/11

If you're interested in character development, this award-winning film is one you want to study. However, if you're interested in studying examples of crime stories (which is how this movie has been marketed), maybe give it a pass. Tune in to find out why!For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner

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00:43:33

West Side Story: innovative or cliché?

Story Nerd ·

2022/05/04

West Side Story (2021) has been lauded for its depiction of race and racial tension, but how has it handled the love story? In his retelling of this age-old story, did Spielberg innovate the genre or did he perpetuate stereotypes?For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle To learn to

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00:40:46

Late Night: a story is about one thing

Story Nerd ·

2022/04/27

A story makes one point. If your story is about everything, then it's about nothing. Understanding genre is a vital skill for writers because everything in a story flows from it; it's the key to telling a story in an entertaining and effective way. Can you boil your story down to one idea? Does your choice of genre help your story make its point?For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70

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00:09:45

Calling All Story Nerds!

Story Nerd ·

2022/04/01

Join literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, as they analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. If you want to spend more time writing and less time studying, this show is for you. For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle To learn to read

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