Story Grid Writers' Room

The Roundtablers try to figure out what’s good storytelling and what’s just Robin Williams this week as Valerie pitches the 1993 comedy Mrs. Doubtfire in her quest to understand how society itself ac…

In a rare convergence of taste, all four Roundtablers loved this week’s story, Brooklyn, and derived masses of actionable story advice from it. This 2015 film was directed by James Crowley from a scr…

The Roundtablers find more cloud than silver lining in this week’s entry, as Kim looks at establishing life values in your opening scenes with Silver Linings Playbook, both the 2008 novel by Matthew …

It’s wet, it’s wild, and it’s decadent this week as Leslie leads the Roundtablers through Kelly Robson’s Nebula-award-nominated novella, “Waters of Versailles,” a status story with a fantasy historic…

Anne's short story choice this week might be a little too short. Join the Roundtablers as they hash out the issue with Elizabeth Gilbert's famously reduced  "Pilgrims" (1993).

Each week one of the Rou…

It’s 20 minutes of insight this time as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode on character development.

Here on the Roundtable we're dedicated to helping you become a better w…

Valerie leads the team into the dystopian future of 2019 to examine the forces of antagonism in Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction noir classic, Blade Runner. Loosely adapted from Philip K. Dick’s 1…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Anne brings you a bite-size episode on how, after writing for five decades, she has finally learned to write.

Here on the Story Grid Editor Roundtable we'r…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode on why you need a masterwork.

Here on the Roundtable we're dedicated to helping you become a…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode all about the progressive complications and escalating stakes of Whiplash.

Here on the Round…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode on how to analyze a scene.

Here on the Roundtable we're dedicated to helping you become a be…

It’s another wintry story this week as Leslie continues her exploration of POV and narrative device in Alice Munro’s 1999 short story “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” and Away From Her, the 2006 Sa…

The Roundtablers take on a whole new question this week as Anne starts her study of how modern short stories work. We analyze Arna Bontemps Hemenway’s 5200-word tale of love and war, “Wolves of Karel…

Valerie bangs the drum this week for the importance of powerful forces of antagonism as the Roundtablers examine 2014’s Whiplash, written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

Each week one of the Roundtab…

This week, Kim takes a close look at The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, in order to study how a story’s life values are established in the beginning hook.

This 2018 film was directed b…

It’s a wonderful look at Point of View and Narrative Device this week, as Leslie opens Season 6 of the podcast with It’s a Wonderful Life. This 1946 perennial holiday favorite was directed by Frank C…

Here’s a preview of the winning hand of stories the Roundtablers are getting ready to bring you in Season 6. Join us for Episode 0, when the team bids farewell to Jarie, and Anne, Kim, Valerie, and L…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Kim Kessler brings you a bite-size episode on the truth behind Conventions and Obligatory Scenes.

Welcome to the Bite Size Edition of the Editor Roundtable…

It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Leslie Watts brings you a bite-size episode on how to choose your point of view.

Welcome to the Bite Size Edition of the Editor Roundtable Podcast. Here on…

It’s 20 minutes of chat and fun this time as Kim Kessler and new Story Grid Certified Editor Danielle Kiowski bring you a bite-size episode on what it’s like to become an editor.

Welcome to the Bite S…