Story Nerd
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 ever will matter, is the story. That's it." - Tom Hanks (Oxford Union 2024)
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 198
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Promising Young Woman: when society is the villain
The writing in this film is nothing short of masterful. Among the many reasons to study it is the way it develops Society as a force of antagonism. The heroine isn't just battling men, she's up again…
00:50:54 |
Wed 17 Aug 2022
The Matrix: give your story away
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,…
00:50:44 |
Wed 10 Aug 2022
Captain Marvel: the alter ego is key
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…
00:42:33 |
Wed 03 Aug 2022
The Invisible Man: thriller or horror?
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, t…
00:49:21 |
Wed 27 Jul 2022
Bend It Like Beckham
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 toget…
00:39:13 |
Wed 20 Jul 2022
Legally Blonde
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…
00:39:57 |
Wed 13 Jul 2022
Genres: best advice for authors
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…
00:34:06 |
Wed 06 Jul 2022
Dune: spectacle v. story
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 Mela…
00:43:30 |
Wed 29 Jun 2022
The Power of the Dog: the epitome of a blended genre story
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…
00:47:02 |
Wed 22 Jun 2022
Rogue One: worldbuilding 101
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 whe…
00:47:59 |
Wed 15 Jun 2022
Knives Out: mastering the whodunnit
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!
00:48:09 |
Wed 08 Jun 2022
Being the Ricardos: masterful writing, but does it work?
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 t…
00:51:46 |
Wed 01 Jun 2022
Turning Red: home run, or swing and miss?
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…
00:45:31 |
Wed 25 May 2022
The Courier: when is a spy story not a spy story?
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,…
00:57:18 |
Wed 18 May 2022
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: what the heck is the genre?
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 …
00:53:18 |
Wed 11 May 2022
West Side Story: innovative or cliché?
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…
00:43:33 |
Wed 04 May 2022
Late Night: a story is about one thing
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 tell…
00:40:46 |
Wed 27 Apr 2022
Calling All Story Nerds!
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 stud…
00:09:45 |
Fri 01 Apr 2022
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