1. EachPod

Shirley: when endings fail

Author
Valerie Francis, Melanie Hill
Published
Wed 30 Apr 2025
Episode Link
https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/shirley-when-endings-fail-INCi2f7c

I think the filmmakers had good intentions when they made SHIRLEY, unfortunately, they failed to stick to the essentials of storytelling. In this episode, Melanie does a fantastic job of illustrating what happens to a story when writers fail to create obstacles that progressively complicate the plot. (Progressive Complications are a big deal - you're going to want to pay attention to this one.) And I do a deep dive into the core event (aka the climax) and explain why it doesn't work and how you can avoid making the same mistake in your novel. -V.


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