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Story NerdBLACK FRIDAY - SAVE 89%You want to get published, right? You want to see your book in bookstores, you want to hit a bestseller list, and maybe you want Reese Witherspoon to pick your book for her bookclub. Well, before any of that can happen you need an agent and an outstanding query letter is the key to getting one. That's why I developed my brand new course, THE ART OF THE QUERY. It includes everything you need to know and I even show you a super simple way to tackle the hardest part of the pitch. Grab the course now through Cyber...2024-11-2902 minStory NerdTHIS is how your novel gets noticed!There are two ways to write great stories. The first involves at least 20 years of reading, writing and being rejected. The second, which is much faster, involves learning story theory. (Big shocker that I'm saying that, right?) If option number two sounds good to you, then check out the Story Nerd Spring Webinar Series, which kicks off on March 28. Melanie and I will teach you the concepts you need to know, in a way that you can use, so you can craft better stories right away.For more information, and to register, visit www.valeriefrancis.ca/spring20242024-03-1806 minStory NerdCrooked House: left-brained storiesIt's time for a brand new season of the show and this time around, Valerie and Melanie are studying the same topic: left-brained stories. Never heard of it before? Don't worry. Valerie made up the term to describe any story that has a puzzle of some kind and invites the reader/audience to try to solve the puzzle before the author reveals the solution. Left-brained stories tend to be mysteries/crime stories, thrillers, and spy stories but they can show up in any genre.In left-brained stories, storytelling principles are applied a little differently—and that's exactly wh...2024-02-0740 minStory NerdCharacter Lessons from an ActorFor the past two seasons Valerie has been talking about character dimension and cast design. The key to understanding both concepts is to recognize that a person isn't a uniform, constant creature. A person's behaviour changes depending on the situation she finds herself in and the people she finds herself interacting with.In this brief bonus episode, Valerie's daughter Avery (a theatre student at the York University Acting Conservatory) illustrates how this character shift plays out in real time. It's actually an acting assignment as part of her course work, but it sums up everything Valerie has...2024-02-0510 minStory NerdOur Best Advice: conflict + cast designThis week Valerie and Melanie round up their a-ha moments and the lessons they've learned over the past ten episodes. What are their key takeaways wrt creating conflict in a story? How can you design a cast that supports both the main character's development and the plot? Tune in to find out!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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like...2024-01-3125 minStory NerdThe Lost Daughter: fisticuffsThe one thing Valerie and Melanie agree on this week is that the execution of this film isn't as good as it could, or should, have been. They disagreed on just about everything else and they each have a strong case for why they've come to the conclusions they've come to. The main points of disagreement? The protagonist's object of desire (want) and whether the protagonist was empathetic or not.What do you think? Do you agree with Melanie or Valerie?For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all...2024-01-2448 minStory NerdLady Bird: writing female protagonistsIf you're writing a character-driven story with a female protagonist, or a female POV character, this episode is a must for you. With only one viewing it's easy to miss the storytelling goodness of Lady Bird because it doesn't offer up the kind of story Hollywood has trained us to expect (i.e., external action, male protagonist, hero's journey-style stories). What it does give is a nuanced, complex female protagonist whose internal conflict drives the story. Yay, Greta!For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's...2024-01-1741 minStory NerdLove, Simon: how (not) to arc a characterIf you're writing a character-driven story, or if your protagonist has an arc, this episode is for you. This week, Melanie and Valerie continue their studies of conflict and cast design, and the connection between these topics and character development is a real eye-opener.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com...2024-01-1040 minStory NerdSex and the City: great world building, but mehNever has there been a better example of why world building is so important. Fans of Sex and the City love to live vicariously through Carrie Bradshaw so it's no surprise that audiences gave this film a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, film critics gave it a 50%, and Valerie and Melanie tend to agree. What is they see that fans don't? Tune in to this week's episode so that you can emulate the good and avoid repeating the bad.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's...2024-01-0339 minStory NerdThe Gentlemen: conflict and a detourSometimes the best way to understand a concept is to have a simple, but clear, example. In this episode, Melanie explains why The Gentlemen is such a great example of conflict, especially external conflict. This film isn't such a great example of cast design though, so this week Valerie takes a detour and focuses instead on Narrative Device (which is not the same as Narrative Drive!).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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's...2023-12-2736 minStory NerdLittle Women: why we do (or don't) love itThere's no question that Little Women is a classic that is beloved by generations, but why? What is it about this story that resonates with so many readers and viewers? This week, Valerie and Melanie ponder just that and their study takes them to past episodes about world building and story shapes, they discuss the appeal of Jo March and they discover an interesting link to Pride and Prejudice.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/innercircleFor...2023-12-2034 minStory NerdNo Way Out: conflict trianglesIn this week's episode, Melanie introduces the concept of conflict triangles and honestly, if you use them in your work, your story will improve immediately. In terms of cast design, while usually the plot supports the development of the characters in this case, the characters support the development of the plot. If you don't know which option best serves your story, you'd better tune in.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming...2023-12-1343 minStory NerdThe Full Monty: writing comedic charactersValerie and Melanie both approached this week's episode with some trepidation. The Full Monty is a favourite film and sometimes those can be the most challenging to study because it's hard to be objective. But thankfully, there was no need to worry; the structure of The Full Monty is solid and a deep study revealed some fascinating lessons on how to write comedic characters.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars...2023-12-0636 minStory NerdThe Woman King: when storylines competeCreating multiple storylines is a popular approach for novelists and for writers who know what they're doing, the end result is nothing short of masterful. However, multiple storylines is an advanced writing technique and it can quickly and easily go off the rails. Unfortunately, that's what happened with The Woman King. Now, there's lots to admire about this film too, but there's also lots to learn about creating multiple plot lines and what can happen to a story when they're poorly executed.(Valerie's puppy Luca has opinions on it too, as you'll hear ... apologies for that!)2023-11-2946 minStory NerdAugust Osage County: one for your repertoireIt's time for a brand new season and this time around, Valerie is studying cast design (a concept which revolutionized her writing) and Melanie is studying conflict. August: Osage County is a brilliant example of both - in fact, it's a brilliant example of a whole lot of storytelling principles, so this is one movie you'll want to add to your repertoire.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www...2023-11-2229 minStory NerdBest Advice: character development + worldbuildingWe've reached the end of another season and that means it's time for us to round up our a-ha moments and best lessons learned about how to develop characters and build fictional worlds. You'll want to bookmark this episode!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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie...2023-11-1521 minStory NerdThe Electrical Life of Louis Wain: externalize the internalThis movie is all about the inner turmoil of Louis Wain. You may not recognize his name, but you'll recognize his art (it's worth Googling). If you have a pet cat, it's because of Louis Wain. Communicating a character's inner thoughts or mental state is a tricky thing for film to do. It can be tricky for novelists too because it often leads to long passages of exposition. But externalizing the internal can (and must) be done. Do you know how? If not, this episode will show you how.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and...2023-11-0840 minStory NerdPretty Woman: a masterclass in the fundamentalsThis movie is so light and joyful that it's easy to dismiss it as fluff, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pretty Woman is a masterclass in the fundamentals of storytelling. The plot isn't fancy (it isn't even original), but it's rock solid and the presentation of the characters is spot on. Yes, we're discussing character development and worldbuilding again, but the real beauty here is how well the filmmakers leaned into the fundamentals to tell a story for the ages.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all...2023-11-0146 minStory NerdNanowrimo: how to winNanowrimo starts tomorrow and if you're going to win, you've got to have a strategy. It's no small task to write an entire draft of a novel in thirty days! Luckily, in this bonus episode Valerie is here with three proven strategies that to help you do just that. You don't need to follow all three, just pick one that works and go for it. Good luck!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/innercircleFor information about...2023-10-3110 minStory NerdDon't Worry Darling: where did it go wrong?By popular request! So many of you have messaged Valerie about this movie, that she's finally decided to tackle it head on. All the questions you've sent in boil down to one thing...you didn't like the movie, but you can't put your finger on why. In this bonus episode, Valerie shares her insights. Given the star-power attached to this project, her answer might surprise you.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's...2023-10-2915 minStory NerdThe Boy In The Striped Pyjamas: writing historical fictionAnyone writing historical fiction needs to pay particular attention to how they build the world for the reader/viewer. In this week's episode, Melanie explains how to construct a fictional world around three main setting types. It's fascinating stuff! And Valerie explores what happens when the most interesting character in the story is NOT the protagonist. Does it spell trouble for the narrative, or is there a way (and a reason) to pull it off?For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www...2023-10-2539 minStory NerdBig: writing comedic charactersIt's one thing to write a dramatic character, but what if you want to write a comedic one? Do the same storytelling principles apply, or not? And what about the setting? It's yet another story set in New York so how did the writers distinguish it from the NYC we saw in FATAL ATTRACTION and CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? All this and much more in this week's episode.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/innercircleFor...2023-10-1836 minStory NerdEverything Everywhere All At Once: was there a script?Ok, so basically, this movie is a bunch of action scenes strung together with expository dialogue. It's heavy-handed with theme (dare we say didactic?) and is bizarre even by antiplot standards. But, it's kind of an interesting film to study for worldbuilding all the same.(Oh, and in this episode there's an unintended cameo by Luca, Valerie's yellow Labrador puppy. He clearly had opinions about Everything Everywhere All At Once that he needed to share.)For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner...2023-10-1154 minStory NerdFatal Attraction: who's the villain?Hooboy, this movie gets better with age. Why? Because when we watch it through the lens of 2023 it has much more depth and nuance. Glenn Close's character (Alex) is supposed to be the villain, but is she really? If you want to create a multi-dimensional antagonist who drives the plot and raises the stakes, you've got to listen to this episode.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis...2023-10-0437 minStory NerdDistrict 9: worldbuilding 101This is an episode you're going to want to bookmark because Melanie is offering up oodles of info about how to create a fictional world your readers will love. Yes, District 9 is science fiction, but the principles apply to all genres and all world types; contemporary, realistic, historical, fantasy...you name it. And Valerie continues her study of character development with a look at what can happen to your story when your reader empathizes more with the victim than the protagonist (hint: it's not good).For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of...2023-09-2746 minStory NerdBridget Jones's Diary: why we love herBecause the novel is so funny and easy to read, and because the film is a romcom, it's easy to dismiss Bridget Jones's Diary as a simple story that Helen Fielding simply dashed off on a weekend. But nothing could be further from the truth. Even though it's a lighthearted story, Bridget is still a dimensional character and that's why we love her.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit...2023-09-2031 minStory NerdStory 101: Poetic DeviceHere's an episode that will help you improve your line writing. Yes, Melanie is focusing on the poetic devices of metaphor, simile, and allegory, but they also apply to prose. So if you want to crank your writing up a notch, this one's for you.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill...2023-09-1816 minStory NerdCan You Ever Forgive Me: what's hiding under your bed?Very few movies make an adult afraid of what's hiding under her bed, but this is one of them...and it isn't even a horror movie. That's the power of effective world-building! Even though this movie is set in NYC, it's a version of the city that's specific to the protagonist. How is the world of your story specific to your protagonist?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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www...2023-09-1332 minStory NerdRay: a product of his environmentIt's a brand new season and that means brand new topics. For the next ten weeks, Valerie will study character development and Melanie will study world-building. These massive topics go hand-in-hand because every protagonist is a product of his/her environment. This is a season you don't want to miss!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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer...2023-09-0632 minStory NerdDeath on the Nile: the moustache mystery (archive)This might be one of Agatha Christie's best known mysteries, but does it work for a modern audience? This week, Valerie and Melanie analyze Sir Kenneth Branagh's version of Christie's classic tale, and discuss just how far into a story the inciting incident can be. And don't miss Melanie's super sleuth skills in action as she uncovers a major plot hole that has to do with Poirot's famous moustache.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/innercircleFor...2023-08-3048 minStory NerdSkyfall: m is for mother? (archive)In this episode, Melanie's study of subtext has revealed something odd (and slightly uncomfortable). It seems that, according to Skyfall at least, M stands for mother. But why should Judi Dench's M be a maternal figure for James Bond? Valerie's study of Act 2 uncovers a striking similarity to last week's film: Back to the Future. What on earth could these movies have in common?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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars...2023-08-2359 minStory NerdThe Water Horse: keep subplots at bay (archive)It's not uncommon for a subplot, or secondary character, to take over a story - especially when a writer is still learning the ropes. So, how do you keep a subplot in check and what do you do if it starts taking over? In this week's episode, Valerie and Melanie discuss just that.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read...2023-08-1645 minStory NerdWest Side Story: innovative or cliche? (archive episode)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 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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie...2023-08-0945 minStory NerdWanted: AI Prompt EngineerFor better or worse, Generative AI will change the job market. Some professions will disappear and new ones will be created. One of the new jobs popping up is called an AI Prompt Engineer and companies like Netflix have already started their hiring spree. But what exactly is a prompt engineer? Will the job put authors out of business, or will it ultimately prove our worth?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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's...2023-08-071h 02Story NerdAlec Sokolow: the hero's journeyHey, this is Valerie. I recently had the good fortune to study with Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, Alec Sokolow. (Super cool, right!?) Somehow or other, I got up enough nerve to ask him for an interview and he graciously took 30 minutes out of his day to share with us his pro tips, tricks and advice. Oh, and he lets us in on his secret for writing a dual-protagonist story. Check it out!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/innercircle2023-08-0230 minStory NerdOur Best Advice: empathy + stakesIn this episode, Valerie and Melanie wrap up season six with a look at all the lessons they've learned about creating empathy for a protagonist, and establishing the stakes of a story.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram and Twitter @valerie_francis2023-07-2620 minStory NerdOperation Mincemeat: truth is stranger than fictionEven though Operation Mincemeat hides its imperfections behind a star-studded cast, it's still a good example of how to raise the stakes in story. Mind you, if this was a work of pure fiction, a writer would never get away with it - there are way too many coincidences. But hey, it's Colin Firth.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to...2023-07-1938 minStory NerdWALL-E: the basics, masteredThere's nothing fancy about the storytelling in Pixar's WALL-E. It's a solid story that relies on the fundamentals to engage its audience, and it's an approach that led them to gross over $521 million. Too often new writers reject the basics instead of embracing them. In WALL-E, empathy is established early and the stakes are clear. Mastering the basics has been a winning strategy for Pixar, and it can be a winning strategy for us too.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www...2023-07-1228 minStory NerdManchester by the Sea: I'm not crying, you're cryingThis movie does so many things well, it's a great one for both novelists and screenwriters to have in their repertoire of reference stories. We're studying stakes and empathy this season and boy does Manchester by the Sea deliver. If you haven't seen it yet, add it to your short list and have the tissues handy. Trust us on this one.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/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis...2023-07-0539 minStory NerdGood Luck to You, Leo Grande: do you empathize?This one's coming to you by popular request! The #1 comment from women who've watched this movie is that it's too close for comfort, so that makes it a perfect choice for a study of empathy. What is it about Emma Thompson's character that resonated with so many viewers? What does she stand to lose? As an added bonus, this episode even a cameo by Meryl Streep...sorta.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/innercircleFor information about...2023-06-2844 minStory NerdThe Hate U Give: delete the first 28 minutesWell, they rushed this one. Given the subject matter, this film deserved to have much more care and attention given to it. Instead, it feels like the studio was in such a hurry to get it to market (given the social tensions at the time of release), that they ignored basic storytelling principles. At least it's a great example of what not to do.Oh, and the first half hour? Get rid of it. It's all exposition.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to...2023-06-2139 minStory NerdIs AI good or bad for writers?Everyone's talking about AI these days, and for good reason. Experts say that AI will have a bigger influence on our lives than electricity. So what does that mean for writers? Will AI be a tool that helps us write better stories? Or, is it something that will put us out of business? Tune in to this bonus episode to hear our initial thoughts.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a...2023-06-1631 minStory NerdAs Good As It Gets: creating unlikable charactersMelvin Udall is not a nice man, but he sure is interesting and that's what makes this episode so important for writers. We concern ourselves with whether or not our reader will like our main character, but seldom do we consider whether our main character is interesting, or fascinating. Fascination is what we're after, not likability.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au2023-06-1435 minStory NerdThe Wife: sublime storytellingSometimes we stumble upon a story that gets everything right - especially when to reveal information and when to hold back. Melanie and Valerie discuss how mystery impacts the audience's understanding of what's at stake, and how empathy is established in the first scene via shared experience and then grows as the story is revealed.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au2023-06-0754 minStory NerdThe Godfather: empathy for a mafia don?There is so much storytelling goodness to be learned from The Godfather, it kinda boggles the mind. Even if you're writing a light-hearted romcom, believe it or not, your novel/screenplay will benefit from the way Coppola and Puzzo approached the craft. The stakes start out high and get even higher. And when it comes to empathy, the role that world-building plays is a thing of beauty. Of course, one of us totally empathizes with Michael and the other of us doesn't at all. Guess which one is which.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and...2023-05-3149 minStory NerdStory 101: Quibbling Over SemanticsThe biggest problem facing writers who are trying to understand theory and learn how stories work, is that there is no standard lexicon. This leads to no end of problems…and frankly, arguments. How do we deal with this lack of consensus? Tune in to find out.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram and Twitter @valerie_fr...2023-05-2609 minStory Nerd10 Things I Hate About You: what not to doThis may not be the worst movie ever made, but it's certainly among them. The filmmakers have completely ignored storytelling basics and boy, does it ever show. It's based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, so you'd think it would be brilliant, right? Wrong. Without the fundamentals in place this is nothing more than a bunch of stereotypes and cliches strung together, and it's painful to watch.What did they do wrong and how can you avoid making the same mistakes in your story? Tune in to find out.For access to writing templates...2023-05-2432 minStory NerdThe King's Speech: try this trickOn this brand new season of the podcast Valerie and Melanie are diving deeply into EMPATHY and STAKES. How did the makers of The King's Speech get us common folk to empathize with a king? How did they get an American audience to empathize with a British king when they fought a war to win their independence from the monarchy? Well, it was no easy task, but the trick to it lies in choosing the right type of protagonist (there are four types of protagonists). Tune into this episode to find out more.For access to writing...2023-05-1739 minStory NerdOur Best Advice: story form + resonanceAre you writing a novel with more than one protagonist and/or plotline? Are you using flashbacks or writing a series? If so, this is an episode you simply must check out. This week Valerie and Melanie review their key takeaways from ten weeks of study into story form (plot structure) and resonance.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow...2023-05-1033 minStory NerdGatsby: who's the protagonist?The shape of this story (the film version, anyway) changes dramatically depending on who you think the protagonist is. It's Jay Gatsby, right? Ah, maybe! Or the protagonist could be Nick Carraway! And exactly why are we still reading, watching and studying this story 100 years after it was written? In this week's episode of the Story Nerd podcast, Valerie and Melanie discuss all this and more. Don't miss it!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/innercircleTo...2023-05-0328 minStory NerdWhen Harry Met Sally: quasi antiplot huh?Seriously, what the heck is a quasi antiplot story? It sounds pretty fringe; like some crazy, obscure little bit of story theory that writers will never, ever, need to know. Sure, story theorists can fill their boots with it but if 99% of audiences expect an archplot story, why should we bother with quasi antiplot (whatever that is)? Well, it turns out that it can be the secret sauce for story innovation. Nora Ephron knew that and used it to write one of the most successful romcoms of all time. It also boosted her career into the stratosphere and led...2023-04-2636 minStory NerdStar Wars Ep7: the face plantAs we saw in the Aliens episode, resonance is a powerful tool for anyone developing a series. But what happens when resonance is used ineffectively? In this episode, Melanie takes us on a deep dive into the Star Wars universe and explains why The Force Awakens did a face plant. (Because she's a superfan, she also provides details on the inner workings of lightsabres, so if you've ever wondered why Kyloren's looks so bizarre, here's your answer.) In terms of structure, Valerie has discovered two interesting twists on the archplot form that just might help you jazz up your...2023-04-1945 minStory NerdWayne's World: party on, story nerds!Well this is one wild ride of an episode! Wayne's World is an antiplot story that offers up plenty of writing lessons that surprised the heck out of Valerie and Melanie. It gave them the giggles too (be sure to listen all the way to the end). So sit back and enjoy this episode with Wayne, Garth, Valerie and Melanie. Party on, story nerds!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/innercircleTo learn to read like a...2023-04-1240 minStory NerdAliens: writing a seriesIf you're writing a series (no matter what the genre), this is one episode you won't want to miss. How did James Cameron use Resonance to create a sequel that viewers love? And, how does understanding a character's arc help writers keep a story fresh from film to film, or book to book? Valerie and Melanie discuss all this and more!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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's...2023-04-0536 minStory NerdNashville: writing multiple POVsHold on to your hats! Robert Altman's 1975 classic, Nashville, has 24 main characters and more storylines that you can count. If you're writing a story with two or more POVs and/or storylines, you can't afford to skip this episode! Mind blown. 🤯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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram and Twitter @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on...2023-03-2944 minStory NerdThe Shape of Water: kooky and cleverMelanie loves this film but it gives Valerie the creeps. They'll never see eye-to-eye on this one, but thanks to story theory, their subjective opinions don't get in the way of appreciating what this story has to offer. Guillermo del Toro has innovated the heck out of a courtship love story in a way that is nothing short of masterful. If you're looking for ways to innovate your story, regardless of the genre, this is the episode for you!For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to...2023-03-2241 minStory NerdThe Accidental Tourist: oh, so this is miniplot!It's easy to think that a Miniplot story is simply one where the protagonist has a strong internal arc. But that's only part of it. There's much, much more to it than that. So if your novel features a main character who changes over the course of the story, you definitely want to give this episode a listen!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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill...2023-03-1542 minStory NerdLego Batman: holy product placement, batmanThe marketing people at Lego are geniuses. In 2014 they released The Lego Movie, launching a lucrative movie franchise and driving sales of their product through the roof. The storytelling isn't fancy, but it sure is solid. In this week's episode Valerie and Melanie look at Lego Batman (2017) and how the company uses resonance and storytelling fundamentals to create movies viewers love.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's...2023-03-0838 minStory NerdMen in Black: invasion lit is a thing?Season 5 kicks off with Men in Black. Valerie is studying plot structure, and Melanie is studying resonance. Now, admittedly, plot structure doesn't sound very sexy but it's one of the first decisions a writer must make. If you haven't chosen a structure for your novel, how will you know if what you've written is working? Resonance is the ability to evoke or suggest images, emotions, and memories, and all successful writers use it to draw on their readers' experiences. So, how are you putting it to use in your own WIP?For access to writing templates and...2023-03-0137 minStory NerdStory 101: Read Like a WriterWe've all heard this advice from A-List authors...if we want to be better writers we have to read more. What they don't tell us is that reading like a writer is an entirely different activity than reading like a reader. In this episode, Melanie explains her approach to reading actively, deeply, widely and consistently.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au2023-02-2612 minStory NerdBest Advice: middles + subtextThat's a wrap for Season 4! In this episode, Valerie and Melanie pull out their a-ha moments from the past ten shows, and they give you their best advice about crafting the middles of stories (Act 2) and subtext.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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram and Twitter @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook...2023-02-2221 minStory NerdThe Devil Wears Prada: simply solid storytellingSometimes, studying a story that you love can be a bit scary. What if it turns out that the story is rubbish, and what you really like is the soundtrack, or the actor, or the costumes? Well, you can cast those worries aside this week because The Devil Wears Prada is solid. In terms of structure, it isn't fancy. It doesn't waver from the Hero's Journey/Archplot form, and that's okay. In fact it's more than okay because it teaches us what can happen when we focus on the fundamentals.Learn more about Valerie's upcoming webinar at...2023-02-1530 minStory NerdStory 101 : start your story rightHow are you starting your story, and is your global inciting incident fulfilling its two most important functions? In this episode, Valerie fills you in on the key points you need to know about the Inciting Incident at the global story level and the scene level. Learn more about Valerie's upcoming webinar at www.hookyourreader.comFor 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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.c...2023-02-1409 minStory NerdFour Weddings and a Funeral: saggy middles?Want to keep the middle of your story from sagging? In this episode, Valerie reveals the one thing writers need to understand about the second act and its function in a story. While Valerie and Melanie agree on the genre for this movie, they disagree about whether the film works as a whole. What do you think?Learn more about Valerie's upcoming webinar at www.hookyourreader.comFor 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/innercircleTo...2023-02-0840 minStory NerdAnnouncing Story 101!Thanks to you, our fellow story nerds, this little passion project of ours is growing by leaps and bounds. We're already in 76 countries and are nearing 1,000 downloads per week. And we're still in our first year! To express our gratitude, we're introducing new bonus episodes called Story 101. They'll be your quick reference guide to story theory for those times you need a little refresher. We've got your back!Learn more about Valerie's upcoming webinar at www.hookyourreader.comFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe...2023-02-0502 minStory NerdLa La Land: novelists make this mistake tooWhat on earth can novelists learn from a musical? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. Cinematically, this is a beautiful film, there's oodles of subtext, and yes, the music is lovely. The story itself? Well, it's kinda thin. And this is the problem many novelists have ... we spend too much time on the polish and not enough time on the substance.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training, subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website...2023-02-0141 minStory NerdGroundhog Day: groundhog day groundhog dayValerie and Melanie are both happily surprised (relieved?) to discover that there's much more to this movie than meets the eye. How did Harold Remis hold his audience's attention when the same day, and many of the same activities, repeat over and over and over again? It's quite a neat trick and is yet one more example of why understanding storytelling fundamentals is so important.
For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training, subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle
To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com...2023-01-2535 minStory NerdSkyfall: m is for mother?In this episode, Melanie's study of subtext has revealed something odd (and slightly uncomfortable). It seems that, according to Skyfall at least, M stands for mother. But why should Judi Dench's M be a maternal figure for James Bond? Valerie's study of Act 2 uncovers a striking similarity to last week's film: Back to the Future. What on earth could these movies have in common?
To learn more about Valerie and Melanie, visit their websites:
www.valeriefrancis.ca
www.melaniehill.com.au For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours
of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's...2023-01-1857 min