Story Nerd
Melanie Hill, Valerie FrancisFor 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... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 230 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationHow ToArtsBooks | |||
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Latest Episodes
Does the nickname "baby" bother us? Why yes, yes it does. But we've got to admit, Dirty Dancing is an excellent example of the heroine's journey, as well as female archetypes and how women are presented in stories. It also happens to be, structurally... more
Wowzers! This is a terrific movie. If you're writing a thriller (any sub-genre), or a story with nuanced and complex characters, this episode is for you. In fact, CONCLAVE is one of the movies we recommend you put on your short list of films to study... more
What does a literary agent look for in the sample writing pages of a query? In this special bonus episode, I speak with agent Kathleen Foxx (The Rights Factory) about the 4 criteria she uses to evaluate a submission, her 21-point checklist (which you... more
Valerie asked me, “How are you going to explain this?”
Trippy.
It’s David Lynch and it’s trippy.
It’s also an antiplot story with characters who have two identities. Where is the speech in praise of the villain and what arc does the story and prot... more
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Reviews
This is my go-to writing education podcast. I look forward to Wednesdays when I get to hear Valerie and Melanie dissect a movie and get me thinking about elements I hadn't before considered for my novels. Their great work is assisting my great WIP!
Podcast Addict56 months agoMary White- Real writers’ resource
Excellent!
Apple Podcasts5RosemariB
United Statesa year ago - Story structure & beyond!
Such a great analysis of stories and movies - be ready to nerd out. You’ll improve your craft for sure!
Apple Podcasts5SilverNW
Canadaa year ago - An Education on Storytelling
This is one of the best podcasts I’ve heard on storytelling. They break it down so that it’s easy to understand. I’ve learned so much from the hosts- such professionals. My only regret is that I didn’t find them sooner. As a writer, it would’ve saved me so much time with so many mistakes I made with the craft of storytelling.
Apple Podcasts5MerryBrossUnited Statesa year ago - Excellent way to learn story structure
Their analysis of movies is so informative and I learned something new with every podcast. I like that they have themes for the season that they’re looking at and their disagreements are entertaining.
Apple Podcasts5VAB1953United States2 years ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #212 | Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #58 |  Netherlands/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #191 |  Brazil/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #192 | Netherlands/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #233 |  Norway/Arts/Books |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Story Nerd
What is Story Nerd about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A craft-forward show that uses film analyses to teach storytelling fundamentals for writers, screenwriters, and memoirists. Across episodes, the hosts dissect character consistency, motivation, and structure, highlighting how films illuminate practical writing techniques—from setup and theme to narrative drive and resolution. The hosts mix theory with accessible, experience-based tips, often including feminist perspectives and genre-aware insights, making it especially valuable for those seeking concrete takeaways to apply in their own work. The format leans into season-long explorations of storytelling principles, with thoughtful comparisons across classics and contemporary works, and a knack for breaking down complex ideas without jargon.... more
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Which podcasts are similar to Story Nerd?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Story Nerd:
1. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
2. Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
3. Helping Writers Become Authors
4. Writers on Writing
5. Writing Excuses
How many episodes of Story Nerd are there?
Story Nerd launched 4 years ago and published 230 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on Story Nerd?
Recent guests on Story Nerd include:
1. Kathleen Foxx
2. Matty Dalrymple
3. Brian Proctor
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