For novelists, memoirists and screenwriters who want to write stories readers will love, and who want to work with a literary agent. Each week, 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. On alternate weeks, Valerie and literary agent Kathleen Foxx offer their professional fee... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 242 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksEducationHow ToArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
Sicario presented us with a few surprises this week. Valerie thought she’d be analysing a hero, but Kate is an underdog. She’s not presented as a typical underdog, nor does she have the typical underdog resolution. On my end, the logline for the movi... more
Can you write a killer opening line? Can you define what a killer opening line is? In this week's episode, we give our professional advice on the opening pages of a story described as upmarket with suspense elements, starting with a debate about the ... more
What type of protagonist does your story feature? There are 4 types, each of them can be a constant character or a change character, and each one evokes a different emotion from your reader/viewer. And that's exactly what I'm studying this season sta... more
Poles apart - and not the dancing kind!
Anora won the 2024 Palme d’Or at Cannes and five out of six categories at the 2025 Academy awards including Best Original Screen Play and Best Film. Plus, it was nominated for a multitude of other awards and w... more
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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 Addict58 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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Apple Podcasts | #128 |  Hong Kong/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #236 | Hong Kong/Arts |
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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 with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
3. Helping Writers Become Authors
4. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
5. Writing Excuses
How many episodes of Story Nerd are there?
Story Nerd launched 4 years ago and published 242 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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