Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWild: stories need conflict
Season 2 Episode 210
It's hard to know quite where this film went off the rails, but certainly, one of the main problems is that there isn't any real conflict or tension.…
3 years, 7 months ago
A Few Good Men: this is how you handle exposition
Season 2 Episode 209
If you've ever been told to "show, don't tell" then you'll want to listen to this episode because the truth is that exposition (i.e., "tell") is an e…
3 years, 7 months ago
Booksmart: an unfortunate train wreck
Season 2 Episode 208
Well, the good news is that as writers we often learn more from the stories that don't work, than from the stories that do work. Booksmart is a great…
3 years, 7 months ago
Death on the Nile: the moustache mystery
Season 2 Episode 207
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 Kenne…
3 years, 7 months ago
Promising Young Woman: when society is the villain
Season 2 Episode 206
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. T…
3 years, 7 months ago
The Matrix: give your story away
Season 2 Episode 205
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 r…
3 years, 8 months ago
Captain Marvel: the alter ego is key
Season 2 Episode 204
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 discu…
3 years, 8 months ago
The Invisible Man: thriller or horror?
Season 2 Episode 203
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 …
3 years, 8 months ago
Bend It Like Beckham
Season 2 Episode 202
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 …
3 years, 8 months ago
Legally Blonde
Season 2 Episode 201
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 Melani…
3 years, 9 months ago