Veteran journalist Barry Newman talks about 43 years of writing literary non-fiction for The Wall Street Journal.  Mr. Newman’s book, NEWS TO ME, features ruminations about the craft as well as many examples of his work. Barry’s website and book link We’re entirely user supported at present and welcome your donations to [email protected] via PayPal.   […]

Literary agents! What do they do? Why do you need one? How do you get one?  And when can we do lunch?  Cheryl talks to Brianne Johnson of Writers House about these topics and announces her own new project. Links related to this episode: Writers House Brianne’s Publishers Marketplace Listing Another interview with Brianne Johnson Brianne’s […]

We discuss the scope of dramaturgy and how dramaturgs and literary managers collaborate with writers, featuring The Old Globe theater’s resident dramaturg, Danielle Mages Amato. Danielle holds an MFA in Dramaturgy and a PhD in Drama and Theatre from the University of California at San Diego. She previously worked as the dramaturg and literary manager […]

We talk to New York playwright Brenton Lengel about the art and business of writing for the theater. Mentioned in the episode: Brenton Lengel’s website Mariah McCarthy Playwright Marco Ramirez Miss Mayfield’s Fifth Grade Class Reunion State of Play Productions Incorporated Humana Festival (March and April every year) North to Main (Brenton’s Play) Univesrity of Kentucky theater […]

Matt Bird joins us to discuss a selection of quality screenplays from 2014. We look at what makes these scripts tick and what the takeaways are for writers. Mentioned in the episode: Matt Bird’s blog series on the best screenplays of 2014 Selma  Nightcrawler Whiplash Edge of Tomorrow Snowpiercer Boyhood Amistad Mississippi Burning Schindler’s List […]

Kass Morgan joins us to discuss the romance genre and relationship stories in general. Mentioned in the episode: Cheryl’s blog post about Romance tropes The 100: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility Eleanor and Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_%26_Park Sense and Sensibility: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility Pride and Prejudice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice Cheryl’s review of a Pride and Prejudice adaptation Ann of Green Gables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbClLH8nvUM Emma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_(novel) Rust and […]

More about this show, for new listeners: This is a creative writing podcast and a screenwriting podcast. In The Narrative Breakdown, Cheryl Klein, James Monohan, and other guest co-hosts discuss storytelling tips and techniques of interest to any writer, student, or fan of quality creative writing, screenwriting, playwriting, fan fiction, English literature, etc. Each episode, Cheryl and James draw upon their respective experiences in publishing and filmmaking to analyze popular novels, movies, plays, television shows, short stories, and song lyrics. Featuring various co-hosts and writers, as well as material from Cheryl Klein's book 'Second Sight' and James' iPhone app 'The Storyometer.'

NPR reporter Ailsa Chang on the ins and outs of her job and how she constructs a radio story. Mentioned in the interview: Serial, the documentary podcast everyone’s talking about Ailsa’s story about Senator Landrieu, featuring the man by the oak tree A piece about Mitch McConnell Ailsa did before the 2014 midterm elections A […]

Cheryl, James, and Matt Bird discuss unreliable narrators and deceptive points of view. Mentioned in this episode: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Atonement We Were Liars Fight Club Primal Fear The Sixth Sense Gone Girl Lee Child’s “A Simple Way to Create Suspense” Flowers for Algernon Millicent Min Girl Genius The Usual Suspects You, the […]

In this bonus episode, authors Eric Gansworth and Joseph Bruchac and their editors, Cheryl Klein and Stacy Whitman, discuss the particular pleasures and challenges of writing, editing, and publishing Native American young adult literature. Relevant links: Eric Gansworth’s website Joseph Bruchac’s website Stacy Whitman’s website Cheryl Klein’s website Debbie Reese’s website (mentioned in the conversation) […]