Valerie and I take a scalpel to some well loved movies this season. First there was the Nightmare Before Christmas and now Sleepless in Seattle. I’m not a believer in ‘magic love’ so I find the premise of the movie silly, but there are some good examples of tension. However, under the microscope of Valerie’s 4 Story Questions, this movie is lacking in some fundamental storytelling scaffolding. Without clear wants there isn’t anything meaningful at stake. The take away - the story could be better. There, I said it. I am the Scrooge of Valentine’s Day. -M

"Tension is the anticipation that something is going to happen." - Melanie Hill

Related Story Nerd Episodes

The Accidental Tourist (Season 5, Episode 503)

Crazy Stupid Love (Season 13, Episode  1304)

Season 5 - Shapes of Stories + Resonance

Season 7 - Character Dimension + Worldbuilding

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To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.