Story Nerd

Readers are on a need to know basis. That means that, as storytellers, we only tell them what they need to know, and only when they need to know it. In this adaptation of John le Carre's novel, the filmmakers could have told us everything we needed to know about Issa in the first few minutes. Instead, they sprinkled the details a little bit at a time, and as a result, the audience's curiosity goes into overdrive.

Melanie and I still think the book is better (shocker, right?), but this is a great episode to discover how to control the flow of information in a story. -V

"It's really tempting to say that, 'Well, I have to start my novel or my memoir with three chapters of backstory'." - Valerie Francis

Related Story Nerd Episodes

See How They Run  (Season 9, Episode 5)

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

There are two ways to write great stories. The first involves at least 20 years of reading, writing and being rejected. The second, which is much faster, involves learning story theory. (Big shocker that I'm saying that, right?) If option number two sounds good to you, then check out the Story Nerd Spring Webinar Series, which kicks off on March 28. Melanie and I will teach you the concepts you need to know, in a way that you can use, so you can craft better stories right away.

For more information, and to register, visit www.valeriefrancis.ca/spring2024

-V.

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

The movie had both me and Valerie on the edge of our seats. When we come across a masterful movie we pull out as much as we can for you. This episode is chock-a-block full of info about point of view, narrative drive, clues, and liars. We also examine how the twist in The Good Liar is set up and pulled off. I continue to track the clues and motives this week...or should we say I track the lies. Valerie discusses how point of view and narrative drive work together to create this exciting thriller.

If you're building up to your twisty ending, this episode will have you speedwriting to get to the big reveal. -M

"When the whole meaning of a movie or a story changes, because of a vital piece of information REVEALED AT THE END then this is a device called a twist." - Melanie Hill

Related Story Nerd Episodes

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Season 9, Episode 4)

The Bourne Identity (Season 3, Episode 2)

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

A comedic take on a murder mystery had so much potential, but unfortunately, the creators of SEE HOW THEY RUN wasted it with what can only be described as lazy writing and lazy editing. This is what happens when the writers of murder mysteries aren't also superfans of the genre, or when they try to cut corners. This week, Valerie discusses the unfortunate skinny wrist reveal, and Melanie walks us through all the clues and red herrings. Do you agree with their analysis?

"If you're serious about getting published, be honest with yourself about the gaps in your knowledge. We all have them. It's okay." Valerie Francis

Related Story Nerd Episodes

Crooked House (Season 9, Episode 901)

Death on the Nile (Season 2, Episode 207)

Knives Out (Season 1, Episode 107)

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

It's a long episode this week because there's a whole lot to talk about in this excellent adaptation of John le Carre's bestselling novel. Melanie gives her top tips for writing mysteries and Valerie discusses the type of protagonist we usually find in left-brained stories. One question lingered for them both: When did George Smiley discover who the mole was?

"Your opinion of George Smiley will change if you read THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, because there his morality is laid bare. His duality, or his willingness to sacrifice innocence, is more laid bare." - Melanie Hill

RELATED STORY NERD EPISODES

The Dry (Season 9, Episode 2)

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

By the time we get to the end of our manuscript, we can feel drained creatively. The temptation to phone it in looms large. But be careful. No matter how good the rest of your story is, if the ending is weak, the novel/film will fail to impress. This is just one of the lessons that Valerie and Melanie learned this week.

"What I mean by a left-brained story is basically a story that appeals to our heads more than our hearts. It has to hook the reader intellectually." - Valerie Francis

RELATED STORY NERD EPISODES:

Death on the Nile (Season 2, Episode 207)

Empathy (Season 6)

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

This week Valerie and Melanie continue their study of left-brained stories. They step into the outback to discover how Australian crime writers create an atmosphere of isolation by combining plot and setting. Melanie is tracking clues, motives, and murderers' actions to discover the techniques used to raise questions and divert attention in the story – and there are many! Valerie investigates the Central Dramatic Question and Character Archetypes.

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

It's time for a brand new season of the show and this time around, Valerie and Melanie are studying the same topic: left-brained stories. Never heard of it before? Don't worry. Valerie made up the term to describe any story that has a puzzle of some kind and invites the reader/audience to try to solve the puzzle before the author reveals the solution. Left-brained stories tend to be mysteries/crime stories, thrillers, and spy stories but they can show up in any genre.

In left-brained stories, storytelling principles are applied a little differently—and that's exactly what Valerie and Melanie will explore all season long.

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle

For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au

Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francis

Follow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

For the past two seasons Valerie has been talking about character dimension and cast design. The key to understanding both concepts is to recognize that a person isn't a uniform, constant creature. A person's behaviour changes depending on the situation she finds herself in and the people she finds herself interacting with.

In this brief bonus episode, Valerie's daughter Avery (a theatre student at the York University Acting Conservatory) illustrates how this character shift plays out in real time. It's actually an acting assignment as part of her course work, but it sums up everything Valerie has been talking about over the course of the last twenty episodes. Enjoy!

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle

For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au

Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francis

Follow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!

This week Valerie and Melanie round up their a-ha moments and the lessons they've learned over the past ten episodes. What are their key takeaways wrt creating conflict in a story? How can you design a cast that supports both the main character's development and the plot? Tune in to find out!

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircle

For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinars

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.au

Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francis

Follow Melanie on X Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more.

Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.

For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist

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

To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.

Watch us on YouTube!