Story Nerd

By Valerie Francis, Melanie Hill, Kathleen FoxxArts Books

Story Nerd episodes

July 06, 2022 Genres: best advice for authors
In this episode, Valerie and Melanie review their key takeaways from the ten films they studied this season. Tune in to learn their best advice for authors, ah-ha moments and resource recommendations. 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!
35 min
June 29, 2022 Dune: spectacle v. story
Dune is a true feast for the eyes, and it's got the Oscars to prove it. However, none of the awards (or nominations) were for the writing and there's an obvious reason for that. Join Valerie and Melanie as they do a deep dive into the storytelling aspect of this popular film.
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!
44 min
June 22, 2022 The Power of the Dog: the epitome of a blended genre story
If you plan to blend genres in your novel, then do yourself a favour and tune in to this week's episode of Story Nerd. Maybe it's a western and maybe it isn't. Maybe it's something entirely new. Jane Campion and the entire team of professionals brought their A-Game to this one! 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!
48 min
June 15, 2022 Rogue One: worldbuilding 101
Oh dear. The scales have fallen from Melanie's eyes this week as she analyzed one of her favourite films. The "spectacle" of film sure does make the movie-going experience a whole lot of fun, but when we strip away the soundtrack, the CGI, the costumes and the actors we admire, we're left with the story. Sometimes that makes us love our favourite stories even more, and sometimes it doesn't. 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!
48 min
June 08, 2022 Knives Out: mastering the whodunnit
Puzzled about what it takes to write a great mystery? Then grab your notebook because this episode is chock-full of tips. No red herrings in this show, we promise! 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!
49 min
June 01, 2022 Being the Ricardos: masterful writing, but does it work?
There's no question that Aaron Sorkin is a master storyteller, and the craft on display here is next level stuff. But, it doesn't necessarily mean the story works. In this episode, Melanie attempts to untangle the genre while Valerie discusses the hazards of prioritizing elevated writing technique over fundamental storytelling basics. 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!
52 min
May 25, 2022 Turning Red: home run, or swing and miss?
While this film may not be listed among Pixar's Top 10, there's still plenty to love about Turning Red and we need more stories that explore these themes. From a craft perspective, Melanie sees it as a good example of how the beginning of a story sets up the end, and Valerie considers whether the red panda is a metaphor that works. 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!
46 min
May 18, 2022 The Courier: when is a spy story not a spy story?
In this episode, Melanie takes us on a deep dive of spy stories, their conventions and subgenres. It turns out that what we usually think of as spy stories might not be spy stories at all! Meanwhile, Valerie examines the testing plot and offers advice about how to write historical fiction that works. 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!
58 min
May 11, 2022 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: what the heck is the genre?
If you're interested in character development, this award-winning film is one you want to study. However, if you're interested in studying examples of crime stories (which is how this movie has been marketed), maybe give it a pass. Tune in to find out why! 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!
54 min
May 04, 2022 West Side Story: innovative or cliché?
West Side Story (2021) has been lauded for its depiction of race and racial tension, but how has it handled the love story? In his retelling of this age-old story, did Spielberg innovate the genre or did he perpetuate stereotypes? 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!
44 min

About Story Nerd

From the publisher's feed

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…