Story Chat Radio

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Each month book editors Carly Hayward and Jeni Chappelle watch a different movie with an eye for storytelling and novel writing. Then they use their training and years of experience editing novels to break down each movie’s storytelling elements to help you improve your novel-in-progress. In each ep…

Story Chat Radio


    • Feb 6, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 47 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Story Chat Radio with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Story Chat Radio

    Episode 46: The Goonies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 32:31


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 80s' adventure classic The Goonies with a focus on sense of urgency. 

    Episode 45: The Nightmare Before Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 31:02


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the holiday classic The Nightmare Before Christmas with a focus on interiority. 

    Episode 44: Barbie

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 30:56


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 2023 live-action movie Barbie with a focus on antagonistic forces.

    Episode 43: Amélie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 31:48


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 2002 French comedy Amélie with a focus on omniscient narrators.

    Episode 42: Nimona

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 31:27


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated science fantasy Nimona with a focus on conflict.

    Episode 41:Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 38:09


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the fantasy action-adventure Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves with a focus on characterization.

    Episode 40: The Hunger Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 40:04


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the dystopian classic movie, The Hunger Games, with a focus on three act structure.

    Episode 39: Guardians of the Galaxy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 34:49


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Marvel adventure movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, with a focus on the Heroine's Journey. 

    Episode 38: The Green Knight

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 38:49


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Arthurian retelling The Green Knight with a focus on the hero's journey. 

    Episode 37: Bros

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 36:26


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the romantic comedy Bros with a focus on romance structure. 

    Episode 36: Nope

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 34:16


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in Jordan Peele's Nope with a focus on motif. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 35: Free Guy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 35:18


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the action-comedy Free Guy with a focus on "the lie." And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 34: The Birdcage

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 30:47


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the comedy, The Birdcage with a focus on GMC (goal, motivation, conflict). And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 33: Hocus Pocus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 31:45


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus with a focus on age category. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Episode 32: Rear Window

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 35:13


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the classic thriller, Rear Window, with a focus on microtension. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 31: Everything Everywhere All at Once

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 29:01


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the genre-deying Everything Everywhere All at Once with a focus on romantic tension. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 30: Willow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 33:52


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the epic fantasy Willow with a focus on magic systems. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 29: The Favourite

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 34:51


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the dram-edy The Favourite with a focus on scene structure. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 28: Star Wars

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 38:48


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Star Wars movies A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back with a focus on series. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 27: Encanto

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 37:39


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated Disney film Encanto with a focus on character arc. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 26: Train to Busan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 43:06


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the horror thriller Train to Busan with a focus on setting. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 25: Robin Hood: Men in Tights

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 36:35


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 90s' parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights, with a focus on retellings. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 24: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 40:41


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Marvel superhero movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with a focus on emotional wounds. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 23: Spirited Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 39:49


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated film Spirited Away with a focus on symbolism. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 22: Alien

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 39:42


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the science fiction horror Alien with a focus on tension. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 21: Pan's Labyrinth

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 43:36


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the magical realism film Pan's Labyrinth with a focus on deep POV. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 20: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 39:59


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the romantic sci-fi Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with a focus on unreliable narrators. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 19: The Mummy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 41:21


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 1999 film The Mummy with a focus on prologues. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 18: Space Jam

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 47:37


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 90s' kids' movie Space Jam with a focus on blending genres. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 17: Howl's Moving Castle

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 45:29


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the Studio Ghibli classic Howl's Moving Castle with a focus on opening scenes. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 16: The Sun Is Also a Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 50:14


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the teen romantic drama The Sun Is Also a Star with a focus on romantic tension. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    also a star
    Episode 15: The Shape of Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 41:34


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the magical realism drama The Shape of Water with a focus on theme. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 14: Clue

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 34:30


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the cult classic murder mystery, Clue, with a focus on dialogue. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 13: Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 38:34


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated film, Up, with a focus on structure. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 12: Get Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 39:16


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the horror movie, Get Out, with a focus on satisfying endings. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 11: Birds of Prey

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 48:51


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the superhero movie, Birds of Prey, with a focus on antiheroes. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 10: The Lovebirds

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 38:11


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the comedy, The Lovebirds, with a focus on limited point-of-view. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 9: Parasite

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2020 41:59


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the black comedy, Parasite, with a focus on playing with reader expectations by subverting tropes. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 8: Little Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 39:35


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, with a focus on dual timelines and how authors can avoid pitfalls when writing dual timelines. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 7: Knives Out

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 46:51


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the instant classic murder mystery, Knives Out, with a focus on the elements of mystery and how authors can use mystery elements in their writing. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 6: The Princess Bride

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 41:53


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the iconic classic, The Princess Bride, with a focus on character agency and talk about some ways authors can create characters with strong agency in their writing. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb.

    Episode 5: Booksmart

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 43:17


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the best friend comedy, Booksmart, with a focus on non-romantic relationships and talk about some ways authors can create more depth in those relationships in their writing. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Episode 4: A Quiet Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 40:57


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the horror film, A Quiet Place, and talk about some ways authors can better balance "showing" and "telling" in their writing. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Episode 3: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2019 37:17


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated superhero film, Spider-Man:Into the Spider-Verse with a focus on voice and talk about some ways authors can create stronger narrative and character voice in their writing. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Episode 2: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 40:23


    In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the young adult romance To All the Boys I've Loved Before and focus on creating strong secondary characters and talk about some ways authors can use the same techniques from the movie to create realistic secondary characters in their manuscripts. Please note: since this movie is based on a book, the editors only discuss the movie and not the book. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Episode 1: The Dark Crystal

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 44:34


    Book editors Carly Hayward and Jeni Chappelle discuss the storytelling elements in the 1980s classic Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal. In this episode, the editors focus on worldbuilding and talk about some ways authors can use the same worldbuilding techniques from the movie to create richer worlds in their manuscripts. And they end with some tips for writers on strengthening their query or back cover blurb. 

    Story Chat Radio Sneak Peek

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 1:03


    We are book editors Carly Hayward and Jeni Chappelle, and we are so excited to introduce our new podcast, Story Chat Radio. Each month we’ll watch a different movie with an eye for storytelling and novel writing. Then we’ll use our training and years of experience editing novels to break down each movie’s storytelling elements to help you improve your novel-in-progress. In each episode, we’ll also feature a query or book blurb for a manuscript that has elements similar to our movie of the month. New episodes will air the last Tuesday of every month starting October 29, 2019. Listen in for a taste of what to expect.

    sneak peek chat radio

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