Podcast appearances and mentions of valerie francis

Writing books is hard. But turning writing into a full-time business? That's a whole new level of challenge.Valerie Francis, a professional novelist and literary editor, was trapped in a cycle that many creatives know too well- exhaustion, burnout, and the constant struggle to scale.She loved working one-on-one with writers, but the work wasn't sustainable. Every dollar she earned was tied to her being present, and when life threw curveballs, everything ground to a halt.That's when Valerie decided to change the game. In less than a year, she transformed her business, filling up her coaching calendar and selling over 500 digital courses – without losing her sanity.How did she do it? Let's dive into her journey and the strategies that made it possible.Useful Episode ResourcesFREE list of the top 10 books to improve your email marketingIf you want to write better emails, come up with better content, and move your readers to click and buy, here's how. We put together this list of our Top 10 most highly recommended books that will improve all areas of your email marketing (including some underground treasures that we happened upon, which have been game-changing for us). Grab your FREE list here. Join our FREE Facebook groupIf you want to chat about how you can maximise the value of your email list and make more money from every subscriber, we can help! We know your business is different, so come and hang out in our FREE Facebook group, the Email Marketing Show Community for Course Creators and Coaches. We share a lot of training and resources, and you can talk about what you're up to.Try ResponseSuite for $1This week's episode is sponsored by ResponseSuite.com, the survey quiz and application form tool that we created specifically for small businesses like you to integrate with your marketing systems to segment your subscribers and make more sales. Try it out for 14 days for just $1.Join The Email Hero BlueprintWant more? Let's say you're a course creator, membership site owner, coach, author, or expert and want to learn about the ethical psychology-based email marketing that turns 60-80% more of your newsletter subscribers into customers (within 60 days). If that's you, then The Email Hero Blueprint is for you.This is hands down the most predictable, plug-and-play way to double your earnings per email subscriber. It allows you to generate a consistent sales flow without launching another product, service, or offer. Best news yet? You won't have to rely on copywriting, slimy persuasion, NLP, or ‘better' subject lines.Subscribe and review The Email Marketing Show podcastThanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode (all about the psychology of marketing and the 9 things we use in all our email campaigns) and love the show, we'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving us a review of the show on your favourite podcast player.Not only does it let us know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps us to keep creating the most useful episodes so more awesome people like you can discover the podcast. And please do tell us! If you don't spend time on...

While Melanie and I cook up something extra special for you, we're highlighting some past episodes that you might have missed. THE DRY is an Outback Noir that we studied back in season 9. We talk about the environment as an antagonist, character archetypes, and a whole lot more. Check it out! - V. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Melanie and I talk about Object of Desire all the time and boy, oh boy, this movie really drives home why it's so important. The writers didn't go for the obvious choice here and it makes the movie, and the protagonist, so much more interesting because what Judy wants more than anything in the world is not to perform, but to be with her kids. In terms of tension, it's hit-and-miss. Tune in to find out how you can emulate the tension-creating techniques and how you can avoid the pitfalls. -V."It's the conflict that creates tension and change in a story." Valerie FrancisRelated Story Nerd EpisodesSeason 6 (Creating Empathy + Stakes)Season 7 (Character Revelation  + World-Building)Season 8 (Cast Design + Conflict)Season 11 (Narrative Drive + Conflict Triangles) For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple speaks with author and editor Valerie Francis about the role of developmental editing in crafting a breakout book. Valerie highlights the importance of a strong premise, compelling protagonist, intriguing plot, and engaging world. She explains how to capture reader interest in the first five to ten pages and use story theory to elevate book quality. They also discuss common pitfalls, such as overemphasizing world-building, and offer tips for focusing on the elements that make a story successful. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, story editor, and co-host of the Story Nerd podcast. As an editor, Valerie helps women who write in all genres learn how stories work so they can finish their books faster and without frustration. As a podcaster, Valerie's mission is to show writers that story theory is a valuable tool that can—and will—help them write more, not less. As an author, Valerie is currently finishing her third novel, a vampire thriller for fans of Anne Rice. You can connect with Valerie on her website, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.

Welcome to a brand new season! This time around I'm studying the 4 Story Questions and Melanie is focused on tension. This week we're looking at CALENDAR GIRLS. We love these actresses (I mean, honestly, what's not to love?) but the storyline threw us for a loop because when it felt like it was coming to a natural conclusion, we realized there was still another hour to go. What happened? And was that a good thing or not? Tune in to find out! -V."Making a sale or getting an agent hinges on your ability to describe your story to somebody else." Valerie FrancisRelated Story Nerd Episodes:Late Night (Season 1, Episode 1)Season 6 (empathy and stakes)Season 7 (dimensional characters and worldbuilding)Season 8 (cast design and conflict)Season 12 (exposition and character arcs) BLACK FRIDAY SALE! The Art of the Query online course is 89% off until December 2, 2024. Grab it now! It's just $27.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

This movie is almost entirely exposition, and while this isn't an approach I'd recommend for novelists, I can't imagine telling this particular story any other way. You might say that ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN is the exception that proves the rule. Master storyteller, William Goldman, pulls it off and that means there's a whole lot we can learn about how and when to use exposition when writing a story. When it comes to character arcs (Melanie's topic this season), neither of the protagonists change in this story but they change the world around them and what that reveals about how stories work is nothing short of fascinating. -V."It's almost exclusively exposition. If you have ever wondered whether exposition was a thing or whether it was important, seriously watch this movie." - Valerie Francis For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Most stories are about change. However, there is also a place for stories when the protagonist doesn't change. The outcomes can still be positive - just watch James Bond and Erin Brockovich!  There are also stories where the protagonist doesn't change, and the outcome is ambiguous. This movie combines an ethical dilemma with a constant character to create a haunting outcome. The movie also has buckets of exposition. Is this a case of too much is way too much? Never fear, Valerie groups and summarises all the exposition into four key types. -M."Patrick's constant character with an ambivalent arc means that his internal state doesn't change." - Melanie Hill For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Whoa. This season has been a heavy season. Narrative Drive and Conflict Triangles are two major concepts that can - and will - transform your writing. In this episode, Melanie and I summarize everything we learned this season. -V For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Eye in the Sky reminds me of the ‘greater good' questions I discussed in class during high school - there's no right or wrong answer but there are always consequences. This movie is an excellent example of how tension and escalating stakes combine with conflict triangles and narrative drive to create a compelling story. This isn't an action movie but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for fear of missing something. Join us this week to discover how to craft stories that linger after the cover is closed. -M“Eye in the Sky creates a fascinating amount of tension. It does this by setting up a situation at the beginning that has multiple courses of action and outcomes, and then it delays the decision until the last possible moment.” Melanie HillRelated Story Nerd EpisodesThe Woman King (Season 8 Episode 2)Our Best Advice (Season 8 Episode 11)The Help (Season 11 Episode 5) For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Holy moly, this is a good movie! It's an especially good movie to study for anyone writing a quiet, character-driven story. THE WIFE originally aired as Episode 4 of Season 6 when Melanie was studying stakes and I was studying empathy. But honestly, this is one of those rare films that novelists (and memoirists!) can study to learn just about any storytelling principle. -V.*Programming Note: In next week's episode we review the movie NYAD, not GONE BABY GONE as indicated in the intro. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

If you're writing a story with multiple protagonists/POVs, or if you're tackling a big social issue in your story, then you'll want to study The Help. As it happens, it's also a cracking example of Conflict Triangles and Narrative Drive - and that's what Melanie and I talk about in this week's episode. - V."The bigger the scope of the issue, the smaller the scope of your story." Valerie Francis For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

It's a brand new season and that means Melanie and I are studying two new topics: narrative drive and conflict triangles. Conflict and page-turners are usually associated with action stories, thrillers and the like. But DOUBT is a quiet, character-driven film that is so expertly crafted it grabs the viewer's attention immediately and holds it right to the bitter end. Seriously, there's so much for novelists in here. -V."The main conflict in a story is between the protagonist and the antagonist, right? Fine. We all understand that. But if that's all we got, then our story is like a tug of war." Valerie Francis For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

We've reached the end of another season and so we're wrapping up our best advice and a-ha moments just for you. Tune in to hear what we have to say about writing female characters and using female archetypes. We also share why it's crucial for you to use the first half of your story to set up everything that happens in the second half. (Hint: it all about brain science!) - V."One of our most hardwired expectations is that anything that reads like the beginning of a new pattern, that is a setup, will, in fact, be a setup with a corresponding payoff." - Lisa Cron REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Crazy Rich Asians pitches two female leads against each other - sounds excellent right? Not so fast… This should set up an epic battle of wills as one fights against traditions she doesn't understand while the other fights to retain order and tradition. This week, I find out what happens when the protagonist doesn't plausibly match, then surpass, the antagonist.  Valerie discusses how superficial innovation doesn't hide questionable male characters or Asian stereotypes. "When I watched Rachel and Eleanor this week, I found Eleanor more fascinating and as a result, Rachel's victory using game theory was hard to believe." - Melanie HillRELATED STORY NERD EPISODESAugust Osage County (Season 8, Episode 1)Everything, Everywhere, All at Once (Season 7, Episode 6) REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

This movie was way ahead of its time. It's a brilliant example of the heroine's journey and Melanie walks us through all 10 phases as outlined in Maureen Murdock's THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY: A WOMAN'S QUEST FOR WHOLENESS. Thanks to its excellent use of setups and payoffs, it also has an ending that is both surprising and inevitable."One of our most hardwired expectations is that anything that reads like the beginning of a new pattern, that is a setup, will, in fact, be a setup with a corresponding payoff." - Lisa Cron   REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

The marketing for this film highlights Judi Dench, but she's barely in it at all. As fans of hers, Melanie and I were disappointed. The movie is ok but it wasn't what we expected and that soured our experience of the story. Melanie still did a study of female archetypes and I still studied setups and payoffs, but the real lesson this week is what happens when a story doesn't meet audience (or reader) expectations. -V."Female characters don't have to be based on female archetypes, and vice versa for male archetypes and male characters." - Melanie Hill REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

War stories are often the domain of ‘dick lit' male protagonists, but is this a true representation of history and does the experience of women in war differ? In this episode, I reference historical female warriors and examines how the experiences of Maya, the protagonist in Zero Dark Thirty, compares with her wartime service. Valerie explores what happens when the scope of a story is too wide, and the impact scope has on setups and payoffs. -M"What is interesting to me, is how women are portrayed in war movies, are they portrayed as masculine or weak, are they given due credit for their skill and experience, and how does this compare to my own experience?" - Melanie HillRelated Story Nerd EpisodesRogue One (Season 1, Episode 8)Skyfall (Season 4, Episode 6) REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

To be a career author, you must have a breakout book. And, a breakout book is one that contains a story that works. In this episode, I tell you the story of an author who didn't know the difference between a breakout book and words on a page. What happened to him will make your jaw drop. REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Now this is the epitome of a left-brained story. THE LAST OF SHEILA has puzzles within puzzles, an intricate plot that has been expertly set up, and a cast of characters who aren't who they seem to me. There are so many amazing things about it, I hardly know which of them to highlight for you here so I'll give you a bit of trivia: this movie was Rian Johnson's inspiration for THE GLASS ONION. Oh, and if you solved the mystery before the murderer was revealed, tag me on IG/Threads and let me know. I didn't get anywhere close to solving it.-V"If you can work a secret that is juicy and high stakes into your story, you're well on your way to creating really great narrative drive." - Valerie FrancisRELATED STORY NERD EPISODESGosford Park (Season 9, Episode 8)See How They Run (Season 9, Episode 5)Knives Out (Season 1, Episode 7) REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

This film offers two hugely valuable lessons to writers of all genres. The first is about the inciting incident and when it needs to happen. The second is about unlikeable characters and how to handle them. In Gosford Park, it's the victim who is unlikeable and that adds an interesting dimension to the murder mystery storyline.-V."Notice where your sympathy and empathy lie. And ask yourselves, how does the writer create this? And most importantly, does it work in the context of what they're trying to achieve?" - Melanie HillRelated Story Nerd EpisodesNo Way Out (Season 8, Episode 4)Death on the Nile (Season 2, Episode 7)Crooked House (Season 9, Episode 1) REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

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 FrancisRelated Story Nerd EpisodesSee How They Run  (Season 9, Episode 5) REGISTER FOR THE 2024 SPRING WEBINAR SERIESFor access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.Follow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

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. For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsFor 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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

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 HillRelated Story Nerd EpisodesTinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Season 9, Episode 4)The Bourne Identity (Season 3, Episode 2) For information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsFor 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/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on X, Instagram and Threads @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on X, Instagram and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Studio Noize done hit the big time! We're back with a special series of episodes recorded at Miami Art Week. We've heard so much about Art Basel, the awesome art fairs on South Beach, The grand event of Art Basel. We are taking you behind the scenes to see what is really going on. Miami Noize is a series of episodes records live during Miami Art Week. Kicking off with Valerie Francis, owner and operator of Knowhere Art Gallery. It was A LOT going on but we stole 15 minutes from Valerie to talk about her experience at SCOPE, the artist she displayed including the OG Charly Palmer, and what is the value of being shown at an art fair. Its just a taste of the bigger conversation. Listen, subscribe, and share!Episode 179 topics include:participating at SCOPEselling work at an art fairKnowhere Art Gallery in Martha's Vineyarddiversity at Miami Art Weekthe value of art fairsValerie Francis is the director and chief curator of Knowhere Art Gallery. After graduating from Hunter College with a BFA in Printmaking, Interior & Architectural Design, and an MBA in Marketing from Rutgers Business School, Francis amassed a wealth of experience in the global health and technology field with over a decade in the public health sector with Sanofi. Francis serves on the board for Artists for Humanity (Boston, MA), the Leo Project (Nanyuki, Kenya), and the Martha's Vineyard Center of Visual Arts.See more: Knowhere Art Gallery website + Knowhere Art Gallery IG @knowhereartFollow us:StudioNoizePodcast.comIG: @studionoizepodcastJamaal Barber: @JBarberStudioSupport the podcast www.patreon.com/studionoizepodcast

In Episode 42, we talk with developmental editor, book coach, and podcaster Savannah Gilbo about crafting a story that works. Specifically, we discuss choosing the writing point of view for your story, and the pros and cons of the most prevalent points of view, first person and third person limited. We also talk about what should go into choosing how many points of view characters your story needs.If you enjoy this episode, you'll also want to listen to or watch Episode 29 with Valerie Francis.Savannah Gilbo's website: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/Barbara Hinske's author website: https://barbarahinske.comJ. W. Judge's author website: https://jwjudge.com

As a certified Story Grid editor and the co-host of the Story Nerd Podcast, Valerie Francis knows so much more about the art of story than we could have ever hoped to discuss in one episode. So in Episode 29 of The Write Approach, we keep the interview to a high-level discuss about how authors can study and apply story theory without getting lost or overwhelmed. Valerie Francis' website: https://valeriefrancis.ca/Barbara Hinske's website: https://barbarahinske.com/J. W. Judge's author website: https://jwjudge.com/

Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about: Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place The equal pay nature of the military service Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned How the military is a reflection of society The importance of not feeling alone The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone. Links of Interest: Camouflaged Sisters Website EP 271 - Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Draft2Digital Blog Post on Industry Insights for Q1 & Q2 of 2022 The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company. Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it's a movement!   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about: How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050 Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal How Valerie and Melanie met Applying story theory to their own manuscripts Being an extrovert in an introvert's job Learning something new with every single episode they produce Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with. Links of Interest: Story Nerd Podcast EP 213 - Putting Story Theory Into Practice with Valerie Francis EP 104 - Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis EP 270 - Reflections from the NINC 2022 Conference EP 269 - Dreaming a Writer's Dream Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 263 - Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley When Words Collide Keynotes The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

The only thing better than talking to Valerie Francis about writing is talking to Valerie Francis about reading. She is a writer and literary editor who thinks very deeply about story, and we had a blast talking about why Agatha Christie's classic "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" is the Best Book Ever. Note: this episode is spoiler-free! Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website   Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram   Guest: Valerie Francis Website/Instagram/Twitter/Story Nerd Podcast/ Facebook   Want to be a guest on the Best Book Ever Podcast? Go here!   Discussed in this episode: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Listen to Valerie talk about Gone Girl on the Story Grid Editor Roundtable Podcast (this is episode one of a seven-part deep dive) The Inspector Rebus Novels by Ian Rankin (Note: there are 22 Inspector Rebus books, but they don't have to be read in order) Knives Out Listen to Valerie talk about Knives Out on the Story Nerd Podcast Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt The Maid by Nita Prose (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. We'll learn directly from host Valerie Francis about concepts that are common to all stories across film, television, novels and screenplays.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

In today's Bonus Episode, Bianca is joined by guest interviewer Kira Mahoney who interviews Daniel Kalla, author of The Darkness in the Light, about why he addresses important medical issues in his books; when being too medically authentic is not a good idea; finding information but also knowing when not to include it; how to create good dialogue between multiple characters all at once; deciding on making a story a dual-POV; and writing thrillers and historical fiction.After which, Bianca chats with Valerie Francis, host of The Story Nerd Podcast, about the various types of writers in relation to writing theory, an exercise that listeners can use in their writing to improve it, using exposition as a tool; studying film to understand story; and the ways Valerie's podcast can help emerging authors. Finally, Carly and CeCe answer your questions!Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writingFacebook: @tsnotyawWebsite: www.biancamarais.com and www.theshitaboutwriting.comDaniel can be found at @danielkallawrites on Instagram, and at www.danielkalla.comValerie can be found at @valerie_francis on Instagram and Twitter, and at www.valeriefrancis.caKira can be found on Instagram at @kiramahoney 

Join literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, as they analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. If you want to spend more time writing and less time studying, this show is for you.

Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode's sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace. This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about: - Valerie's introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinct The New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from that How, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn't lost her love of story The different tools that writers can use when crafting a story The concept of the "potato chip length" chapter The origin of Valerie's 12 part serialized novel Masquerade The tagline for Masquerade: "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't get caught?" The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book version Defining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for them Creating a romance with protagonists in their 40s The five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade story How the entire project of Valerie's novel Immortal came about Learning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story lines Throwing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of work The fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authors And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie's long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.   Links of Interest: Valerie Francis' Website Valerie's Book Club Love Stories for Busy Women Psychological Thriller: Immortal Middle Grade Fantasy Books for Writers Episode 104 - Living the Editing & Writing Life with Valerie Francis Episode 199 – Chelle Honiker & Chrishaun Keller-Hanna of Indie Author Magazine Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Findaway Voices Announcing Marketplace The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021) Brantford Public Library Online Workshop: Writing True Ghost Stories (Oct 6 and 7, 2021) Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City   Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century). She's also a literary editor, podcaster, and story nerd so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she's started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women. Valerie is currently writing her first thriller, Immortal. It's like Gone Girl meets Dracula.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Music lovers, this one's for you! My dear friend Mark Lefebvre is back, this time to discuss a book written by the drummer of his favorite band, Rush. Neil Peart wrote “Traveling Music” as a meditation on his life, traveling with a rock and roll band, experiencing huge professional wins and terrible personal loss, and all of the music that influenced his life. Mark is a classic Rush fanboy, and it was a delight to listen to his excitement about this book, even when we disagreed about it.   Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon   Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website   Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram   Guest: Mark Lefebvre Website/Instagram/YouTube/TikTok/Twitter/Stark Reflections Podcast   Want to be a guest on the Best Book Ever Podcast? Go here!   Discussed in this episode: Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times by Neil Peart Mark's previous appearance on the Best Book Ever Podcast Earth Abides by George R. Stewart Rush Shock Rock 2 edited by Jeff Gelb The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa by Neil Peart Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart Clockwork Angels by Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson Assembling California by John McPhee Sinatra Live in Paris Nina Simone at Town Hall David Suzuki Naïda by Scott Overton The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King Masquerade: The Complete Series by Valerie Francis     Discussed in our Patreon Excerpt: Terminal House by Sean Costello Terry Fallis Linwood Barclay Louise Penny Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer (I never voluntarily pick up sci-fi, but after hearing Mark's description of this book, I immediately grabbed a copy of this one at my library!) The Hope Sze Medical Mystery Series by Melissa Yi (an 8-book series that begins with Code Blues: When Medicine Becomes Murder) Lightning by Dean Koontz (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning I get a few bucks off your purchase at no extra expense to you. Anytime you shop for books, you can use my affiliate link on Bookshop, which also supports Indie Bookstores around the country. If you're shopping for everything else – clothes, office supplies, gluten-free pasta, couches – you can use my affiliate link for Amazon. Thank you for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

Music lovers, this one's for you! My dear friend Mark Lefebvre is back, this time to discuss a book written by the drummer of his favorite band, Rush. Neil Peart wrote “Traveling Music” as a meditation on his life, traveling with a rock and roll band, experiencing huge professional wins and terrible personal loss, and all of the music that influenced his life. Mark is a classic Rush fanboy, and it was a delight to listen to his excitement about this book, even when we disagreed about it.   Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon   Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website   Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram   Guest: Mark Lefebvre Website/Instagram/YouTube/TikTok/Twitter/Stark Reflections Podcast   Want to be a guest on the Best Book Ever Podcast? Go here!   Discussed in this episode: Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times by Neil Peart Mark's previous appearance on the Best Book Ever Podcast Earth Abides by George R. Stewart Rush Shock Rock 2 edited by Jeff Gelb The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa by Neil Peart Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart Clockwork Angels by Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson Assembling California by John McPhee Sinatra Live in Paris Nina Simone at Town Hall David Suzuki Naïda by Scott Overton The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King Masquerade: The Complete Series by Valerie Francis     Discussed in our Patreon Excerpt: Terminal House by Sean Costello Terry Fallis Linwood Barclay Louise Penny Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer (I never voluntarily pick up sci-fi, but after hearing Mark's description of this book, I immediately grabbed a copy of this one at my library!) The Hope Sze Medical Mystery Series by Melissa Yi (an 8-book series that begins with Code Blues: When Medicine Becomes Murder) Lightning by Dean Koontz (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning I get a few bucks off your purchase at no extra expense to you. Anytime you shop for books, you can use my affiliate link on Bookshop, which also supports Indie Bookstores around the country. If you're shopping for everything else – clothes, office supplies, gluten-free pasta, couches – you can use my affiliate link for Amazon. Thank you for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

Don't know what to include in the sales copy for your book? How can you describe your story to appeal to the ideal reader? Shawn Coyne and Valerie Francis help you find your way in a special Toolbox episode of the Writers' Room Podcast. Click here for more information.

In this episode, Story Grid editors Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts introduce the new Story Grid Writers’ Room.Each week this season, we analyze a scene or short story to get to the bottom of how to write scenes because to write a story that works, you must be able to write scenes that work.Click here for the full show notes.

It’s 30 minutes of deep insight as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode on analyzing a scene, with an example from Marriage Story. Here on the Roundtable we're dedicated to helping you become a better writer, following the Story Grid method developed by Shawn Coyne. In these episodes we bring you some shorter solo articles and interviews on topics that interest us as writers. Click here for the show notes.

Gaze into the pensieve to learn the secrets of point of view and narrative device in the 2005 novel by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The Roundtablers also discuss the 2009 film of the same name, directed by David Yates from the screenplay by Steve Kloves.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes. 

Uncover the secret to integrating framing stories with The Imitation Game. The 2014 film was directed by Morten Tyldum from the Oscar-winning screenplay by Graham Moore. It’s based on the 1983 biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes. 

Core events, mini-plots, and nested stories are on the menu this week as the Roundtablers analyze the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes, directed by Jon Avnet from a screenplay by Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski, based on Flagg’s 1987 novel, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the complete show notes.

Gain a new perspective on history and point of view as the Roundtablers analyze E. L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel Ragtime. The 1981 film based on the novel was directed by Miloš Forman from a screenplay by Michael Weller and Bo Goldman.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes.

Make your way from coast to coast and from beginning to end as Valerie takes us through the three-act structure of Noah Baumbach’s 2019 film, Marriage Story.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes.

Warm up and get your dancing shoes on for the Core Event of Center Stage. This 2000 Performance genre film was directed by Nicholas Hytner from a screenplay by Carol Heikkinen.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes.

This week the Roundtablers look to The Great Gatsby, the 1925 novel of disillusionment in love by F. Scott Fitzgerald, to find out why the story endures. The team also examines the 2013 film adaptation directed by Baz Luhrmann from a screenplay by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes. 

This week, Valerie drives home the importance of a compelling middle build in the context of the film Baby Driver. Don’t get away without hearing the Roundtablers’ take on this 2017 film written and directed by Edgar Wright.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—aims to get to the bottom of a specific story principle by analyzing a film, novel, or short story. The rest of us analyze the story according to our own chosen topics, and together we deepen our knowledge and level up our craft.Click here for the full show notes.

This season we're launching a series of interviews with authors of middle grade fiction. First up, Valerie Francis, author of Nature Knights, Crossing the Rubicon, a middle grade fantasy. Valerie Francis is both author and Certified Story Grid Editor. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website. Valerie co-hosts two podcasts for writers. The first, The Story Grid Editor Roundtable, is focused on the craft of writing. Each week Valerie, along with four fellow Certified Story Grid Editors, analyze a film according to the editing method developed by Shawn Coyne. The second is focused entirely on book marketing. On The Book Launch Show, Valerie learns how to develop a relationship with her readers from book marketing expert, Tim Grahl.

In this episode, fiction editors Leslie Watts and Valerie Francis analyze a scene from _Lock and Key_: the first book in The Essence Riven Trilogy by Emily Bowie. They discuss the crisis question, a moment in a scene when a question arises for the POV character. To keep the story moving, your scenes should turn, more specifically, it should become more or less likely that the protagonist will get what they want and need. When the turn happens within the scene, it's a natural time for the protagonist or POV character to decide how to respond to the change. This week's editorial mission will help you identify or add these questions and make them stronger to support your story.

In this episode, fiction editors Leslie and Valerie Francis critique the first chapter of _The Arctic Compass_, a middle grade fantasy novel by Ryan Gannon. They discuss how to check your opening scene for tension and special considerations for middle grade fiction.

In this episode, fiction editor Leslie Watts and guest editor Valerie Francis critique the prologue of _Shadow Falls_, a thriller novel by Maxwell Perkins. They discuss the elements of scenes that work and how you can check your own scenes in early drafts.