Story Chat Radio

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 episode, they also feature a query or book blurb for a manuscript that has elements similar to our movie of the month. New episodes air the last Tuesday of every month.

Episode 46: The Goonies 02/06/2024

Episode 46: The Goonies In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 80s' adventure classic The Goonies with a focus on sense of urgency. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/29807938

Episode 45: The Nightmare Before Christmas 11/07/2023

Episode 45: The Nightmare Before Christmas In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the holiday classic The Nightmare Before Christmas with a focus on interiority. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/28475198

Episode 44: Barbie 10/04/2023

Episode 44: Barbie In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 2023 live-action movie Barbie with a focus on antagonistic forces. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/28218311

Episode 43: Amélie 09/05/2023

Episode 43: Amélie In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the 2002 French comedy Amélie with a focus on omniscient narrators. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/27938505

Episode 42: Nimona 08/01/2023

Episode 42: Nimona In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the animated science fantasy Nimona with a focus on conflict. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/27616362

Episode 41: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 07/12/2023

Episode 41: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/27449904

Episode 40: The Hunger Games 06/06/2023

Episode 40: The Hunger Games 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/27051858

Episode 39: Guardians of the Galaxy 05/09/2023

Episode 39: Guardians of the Galaxy 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/26779176

Episode 38: The Green Knight 03/07/2023

Episode 38: The Green Knight 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/26144673

Episode 37: Bros 02/07/2023

Episode 37: Bros In this episode, the editors discuss the storytelling elements in the romantic comedy Bros with a focus on romance structure. /episode/index/show/storychatradio/id/25823880

Episode 36: Nope 01/10/2023

Episode 36: Nope 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/25552965

Episode 35: Free Guy 12/06/2022

Episode 35: Free Guy 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/25231587

Episode 34: The Birdcage 11/01/2022

Episode 34: The Birdcage 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/24867174

Episode 33: Hocus Pocus 10/04/2022

Episode 33: Hocus Pocus 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/24572274

Episode 32: Rear Window 09/06/2022

Episode 32: Rear Window 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/24269223

Episode 31: Everything Everywhere All at Once 08/02/2022

Episode 31: Everything Everywhere All at Once 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/23890029

Episode 30: Willow 07/05/2022

Episode 30: Willow 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/23628770

Episode 29: The Favourite 06/07/2022

Episode 29: The Favourite 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/23345798

Episode 28: Star Wars 05/03/2022

Episode 28: Star Wars 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/22921703

Episode 27: Encanto 03/01/2022

Episode 27: Encanto 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/22233542

Episode 26: Train to Busan 02/01/2022

Episode 26: Train to Busan 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/21968978

Episode 25: Robin Hood: Men in Tights 01/05/2022

Episode 25: Robin Hood: Men in Tights 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/21677696

Episode 24: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 12/07/2021

Episode 24: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/21398366

Episode 23: Spirited Away 11/02/2021

Episode 23: Spirited Away 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/20934788

Episode 22: Alien 10/05/2021

Episode 22: Alien 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/20703389

Episode 21: Pan's Labyrinth 09/07/2021

Episode 21: Pan's Labyrinth 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/20385875

Episode 20: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 08/03/2021

Episode 20: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/20014031

Episode 19: The Mummy 07/06/2021

Episode 19: The Mummy 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/19702331

Episode 18: Space Jam 05/25/2021

Episode 18: Space Jam 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/19223048

Episode 17: Howl's Moving Castle 03/30/2021

Episode 17: Howl's Moving Castle 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/index/show/storychatradio/id/18523262

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