Podcast

Story Nerd

Author: Valerie Francis
Feed episode count: 100
Official site: https://valerie3v.podbean.com
RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/valerie3v/feed.xml
JSON: /v1/public/podcasts/story-nerd-5321719
Markdown: /podcast/story-nerd-5321719.md

Summary

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 explain how to craft a story that hooks the reader on page one and holds their attention all the way to the end. On alternate weeks, Valerie and literary agent Kathleen Foxx offer their professional feedback on query letters and writing samples submitted by Story Nerd listeners. The goal is simple: to help writers realize their dreams of becoming published authors. If you love to write, and you love to tell stories, and you want to see your book out in the world, this podcast is for you! ”The only thing that matters, and that ever will matter, is the story. That’s it.” - Tom Hanks (Oxford Union 2024)

Episodes

Jul 29, 2026 · not_requested

Vertigo: does it live up to the hype?

Duration seconds: 2181
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/vertigo-does-it-live-up-to-the-hype/

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Jul 24, 2026 · not_requested

Knowing When to Query (this is a BIG deal)

Duration seconds: 2479
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/knowing-when-to-query-this-is-a-big-deal/

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Jul 22, 2026 · not_requested

What Went Wrong: jason bourne

Duration seconds: 2123
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/what-went-wrong-jason-bourne/

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Jul 17, 2026 · not_requested

How do agents see genre?

Duration seconds: 2482
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/how-do-agents-see-genre/

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Jul 15, 2026 · not_requested

Best Advice: protagonist types and premises

Duration seconds: 1272
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/best-advice-protagonist-types-and-premises/

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Jul 10, 2026 · not_requested

Spielberg listens to Story Nerd

Duration seconds: 1916
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/spielberg-listens-to-story-nerd/

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Jul 8, 2026 · not_requested

Serenity: object of desire MIA

Duration seconds: 1930
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/serenity-object-of-desire-mia/

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Jul 5, 2026 · not_requested

What Agents Wish Authors Knew BEFORE They Query

Duration seconds: 523
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/what-agents-wish-authors-knew-before-they-query/

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Jul 3, 2026 · not_requested

Choosing Comp Titles (it’s an art!)

Duration seconds: 2558
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/choosing-comp-titles-it-s-an-art/

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Jul 1, 2026 · not_requested

Birds of Prey: writing unlikeable characters

Duration seconds: 1773
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/birds-of-prey-writing-unlikeable-characters/

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Jun 24, 2026 · not_requested

Ronin: what is an antihero?

Duration seconds: 1732
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/ronin-what-is-an-antihero/

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Jun 19, 2026 · not_requested

Identifying Genre is Trickier than You Think!

Duration seconds: 2279
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/identifying-genre-is-trickier-than-you-think/

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Jun 17, 2026 · not_requested

Hidden Figures: your reader’s expectations?

Duration seconds: 1558
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/hidden-figures-your-reader-s-expectations/

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Jun 10, 2026 · not_requested

Notting Hill: why we love it

Duration seconds: 1396
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/notting-hill-why-we-love-it/

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Jun 5, 2026 · not_requested

Is this a mystery?

Duration seconds: 2609
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/is-this-a-mystery/

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Jun 3, 2026 · not_requested

Mrs.Harris Goes to Paris: toothless antagonists

Duration seconds: 2475
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/mrsharris-goes-to-paris-toothless-antagonists/

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May 27, 2026 · not_requested

Sicario: not what we expected

Duration seconds: 2329
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/sicario-not-what-we-expected/

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May 22, 2026 · not_requested

Killer Opening Lines

Duration seconds: 2910
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/killer-opening-lines/

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May 20, 2026 · not_requested

Murder She Said: sex or murder?

Duration seconds: 1953
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/murder-she-said-sex-or-murder/

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May 13, 2026 · not_requested

What Went Right: anora

Duration seconds: 1722
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/what-went-right-anora/

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May 8, 2026 · not_requested

The best time to send a query

Duration seconds: 1780
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/the-best-time-to-send-a-query/

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May 6, 2026 · not_requested

What Went Wrong: 80 for Brady

Duration seconds: 2919
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/what-went-wrong-80-for-brady/

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Apr 29, 2026 · not_requested

Best Advice: heroes and villains

Duration seconds: 1181
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/best-advice-heroes-and-villains/

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Apr 24, 2026 · not_requested

AI in Writing and Publishing

Duration seconds: 1564
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/ai-in-writing-and-publishing/

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Apr 23, 2026 · not_requested

We have news! And it benefits you.

Duration seconds: 110
Source: https://valerie3v.podbean.com/e/we-have-news-and-it-benefits-you/

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Apr 22, 2026 · not_requested

Thunderbolts: 2 surprising twists

Duration seconds: 2664
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/thunderbolts-surprising-twists-fOZwqGqX-O6LukLY5

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Apr 15, 2026 · not_requested

Men In Black (archive)

Duration seconds: 2325
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/men-in-black-archive-TKT5GfiS

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Apr 8, 2026 · not_requested

The Devil Wears Prada (archive)

Duration seconds: 1838
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/the-devil-wears-prada-archive-Lv0Oerh3

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Apr 1, 2026 · not_requested

Dirty Dancing (archive)

Duration seconds: 2213
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/dirty-dancing-archive-eH4Uf2v_

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Mar 25, 2026 · not_requested

Conclave: a masterclass in nuanced characters

Duration seconds: 1803
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/conclave-a-masterclass-in-nuanced-characters-1uKVxiTq

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Mar 20, 2026 · not_requested

Do this to Hook an Agent - Interview with Kathleen Foxx

Duration seconds: 2270
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/interview-with-literary-agent-kathleen-foxx-N6ICrSKR

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Mar 18, 2026 · not_requested

Mulholland Drive: trippy

Duration seconds: 1639
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/mulholland-drive-trippy-ofctV_Jz

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Mar 11, 2026 · not_requested

Darkest Hour: darkest villain

Duration seconds: 2425
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/darkest-hour-darkest-villain-VL6nUXkw

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Mar 4, 2026 · not_requested

Amour: looks easy, but isn't!

Duration seconds: 1784
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/amour-looks-easy-but-isn-t-wcntnFBo-IYE12jZU

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Mar 4, 2026 · not_requested

Amour: looks easy, but isn't

Duration seconds: 1784
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/amour-looks-easy-but-isn-t-f36P3_vg

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Feb 25, 2026 · not_requested

Invitation to a Murder: there's no plot!

Duration seconds: 1856
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/invitation-to-a-murder-theres-no-plot-6nH2WpxO

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Feb 18, 2026 · not_requested

Erin Brockovich: writing underdogs

Duration seconds: 1513
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/erin-brockovich-writing-underdogs-lf4txrwd-4gi_1_E8

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Feb 11, 2026 · not_requested

The Man Who Knew too Much: honestly, kinda weird

Duration seconds: 1573
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/the-man-who-knew-too-much-honestly-kinda-weird-_Sqf6cTV

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Feb 4, 2026 · not_requested

What Went Right: the princess bride

Duration seconds: 1627
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/what-went-right-the-princess-bride-Yv0ry7k8

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Jan 28, 2026 · not_requested

What Went Wrong: the golden compass

Duration seconds: 2610
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/what-went-wrong-the-golden-compass-bqvuS23S

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Jan 21, 2026 · not_requested

Our Best Advice: hero's monologue + the shadow

Duration seconds: 886
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/our-best-advice-heros-monologue-the-shadow-Jw4lm4OM

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Jan 14, 2026 · not_requested

Rebecca: character shadows

Duration seconds: 1631
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/rebecca-character-shadows-_YnXBVrB

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Jan 7, 2026 · not_requested

The Invisible Man (archive)

Duration seconds: 3041
Source: https://storynerd.simplecast.com/episodes/the-invisible-man-archive-ifCTsqFG

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