Story Nerd

Valerie Francis, Melanie Hill, Kathleen Foxx

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)

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30 episodes
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S19 · E1918
Wednesday · 30 min
Best Advice: worldbuilding and saggy middles
How do you keep your reader from losing interest halfway through the book? This is what happens when a story "sags" in the middle and the fix is easier than you might expect! What happens if you run afoul of the norms you've established for your own fictional world? Hooboy, this is a trap many writers (new and established) run into and the impact on a story can be devastating. In this episode, Melanie and I review everything we learned in Season 19 about the antagonist's role in the all-important second act, and about orienting a reader to a fictional world. Enjoy! -V. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S16 · E1917
October 21 · 34 min
Bombshell: irony masterclass
If you want to know what irony is and how to use it, this episode is story gold. ‘I’m not a feminist,’ is Megyn Kelly’s catchcry in Bombshell, but she calls out misogyny (eventually) and is the breadwinner for her family. Yep! This has mined the irony to maximum value. However, just because I find story gold, doesn't mean Valerie has been as lucky. What happens when the middle build of a story is meant to be driven by the antagonist and the antagonist does his job off-screen? Join us this week to find out. -M. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S19 · E1916
October 16 · 32 min
Fab Pages Failed Query
Here's why you need to invest time learning to write plot paragraphs: even if your sample pages are stunning, a weak query will sink the whole submission. Don't believe me? Listen to this episode. The author's line writing is spot on but the plot paragraphs in the query letter don't describe the plot and so what Kathleen and I thought we were getting, isn't what we got at all and that can — and will — make an agent say no. Happily, rewriting the QL is much easier than rewriting the manuscript! -V. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S19 · E1915
October 14 · 39 min
The Birds: genre blend or bust?
What happens to a reader's attention when you blend or combine genres? The Birds starts out as an obsession love story and ends as a monster horror film. Yes, it's Hitchcock (a filmmaker many consider untouchable) but is this a successful genre blend/transition, or is it a bust? The answer may surprise you — it sure as heck surprised me. And if you're curious about how woman are portrayed in film and literature, particularly how they're presented as witches and "unnatural" women, then you absolutely must hear Melanie's thoughts this episode. Seriously, she's outdone herself. Your perspective might just change forever. -V. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S19 · E1914
October 9 · 49 min
Debut Writer Red Flags
What are the telltale signs of a first-time writer? (Yep, they exist and agents can spot them a mile away.) Are you making them? In this Hook Your Reader episode, Kathleen and I reveal some of the biggies, and best of all, we give you solutions and strategies for how to fix and/or avoid them. Enjoy! -V. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S19 · E1913
October 7 · 35 min
The Northman: putting the history in historical fiction
When writing historical fiction, how important is historical accuracy? After all, it's fiction, right? Surely there's wiggle room, isn't there? This week, we study The Northman, an excellent example of historical fiction that brings the harshness of Viking reality to life. There's no need to have watched this film to enjoy today's episode. It's a pretty gruesome, bloody film, and we figured many of you would want to give that a pass so we start the episode with a G-Rated plot summary...this is the source material for Hamlet, so it's a storyline you're already familiar with. The lessons here around worldbuilding are something you won't want to miss! And when it comes to the villains, well, The Northman is burdened by the same problem as Spy Games - the antagonist isn’t antagonising. The result is the same too - no significant conflict or rising tension. This is a powerful lesson in why the middle build should belong to the villain. -M&V. Watch us on YouTube (and subscribe)! The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.
S19 · E1912
October 2 · 44 min
Bait and Switch?
How do you know if your query letter is accurately representing the narrative within your manuscript? Yes, you have to hook the reader in the query, but what happens if the hook you present doesn't match the story? It's all inside today's Hook Your Reader episode. Enjoy! -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1911
October 1 · 50 min
Agent Spotlight: Kathryn Willms (The Rights Factory)
Meet Kathryn Willms (The Rights Factory, Toronto). Kathryn represents writers of both fiction and nonfiction. On the fiction side, her list is focused on cozy fantasy, women’s fiction, and select literary fiction. She loves high-concept and speculative premises and is most drawn to books with a sense of humour, strong pacing, and satisfying conclusions. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1910
September 30 · 32 min
Remarkably Bright Creatures: self-sabotage
How do you write a story where the protagonist is her own worst enemy? In other words, when the protagonist is also the antagonist. Well, it isn't easy, that's for sure. Luckily, today's episode offers up a terrific example of it (and good examples are rare!). Enjoy! - V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1909
September 25 · 46 min
Conflicting Opinions...Who's Right?
Why is it that when Kathleen and I read the same query letter and same sample pages, we had completely opposite opinions? One of us loved what we saw, the other, frankly, didn't get it. Is this just how it goes in the query process, or is one of us right and the other wrong? Check out the episode and then let us know what you think. Are you Team Kat or Team Val? -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1908
September 24 · 45 min
Agent Spotlight: Krista White (The Rights Factory)
If you want to get an agent, then this is for you! We know that researching agents can be hard because not all of them have a social media/online presence. So on these special Agent Spotlight episodes we'll feature a guest agent who'll give us their thoughts on a query letter and first page writing sample. We'll also ask questions about their MSWL and the kinds of writers they want to work with, so that you'll know whether they'd be a good fit for you. Agent Spotlight episodes will be ad hoc for now, but we're aiming to make this a weekly feature. So if you're an agent, or you have an agent, or you know an agent, please tell them to reach out to me because I'd love to interview them. In this debut episode, I chat with agent Krista White from The Rights Factory in Toronto. Yes, she's one of Kathleen Foxx's colleagues and right now, she's open to queries! -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1907
September 23 · 25 min
Spy Game: protagonist done right
Spy Games is not a perfect movie, but one thing it gets right is the main character Nathan Muir. Muir’s belief system is established early in the film via his actions, decisions and contradictions. With one exception, this character’s logic remains steady throughout the film - a win for Melanie this week. However, the same can’t be said for Valerie’s area of study. Spy Games’ middle is missing a key ingredient - an antagonist who challenges Muir. So what does this do to the story? It leaves the tension to be carried by the ticking time bomb, which is a big job for one story element. -M The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1906
September 18 · 56 min
The AI-Proof Genre Is...
With all the chatter about AI-gen text (and whether a book was, or was not, generated by it), in this episode we talk about a genre that no machine or prompt will ever be able to produce. Like, never. Never ever. And it is ... SATIRE! Author Tasha Tinsley has submitted a strong query package for a story that's like The Studio but for publishing (my comps, not hers). Regardless of which genre you're writing in, you're going to want to give this episode a listen. -V.
S19 · E1905
September 16 · 43 min
Say Anything: a masterclass in non-physical conflict
We know that stories need conflict and very often writers default to two kinds: physical fights and shouting matches. Far more interesting — and far more versatile — is the more subtle type of conflict created by antagonists who are master manipulators. Head games. Holy smokes, are they compelling. And they work in every single genre. Say Anything is a teen romance, and the dad is a beautifully crafted and understated villain who is like a puppeteer yanking the strings of our star-crossed protagonists. It's a thing of storytelling beauty. -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1904
September 11 · 45 min
Writing a Powerful Memoir
If you're writing your memoir, or considering writing it, then this episode is a must because it offers an excellent example of both the query letter and the opening pages. Memoirs are tricky business — they're tough to do well. So how did this author impress us both with such a strong query package? Tune in to find out. -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1903
September 9 · 43 min
Miss Peregrine: caution plot holes ahead
What happens when a story's logic falters? You end up with plot holes...and boy oh boy, does Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (film version) have plot holes! How could they have been avoided? Well, that's exactly with Melanie talks about in this episode. For my part, I examine what happens to a reader's/audience's attention when the villain exits the story. This problem is more common than you think — you might even be doing it in your own WIP. -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1902
September 4 · 1 hr 4 min
Your Opening Pages MUST do this
Kathleen and I run the gamut of opening pages advice in this episode. We discuss the pros and cons of time travel stories (why we love them and why they're so prone to plot holes), setting up reader expectations, writing working scenes, genre identification, and the one thing your opening pages MUST do if you're to hook your reader. This is a jam-packed episode that you'll want to bookmark and keep. Enjoy! -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S19 · E1901
September 2 · 36 min
Close Encounters: fixing saggy middles
Ever heard of a story having a saggy middle? It's a real thing and this season, I'm revealing the fix for it! Meanwhile, Melanie is study story logic. I know, it sounds kinda dull but trust me on this one - you want to pay close attention because your reader sure will. -V The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S18 · E1828
August 28 · 44 min
The Trick to Holding a Reader's Attention is...
There are a whole lot of people writing memoir and the competition to get an agent is fierce! In this episode Kathleen and I discuss the story-related challenges to writing memoir, we gush over the killer opening line (and all the other 'hooky' lines in the sample pages), and we reveal the trick to holding a reader's attention. Enjoy! -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!
S18 · E1822
August 26 · 41 min
Sex and the City (archive)
Never has there been a better example of why world building is so important. Fans of Sex and the City love to live vicariously through Carrie Bradshaw so it's no surprise that audiences gave this film a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, film critics gave it a 50%, and we tend to agree. What is they see that fans don't? Tune in to this week's episode so that you can emulate the good and avoid repeating the bad. -V. The Hook Formula: the works-every-time method for describing your book in a way that captivates readers and makes them beg for more. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca. For your FREE First 10 Pages Checklist, visit valeriefrancis.ca/checklist To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website. To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here. Watch us on YouTube!

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