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The Secrets of Story: A Screenwriting & Novel Writing Podcast

  • Organizing Chaos with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin

    16 JAN 2024 · Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin return to discuss novelists' relationship with editors, whether freelance or at a publisher. All four of us have been on one side of that divide or another, and most of us more than one, and we have a grand old time discussing it.
    59m 27s
  • Episode 45: Specific vs. Generic (Or is it Factual vs. Archetypal?)

    7 DEC 2023 · It's always good to load up your story with specifics, right? Not so fast! James talks about his decision to leave some information out of his new novel Bride of the Tornado, and Matt quibbles.
    1h 11m 24s
  • Episode 44: Putting the Secrets of Story Into Action with Torrey Maldonado

    19 OCT 2023 · Matt and James welcome acclaimed novelist Torrey Maldonado to talk about how he's put Matt's advice into action for his books for young people (much to James's chagrin)
    1h 24m 53s
  • Writing Every Day with Brock Swinson

    26 JUN 2023 · Matt and James are joined by author Brock Swinson and discuss his new book of writing advice Ink by the Barrel. All three of us agree that writers must write every day and then sheepishly admit that we don't actually do that.
    1h 7m 24s
  • Episode 43: Mackendrick's Rules, the Epic Conclusion

    19 JUN 2023 · Alexander Mackendrick summed up the wisdom that film schools (and MFA programs in general) hand down to writers. Is it helpful or poisonous? In this episode, Matt and James finish examining and questioning his 41 rules.
    52m 56s
  • Mackendrick's Rules, Part 2

    12 JUN 2023 · Matt and James once again use the rules of Alexander Mackendrick as a springboard to talk about what makes for a good story. Bonus: Matt posits his theory of what's in the case in Pulp Fiction and completely convinces James!
    59m 58s
  • Mackendrick's Rules, Part 1

    6 JUN 2023 · The great filmmaker Alexander Mackendrick famously passed along 41 rules of writing advice and now Matt and James are going to evaluate them all in a three-part epic!
    1h 10m 52s
  • Episode 39: Agents

    2 FEB 2023 · James and Matt discuss their checkered history of getting agents/managers, failing to hold onto them, and getting new ones, with lots of tips for the unagented! Check out lots of supplemental materials on SecretsOfStory.com.
    1h 22m 52s
  • Episode 38: AI

    24 DEC 2022 · Can a computer do our jobs? Matt puts it the test and James scoffs, as is his wont.
    57m 10s
  • 37 Craft in the Real World

    2 NOV 2022 · The long-awaited return! James and Matt reunite to discuss Matthew Salesses' book Craft in the Real World. Matt is worried about offending anyone and James is less so!
    1h 14m 42s

Matt Bird (author of "The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers") and James Kennedy (author of the novel "The Order of Odd-Fish") have raucous...

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Matt Bird (author of "The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers") and James Kennedy (author of the novel "The Order of Odd-Fish") have raucous debates about the craft of novel writing, screenwriting, storytelling (and anything else they want to fight about!) Through their discussion you will learn how to be a better storyteller.
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