
Story Grid Writers' Room
This is a show dedicated to helping you become a better writer using the Story Grid method, developed by Shawn Coyne. 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.
Latest episodes

Jun 10, 2020 • 24min
Bite Size Edition - Past and Present 2
It’s 20 minutes of insight this time as Kim Kessler chats with Anne Hawley about the power of past and present.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 full show notes.

Jun 3, 2020 • 51min
Worldview-Disillusionment - The Great Gatsby
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.

May 27, 2020 • 46min
Thriller - Baby Driver
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.

May 20, 2020 • 45min
Society Story - Howards End
It’s manners and mores this week as the Roundtable team examines the 1992 film adaptation of E. M. Forster’s 1910 novel Howards End. The adaptation was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and directed by James Ivory.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.

May 13, 2020 • 8min
Bite Size Episode - Season 7 Preview
Here’s a preview of what the Roundtablers are getting ready to bring you in Season 7. Listen as Kim, Valerie, and Leslie each reveal their Season 7 focus and their first story pick.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.

May 6, 2020 • 34min
Bite Size Episode - Big Idea Nonfiction with Shelley Sperry
It’s 30 minutes of insight this time as Leslie Watts and Shelley Sperry bring you a bite-size episode on Big Idea Nonfiction.Welcome to the Bite Size Edition of the Editor Roundtable Podcast. 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 full show notes.

Apr 29, 2020 • 20min
Bite Size Episode - Power of Past and Present
It’s 20 minutes of insight this time as Kim Kessler and Anne Hawley bring you a bite-size episode on the power of past and present with stories that include dual timelines, onstage events in the present and the past that, together, to create a rich global story arc.Here on the Story Grid Editor 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 full show notes.

Apr 22, 2020 • 18min
Bite Size Episode - Short Stories
It’s 20 minutes of deep insight this time as Valerie Francis and Shawn Coyne bring you a bite-size episode on short stories.Welcome to the Bite Size Edition of the Editor Roundtable Podcast. 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 full show notes.

Apr 15, 2020 • 18min
Bite Size Episode - Big Idea Nonfiction
It’s 20 minutes of insight this time as Valerie Francis and Leslie Watts bring you a bite-size episode on Big Idea Nonfiction.Welcome to the Bite Size Edition of the Editor Roundtable Podcast. 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 full show notes.

Apr 8, 2020 • 52min
Worldview - "A Private Experience"
We journey to the riot-torn streets of Kano, Nigeria this week as we analyze Anne’s short story pick, “A Private Experience,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.Each week one of the Roundtable team—Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, 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.