Story Grid Writers' Room

It’s bread, circuses, and action subgenre conventions this week as the Roundtablers look at The Hunger Games. This 2012 movie was written by Billy Ray, Gary Ross, and Suzanne Collins based on Collins’s novel of the same name. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Love is all around us this week as the Roundtablers sashay into the miniplot story structure with Love Actually. This 2003 all-star British romantic comedy was written and directed by Richard Curtis. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better Click here for the full show notes.

We’re in Nashville this week for Story Grid University’s second Editor Certification course. Join us for some lively interviews with the students who are about to join the exclusive club of Story Grid Certified Editors, along with our own insights and next steps. In our typical episodes, one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but you are not well-read enough.” It’s 20 minutes of professional inspiration for writers and editors this time as the Roundtablers interview Shawn Coyne on the critical importance of reading more widely and deeply. 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.

This week, the team goes global with the foreign language film A Man Called Ove to study Global Internal Genres. This 2015 Swedish comedy-drama was written and directed by Hannes Holm. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Sit in a chair and watch the suspense unfold this week as Valerie and the other Roundtablers examine Rear Window. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

You betcha the Roundtablers are going to chip away at how set and setting drive dialogue in the 1996 Coen Brothers film Fargo. This dark comedy was directed by Joel Coen from the script he co-wrote with Ethan Coen. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

It’s international intrigue with comedy on the side on the Roundtable this week as Leslie continues to explore action plot conventions in The Spy Who Dumped Me. This 2018 action-epic-conspiracy film was directed by Susanna Fogel from a screenplay she wrote with David Iserson. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

TV shows? Video Games? Choose Your Own Adventure? The Roundtablers take on "Bandersnatch" this week as Anne continues her exploration inot complex story forms. This 2018 episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror was written by Charlie Brooker and directed by David Slade. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

The fundamentals of global internal genre are under review this time as Kim pitches The Fundamentals of Caring, a 2016 independent film written and directed by Rob Burnett. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.