The Secrets of Story: A Screenwriting & Novel Writing Podcast

Jan 16 2024 75

The Secrets of Story: A Screenwriting & Novel Writing Podcast artwork

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.

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Organizing Chaos with Sophie Beal and Gary Dalkin

Jan 16 2024 59 mins

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.

Episode 45: Specific vs. Generic (Or is it Factual vs. Archetypal?)

Dec 07 2023 71 mins

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.

Episode 44: Putting the Secrets of Story Into Action with Torrey Maldonado

Oct 19 2023 84 mins

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)

Writing Every Day with Brock Swinson

Jun 26 2023 67 mins

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.

Episode 43: Mackendrick's Rules, the Epic Conclusion

Jun 19 2023 52 mins

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.

Mackendrick's Rules, Part 2

Jun 12 2023 59 mins

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!

Mackendrick's Rules, Part 1

Jun 05 2023 70 mins

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!

Episode 39: Agents

Feb 02 2023 82 mins

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.

Episode 38: AI

Dec 24 2022 57 mins

Can a computer do our jobs? Matt puts it the test and James scoffs, as is his wont.

37 Craft in the Real World

Nov 02 2022 74 mins

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!