How Story Works

Nov 20 2024 93 ep. 33 mins 479
How Story Works Podcast artwork

How Story Works is a podcast for everyone who loves stories. If you’re a writer, understanding how story works will help you craft better stories. If you’re a lover of stories, the podcast will give you added insight into your favorite tales, and extend the toolset you use to better understand the stories you love. Join NYT bestselling author and story expert Lani Diane Rich as she demystifies stories and storytelling, allowing you to better write and appreciate the stories you love.

  Society & Culture  Arts
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What Story Is

Mar 05 2017 5 mins  
In this introduction to the new How Story Works podcast, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Lani Diane Rich starts all listeners, writers and non-writers, on their path to understanding the power of stories, both in their lives and in their entertainment.

The Hitchhiker

Mar 19 2017 7 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, I expand upon the definition of story to include the intended effect of stories, and separate out the differences between story and form.

What Meaning Means

Mar 26 2017 7 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, I talk about meaning in storytelling, and how to not freak out about it.

The “Rules”

Apr 02 2017 5 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, I talk about narrative theory, the role of the "rules," and how to find the balance between free-wheeling and white-knuckling your creative endeavors.

The Unbalanced Force

Apr 09 2017 7 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, we begin our work understanding conflict, delve into the differences between narrative conflict and mundane conflict, and visit a bit with Isaac Newton and Harrison Ford.

His Girl Conflict

Apr 16 2017 9 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, we continue our discussion of conflict, moving on into the concept of Central Narrative Conflict, the conflict around which your story structure is based.

Protagonist, Antagonist

Apr 23 2017 11 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, we discuss what defines a protagonist and an antagonist, and how to create strong central characters.

Man vs. McDonald’s

Apr 30 2017 8 mins  
In this episode of How Story Works podcast, we discuss the various types of conflict, and get a little clarity on the "now" of a story.

How Goals Work

May 07 2017 13 mins  
In this episode of the How Story Works podcast, we discuss goals, how they work, and introduce another helpful if annoying acronym, ASPA.

Stuff Happens

May 14 2017 9 mins  
In this episode of the How Story Works podcast, it's time to start wrapping our minds around structure, and the basics of how it works.