Online Community

Join Valerie, Melanie, and authors from around the world, as we nerd out about all things storytelling, because when you're around better, you do better!

Monthly Q&A Calls

As you work through the lessons you'll naturally have questions. We want you to get the most out of this training, so each month we'll hop on a call and help you any way we can.

Learn at Your Own Pace

Fitting your writing in around an already hectic schedule? We understand. That's why we've made the entire program available to you right away. Whether you want to binge study or take it at a more leisurely pace, we've got you covered.

Why This Course?

Here's the thing. Understanding how stories work is the key to a successful writing career, and for that you need story theory. The problem is that there are thousands and thousands of resources out there which means you've got to sift through them all to find what you need. To make matters worse, there is no common lexicon in this business so the information in one resource might appear to contradict the information in another. (The irony, right?) But, you don't want to be a story theorist. You're a writer. We get it. We're writers too. In this course, we've distilled story theory down to its salient points. We're giving you the essentials about character (whether your story has one protagonist or many), plot (with an explanation of how and why stories work) and genre (because writers think about it differently than readers). This is the stuff you must include in your novel or memoir if you want to write a breakout book. It's non-negotiable. Publishing is a tough business and the authors who stand out are the ones who understand, and use, the fundamentals of storytelling.

Meet Your Instructors

Valerie Francis is a bestselling author, story editor and co-host of the Story Nerd podcast. Valerie helps women, who write in all genres, learn how stories work so they can finish their books faster and without frustration. Her mission is to show writers that story theory is a valuable tool that can — and will — help them write more, not less. Melanie Hill is an Australian author, poet, and editor. She reads voraciously across genres and loves book recommendations across cultures. Melanie is passionate about middle-grade and young-adult stories, spy stories, mysteries and fairy tales. She combines her planning skills from a career as a logistics planner with story theory to help authors discover solutions to their story problems so they can finish their novels.

Curriculum

5 Chapters · 24 Lessons

  1. 1

    Start Here!

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Why Story Theory Will Save Your A**

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Stories Are About Change

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      The 4 Story Questions

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Your Book's Hook

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      The Story Hierarchy

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Writing Multiple Protagonists

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Writing a Memoir

  2. 2

    Character

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Character Arcs

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4 Types of Protagonists

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Empathy v. Sympathy

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      What Your Protagonist Wants

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      The Antagonist

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Archetypes v. Stereotypes

  3. 3

    Plot

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Building Blocks of Story - Units of Story

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Building Blocks of Story - Acts

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Building Blocks of Story - The Writer's Six Pack

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Stories Have Shapes

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Character Journeys

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Why Progressive Complications are the G.O.A.T.

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Conflict...More Than Just Fistfights

  4. 4

    Genre

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      The Writer's View of Genre

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Marketing Genres v. Writing Genres

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

  5. 5

    Your Mission (should you choose to accept it)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overwhelmed? Here's what to do.

This is why we do what we do.

We explain story theory in a way that's easy to understand and use because for us, there's no greater buzz than seeing authors finally writing the books of their dreams.

”
Working with Valerie has been the BEST decision and investment with respect to writing my first book. From the very beginning, she not only ignited a spark in my manuscript, but she reignited the spark within myself. 
Kel D.

Author

”
I have learned about the craft of writing and the industry from attending Melanie’s classes. Her broad skills have been an asset to me.
Rebecca S.

Author

”
I just wish I had discovered Valerie years ago. I think a lot of the mistakes I made along the way and just getting that first draft down I mean, I think I had to do that just to get it out. But I think if I understood story well a little bit more as I was doing it, it would have saved me a lot of time. Valerie is the best.
Kathy M.

Author

”
There is no one better at talking story theory in applicable and relevant terms than Valerie Francis.
J.W. Judge

Author

”
Valerie saw the problems with my manuscript but unlike me, she managed to work around them. What a relief! Some of these things I've been thinking about for years now.
Vanessa A.

Author

”
I'm so impressed with Valerie's work ethic and her dedication to the craft. It started with what she's invested in going to study in New York and L.A. to become a better writer, and then her years of honing her skill to help other writers. Having read her novel Masquerade, I can say her writing is not only solid, but her execution of a compelling and unputdownable read is impeccable. It's obvious she really knows story.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Stark Reflections Podcast

”
Valerie is a phenomenal person to learn from. She thinks very deeply about story.
Julie Strauss

Best Book Ever Podcast

”
I have listened to many of the Story Nerd podcasts and I think Valerie and Melanie are superb. They are my go-to Story Guru Duo. Their stuff is exciting and entertaining but hits the sweet spot of useful information.
Caroline L.

Author

”
Melanie gave me confidence that my book would be free of errors and look professional when published. I would highly recommend Melanie to anyone.
T.M. Rosevere

Author

”
Rewatching the recording of "Hook Your Reader in 10 Pages or less" by Valerie Francis today, I had a breakthrough on making the antagonists of my WIP more interesting. 
Roger A-G.

Author

”
I’ve known and have worked with Val for years, and I can honestly say, she knows more about how stories work than just about anyone I know. She's serious about the writing craft, and about explaining story theory in a way that writers can understand and use. Writers have a lot to learn from her.
J. Thorn

founder of TheAuthorLife.com

”
Melanie is one of my most trusted critique partners and I value her insights over anyone else’s.
Yvonne M.

Author

Ready to write your breakout book?

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$297.00

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