SEASON 13:
4 Story Questions + Tension
One of the most foundational concepts in story theory is what Valerie calls The 4 Story Questions. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all this theory, just focus on the 4SQ and your storytelling skills will dramatically improve! And this season, Melanie is studying tension. Tension is often confused with conflict or suspense. So, what is tension if it's not conflict or suspense, and how is it used in stories? Using a simple definition, Melanie sets out to see if tension exists independently or if it co-exists with other storytelling techniques.
What makes the Paddington franchise so popular with audiences? That’s exactly what Melanie and I set out to discover as we take a deep dive into the first film in the trilogy in this brand new What Went Right episode. We look past the CGI and get straight to the heart of the story. -V. (The following summary was generated by A.I.) In the latest episode of our podcast, we delve into the enchanting world of Paddington, the beloved bear who has captured the hearts of audiences around the globe.
It’s our second “what went wrong” episode and this time we’re taking a deep dive into the 2011 film, GREEN LANTERN. Even Ryan Reynolds says this one is a dud, so where did the storytelling go wrong? Tune in to find out! -V. (The following summary was generated by A.I.) In the latest episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the storytelling missteps of the 2011 film Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds. While superhero films often captivate audiences with action and adventure, Green Lantern fails to deliver a compelling
That’s a wrap on Season 13! Over the past eight episodes Melanie took a deep dive into one of the most important concepts in storytelling: tension. In this episode, she reviews the concepts of high and low tension, and highlights the principles you can use to create tension in your story. Meanwhile, I spent the season studying The 4 Story Questions. This is really important stuff. Trust me on this…if you can’t answer these questions clearly and succinctly, your story might be in big trouble. -V.
Valerie and I take a scalpel to some well loved movies this season. First there was the Nightmare Before Christmas and now Sleepless in Seattle. I’m not a believer in ‘magic love’ so I find the premise of the movie silly, but there are some good examples of tension. However, under the microscope of Valerie’s 4 Story Questions, this movie is lacking in some fundamental storytelling scaffolding. Without clear wants there isn’t anything meaningful at stake. The take away – the story could be better. There, I said it. I
Writers of quiet, character-driven or “literary” stories often ask me if all this story theory stuff applies to them, or if it’s only for “commercial” fiction. Believe me when I say that it’s even more important and in this episode of the podcast, I explain why. Meanwhile, Melanie conducted an experiment this week. She wanted to discover how knowing the ending impacted the tension of a story. Does it kill the tension or enhance it? What she learned may surprise you. -V. (The following summary was generated by AI.) In
Frustration follows flaws! Can you create tension and conflict if the 4 Story questions haven’t been answered? The simple answer is “no”. I desperately wanted to love this movie because I’m writing a short story based on selkies. This is a sweet movie. It lacks some storytelling basics, which results in minimal tension and conflict. I know I’ve said it before, but learning from stories that don’t work is more valuable when you’re learning to write. -M (The following summary was generated by AI.) Unlocking the Secrets of Storytelling: Tension
Melanie and I talk about Object of Desire all the time and boy, oh boy, this movie really drives home why it’s so important. The writers didn’t go for the obvious choice here and it makes the movie, and the protagonist, so much more interesting because what Judy wants more than anything in the world is not to perform, but to be with her kids. In terms of tension, it’s hit-and-miss. Tune in to find out how you can emulate the tension-creating techniques and how you can avoid the pitfalls.
I love it when Valerie and I study different theories and come to different conclusions about the movie. Crazy, Stupid, Love has great examples of slow/low tension and high/intense tension – it’s a great movie demonstrating how tension works. However, it doesn’t work so well when the 4 Story Questions are applied. Why? Because a multi-point-of-view story needs answers for all POV characters! Which POVs work and which don’t…dive into this episode and find out. -M (The following summary was generated by AI.) In our latest podcast episode, we dive
In this archive episode, we revisit our study of FATAL ATTRACTION which first aired as episode 5 of season 7. I was studying character revelation and Melanie was studying worldbuilding, but what I find most fascinating about this movie is that, viewed through a modern lens, it’s unclear who the antagonist really is. We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode, until then, Happy New Year! -V.
While I’m teaching my kids to surf during our summer beach holiday, and Valerie is shovelling out from a winter storm, we’re bringing you a throwback episode from season 6 where we studied stakes and empathy. Based on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”, “10 Things I Hate About You” is packed with lessons about what not to do. We’ll be back with a brand new episode on January 8. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays story nerds! -M.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favourite with both our families, and given that this is a Tim Burton film we expected that the storytelling would be rock solid. This is a great example of writers using the storytelling tools at their disposal to maximum effect. Ah, but since filmmakers have access to different tools than novelists, when you strip away the “spectacle” of stop-motion and musical numbers, how strong is the story itself? The answer may surprise you. This is our last new episode before the holiday season. For
The tension starts with the title of this week’s movie – The Banshees of Inisherin. Banshees cry right before someone dies. That’s tension right there – who will it be? The anticipation about who is going to die is high because the outcome is unknown. Tension thrives with uncertainty. I also explore the idea of high and low tension in a story. Valerie is powering on with her study of the 4 Story Questions and showing why they are so important. If you don’t want to waste years writing in
Welcome to a brand new season! This time around I’m studying the 4 Story Questions and Melanie is focused on tension. This week we’re looking at CALENDAR GIRLS. We love these actresses (I mean, honestly, what’s not to love?) but the storyline threw us for a loop because when it felt like it was coming to a natural conclusion, we realized there was still another hour to go. What happened? And was that a good thing or not? Tune in to find out! -V. (The following summary was generated by
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