This podcast will demystify the writing process. It will show writers how to get their stories on the page and confidently share them; will help them figure out why they're stuck and give them ways to keep going back to the work.
A Story That Works
Claim This Podcastby Rebecca Monterusso
5.0(9 reviews)
26 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
This podcast will demystify the writing process. It will show writers how to get their stories on the page and confidently share them; will help them figure out why they're stuck and give them ways to keep going back to the work.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/29/2019
1 verified contact email on file for A Story That Works
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Recent Episodes
June 29, 2020
2.8 Rebecca Monterusso: Using Self-Editing Techniques
<p>This episode is all about self-editing: what is it, why do you need it, and what the heck does it encompass? What's the point of self-editing if you can just ask an editor for help? Rebecca talks about that on this episode (hint: it's critical to get another set of eyes on your writing, learning to self-edit can save you time later on because you're growing your skills, can save you money, and can help you be more intentional with your goals). Listen to Rebecca talk about all the things she'd change in this story from season 1.</p> <p>If you don't already know, Rebecca is a writer and certified Story Grid editor who’s attended two McKee seminars, hosted workshops at Barnes and Noble, and self-published a nonfiction book on writing. She produces a podcast called A Story That Works and currently creates content for ROI Online. Her writing has been featured on Havok, Jane Friedman, The Creative Penn, and DIY MFA. She’s a pretty good crocheter, avid reader, amateur graphic designer, and loves traveling the world. Short story is currently her favorite medium for writing fiction. You can find out more at <a href="http://www.creativitythroughconstraints.com/">www.creativitythroughconstraints.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Things I mention on this episode:</strong></p> <p>Some of these links (marked with an *) are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you click on and make a purchase from them. Your price doesn't change either way.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936891352/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1936891352&linkCode=as2&tag=rsmonterusso-20&linkId=809a3bbb63889812d46412074d92ebfd">The Story Grid</a>* by Shawn Coyne</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060391685/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0060391685&linkCode=as2&tag=rsmonterusso-20&linkId=dbe3a41b404530c39d26b6b9516d7635">Story</a>* by Robert McKee</li> <li><a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/what-does-it-mean-to-write-a-scene-that-works/">Jane Friedman</a>: What Does it Mean to Write a Scene that Works?</li> <li><a href="https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/09/05/consider-before-writing-a-novel/">The Creative Penn</a>: 6 Things to Consider Before Writing a Novel</li> <li>DIYMFA: <a href="https://diymfa.com/writing/5onfri-five-reasons-time-call-editor">5 Reasons it’s Time to Call in an Editor</a> and <a href="https://diymfa.com/writing/5onfri-five-essentials-every-scene">5 Essentials for Every Scene</a></li> <li>Story Grid: <a href="https://storygrid.com/writing-scenes-work/">Writing Scenes that Work</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/writers-vs-editors-brains/">Our Writer’s vs Editor’s Brains</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/analyzing-masterwork-knife-never-letting-go/">Analyzing a Masterwork: The Knife of Never Letting Go</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/how-reading-better-can-help-you-write-better/">How Reading Better Can Help You Write Better</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/what-does-it-mean-to-write-read-and-live-with-intention/">What Does it Mean to Write, Read, and Live with Intention?</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/from-initial-idea-to-publishable-draft/">From Initial Idea to Publishable Draft</a>; <a href="https://storygrid.com/practical-steps-to-improve-your-craft/">Practical Steps to Improve Your Craft</a></li> <li>My fiction is on <a href="https://gohavok.com/">https://gohavok.com/</a> which requires a subscription to read</li> <li>My book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/30-Day-Writing-Challenge-no-nonsense-getting-ebook/dp/B07H4S88BQ/ref=sr_1_8?sprefix=the%2B30%2Bday%2Bwriting%2B%252Caps%252C170&sr=8-8&keywords=the%2B30%2Bday%2Bwriting%2Bchallenge&crid=3336228M95KS4&dchild=1&qid=1593402938">The 30 Day Writing Challenge</a></li> </ul>
June 22, 2020
2.7 Abigail Perry: Growing Through Writing
<p>Editor Abigail Perry talks to Rebecca about one of the stories from season 1 (the story she wrote using the prompt "death in a small town"). Abby has great advice on how to expand and explore the story, but more importantly, she and Rebecca talk about how to build confidence as a writer and how to stop expecting your first drafts to be perfect so you can just keep writing. Abby offers advice on taking the pressure off yourself as well as how to explore the story you truly want to tell.</p> <p>Abigail K. Perry is a Certified Story Grid Editor with professional teaching, literary agency, and film production experience. In addition to writing masterwork guides that help people learn how to write, read, and edit like a writer, she works as a freelance developmental editor/book coach and diagnostic editor, and is a monthly columnist for DIY MFA. Abigail also teaches Genre-Focused writing workshops for the genres she specializes in, which include Women’s Fiction, YA Fantasy, Upmarket Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Scripts. As a podcaster, she’s a passionate advocate for the butterfly effect stories have on the individual and world, which she shares with listeners on her podcast, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/story-effect#:~:text=STORY%20EFFECT%20is%20a%20podcast%20that%20celebrates%20the%20butterfly%20effect,from%20tales%20across%20all%20mediums.">STORY EFFECT</a>.</p> <p>Reach out to Abigail if you’re a writer looking for an editor who will help you grow as storyteller, and who has experience in differentiated instruction, traditional publishing, and film. Find out more at <a href="http://abigailkperry.com/">abigailkperry.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Things Abigail and I mention in the episode</strong>:</p> <p>Some of these links (marked with an *) are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you click on and make a purchase from them. Your price doesn't change either way.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://diymfa.com/">DIY MFA</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/story-effect">Story Effect</a> (Abby's podcast)</li> <li><a href="https://diymfa.com/reading/story-grid-scene-analysis-template">Story Grid Scene Analysis template</a> (value shift, polarity shift)</li> <li><a href="https://storygrid.com/5-commandments/">SG 5 Commandments</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm">Yellow Wallpaper</a></li> <li><a href="https://writersdigestconference.com/">Writer's Digest Conference</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jonathanmaberry.com/">Johnathon Mayberry</a> (a thriller writer)</li> <li><a href="https://writingexcuses.com/2017/07/02/12-27-choosing-a-length/">Writing excuses</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/PS-I-Love-You-Novel-ebook/dp/B000FC1AOI/ref=sr_1_2?sr=1-2&keywords=ps%2BI%2Blove%2Byou&s=books&dchild=1&qid=1592251077">PS I Love You</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://www.jamesscottbell.com/">James Scott Bell</a>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Great-Fiction-Structure-Techniques-ebook/dp/B001UISGV6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&sr=1-1&qid=1592251111&keywords=plot%2Band%2Bstructure%2Bby%2Bjames%2Bscott%2Bbell&sprefix=plot%2Band%2Bstru%252Cstripbooks%252C173&crid=1QOEZT8MB7XU4&s=books">Plot & Structure</a>*, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Novel-Middle-Approach/dp/0910355118/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1592251139&sr=1-1">Write Your Novel From the Middle</a>*</li> </ul>
June 15, 2020
2.6 Leslie Watts: Building A Career As A Writer
<p>Editor Leslie Watts talks to Rebecca about what it takes to build an author career, starting with giving yourself permission to figure out your own process. She talks about creating a writing practice and the importance of reading what you write so you can get curious and play in those spaces that light you up. Leslie gives Rebecca about lengthening her story and talks about what works and what doesn't.</p> <p>Leslie Watts is a Story Grid Certified Editor, writer, and podcaster based in Austin, Texas. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember—from her sixth-grade magazine about cats to writing practice while drafting opinions for an appellate court judge. As an editor, Leslie helps fiction and nonfiction clients write epic stories that matter. She believes writers become better storytellers through study and practice and that editors owe a duty of care to help writers with specific and supportive guidance. You can find her online at <a href="http://writership.com/">Writership.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Things Leslie and I mention in the episode</strong>:</p> <p>Some of these links (marked with an *) are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you click on and make a purchase from them. Your price doesn't change either way.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://sgeroundtable.simplecast.com/">The Story Grid Roundtable Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://nataliegoldberg.com/">Natalie Goldberg</a> and her concept that we must study and accept our own minds</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1408881683/ref=sr_1_2?sr=8-2&keywords=big%2Bmagic&dchild=1&qid=1592164324">Big Magic</a>* by Elizabeth Gilbert</li> <li>Dorothea Brand's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Writer-Dorothea-Brande/dp/0874771641/ref=sr_1_1?sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=dorothy%2Bbrande&s=digital-text&dchild=1&qid=1592164407">Becoming a Writer</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Want-Write-Independence-ebook/dp/B004G5Z4RO/ref=sr_1_1?sr=1-1&keywords=if%2Byou%2Bwant%2Bto%2Bwrite&s=digital-text&dchild=1&qid=1592164458">If You Want To Write</a>*</li> <li>Morning pages from Julia Cameron's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B006H19H3M/ref=sr_1_1?sr=1-1&keywords=julia%2Bcameron&s=digital-text&dchild=1&qid=1592164498">The Artist's Way</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://www.neilgaiman.com/">Neil Gaiman</a></li> <li>Joyce Carol Oats: [on how to know when a story is done/how long it should be] when you can see the ending and you know where it’s going</li> <li><a href="https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/">Myer’s Briggs</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Feed-Monkey-Mind-Anxiety-ebook/dp/B01LWA99FL/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&sr=1-2&qid=1592164624&keywords=don%2527t%2Bfeed%2Bthe%2Bmonkey%2Bmind&sprefix=don%2527t%2Bfeed%2Bthe%2B%252Cdigital-text%252C179&crid=283C8GXXELL5&s=digital-text">Don't Feed The Monkey Mind</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Cassandra/cassandra.html">Cassandra</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time-Contemporaries-ebook/dp/B000FC1MCS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&sr=1-1&qid=1592164696&keywords=curious%2Bcase%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bdog%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bnight&sprefix=curious%2Bcase%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bdog%252Cdigital-text%252C184&crid=1XNQQWCXSLPCM&s=digital-text">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ocean-End-Lane-Novel-ebook/dp/B009NFHF0Q/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&sr=1-1&qid=1592164740&keywords=ocean%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bend%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blane&sprefix=ocean%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bend%252Cdigital-text%252C172&crid=1NCBFZP6ID0GD&s=digital-text">Ocean at the End of the Lane</a>*</li> <li><a href="https://jennyshih.com/">Jenny Shih</a></li> </ul>
26 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is A Story That Works?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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