Podcast Episodes – The Narrative Breakdown

Cheryl reads the first chapter of The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults. The book is available as of September 6th, 2016. In this bonus episode, Cheryl reads the first chapter exclusively for Narrative Breakdown listeners. Like what you hear? Buy the book! Want to win a critique of your full […]

Why a misunderstood character can be very useful. Featuring Cheryl Klein and Matt Bird! Check out Cheryl’s The Magic Words, and Matt Bird’s The Secrets of Story — the best creative writing books of the year. Yes, we’re a bit biased but it’s true! Mentioned in this episode: The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for […]

Author David S. Atkinson discusses absurdist and weird fiction. Mentioned in the episode: David S. Atkinson’s website Not Quite So Stories Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories George Sanders H.P. Lovecraft Lewis Carroll’s  “Hunting of the Snark” Nikolai Gogol Franz Kafka Angie Tribeca Eugène Ionesco Etgar Keret Nathaniel Tower Aimee Bender Timothy Gager Treating a Sick […]

  Moth storytelling sensation Adam Wade talks about his development as a performer and the tips he gives his students. Adam and the Moth were recently featured on HBO’s Girls.  We highly recommend his new album, The Human Comedy. Mentioned in the episode: AdamWade.com The Moth Jean Shepard – The Great American Fourth of July  Woody Allen’s […]

Author Chris Vander Kaay discusses the ins and outs of various horror film subgenres and recommends a lot of movies along the way. Check out Chris’ new book, Horror Films by Subgenre. (Co-authored by Kathleen Fernandez-Vander Kaay.) Their first book: The Anatomy of Fear Twitter: ckvanderkaay Films mentioned in the episode: Halloween Nosferatu Dracula (1931) George A. […]

Cheryl Klein shares her perspective on the habits of professional writers in a frank and illuminating conversation. You can now pre-order Cheryl’s new book, The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults Mentioned in the episode: Mac Freedom AntiSocial Waste No Time Francisco Stork Daniel José Older Written Kitten Laini Taylor   […]

TV writer and playwright Adam Gaines talks about writing quality dialogue and more.   Check out Adam’s two play collections! Mixtape Fire Sale   Direct Download Link for the episode More about this show, for new listeners: This is a creative writing podcast and a screenwriting podcast. In The Narrative Breakdown, Cheryl Klein, James Monohan, […]

TV writer and novelist Drew Chapman discusses the challenges of writing thrillers in both mediums. Drew’s latest novel is The King of Fear, the sequel to The Ascendent. He is currently writer and co-executive producer on TNT’s Legends. (Note: Our guest goes by Andrew Chapman for his TV and film work).   Thanks for listening! We’re […]

Matt Bird talks about how he measures the strength of a TV show’s basic concept. Mentioned in the episode: Matt’s Ultimate TV Pilot Checklist (using 24 as an example) 24 Breaking Bad Chicago Fire Code Red Rescue Me Copper Homeland House Mad Men The Knick Slings and Arrows   We’re entirely user supported at present […]

Two thriller writers go deep into the dark subject matter of their genre. Mentioned in the episode: Alex Dolan’s THE EUTHANIST Alex Dolan’s website Jonathan Stone’s THE TELLER Jonathan Stone’s website ThrillerFest Vertigo Seven The Narrative Breakdown’s episode on Thriller Types and Tropes (starring Matt Bird) True Detective Season 1 Cormac McCarthy   We’re entirely user […]

Film and music critic Tim Grierson talks about the craft of writing reviews. Tim’s review of BIRDMAN for Deadspin Tim’s review of SPY for Screen Daily Tim’s review of SPY Deadspin Tim’s review of ALOHA for Deadspin Tim in conversation about animation director Don Hertzfeldt Tim in conversation about WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP Tim discusses filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul We’re […]

What should you consider when choosing the gender of your main character? Two exciting debut thriller authors, Alex Dolan and Gwendolyn Womack, join to discuss this topic and related issues. Gwendolyn Womack’s website The Memory Painter Alex Dolan’s website The Euthanist A Reunion of Ghosts (Alex’s recommendation) The Expats (Gwendolyn’s recommendation) The Accident (Gwendolyn’s recommendation) International […]

Veteran journalist Barry Newman talks about 43 years of writing literary non-fiction for The Wall Street Journal.  Mr. Newman’s book, NEWS TO ME, features ruminations about the craft as well as many examples of his work. Barry’s website and book link We’re entirely user supported at present and welcome your donations to narrativebreakdown@gmail.com via PayPal.   […]

Literary agents! What do they do? Why do you need one? How do you get one?  And when can we do lunch?  Cheryl talks to Brianne Johnson of Writers House about these topics and announces her own new project. Links related to this episode: Writers House Brianne’s Publishers Marketplace Listing Another interview with Brianne Johnson Brianne’s […]

We discuss the scope of dramaturgy and how dramaturgs and literary managers collaborate with writers, featuring The Old Globe theater’s resident dramaturg, Danielle Mages Amato. Danielle holds an MFA in Dramaturgy and a PhD in Drama and Theatre from the University of California at San Diego. She previously worked as the dramaturg and literary manager […]

We talk to New York playwright Brenton Lengel about the art and business of writing for the theater. Mentioned in the episode: Brenton Lengel’s website Mariah McCarthy Playwright Marco Ramirez Miss Mayfield’s Fifth Grade Class Reunion State of Play Productions Incorporated Humana Festival (March and April every year) North to Main (Brenton’s Play) Univesrity of Kentucky theater […]

Matt Bird joins us to discuss a selection of quality screenplays from 2014. We look at what makes these scripts tick and what the takeaways are for writers. Mentioned in the episode: Matt Bird’s blog series on the best screenplays of 2014 Selma  Nightcrawler Whiplash Edge of Tomorrow Snowpiercer Boyhood Amistad Mississippi Burning Schindler’s List […]

Kass Morgan joins us to discuss the romance genre and relationship stories in general. Mentioned in the episode: Cheryl’s blog post about Romance tropes The 100: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility Eleanor and Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_%26_Park Sense and Sensibility: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility Pride and Prejudice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice Cheryl’s review of a Pride and Prejudice adaptation Ann of Green Gables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbClLH8nvUM Emma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_(novel) Rust and […]

Bernie Su of Pemberley Digital talks about his company’s online adaptations of classic novels and how he makes transmedia storytelling work, both narratively and financially. Mentioned in the interview: Pemberley Digital The Lizzie Bennet Diaries Emma Approved Frankenstein M.D.  Emma Approved Fashion Looks Bernie Su talks about Transmedia Storytelling Article on Emma Approved and its […]

NPR reporter Ailsa Chang on the ins and outs of her job and how she constructs a radio story. Mentioned in the interview: Serial, the documentary podcast everyone’s talking about Ailsa’s story about Senator Landrieu, featuring the man by the oak tree A piece about Mitch McConnell Ailsa did before the 2014 midterm elections A […]