discussion of simplicity in story and the room that gives for character and emotion, and the stakes these create. The need for clarity. Motivation. How to move toward simplicity. Also discussed: revision, pacing, resistance, weather. Family systems. The quote, possibly from Einstein: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Matt Bird on Story Makers Show

The Secrets of Story by Matt Bird

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

The Bourne Identity book

The Bourne Identity movie

The Wizard of Oz

Virginia Satir

Quote Investigator

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

A couple of glasses of wine into a loooooong tween-filled vacation, Angie and Elizabeth launch a new year of Story Makers Show with some conversation and advice. Topics covered to varying degrees include: the possibly universal reaction to getting notes on your writing, the possibility of getting bored with your own work and how to get a fresh eye, taking time in the editing process, discipline and habit versus constantly questioning your choices, what you should do vs have to do vs need to do, what our migratory subsistence ancestors knew that we should remember, the 4-hour work day, housecleaning, beginner’s mind, originality, and happiness. Or not. Angie calls writerly bullsh*t on the idea that we are always beginners, and gives Elizabeth some unexpected creative advice. Pull up a chair and let’s talk. Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Brilliant.org

Seth Godin

The Atlantic 1419 issue (2002)

Deep Work by Cal Newport 

Main Stage West in Sebastopol 

Barbara Oakley

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollen 

Milkman by Anna Burns

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Berkman  

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

What makes a story grab you? This episode grapples with that question alongside the challenges of making a best of the year reading or watching list. As they examine what makes a story unforgettable, Angie and Elizabeth discuss imperfect characters, clear goals, enemies, relationships, humor, compassion and the struggle to live up to impossible goals, stakes and power, as well as voice, vivid characters and worlds, structure and conflict that really matters and is relational.They also looked at what they hated until they loved it. Timing. Perspective. Paying attention. Metacognition. Pleasurable political art! And the incitement to be courageous in the way you most enjoy.

What was your top book of the year? Email us at questions@storymakersshow.com

Links in this Episode

Marvel movies

The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Queen & Slim

Chloe Plus Olivia by Lilian Faderman

The Farewell

Jojo Rabbit

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai 

Heavy by Keise Laymon

Normal People by Sally Rooney 

Chemistry by Weike Wang

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead 

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout 

Cantoras by Carolina DeRobertis

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Possession by AS Byatt

Walt Whitman

Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir

Education website: the education foundation  UK

Ultralearning by Scott Young 

Side Chick Nation by Aya De Leon

Story Makers Show Episode with Aya De Leon: Episode 51: Creative and Political Action: an inspirational guide to momentum for the writer

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

In this episode, Angie and Elizabeth examine the importance of knowing why you are writing what you are writing—the core of your story. When do you need to know? How can you discover the point if you’re not sure? Why does it matter? Jumping off from a story boarding lessons Angie taught to some middle schoolers, the conversations covers responding to assignments, giving yourself assignments, digging deeper into what you want to say about what you want to write about, and strategies for improvising and brainstorming the next level of understanding of your story. Angie role models talking about the why behind one of her narrative film ideas, and then they consider how you move between idea and character/ story.

Links in this Episode

Meredith Meran on Story Makers Show about her Why We Write books

Imagine Dragons

Simon Syneck Start With Why

Cal Newport Deep Work

Danzy Senna New People 

Bong Joon Ho Parasite

Elon Musk

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie and Elizabeth begin this episode by musing on the ending of the film Home for the Holidays, and what it tells us about memory and story. Then they continue on to other stories in films and books for which they are grateful, from Jamie Babbit’s But I’m a Cheerleader from 1999 to Almadovar’s latest film, Pain and Glory, and Taika Watiti’s Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows. This is a conversation about creative courage, increidble shots, taboo items and ideas, shame in storytelling and religion, and books that show you how it’s done or what is possible. The conversation delves into ho- to advice for nurturing your creativity during the holidays. Grow as an artist in the midst of challenging family gatherings by developing your understanding of character, dialog, body language, gesture, and action. Additional subjects include irony, the surreal, politics, newspapers, fake video footage, the uncanny valley and the suspension of disbelief, the high level juxtaposition of characters, tennis tips, and much, much more.

Links in this Episode

Home for the Holidays

But I’m a Cheerleader

Pain and Glory 

JoJo Rabbit

What We Do in the Shadows

Colson Whitehead The Nickel Boys

Carolina DeRobertis Cantoras 

DuckDuckGo

Copperfield’s Books 

Amitav Ghosh The Great Derangement 

Mirian Toews Talking and All My Puny Sorrows 

Matt Bird 

Story Makers is a podcast that features in-depth conversations with accomplished writers, filmmakers and industry experts about story craft, technique, habit and survival--everything you need to know to stay inspired, connect to your creativity, find others’ wonderful stories and your own success.

The hosts:

Elizabeth Stark is a published, agented novelist and distributed filmmaker who teaches and mentors writers at BookWritingWorld.com.

Angie Powers is a distributed filmmaker and published short story writer with an MFA in creative writing and a certificate in screenwriting from UCLA who teaches story structure at BookWritingWorld.com.