You need to read stories you don’t like. Yep, it’s true. This week I put my body on the line and I forced myself (and Valerie - so sorry, please forgive me) to watch The Substance. I don’t read, watch, or listen to horror, but there are times when I need to go outside my comfort zone to learn more about the craft. My topic this season is The Shadow, so it would be remiss of me to ignore a genre that relies on The Shadow. You don’t need to watch The Substance because I summarise it for you (minus the gore). There’s a lot to learn from this movie about The Shadow and I’ll talk you through my takeaways. -M.

Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.

How does your reader know why your protagonist does what she does? This seemingly minor detail is one of the most important parts of your story and the way you let the reader know about it is through the hero's monologue. What aspect of your protagonist is hidden from her, from your reader, or both? If you want to create a main character with dimension and an arc, then understanding her shadow is key. The hero's monologue and the shadow are our study topics in this brand new season of the podcast. Enjoy! - V.

Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.

I think I missed the mark with my choice for What When Right this Season. I went with The Outrun because it scored well on ratings sites. Why did this movie get such good ratings when both Valerie and I had trouble staying engaged? It’s a story that has great performances and it handles addiction without judgement. There’s also some parallel story telling in the shape of traditional Orkney fairy tales, which assists the viewer with navigating Rona’s view of the world. This is a puzzling movie but it has some good elements. -M.

Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses

For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.

To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.