Writing Lessons From...

Live long and prosper, storytellers. Stay with me and keep the Writing Lessons From... magic going: Join the mailing list: https://www.writeintothewoods.com/join-us

I've noticed a pattern in the stories I've been listening to and watching recently, so I thought I'd share this important lesson about being an artist. Especially as it's the beginning of the year and it's dark, cold and miserable. Read instead of listen at: https://writeintothewoods.com/2026/01/08/hollywood-lessons/ Come join the mailing list for more storytelling goodness at writeintothewoods.co...

aka How to get out of a rut with your writing. The episode looks at the following films: Best. Christmas. Ever Renovation Romance Our Little Secret Haul Out The Holly (and Haul Out The Holly Lit Up) Hot Frosty Jingle Bell Heist Not in that order. And I'm looking at what lessons I'm taking from these films into my Christmas romance writing in 2026. Read instead of listen at: writeintothewoods.com/2...

aka The Joy of Keeping it Simple The episode looks at: Why simple can be best. Summing up your plot in one sentence. The importance of good character development. Read instead of listen at: Please hit follow wherever you listen to your podcasts, and leave a rating or review. It all helps! And come join the mailing list for more storytelling goodness at writeintothewoods.com/writinglessonsfrom For...

aka Ending That Story Beautifully Writing endings is HARD! My favourite kind of endings are the ones that mirror the beginning. Grace and Frankie teaches us that we can look at four things when writing an ending: The themes of the story The character arcs How it all started And make sure there’s closure. Please hit follow wherever you listen to your podcasts, and leave a rating or review. It all h...

aka the Power of the Short Story Specifically looking at episodes: Sonnie's Edge (Volume One), Lucky 13 (Volume One), The Tall Grass (Volume Two) and Bad Travelling (Volume Three). The episode looks at: A short story should pack a punch Keeping your audience guessing Considering all characters - some can be inanimate objects, settings, places Building the tension, and Doing the right thing by doin...

aka What’s Your Story About, Though? This week I'm looking at Mary and George, available on Sky Atlantic / Showcase / Now TV. The episode looks at: endings!! Again! Getting endings right is so hard! the difficulty of writing historical fiction - there are just so many rabbit holes to investigate the importance of focusing in your story. Read instead of listen at: writeintothewoods.com/2025/10/30/w...

aka When a Character Changes the Story This week it's all about all three series of Starstruck, available on BBC iPlayer, and Jessie's journey. The episode looks at: middles are so tough the importance of listening to your characters how sometimes the story isn't the one you thought it would be, sometimes it's something better. Read instead of listen at: https://writeintothewoods.com/2025/10/24/wr...

aka When One Idea Inspires a Whole Story And what to do when that original idea no longer quite fits with the story that grows around it. Have you ever heard of Save Yourselves!? It's worth having a watch if you can find it, especially for the ending. But if you can't, enjoy this spoiler-full episode! Please hit follow wherever you listen to your podcasts, and leave a rating or review. It all help...

aka Start Your Third Act Without Being Boring! This is the longest episode (so far) of Writing Lessons From... and why is explained in the intro. If you'd like to go straight to the writing lessons, they begin properly at 15:26 . But there's also an important message for all storytellers at the beginning and the rest of it is context, so I hope you'll listen, even if you already know all this stuf...

aka The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. The writing lesson in this episode focuses on something every single storyteller needs to know, so it's worth 12 minutes of your time. While you're walking the dog or on the treadmill or making lunch and cleaning the toilet (careful those earbuds don't fall in!). Without giving a spoiler as to the big writing lesson in this episode, the general gist is ar...

aka Big Themes, Little Themes, Cardboard Box Finally, I managed to watch Barbie! And I tried to stay away from the big themes and focus on the things that I found interesting as a storyteller. Come and join the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com/writinglessonsfrom John Cena is also mentioned in episodes 8 and 6! He gets everywhere.

aka A lesson in originality and laziness I almost didn't record this one, but here we go. Writing is joyful, but it can also make us angry, resentful, confused... All of these stories help us to learn too. Also my new novel is out! And I said I'd put the link in the show notes... Yellow Petals at Christmas: https://mybook.to/YellowPetals Join the Writing Lessons From... mailing list: https://write...

aka Writing a Billion-dollar Soap Opera This week we're looking at WWE documentary Unreal, on Netflix, and the secrets (pure gold!) from their writers room. If you're interested in telling stories, or in the storytelling business, this one is a must watch/listen! Please hit follow, rate/review, and come subscribe to the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com/writinglessonsfrom

aka Creating Subplots and Tangents That Mean Something. Today we take a look at Hannah Gadby's comedy special Something Special, available on Netflix, and work out just why and how the storytelling works so well, so we can apply it to our own stories. Please hit follow, and join the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com/writinglessonsfrom

aka Killing Off a Great Character. Should you do it? When should you do it? HOW should you do it? This week I take a look at season four of Only Murders in the Building (Disney+) and Peacemaker (Sky Max), and the agony but beauty in killing off a character who is well loved or vital to some part of your story. Don't forget to hit follow, and come join the mailing list at writeintothewoods.com/writ...

aka What the Hell Was That Ending? Yes, it's another episode about endings. Endings are so hard! Also, about dislikable characters AND writing fiction from fact. If you enjoy this episode, please hit follow and you can find the blog post and the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com/writinglessonsfrom

aka Can Two Characters Just Be Friends Without Kissing? Can two characters just be friends without resorting to kissing or sleeping together? Let's look at the creative writing and storytelling lessons from Platonic and Mythic Quest, both available on Apple TV. Hit follow and sign up to the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com.

aka How to Stop an Alien Invasion. Welcome to the first episode of Writing Lessons From...! A blogcast where every week I'll be reading aloud a post from the Writing Lessons From... project. This episode was first published on my blog in 2023, and I'm taking a look at what I learned as a creative writer from the film A Quiet Place, and how to write a good alien invasion ending. Please hit follow o...

aka Doing Your Characters Justice. Let's talk about that ending of Ozark (available on Netflix and very bingeable!) and the creative writing and storytelling lessons we can learn from it. Massive spoilers in this one, I'm talking life and death. So hit follow/subscribe, make sure you've watched Ozark, then hit play! Please hit follow or subscribe, and sign up to the mailing list at www.writeintoth...

aka Writing with 40 Years of Character Development. I am a HUGE Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan. HUGE! Was Mutant Mayhem everything I wanted it to be? Yes and no. But what glorious animation and what glorious writing and storytelling lessons we can learn from it! Please hit follow or subscribe, and sign up to the mailing list at www.writeintothewoods.com.