PODCAST · society
How Story Works
by Chipperish Media
How Story Works is a podcast for everyone who loves stories. If you’re a writer, understanding how story works will help you craft better stories. If you’re a lover of stories, the podcast will give you added insight into your favorite tales, and extend the toolset you use to better understand the stories you love. Join NYT bestselling author and story expert Lani Diane Rich as she demystifies stories and storytelling, allowing you to better write and appreciate the stories you love.
Episodes
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Chapter 8: On Meaning (+ End Matter)
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 6: Structure in Practice
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 5: Structure in Theory
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 4: Conflict
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 3: Narrative Principles
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 2: Craft and Magic
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Chapter 1 - On Story
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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Intro + How This Book Works
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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How Story Works: The Audiobook
Show notes: Get your free digital copy of How Story Works Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs Apply for the 2025 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear Writer Substack Subscribe to the Dear Writer podcast RSS feed Support Chipperish on...
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The Running of the WIPs
Show notes: Lani returns to the How Story Works mic to update everyone on her novels-in-progress and announce a new 10-month writing challenge designed to help writers get their drafts done, The Running of the WIPs! Learn more about the Running of the WIPs Subscribe to The Running of the WIPs…
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Emotional Work for Writers (correct file)
NOTE: A mistake was made in the original posting of this episode; this is the correct audio file. My apologies! Lani talks about the progress she made--and didn’t make--on her writing retreat to New York, shares the Year of Writing Magically writing schedule, and talks about the emotional work...
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Emotional Work for Writers
Lani talks about the progress she made--and didn’t make--on her writing retreat to New York, shares the Year of Writing Magically writing schedule, and talks about the emotional work writers must do to prepare for a long-form fiction project. Show notes: Apply to be part of the Year of Writing...
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Marketing & Writing Magically with Joshua Unruh
Lani sits down with marketing professional and author Joshua Unruh to talk about how to market yourself as an indie author, and his experience as part of the 2023 Year of Writing Magically cohort. Show notes: Check out Trusted Housesitters Sign up for the Year of Writing Magically pre-workshop...
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Reframing with Melina Kantor
Lani sits down with writer Melina Kantor to talk about how sometimes the problem with our writing isn’t actually with our writing, but how we think about our writing. Show notes: Visit the new How Story Works website Apply for the 2024 Year of Writing Magically workshop Subscribe to the Dear…
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Getting Quick and Dirty with Mignon Fogarty
Lani gets quick and dirty with Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, as they talk about the most powerful things people can do to improve their writing and how email is absolutely NOT obsolete. Check out Mignon Fogarty at Quick and Dirty Tips! Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How...
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The Muddy Middle with Cara Stevens
Sometimes you get 70 pages into a book and just... stop. Author Cara Stevens, best known for children's picture books, joins Lani to talk about her struggle to get past the muddy middle and finally finish a complete full-length draft. Learn more about Cara Stevens and Picture Perfect! Get the How...
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Writing with ADHD
Lani talks about her latest adventures, and blocks, in her writing process, and then talks to writer and podcaster Brandon Saiz about how his recent ADHD diagnosis opened up writing for him in new and surprising ways. Show notes: Get on the mailing list to be notified when applications open for...
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The Drafting Doldrums
Lani returns to talk about the drafting process, forgetting to do her homework, and what it's like to return to an active writing process after a long break. Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer...
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Going Independent with Shipwrecked Comedy
In the newest episode of #HowStoryWorks, Lani interviews Mary Kate Wiles, Sean Persaud and Sinead Persaud about going independent as creatives. Also, updates on the Year of Writing Magically and Lani’s Dear Writer Substack. Show notes: Learn more about Shipwrecked Comedy Subscribe to Dear Writer…
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Muses, Magic and Bond (Kim Sherwood Interview)
This month, Lani is thinking about magic and muses, and James Bond! In an interview with Kim Sherwood, the author selected by the Ian Fleming estate to update the James Bond franchise, Lani and Kim talk about writing process, the value of ritual, and writing in Agatha Christie's house. Show…
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Pulling Magic from the Air
It’s time to talk about magic, sleep and philosophy, and how all of that looks through a writer’s lens in the new episode of “How Story Works.” Show notes: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic A Year of Writing Magically Dear Writer Dr. Carl’s Sleep Advice No screens in the bedroom Wake up at the same...
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The Half of It
In the first solo HSW episode in years, Lani Diane Rich talks about the past and the future and the wonderful Alice Wu movie, "The Half of It." Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer newsletter! Support...
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Basic Structures & How to Use Them
This week, Lani and Kelly talk about basic three-act, seven-anchor-scene structure. It’s not the only structure that will work, but it’s the one that will help you understand how structure works. Bookmark this one! Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free...
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Bonus: Percolated Media interview with Lani
Learn more about Percolated Media Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer newsletter! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a...
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Narrative Units
Read the rest of Lani’s “Orange” script Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer newsletter! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a...
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Structure in Theory
This week, Lani and Kelly talk about structure in narrative theory; why is it important, and how does it work? Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer newsletter! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support...
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How Story Works returns!
Get the How Story Works ebook or paperback Get the How Story Works audiobook free with a new Audible subscription Get the Dear Writer newsletter! Learn about the writing coaching services Lani provides! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How...
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How Story Works: Audiobook Sample
How Story Works: An elegant guide to the craft of storytelling is available now! Here's a quick sample from the audiobook, and you can find all the versions here: How Story Works (Kindle) How Story Works (Paperback) How Story Works (Audible) Season 4: Structure coming in 2022! ★ Support this...
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Bonus: Dear Writer
Learn more about Dear Writer. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Arrival
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Godmothered
Today on How Story Works, the conversation is about the conflicts (and magic) in the 2020 Disney movie Godmothered. Download the mp3 here. Subscribe to the show! iTunes • Stitcher • RSS Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish…
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Knives Out
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Romantic Conflict
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Goals
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Internal and External Conflict
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Central Narrative Conflict
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Conflict 101
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Finale: Character Q&A
Show notes: 7 Casually Racist Things that White Authors Do, by Mya Nunally @literallymya https://bookriot.com/2018/02/05/casually-racist-things-that-white-authors-do/ White as the Default, by Marissa Rei Sebastian @MarissaRei1 https://bookriot.com/2015/09/21/white-as-the-default/ How to Write...
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Fix-It: Game Night
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Josh Siegal
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Luke Arnold
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Fix-It: Hitch
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Joshilyn Jackson
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Characters in Action
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Writing Distinctive Characters
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Character Roles
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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Building Character
Show notes: Wanna know what episode is airing and when? Check out the Chipperish Calendar! Support Chipperish on Patreon! Support Chipperish by shopping on Amazon using this link! How Story Works is a Chipperish Media production by Lani Diane Rich, and is released under a Creative Commons...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
How Story Works is a podcast for everyone who loves stories. If you’re a writer, understanding how story works will help you craft better stories. If you’re a lover of stories, the podcast will give you added insight into your favorite tales, and extend the toolset you use to better understand the stories you love. Join NYT bestselling author and story expert Lani Diane Rich as she demystifies stories and storytelling, allowing you to better write and appreciate the stories you love.
HOSTED BY
Chipperish Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does How Story Works have?
How Story Works currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is How Story Works about?
How Story Works is a podcast for everyone who loves stories. If you’re a writer, understanding how story works will help you craft better stories. If you’re a lover of stories, the podcast will give you added insight into your favorite tales, and extend the toolset you use to better understand the...
How often does How Story Works release new episodes?
How Story Works has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to How Story Works?
You can listen to How Story Works on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts How Story Works?
How Story Works is created and hosted by Chipperish Media.
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