Maayan writes: Recent Episodes
maayan
Podcast for Storytellers, where I talk all about writing fiction, analyze movies, books, and TV shows, and trying to dissect what makes a great story! more resources on my website - maayanwrites.com
Today I'm speaking with Rachel, a published author, and blogger, co-founder of "The Writer Community" which is an online platform for writers. We talk about writing routines, productivity and story:) enjoy!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is my favorite movie! it does everything right! Subplots are one of the things they managed to get just right (which is tricky), here are my thoughts on subplots, how to write them so they don't overshadow the main one and still be relevant to the story, enjoy!
Here I go again - Lemme explained! I liked Moana but there's no doubt that the storytelling is very sloppy. in this episode, I go on and on (and on! it's a long one) about all the problems with the plot, theme, and conflict and how I'd fix it, analyzing stories is the best way to learn what to do and not to do. enjoy!
sound edit - @asya.bell
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFaxcE7yRPZCe0hdK8W12MQ
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This episode is about getting things done. Especially your writing projects. In my day job I'm a project manager so I'm used to making sure tasks are done well and in time. So I'm sharing my tips and tricks plus some things I learned from great teachers about how to really plan your resources and stop saying "Ï just don't have time for writing "
This episode isn't just for writers and creators - it's for anyone who wants to achieve more.
sound edits - @asya.bell
pic - @stilclassics in unsplash
in this episode, I talk about Glow - the 2017 show - Gorgeous women of wrestling! if you haven't watched it - it's amazing! it's funny, dramatic, it's set in the 80s and there's tons of glitter and spandex! I talk about how they pull off authentic caharcter arcs and how you can create more layered complicated characters as well:) enjoy!
Story conflict has to be dynamic and keep changing and escalating. No one does this better than BB. I love this show, it taught me so much about writing, so we're gonna dive into all the mess Walter White gets into and how the conflicts are written. I also wrote a whole guide about this - available on my website - maayanwrites.com
find me on IG - @maayan_writes
Photo by Jorge Sepúlveda from Pexels
sound edits: Asya Bell
I always thought that the 6th sense is about moving on and letting go, you know, like any ghost movie, but after rewatching recently - no it is not! The theme is actually much cooler, and also connects to the Twist in the end.
In this episode, I also cover the use of irony in the movie and the mirroring of the 2 main characters.
if you're seeing this on Buzzsprout - there's more great writing content on my website maayanwrites.com where you can also get free writing resources
pic from unslpash by **Stefano Pollio
sound edit - Asya Bell**
Fleabag is a such a great show, it does so many things right - characters, pacing, soundtrack, dialogue. But the thing I love most is the main character's relationship with the audience. I mean that relationship between narrator and reader (in a novel) or between a character and a viewer (in a movie/series). Fleabag does not only does it perfectly, but the show also uses it as a tool to express the character arc - brilliant move!
pic - fotografierende via Pexels
sound edit - @asyabell
Theme is a thread going through the entire story, tying together all its elements. Using it correctly can make a story even more meaningful, impactful and emotional. It adds layers to the plot. Very few movies do it as good as Finding Nemo.
In this episode I explore how all elements point to the same direction, and so they're elevating each other.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
sound edit by @asyabell
Dont hate me but ...Frozen's story doesn't work. Yes, it's a very popular movie and it isn't bad, the voice acting is amazing, the animation is beautiful and the songs are great, but the story! the storrrrry!
In this episode I go through all the storytelling problems and how I would fix them.
This episode will make me very unpopular. But I'm jewish, I'm used to it.
pic by Egor Kamelevsound edit by @asyabell
I love seeing good world building in genres that aren't fantasy or sci fi etc. It goes to show there are so much nuance in a world even without magic systems, dragons and witches, and that opens a window to think about what really makes a good world, designed to give your hero a hard time. Spoilers for the tv shows Episodes and Shameless
sound edits - @asya.bell
pic by Jen Theodore
character design can make or break your story. I love this comparison between Sherlock (the 2010 Ben Cumberbatch version obv) and House (that was originally based on Sherlock Holmes) because this can really show what makes a great character, and how the nuance of a character matters to the overall storytelling. Spoiler Alert for both shows is in order:)
pic by Craig Whitehead
sound edits by - @asya.bell
Ending are super hard to write, there are 3 qualities I feel make a great ending, and only a handful of movies and especially TV shows managed to pull it off. For TV shows it's even harder to nail it because it's been a long time coming and expectations are HIGH. Bojack Horseman is an example of how you can end a show in a way that is fair, emotional and intense. Happy writing!
pic by - Lubo Minar
sound edit by - @asya.bell