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Story Sorcery®

Story Sorcery®

By: Sue Brown-Moore
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Story Sorcery® with Sue Brown-Moore is where romance writers learn how to stop second-guessing your storytelling instincts. You know that feeling when you've rewritten the same scene five times and it STILL feels wrong? 😤 You're not broken. 😰 Your instincts aren't wrong. 😭 And you're definitely not the only one stuck in revision hell. I've spent over a decade helping romance writers figure out the actual problem, not just slap a bandaid on it. Because there's a difference between "your pacing is off" and understanding WHY a scene isn't working. If you can't identify the root of the problem, you can't fix it. No matter how many times you rewrite. That's why every episode is a deep-dive exploration of ONE romantic fiction storytelling concept so you can understand what's actually happening in your own draft. No formulas. No generic "rules" (that don't even apply to your style). Just honest, editor-in-your-pocket insight from someone who reads romance for breakfast and helps romance authors live their Happily Ever After careers. Ready to finally trust what your storytelling instincts are telling you? Subscribe now, and let's get you out of revision hell. Want more support? Head to https://suebrownmoore.com (suebrownmoore.com) for workshops, free resources, and other ways we can work together.© 2026 Sue Brown-Moore Ltd Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Why They DNF in Chapter One | 16

    Why They DNF in Chapter One | 16
    Jun 16 2026

    You've heard that your first chapter has to hook the reader. But the hook isn't your trope setup or your meet cute. It's a glimpse of who your hero is underneath, and it shows up as a choice they make when the story is barely getting started. In episode 16, I'm breaking down what that glimpse looks like and how to test whether your early pages are giving readers enough reason to stick around.

    You'll learn:

    • The tiny choice your hero needs to make in their first scene that gives your reader a hint at what they're afraid of
    • How "too perfect" heroes in the early chapters become the cardboard characters readers complain about in reviews
    • The Bridgerton Season 3 scene that shows how powerful a tool body language can be (yes, even in text)
    • A three-question checklist you can use right now to test whether your first chapter is risking DNFs (Did Not Finish reviews) from your readers

    This 25-minute episode is for romance writers who are worried that your opening chapters aren't strong enough or that you're giving away too much about your hero too soon in the story (hint: you're probably not!).

    And at the end, I give you a simple checklist to test whether your hero's first scenes give readers a reason to keep turning pages.

    Resources from this episode:

    • Workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (replay inside E2E) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
    • Live workshop: The 8-Scene Story Setup: Book your group’s private workshop with Sue today! → hi.suebrownmoore.com/8SSS
    • Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
    • More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn
    • Brennan Lee Mulligan: Sit back and listen to Brennan Lee Mulligan—one of the greatest storytellers of our generation—talk about how an unpredictable life has shaped a phenomenally interesting and unstoppable career on this interview with Hank Green on the Study Hall YouTube channel: “How DnD Became a Career: Brennan Lee Mulligan’s College Journey” → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/meetbrennan

    • The 8-Scene Story Setup: Book your live group workshop with Sue
    • The Brennan Lee Mulligan interview - Sit back and listen to Brennan Lee Mulligan—one of the greatest storytellers of our generation—talk about how an unpredictable life has shaped a phenomenally interesting and unstoppable career on this interview with Hank Green on the Study Hall YouTube channel: “How DnD Became a Career: Brennan Lee Mulligan’s College Journey” (https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/meetbrennan)
    • Enemies To Experts™ - Learn more about the Enemies To Experts™ program with Sue Brown-Moore. Because falling in love with your manuscript starts with understanding it.
    • More resources - Learn from Sue at your own pace at podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

    Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.
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    26 mins
  • What 'Oh, Hell No!' Promises | 15

    What 'Oh, Hell No!' Promises | 15
    May 19 2026
    Your hero gets a chance to do the brave thing in the early chapters, and they don't take it. They dig in, double down, and choose the safe path. And your reader loves them for it. In episode 15, I'm breaking down why that refusal is one of the most important scenes in your entire manuscript and how it sets up (or ruins) every emotional payoff that comes after.You'll learn:The difference between a trope promise and a character promise, and why your story needs both on the pageWhat promises your story is making to your reader in the early story (and why it matters more than your trope setup)Why your big emotional scenes can hit every beat and still feel hollow (because you skipped this one moment)What Penelope from Bridgerton Season 3 can teach you about the promise your own manuscript is making (that you can't afford to break)This 27-minute episode is for romance writers whose readers finish the book and say "that was pretty good" instead of staying up past midnight to read just one more page.And at the end, I give you a gut-check exercise you can try on your own manuscript today to test whether your hero is inviting the reader into their most vulnerable spaces, rather than simply telling about themself.Resources from this episode:Workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (replay inside E2E) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Character Core Values (CCVs): Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvsThe Root Fear (CCV): Read this free article on the hero trait that anchors your entire story → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/root-fearThe Lie (CCV): Read this free article about the psychological protection that shapes your hero’s journey → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/the-lieThe Plot Milestones (Opp + TP): Read this free article on the two-step framework for setting up a story arc → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/plot-milestonesCommunity: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learnPlot Milestones: The Opportunity & Turning PointThe Lie (CCV)The Character Core Values (CCVs) - Free article: The Character Core Values that define who your hero is at their core, the good and the bad → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvsThe Root Fear explained (CCV) - Free article: The hero trait that anchors your entire story → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/root-fearEnemies To Experts™ - Learn more about the Enemies To Experts™ program with Sue Brown-Moore. Because falling in love with your manuscript starts with understanding it.More resources - Learn from Sue at your own pace at podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learnSubscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • The Porch Scene | 14

    The Porch Scene | 14
    Apr 21 2026
    You read back through your big ending and it's... disappointing. Technically, it hits all the right beats, but it feels kinda meh. So you make it bigger. You add more dialogue, more stakes, more feelings. And somehow it gets worse. In episode 14, I'm walking you through why the scene that actually earns your hero's big moment isn't near the finale at all, and why you might have already cut it for "not moving the plot forward".You'll learn:Why making your ending bigger (more dialogue, more stakes, more feelings) only makes it feel more forcedWhat the "porch scene" is and why your reader will feel it even when your hero never acknowledges what's happeningHow a hero uses their Augmentation to show (not tell) you they're actually changingThe one question to run on your mid-story scenes this week to tell whether your hero is really growing or just wearing a different emotional outfitThis 30-minute episode is for romance writers who can tell your ending isn't hitting the way the way you intended, and you've been trying to fix it by adding more. By the end, you'll know why that instinct backfires and where in your draft the real character-growth work needs to happen instead.Resources from this episode:Related article: Why some heroes wreck you (and others are forgettable) → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/heroes-that-wreck-youRelated article: The four stages of a Turning Point moment → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/turning-pointRelated article: The 5 stages of your hero's growth arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phasesRelated article: The 4 types of Augmentations (hero self-protections) → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorLearn the timeline dot method: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method workshop replay (live inside E2E) → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/expertCommunity: Join Enemies to Experts → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/expertMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learnWhy Some Heroes Wreck You (& Others Are Unforgettable)The 4 stages of the Turning Point momentHero “Armor” (Augmentations CCV) - Free article: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorLiar, Liar, Plot on Fire - Learn about my workshop course and the 5 questions to diagnose plot problems → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/liar-liarEnemies To Experts™ - Learn more about the Enemies To Experts™ program with Sue Brown-Moore. Because falling in love with your manuscript starts with understanding it.The 5 Growth Phases - Free article: The 5 stages of every character arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phasesSubscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.
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    30 mins
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