Story Sorcery® Podcast By Sue Brown-Moore cover art

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
  • Your Hero's Best Trait Might Be Their Biggest Lie | 13

    Your Hero's Best Trait Might Be Their Biggest Lie | 13
    Apr 7 2026
    Your hero walks into a room and owns it. They're charming or tough or impossibly warm. And you wrote it that way on purpose. But if that personality feels more like a performance than a person, the problem may be deeper than surface level. When there's no wound driving the behavior, even "big" personalities can feel empty.In episode 13, I'm walking you through the four types of protective behavior your romance characters use, how to spot which one your hero defaults to, and why knowing the difference between a personality trait and a coping mechanism is what makes your hero feel real.You'll learn:Why a big, lovable personality can actually flatten your character arc if you don't know what's fueling itThe four types of protective behaviors ("Augmentations": Armor, Shield, Mask, and Flair) and how each one shows up differently in your scenesHow to trace a hero's protective behavior back to the Wound underneath, using an example from a published romance bookWhat to ask about your own manuscript this week to find where your hero's protection is doing its heaviest liftingThis 33-minute episode is for romance writers who write heroes that have strong personalities on the page but still feel like something's missing. By the end, you'll understand which type of protection your character is using and how to write scenes that crack through it just enough to hook your reader.Resources from this episode:Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Character Core Values: Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvsThe 5 growth arc phases: Read this free article to learn your hero's psychological arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phasesGrowth arcs vs Fall arcs: Read this free article to learn the difference and decide which path your character needs to be on right now → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/growth-vs-fallProtective Augmentations: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorAuthor Spotlight: Adriana Locke: Visit Adriana Locke’s website and check out her books → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/adrianalockeInterview with 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”More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learnAdriana Locke (author website)Growth vs. Fall ArcsThe 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/ccvsHero “Armor” (Augmentations CCV) - Free article: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorThe 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.The 5 Growth Phases - Free article: The 5 stages of every character arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phasesMore 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.
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    34 mins
  • The Emotional Mask Your Scene Is Wearing | 12

    The Emotional Mask Your Scene Is Wearing | 12
    Mar 21 2026

    If you've got a scene that should feel gut-wrenching, but it reads more like a shrug, the problem probably isn't your writing. In episode 12, I'm walking you through what happens when a scene looks emotional on the surface but isn't connected to what your hero is really going through underneath.

    You'll learn:

    1. Why a scene can make you cry while you're writing it and still fall flat for readers
    2. How to tell whether your hero's big moment is doing real character work or just wearing a plot disguise
    3. What a bestselling romance novel reveals about the difference between caretaking as love language and caretaking as self-protection
    4. The one question to ask any scene that keeps fighting you, before you touch a single word

    This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who keep rewriting scenes that feel almost right but never quite resonate, no matter how many tweaks you make. By the end, you'll know how to spot when a scene is faking emotion so you can stop wrestling with the words and start asking what the scene actually needs to do.

    Resources from this episode:

    1. Live workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (March 27, 2026) → hi.suebrownmoore.com/cake
    2. Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
    3. The Character Core Values: Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvs
    4. Spotlight author: CP Rider, urban fantasy romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/cprider
    5. Spotlight author: Lauren Blakely, contemporary romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/laurenblakely
    6. More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

    • 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/ccvs
    • Lauren Blakely (author website) - Learn more about Lauren Blakely, the writer I talked about in this episode, on her author website and check out her witty, heartwarming—and also beautifully narrated—stories about the power of love, friendship and sports.
    • C.P. Rider (author website) - Learn more about C.P. Rider, the writer I talked about in this episode, on her author website and check out her addicting, immersive, wildly unpredictable urban fantasy series.
    • 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.
    • Get your ticket - Join Sue for the live workshop, Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method on March 27, 2026
    • 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.
    Show more Show less
    21 mins
  • The Draft That Didn't Fight Back | 11

    The Draft That Didn't Fight Back | 11
    Mar 18 2026

    If you've been making story decisions from anxiety instead of confidence, this episode is going to feel like a deep breath. Because the confidence you want isn't about doing everything right. It's about knowing why you're making each choice so you can make the best ones. In episode 11, I'm walking you through what that feels like in practice, with real stories from writers learned to trust their storytelling instincts.

    You'll learn:

    1. Why every story decision romance writers make feels heavier than it should
    2. What happened when a writer realized the conflict she kept rewriting wasn't the real conflict at all
    3. How a D&D interview about childhood bullying shows us how to write romance characters readers believe in
    4. The revealing exercise you can try on your own manuscript this week

    This 24-minute episode is for romance writers who keep going back and forth on story decisions because you're not sure what your story actually needs. By the end, you'll understand where that second-guessing comes from and what it feels like to start making revision (and drafting!) decisions you trust.

    Resources from this episode:

    1. Live workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (March 27, 2026) → hi.suebrownmoore.com/cake
    2. Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
    3. Hero growth arcs: The 5 phases every hero needs → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
    4. Hero “Armor”: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armor
    5. Brennan Lee Mulligan: Hear his bullying story yourself → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/meetbrennan
    6. More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

    • Hero “Armor” (Augmentations CCV) - Free article: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armor
    • 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.
    • Get your ticket - Join Sue for the live workshop, Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method on March 27, 2026
    • The 5 Growth Phases - Free article: The 5 stages of every character arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
    • 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.
    Show more Show less
    25 mins
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