Narrative Rebellion

Margaret McNellis

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Fiction

We talk about narrative rebellion in books, tv shows, movies, and real life. Every story benefits from narrative rebellion; come be a rebel with us. mcnelliswrites.substack.com

Sep 30

How do you write narrative rebellion in kid lit?

Any time I have any questions about kid lit, my go-to person is Sara Gentry. She’s so knowledgeable and brings a unique mix of logic and empathy that every kid lit writer can benefit from. In this special episode of Narrative Rebellion, Sara and I talk about the types of subversion writers weave into kid lit, important things to keep in mind when marketing and selling subversive kid lit, and more. And we joke about assigning you the task of writing a time-travel story about a basket weaver. (Though you totally can take us seriously if you want!) A bit about Sara: Sara Gentry is a Math Ph.D. turned Author Accelerator certified book coach who serves fiction, memoir, and nonfiction writers. She has a knack for integrating the creative and analytical, making her an ideal ally for writers who have a strong voice but need support structuring their awesome ideas into commercially viable books. Connect with Sara Website: solutionsforwriters.com Instagram: writewithsara (https://www.instagram.com/writewithsara/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solutionsforwriters Note: This episode marks the end of season 1. Thanks for tuning in! I’ll keep you posted on when season 2 will begin. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Sep 23

What happens when the only way a character can claim agency is through manipulating others?

Picture this: You’re the daughter of the Pope of Rome in late 1400s Italy, and all you want is to be loved — genuinely loved — for who you are. In order to get what you need, you have got to carve out space to claim your agency. And sometimes? The only way to do that is through the manipulation of others. You’ve got beauty, charm, and wit on your side… but little else to save you from being more than a pawn on the chessboard of Renaissance politics. What would you do, to claim an ounce of happiness? This is exactly what we’re diving into when we look at Lucrezia Borgia’s story in the show The Borgias. Warning: There are spoilers. If you haven’t watched the show yet, #sorrynotsorry because it’s been out for years. But, this episode will definitely spoil for you what happens with Lucrezia’s characters — and some of the others on the show as well. Thanks for reading Narrative Rebellion with Margaret McNellis! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Your Assignment, Should You Choose to Accept It This week, I’m inviting you to write a character similar to Lucrezia in that this character must gain agency through manipulating or controlling others, because it’s the only path open to them. That always comes with a cost, doesn’t it? For Lucrezia, it’s her innocence, and with it, her happiness. What will be the cost for your character? Write a scene (500-1,000 words) involving your character using agency the only way they can — through others. And, if you want to step into the Narrative Rebellion Lab and take that character from scene to novel, get the deets here: https://www.getabookcoach.com/coaching. Thanks for reading Narrative Rebellion with Margaret McNellis! This post is public so feel free to share it. Want to Catch up on This Series? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Sep 16

Discussion: What Should You Do When You Get Stuck Outlining?

This week, host Margaret McNellis presents a Discussion episode that answers the question What do I do if I’m outlining and my outline goes in a different direction and I get stuck? This can happen to writers in any genre. It’s so common, and Margaret introduces — in less than ten minutes — three paths forward. Thanks for reading Narrative Rebellion with Margaret McNellis! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. In This Episode, We Cover: * How to Discover Your Motivation: How step 1 of Jennie Nash’s Blueprint for a Book can provide deep understanding of you, the writer, as well as your reader and the story that will bridge the two while also stimulating motivation * Gaining a Bird’s Eye View of Your Story: How the Mini Blueprint — and specifically the Subversive Novel Mini Blueprint — can help you see your story from multiple angles for a fresh look at its major components * Understanding the Power Structures that Infuse Your Story with Opportunities for Narrative Drive: How the Sovereign World-Building Game can reintroduce some fun into your writing process while prompting you through creating the type of power structure(s) — and subversive opportunities — that keep your story moving ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercises See your story through a different lens and find motivation to get back to crafting with these exercises (you can do them in any order, but this is the order in which they’re discussed in this episode). * Your Why: Write a 1-page, single-spaced deep dive into why you are writing this book, why you’re the person to write it, and why it matters to you now * The Subversive Novel Mini Blueprint: Download the document here to soar above your story and see the forest and the trees (you’ll need to make a copy or download it to fill it in) * The Sovereign World-Building Game: Download the game here to play or subscribe to my Substack if you want the version that includes the free consultation afterward! Connect & Resources * Narrative Rebellion Lab: Working on a novel and need structured guidance? Learn more about the Lab at getabookcoach.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Sep 9

Deep Dive: Ground Zero Documents, Systems of Power, and the Lies Institutions Tell

This week, host Margaret McNellis presents a Deep Dive episode exploring real-world power structures and the systemic lies that institutions perpetuate to protect their image and minimize liability. Sparked by the recent release of approximately 170,000 documents surrounding environmental safety claims after 9/11, Margaret breaks down how authority figures handle truth, risk, and control, and how subversive fiction writers can translate these complex institutional dynamics into compelling stories. Thanks for reading Narrative Rebellion with Margaret McNellis! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. In This Episode, We Cover: * Institutional Self-Preservation: How power structures prioritize avoiding liability, optics, and economic stability over public safety and honest communication. * The Complexity of Historic Figures: Examining the dual sides of historical figures and system leaders—from Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson to modern municipal leaders—without falling into simplistic “mustache-twirling villain” tropes. * Myth-Making and Power: How institutional myths take on a life of their own, growing increasingly oppressive or suppressive as systems work to prevent the truth from surfacing. * Money as the Marker of Power: Why modern and near-future speculative fiction often centers on commercial interests over human cost, and how to identify equivalent markers of power in alternative settings. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Examine the systemic falsehoods driving your narrative world. Choose at least one central lie that an entity holding power in your story is clinging to. * The Medium: Map this out using bullet points, a mind map, a spreadsheet, or a storyboard… or whatever works for you! * The Exploration: Detail why the entity lied in the first place and why they continue to protect the lie. * The Stakes: Determine what happens to the power structure if the truth comes out, and what happens to the populace if the lie persists. Connect & Resources * Narrative Rebellion Lab: Working on a novel and need structured guidance? Learn more about the Lab at getabookcoach.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Sep 2

Dissecting Cesare Borgia: Agency, Power, and the Tragic Search for Belonging

This week, host Margaret McNellis continues the dissection series on The Borgias with a deep dive into the compelling, dark, and deeply tragic character of Cesare Borgia. Sitting within rigid Renaissance power structures, Cesare resorts to subterfuge, force, and political opportunism to claim his own agency, yet discovers that total control cannot fill the void of missing love. Margaret breaks down how writers can craft deeply flawed, dangerous antiheroes who push against systems while remaining tragic and human. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Need to play catch-up? Here’s the first episode of this series, about Cesare’s father, Rodrigo: In This Episode, We Cover: * Agency Within Rigid Structures: How Cesare navigates forced papal obligations, paternal control, and rivalries by finding indirect ways to rebel and assert authority. * The Tools of Subversion: How character agency manifests through varied strategies from spy networks and military maneuvering to seduction and pure force. * The Illusion of Fulfillment through Power: Why political ambition acts as a chasing of highs, leaving characters with safety or dominance but empty of genuine happiness and love. * Inspiration for The Prince: How Cesare’s dual paths, obedient son versus ruthless political opportunist, shaped classic power dynamics and antihero archetypes. * Humanizing Despicable Characters: How deep personal wounds, maternal tenderness, and conditional family love ground even the most ruthless figures for an audience. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Create a character who does truly despicable things—someone you wouldn’t want to spend time with in real life—but whose primary goal is nearly impossible to attain. * The Dilemma: Place them between a rock and a hard place where neither choice is ideal. * The Exercise: Map out both potential paths using a mind map or bullet points (limiting each path to just one page). * The Question: Explore what happens along each path. Do they get what they want? At what cost, or do they pay the ultimate price without ever getting what they actually need? Connect & Resources * Work 1-on-1: Ready to make your story sing? Visit getabookcoach.com today to learn more about coaching options. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Aug 25

Introducing the Narrative Rebellion Lab + An Exercise for Subversive Subtext

This week, host Margaret McNellis brings a special bonus check-in episode to unpack key takeaways from the WorldShift Conference, share exciting schedule changes coming to the podcast, and introduce her new coaching container, plus a writing exercise. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In This Episode, We Cover: * AI and the Creative Process: Insights from the World Shift Conference Q&A regarding generative AI in writing and why keeping human connection central to storytelling matters. * New Podcast Schedule: A breakdown of the new monthly lineup starting next month, featuring media dissections, era breakdowns, Q&A discussion episodes, and exclusive paid subscriber craft deep dives. * Introducing the Narrative Rebellion Lab: Details on Margaret’s three-month coaching container designed for planning, drafting, or revising with weekly feedback and group support. * Subversive Craft & Accountability: How a hybrid of group and direct coaching helps writers overcome blocks, resist shiny object syndrome, and refine their stories. ✍️ This Week’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Write a 500-word scene containing only dialogue between two characters. * The Constraint: Use dialogue tags only at the very beginning to establish who is speaking, then alternate dialogue with no prose, exposition, or additional tags. * The Goal: Focus on conveying subtext and theme entirely through what the characters say to each other. Connect & Resources * Narrative Rebellion Lab: Ready to make your story sing? Learn more about the Lab and claim one of the available coaching spots at getabookcoach.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Aug 18

The Humanity of Villains: Dissecting Rodrigo Borgia in The Borgias

This week, host Margaret McNellis kicks off a new dissection series focused on the hit show The Borgias. How do characters sitting at the very peak of a system navigate the rigid power structures around them? Margaret explores the complex agency of Rodrigo Borgia, breaking down how storytellers can write compelling, dynamic, and surprisingly human “villains” who subvert the very systems they aim to control. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In This Episode, We Cover: * The Complexity of Ambition: How The Borgias frames Rodrigo Borgia not as a mustache-twirling villain, but as a deeply human character whose fierce ambition drives both corrupt choices and efforts that genuinely benefit the populace. * Subverting the Papal Conclave: How Rodrigo uses his agency, wealth, and behind-the-scenes bribery to bypass rigid systemic rules and secure the papacy despite heavy opposition. * Identity and Power Structures: The inherent friction Rodrigo faces as a Spanish Pope navigating systemic bias, xenophobia, and hostile noble families in Renaissance Italy. * The Illusion of Absolute Power: Why sitting at the top of a power structure doesn’t mean having total control, and how political chess games force leaders to constantly manage rival factions. * Flawed Characters and Justified Motives: How giving complex characters a personal philosophy or belief that they are acting for the “greater good” grounds their actions for the audience. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Map your antagonist’s or antihero’s agency and humanity. What moments will their walls come down to reveal the humanness (whether or not they are human) beneath? If you’ve seen The Borgias, think back to the scene when Cesare finds out his father is holding all the sulfur. How does his son, as his foil, allow Rodrigo to see himself clearly in that moment? Connect & Resources * Play the Free Game & Claim Your Mini-Coaching Session: Map your power structures quickly at getabookcoach.com. Complete the Sovereign World-Building Game to unlock a free mini-session. * Work 1-on-1: Ready to make your story sing? Visit getabookcoach.com today to learn about Pocket Book Coach. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Aug 11

Pantsing Power Structures: Do You Really Need to Plan Your Subversive Arcs?

Welcome to the first discussion-format episode of Narrative Rebellion! This week, host Margaret McNellis tackles a critical mindset and process question: If you identify as a “pantser,” do you still need to outline your story’s power structures and subversive elements before you start writing? The short answer is no—but a little bit of lightweight foundation can save you a massive headache in revision. Margaret breaks down how to balance structural planning with the creative pull of the blank page, why over-planning can trick your brain into thinking a story is already finished, and how to utilize scalable world-building tools without losing the joy of discovery. In This Episode, We Cover: * The “Plantser” Evolution: How Margaret shifted from pure pantsing to “plantsing” (a hybrid of pantsing and planning) to manage research rabbit holes for historical fiction. * Protecting Your Momentum: Why over-planning a story can inadvertently kill your drive to draft by making your brain feel like the problem is already solved. * The Revision Reality Check: Acknowledging that the total time spent writing a book usually balances out; pantsers simply shift their heavy lifting from the pre-drafting phase to the revision phase. * Scalable Story Tools: How resources like the Subversive Novel Mini Blueprint can be used flexibly—whether before drafting, when stuck in the “muddy middle,” or during the revision stage. * Body vs. Soul: A quick tease of an upcoming course examining how structural subversive arcs act as the “soul” of a story, while the act of writing provides the immersive “body.” ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Keep your momentum going with a low-friction foundation: Play the Sovereign World-Building Game. You can also get it by subscribing for free: It takes only about 15 minutes per power structure, gives you just enough foundation to understand the dynamics your characters are facing, and leaves plenty of open doors so you don’t kill your drive to draft. Connect & Resources * Play the Free Game: Map your power structures quickly at getabookcoach.com. * Grab the Subversive Novel Mini Blueprint: A lightweight, one-page tool to organize your thoughts without over-planning. You can “grab” it by getting coached or attending Margaret’s talk at this year’s WorldShift Conference! * Claim Your Mini-Coaching Session: Complete the Sovereign World-Building Game to unlock a free mini-session. * Work 1-on-1: Ready to make your story sing? Visit getabookcoach.com today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Aug 4

Micro-Power Dynamics: Why the Smallest Subversions Carry the Highest Stakes

Welcome to the first official Deep Dive episode of Narrative Rebellion! Host Margaret McNellis steps into the past to examine micro-power structures, using the household of the Italian Renaissance as a prime historical case study. While historical pop culture often paints Renaissance men as absolute rulers, real domestic power was far more nuanced, fluid, and conditional. In this episode, Margaret breaks down how class, seasonal work, gender expectations, and domestic hierarchies dictated who held power under what circumstances—and why every act of rebellion carries physical, financial, and social costs. Whether you write historical fiction, speculative worlds, or contemporary stories, this episode unpacks how to build small-scale power dynamics that generate massive story friction. In This Episode, Margaret Covers: * The Reality of Micro-Power Structures: Understanding that power isn’t just found in national coups; it lives in households, workplaces, and daily relationships. * The Renaissance Household Dynamics: How wives, mothers, children, and servants navigated authority beneath the male head of household. * Seasonal & Class Shifts in Power: How peasant families experienced entirely different power dynamics during harvest seasons when men worked away from home. * The Hidden Risks of Subversion: Exploring the real physical, economic, and social consequences characters faced when stepping outside societal or domestic expectations. * Subversive Power Moves: From young brides finding agency to servants using domestic access (and poison) to check an oppressive authority. * The “Snapback” Principle: Why a power structure must answer back when subverted—otherwise, story stakes collapse. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Map out the micro-power structures in your own story’s foundational unit (family, found family, household, or unit): * Identify the Power Structure: What is the smallest unit of power currently affecting your protagonist? * Examine the “Why”: Why does this power structure exist, and who actually holds the leverage? * Draft the Subversion: How can your protagonist attempt to subvert or defy this hierarchy? * Determine the Consequences: What is the immediate pushback or penalty (financial, physical, emotional, or social) when they do? Connect & Resources * Build Your World’s Systems: Play The Sovereign World-Building Game for free: * Join the Community: Leave a comment on Substack sharing the smallest power dynamic currently causing friction in your manuscript! * Work 1-on-1: Ready to tighten your manuscript’s structure and stakes? Visit getabookcoach.com today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Jul 28

Antagonist Motivation & The "Mustache-Twirler" Trap (Heroes Reborn)

Welcome to the very first Dissection Episode of Narrative Rebellion! Host Margaret McNellis dives into the limited sci-fi series Heroes Reborn to analyze its primary antagonist, Erica Kravid (CEO of Renatas). While the series presents a high-stakes, civilization-saving premise involving solar flares and eugenics-driven future cities, it stumbles into a major craft trap: revealing the antagonist’s human motivations too late in the story. In this episode, Margaret breaks down why delaying villain backstories flattens complex characters into “mustache twirlers,” how human inconsistencies make antagonists compelling, and how to avoid these missed opportunities in your own fiction. In This Episode, We Cover: * Why Heroes Reborn over Heroes? How analyzing a single-season story with a unified antagonist offers a cleaner craft study than multi-season sagas. * The Savior/Eugenics Dynamic: Breaking down Renatas CEO Erica Kravid’s plan to extract “evo” powers to seed a selective future human race. * The Late Backstory Trap: Why waiting until the final episodes to humanize your baddie destroys narrative drive and leaves motivations feeling “tacked on”. * Human Inconsistencies: Understanding how real humans hold conflicting beliefs (like rejecting evos while accepting an evo grandchild)—and how to weave those into a character arc without muddying their drive. * Antagonists as Heroes: Why every villain is the hero of their own story, and why the author must know their backstory even if it doesn’t all hit the page. * Natural Forces vs. Human Villains: A quick look at non-human antagonists (like Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii Out of Time) and where human friction fits when nature is the threat. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Exercise Make your antagonist the star of their own story: * If your antagonist is a character: Spend 5 to 10 pages writing out their backstory. Map out everything that happened to them, what feeds their motivation, and any human inconsistencies in their logic. * If your antagonist is a natural force or system (e.g., a volcano or disease): Head to getabookcoach.com to play The Sovereign World-Building Game for free. Identify the power structure surrounding that force, pick a key figure benefitting from or operating within that system, and write their 5-to-10-page background. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Connect & Resources * Play The Free Game: Build your story’s power dynamics with The Sovereign World-Building Game at getabookcoach.com. * Join the Discussion: Leave a comment on Substack sharing your antagonist’s core motivation or human inconsistency! * Work 1-on-1: Ready to make your story sing? Visit getabookcoach.com today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com
Jul 21

Beyond Belonging: Unlocking Subversive Story Architecture with Margaret McNellis

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Narrative Rebellion! Host Margaret McNellis—author, book coach, and structural strategist—shares the origin story behind the show and how two decades of writing and coaching led to a single game-changing realization: Your protagonist doesn’t just want to belong. They want to subvert the power structure so they can belong without losing their agency. In this kickoff episode, Margaret breaks down how power structures, status quo friction, and protagonist agency create true narrative drive from page one to the end. She also outlines the three distinct episode formats you can expect, with an episode dropping each week Tuesday/Wednesday, and leaves you with your very first micro-writing prompt. This Episode Covers: The Evolution of a Theme: How 20+ years of writing (from zombie fiction to historical fiction) led Margaret to the core of subversive storytelling. The “Belonging” Trap: Why chasing pure “belonging” can lead to a hivemind, and how protagonist agency creates real story friction. Deep Truth vs. Narrative Drive: Why excavating a story’s truth isn’t enough on its own—and how power dynamics provide the structural engine to get your manuscript finished. The 3 Narrative Rebellion Episode Formats: The Dissection: Media analysis breaking down real-world power mechanics in well-known books, shows, movies, and games. The Deep Dive: Historical breakdowns providing speculative and historical writers with rich world-building scaffolding. The Discussion: Listener Q&A episodes answering your questions about structure, agency, and craft. ✍️ Today’s Action Step / Writing Prompt Think about a story you are currently writing (or a past manuscript/favorite story): Identify the core power structure: Is it an oppressive regime, a religious institution, a tight-knit family/community, a magical hierarchy, or an ongoing war, for example? Define the status quo: What specific constraints is this system placing on your protagonist right now? Check your antagonist: Is their reasoning tied to protecting that system, or are they defaulting to a “mustache-twirling” caricature? Share your answers in the Substack comments or hit reply to join the conversation! Connect & Resources Test Your Story Scaffold: Play The Sovereign World-Building Game for free on my homepage. Submit a Question: Tag Margaret on Substack or drop a comment on this post to have your craft question answered on a future Discussion episode. Work 1-on-1: Ready to make your story sing? Visit getabookcoach.com today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow subversive storyteller! Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mcnelliswrites.substack.com

11 Episodes

We talk about narrative rebellion in books, tv shows, movies, and real life. Every story benefits from narrative rebellion; come be a rebel with us. mcnelliswrites.substack.com

Creator

Margaret McNellis
Years Active

2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Margaret McNellis
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Narrative Rebellion

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