Story Sorcery®

Sue Brown-Moore
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Education

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.

  1. Sep 5

    The Friends-To-Lovers Fix

    There are three different types of personal conflict your romance book can showcase between your lead characters. And you might be accidentally making important decisions about your PLOT. Because if you don't give EACH of these three types its own unique external hook, your story might feel flat through the middle. Inside, I share an example of one of these romance arc types—straight from a published book!—and how understanding the character push-pull it creates can prevent a saggy middle plot problem in a Friends-To-Lovers story. Then, I explain what each of the three relationship conflicts is and how to hook them into the external plot in a romance manuscript. SPOILER WARNING: This episode reveals major moments in the book Hot Axe by May Archer. So if you hate spoilers and love reading May Archer, go buy Hot Axe first. You'll learn: Why each of your leads is determined to stay just friends, and why neither one will make a move without plot helpThree different ways their self-protections can enable and conflict with one another, and how each one needs a different type of external event to earn the HEAHow to use the Friends-To-Lovers example from a real book to map out what your own lovers need in their story (even if you're writing a different trope!)Two super simple do-it-yourself questions that will test whether your romance arc is stuck in a rut mid-manuscript This 35-minute episode is for romance writers who can feel that something is off with your story even though all the romance beats hit just where they should. By the end, you'll learn a new technique for diagnosing where the problem might be by asking two deceptively deep questions that can inspire the right fix for your own manuscript today. Resources from this episode: The Protection Pattern exercise (module inside Enemies To Experts) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Turning Point Plot Milestone: Read this free article on the two-step framework for setting up a story arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/plot-milestonesAugmentations intro: This article introduces 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorFlair examples: Read about how two different “big personality” characters break under pressure → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/flairLive Workshop: Write Without Resistance: Book this live workshop with Sue to learn how to identify and gently redirect the four types of emotional self-protections that show up as creative resistance, so you can write with more consistency, confidence, and joy. → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/wwrliveWorkshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (replay inside E2E) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsCommunity: Join Enemies To Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsAuthor Spotlight: May Archer: Visit May Archer’s website and check out her books → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/mayarcherMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn May Archer (author website)Write Without Resistance: Book your group’s private workshop with SuePlot Milestones: The Opportunity & Turning PointFlair comparisons: Star-Lord vs Illium (Augmentation CCV)Hero “Armor” (Augmentations CCV) - Free article: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armorEnemies 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.

  2. Aug 15

    The Muddy Middle

    Your hero can sob and scream and lose everything, and that scene might be the weakest moment in your entire story. Because big emotion doesn't necessarily make a scene better. In episode 18, I'm sharing my pro tip for diagnosing a boring, lifeless middle section of a romance book manuscript. SPOILER WARNING: This episode reveals major moments in the book Hot Axe by May Archer. So if you hate spoilers and love reading May Archer, go buy Hot Axe first. EPISODE UPDATED ON 8/24/26 (If you listened before this date, know that I've updated some of the details about the example story, Hot Axe, that were incorrect in the initial version.) You'll learn: Why a big, flashy scene may not be the answer to a flagging midsectionHow your hero can make the same mistake over and over and still keep the story's energy flowing (there's one condition)What happens when you "James Bond" your romance plot, and why that's a mistake that can lead to critical story problemsThe pair of two ultra-important decision moments that can make or break your hero's journey (with an example from a published romance book) This 30-minute episode is for romance writers who are struggling with a laggy Act 2 in your maunscript and just can't seem to figure out what the heck is going wrong. By the end, you'll learn what specific scene element to look for to diagnose that messy middy and an insider trick to try on your own manuscript today. Resources from this episode: The Root Fear Factor Replay Vault: The workshop that walks you through how to find the ultra-important Root Fear that drives your hero’s journey → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/RFF-courseLiar, Liar, Plot on Fire: Take the workshop where I explain the 5 growth arc phases and demo an offset hero growth arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/liar-liarWorkshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (replay inside E2E) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Fear Fingerprint exercise (module inside Enemies To Experts) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Turning Point Plot Milestone: Read this free article on the two-step framework for setting up a story arc → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/plot-milestonesThe Root Fear (CCV): Read this free article on the hero trait that anchors your entire story → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/root-fearCommunity: Join Enemies To Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsAuthor Spotlight: May Archer: Visit May Archer’s website and check out her books → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/mayarcherMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn The Root Fear Factor Replay VaultMay Archer (author website)Write Without Resistance: Book your group’s private workshop with SuePlot Milestones: The Opportunity & Turning PointLiar, Liar, Plot on Fire - Learn about my workshop course and the 5 questions to diagnose plot problems → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/liar-liarThe 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. Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

  3. Jul 31

    Feed Your Feeling Junkies

    Romance readers know how the book ends before they open it. We're not here for the plot. We care about how that book makes us feel. In episode 17, I'm breaking down the sensations we're actually rereading for, and why your hero's backstory is your best tool for threading those feelings into your prose. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode talks about the childhood loss of a pet. Nothing is graphically depicted, but it is mentioned a few times as part of the example hero's backstory. So if this is a sensitive or triggering topic for you, please take care of yourself while listening. You'll learn: Why romance readers reread a book, and it's not for the plotWhy a five-page character sheet full of facts (her birthday, her coffee order, the ex who wrecked her) still leaves your hero reading two-dimensionalHow a few lines of physical detail can save you from a week of rewrites (with an example)The Swap Test for telling the difference between a "plot" scene and a "story" scene (and why understanding that difference is so important) This 30-minute episode is for romance writers who keep rereading a big scene, feeling like something is missing, and can't put your finger on what. By the end, you'll know how to tell a plot scene from a story scene in your own manuscript, and you'll learn a simple backstory test can help you pinpoint the story "feeling" your readers are craving. Resources from this episode: Workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (replay inside E2E) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Backstory Bridge exercise (module inside Enemies To Experts) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsThe Fear Fingerprint exercise (module inside Enemies To Experts) → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsCommunity: Join Enemies To Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn 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.

  4. Jun 16

    Why They DNF in Chapter One

    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 ofHow "too perfect" heroes in the early chapters become the cardboard characters readers complain about in reviewsThe 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-expertsLive workshop: The 8-Scene Story Setup: Book your group’s private workshop with Sue today! → hi.suebrownmoore.com/8SSSCommunity: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-expertsMore Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learnBrennan 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 SueThe 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.

  5. May 19

    What 'Oh, Hell No!' Promises

    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/learn Plot 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/learn Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

  6. Apr 21

    The Porch Scene

    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 outfit This 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/learn Why 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-phases Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

  7. Apr 7

    Your Hero's Best Trait Might Be Their Biggest Lie

    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 lifting This 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 Flair Augmentation Showdown: How two different “big personality” characters break under pressure → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/flairThe 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/learn Flair comparisons: Star-Lord vs Illium (Augmentation CCV)Adriana 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/learn Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.

  8. Mar 21

    The Emotional Mask Your Scene Is Wearing

    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: Why a scene can make you cry while you're writing it and still fall flat for readersHow to tell whether your hero's big moment is doing real character work or just wearing a plot disguiseWhat a bestselling romance novel reveals about the difference between caretaking as love language and caretaking as self-protectionThe 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: 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/ccvsSpotlight author: CP Rider, urban fantasy romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/cpriderSpotlight author: Lauren Blakely, contemporary romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/laurenblakelyMore 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/ccvsLauren 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.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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5
out of 5
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Sue Brown-Moore
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sue Brown-Moore Ltd
  • Show Website
    Story Sorcery®

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