Story Sorcery®

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

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:30:00 -0600

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 it
The four types of protective behaviors ("Augmentations": Armor, Shield, Mask, and Flair) and how each one shows up differently in your scenes
How to trace a hero's protective behavior back to the Wound underneath, using an example from a published romance book
What 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-experts
The Character Core Values: Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvs
The 5 growth arc phases: Read this free article to learn your hero's psychological arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
Growth 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-fall
Protective Augmentations: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armor
Author Spotlight: Adriana Locke: Visit Adriana Locke’s website and check out her books → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/adrianalocke
Interview 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

Adriana Locke (author website)
Growth vs. Fall Arcs
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
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.
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.

The Emotional Mask Your Scene Is Wearing | 12

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

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 readers
How to tell whether your hero's big moment is doing real character work or just wearing a plot disguise
What a bestselling romance novel reveals about the difference between caretaking as love language and caretaking as self-protection
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:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
The Character Core Values: Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvs
Spotlight author: CP Rider, urban fantasy romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/cprider
Spotlight author: Lauren Blakely, contemporary romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/laurenblakely
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.
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.

The Draft That Didn't Fight Back | 11

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

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:

Why every story decision romance writers make feels heavier than it should
What happened when a writer realized the conflict she kept rewriting wasn't the real conflict at all
How a D&D interview about childhood bullying shows us how to write romance characters readers believe in
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:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
Hero growth arcs: The 5 phases every hero needs → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
Hero “Armor”: The 4 types of hero defenses that affect your story’s scenes → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/armor
Brennan Lee Mulligan: Hear his bullying story yourself → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/meetbrennan
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.
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.

What Writer's Block Really Means | 10

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

You had two free hours to write, and instead you reorganized your Trello board. You love this story. You chose it. So why won't your brain let you work on it? In episode 10, I'm breaking down why romance writers get stuck, what your block is actually responding to, plus how one writer's story block disappeared when she swapped a single word in her heroine's Root Fear.

You'll learn:

Why "butt in chair, just write" advice fails most romance writers
Three completely different types of creative blocks that show up in romance manuscripts, each needing a different fix
What happened when a writer in my group sessions replaced "fear of failure" with something deeper (and why that depth matters so much in romance books)
An exercise you can try this week with three questions to help you figure out what your own resistance is about

This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who keep blaming yourself for being lazy or unfocused when the real issue has nothing to do with discipline. By the end, you'll understand why your brain keeps hitting the brakes on your manuscript and have an intuitive way to start working with through resistance instead of against it.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
Liar, Liar, Plot on Fire: Take the workshop where Hollie learned the 5 growth arc phases → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/liar-liar
The 5 growth arc phases: Read this free article to learn your hero's psychological arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
The Root Fear: Read this free article on the Root Fear for your hero → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
Spotlight author: Hollie Smurthwaite: Visit Hollie's website and check out her books → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/holliesmurthwaite

Hollie Smurthwaite (author website) - Learn more about Hollie Smurthwaite, the writer I talked about in this episode, on her author website and check out her funny, witty romance book style.
Liar, Liar, Plot on Fire - Learn about my workshop course and the 5 questions to diagnose plot problems → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/liar-liar
The Root Fear explained (CCV) - Free article: The hero trait that anchors your entire story → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/root-fear
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-phases

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

The Revision Shortcut Hiding in Plain Sight | 9

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

Revision isn't slow because you're a slow writer. It's slow because you're fixing symptoms instead of causes. In episode 9, I'm showing you what that actually costs you in real publishing time, and what one focused week of looking at the right thing can replace.

You'll learn:

Why each revision pass feels like progress but adds weeks to your timeline without solving anything
How editing any of the four layers of a romance manuscript creates a compounding ripple effect when you fix one without understanding what it touches
What a one-week diagnostic read can replace compared to four or five full passes (with actual math)
The three questions to ask about any problem scene before you rewrite a single word

This 17-minute episode is for romance writers who keep telling yourself "just one more pass" and are several passes in with nothing to show for it. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look at in the scene that won't cooperate, and why that's probably not even the scene that needs fixing.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.

Why Pantsing Your Revision Keeps You Stuck | 8

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

If you draft by instinct but dread the revision process, this episode will show you why. The problem isn't that you're an intuitive writer. In episode 8, I'm showing you why the way you draft and the way you revise need to use two completely different parts of your brain, and how that mode switch actually protects your creative voice instead of threatening it.

You'll learn:

Why your intuition is brilliant at creation but genuinely can't diagnose what's wrong with your story
What you're actually protecting when story structure feels like a threat to your creative identity
The difference between writer mode and editor mode, and why switching between them doesn't require any planning or outlining
How developing analytical revision skills makes your intuitive first drafts stronger over time

This 16-minute episode is for romance writers who resist story structuring techniques because you're afraid it will silence your muse or sap the joy out of writing. By the end, you'll know how to test any scene from a book you love with a simple one-question exercise, so you can see for yourself how powerful this "mode switch" can be.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.
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.

Writing to Market Won't Fix Your Career | 7

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

If you've been eyeing romantasy or hockey romance or whatever's blowing up on BookTok right now and wondering if you should pivot, this episode will save you months of second-guessing. Because the conflict you're feeling isn't about making more book sales. In episode 7, I'm breaking down why certain trends blow up, what readers are really craving beneath the surface elements, and how to figure out whether a hot niche genuinely fits your writing or if FOMO is calling the shots.

You'll learn:

Why Fifty Shades of Grey didn't succeed because of BDSM, and what readers were actually hungry for
The difference between copying a trend's surface elements (legendary heroes, fae politics, hockey rivalries) and understanding the emotional core that makes it work
How to tell whether you'd be writing for an audience you don't understand, before you spend six months finding out the hard way
A set of honest questions to evaluate whether any given niche fits your author brand and loyal readers

This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who feel pressured to chase the hottest new trend but aren't sure if a pivot is smart or just fear talking. By the end, you'll understand what actually drives mega-success, and you'll have an exercise to make that "Should I write this?" decision with confidence instead of from FOMO.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.

Why Beat Guides Leave Your Romance Feeling Flat | 6

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

If you've checked off every beat in Romancing the Beat or plugged your word count into a spreadsheet formula and your story still doesn't feel right, you're not doing it wrong. The tool just can't show you what's missing. In episode 6, I'm walking you through why those guides give you the what and the when, but not the why behind each storytelling choice, and what that gap that costs your manuscript.

You'll learn:

Why a romance that hits every beat in the right order can still feel flat and formulaic to readers
How each beat in phase one of Romancing the Beat actually lives on a different storytelling layer (and why understanding where is ultra-important to understand)
The difference between a beat that's doing one job and a beat that's pulling double or triple duty across your story layer cake (+ what that looks like in the story structure)
Why beat sheet spreadsheets built on Hero's Journey structure create a unique set of problems for romance writers

This 24-minute episode is for romance writers who have followed a beat guide or spreadsheet formula and just can't figure out why your story doesn't land emotionally. By the end, you'll understand what those guides were never built to teach you, and you'll have an exercise to start seeing which layers your beats are actually working on.

Resources from this episode:

Free article: The 5 stages of every character arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/romancingthebeat
Jami Gold's beat sheets → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/jamigold-worksheets
More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes - Get your copy of the romance-writing craft book Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes on Amazon.
Jami Gold's worksheets - Learn more about the (many!) worksheets for writers by Jami Gold on her website.
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.

When Feedback Makes Everything Worse | 5

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

More feedback won't solve your manuscript problems. In fact, it usually makes things worse. In episode 5, I'm showing you why conflicting critiques leave you more confused and what actually has to change before any of that feedback you've been collecting is actually usable.

You'll learn:

Why three readers can give you three completely different diagnoses of the same manuscript
How feedback dependency trains you to second-guess every storytelling decision you make
The difference between symptom-level reader reactions vs the actual story problem underneath
What you're really asking for when you send your manuscript out for critique (Hint: it's probably not feedback)

This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who keep collecting opinions hoping someone will finally tell you what's wrong with your story. By the end, you'll see why no amount of external feedback can replace the one skill that makes all critiques useful, and you'll have a gut-check exercise to start building your confidence.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.

The Rewrite Loop You Can't Escape | 4

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0600

If you're stuck rewriting the same manuscript—or parts of it—over and over, this episode is for you. Because the problem isn't your writing. In episode 4, I'm breaking down why endless rewrites never get you closer to "done" and what skill you're actually missing.

You'll learn:

Why rewriting without diagnosing is like fixing a car by randomly swapping parts
The three costs of the rewrite loop that go way beyond lost time
How surface-level fixes (dialogue tweaks, pacing cuts, added backstory) only treat symptoms instead of causes
The detective-eye exercise that can start breaking this cycle today

This 18-minute episode is for romance writers who keep rewriting the same manuscript without knowing if it's getting better or just different. By the end, you'll understand why this cycle has nothing to do with your writing ability, and what to do instead of rewriting blind.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.

What Book Reviews Really Tell You About Your Story | 3

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0600

Book reviews aren't personal attacks. They're diagnostic data. In episode 3, I'm showing you how to decode what readers really mean when they say "the romance was meh" or "the pacing was off".

You'll learn:

Why wildly different reactions to the same book reveal story layer misalignment, not just reader preferences
What "the pacing was off" actually means about your character growth arc and trope beats
How to use 4-star and 2-star reviews to diagnose which story layers need work
The reviewer technique that separates what readers SAY from what they actually MEAN

This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who are scared of reading your own reviews or don't know how to spin negative feedback positively.

By the end, you'll have a diagnostic framework for decoding reviews so you can spot fixable patterns instead of taking criticism personally.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.

Why Revision Advice Fails Romance Writers | 2

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:30:00 -0600

Most revision advice tells you what to fix. But what if you're fixing the wrong things?

In episode 2, I'm explaining why writing & revision techniques can't solve character growth problems, and introducing the skill you actually need instead.

You'll learn:

Why most writing & revision advice can't solve what's fundamentally broken in your manuscript (and what to focus on instead)
The difference between fixing surface symptoms and diagnosing the root story problem in your romance book
How stories are built in four layers (and why one in particular has to work before anything else in your story can)
What it looks like when your romance arc is misaligned with this ultra-important story layer
Why readers can feel what's wrong in a story (and why even beta readers can't always name it)
The movie-watching exercise that trains your brain to spot growth moments in any story

This 25-minute episode is for romance writers stuck in endless rewrites without knowing what's actually broken.

By the end, you'll understand why "seeing" the heart of your story matters more than collecting more techniques. And you'll have a practical exercise to start training that diagnostic skill today.

Resources from this episode:

The 5 growth arc phases: Read this free article to learn your hero's psychological arc → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/5-phases
Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.
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.

Why I Only Work With Romance Writers | 1

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0600

Romance writers do more than entertain. They reshape how society views autonomy and love. But why is the genre still dismissed as "formulaic"?

In episode 1, I'm explaining why I only work with romance writers. Not women's fiction with a love story. Not fantasy with a romantic subplot. Full-on Happily Ever After romance.

You'll learn:

Why the relationship must be the CAUSE of your character's growth (not just a witness to it or a reward for it)
The one question that reveals if you're writing romance or romantic elements in a different genre
What's actually broken when readers say they "didn't feel it" but you've written all the right trope beats
How forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and second chance romance all use the relationship as the engine for change
Why you can diagnose what's broken in your manuscript without paying big edit fees

This 16-minute episode is for romance writers who are tired of defending their genre.

By the end, you'll understand why romance asks more of you than most writers will ever face. And you'll have a quick way to check if your manuscript is delivering on the reader promise of romantic fiction.

Resources from this episode:

Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
More 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.