Skip to main content
The Mommy’s Pen Podcast

The Mommy’s Pen Podcast

By Sue and Nora Campbell

Writer Sue Campbell talks books, stories and story structure with her eleven-year-old daughter, Nora. Great for budding young writers and #kidlit lovers. New episodes every Friday.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

CCLL - Chapter 10: The Rising Tide

The Mommy’s Pen PodcastMar 26, 2020

00:00
15:27
CCLL - Chapter 21: Departures
Apr 07, 202009:09
CCLL - Chapter 20: The Donation
Apr 06, 202009:06
CCLL - Chapter 19: Unfinished Business
Apr 05, 202010:25
CCLL - Chapter 18: The Last Search Party
Apr 03, 202010:13
CCLL - Chapter 17: Ice Cream Interrupted
Apr 03, 202006:02
CCLL - Chapter 16: Anand & Andre
Apr 01, 202005:53
CCLL - Chapter 15: The Garage Sale
Apr 01, 202008:11
CCLL - Chapter 14: The Fundraiser
Mar 31, 202011:49
CCLL - Chapter 13: Martha Gets Fired
Mar 29, 202006:43
CCLL - Chapter 12: The wheelbarrow
Mar 28, 202008:38
CCLL - Chapter 11: The Cat People
Mar 27, 202009:07
CCLL - Chapter 10: The Rising Tide
Mar 26, 202015:27
CCLL - Chapter 9: The Farm Store
Mar 25, 202008:22
CCLL - Chapter 8: The Amusement Park
Mar 24, 202009:08
CCLL - Chapter 7: Posters and a Tarzan Rope
Mar 23, 202008:22
CCLL - Chapter 6: The Search
Mar 22, 202005:32
CCLL - Chapter 5: The Fort
Mar 21, 202010:45
CCLL - Chapter 4: Six Rafters Back
Mar 20, 202010:49
CCLL - Chapter 3: The Closet Door Opens
Mar 19, 202010:57
CCLL - Chapter 2: Sticky Situations
Mar 18, 202009:02
CCLL - Chapter 1: Arrivals
Mar 17, 202012:40
Frozen: Story Structure Analysis

Frozen: Story Structure Analysis

This week we're all nestled in for the extended dance mix of Spring break, along with most of the country. We're breaking down the story structure for the movie Frozen. Nora's even in this one! Because, really, what choice does she have when we are all cooped up together?
Mar 15, 202010:25
Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record

Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record

We're back from hiatus! Almost five-year-old Alma Bea has taken over co-host duties from her almost teenaged sister, Nora. This week, we're looking at the story structure of Book 3 of the Ivy & Bean series: Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record. Contains spoilers!
Mar 01, 202012:03
Jamie Sumner, Author of ROLL WITH IT
Nov 30, 201925:36
Season 8, Episode 3: Award Winning Author Julie Sternberg

Season 8, Episode 3: Award Winning Author Julie Sternberg

This week we interview author Julie Sternberg who's written 8 books for kids of all ages including the wonderful LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE. We talk to Julie about how she became a writer and how she got the idea for her first book and what she does when she doesn't feel like writing.
Nov 14, 201926:01
Season 8, Episode 2: Kristin Glasbergen, Author of the Dragon Canyon Series

Season 8, Episode 2: Kristin Glasbergen, Author of the Dragon Canyon Series

This week we to talk Kristin Glasbergen, a Canadian author who was brilliant enough to mix Lit RPG with Dragons! She writes a middle grade series called Dragon Canyon. The first book is Fire of Four and we learn the story behind it and the help she got from her 12-year-old, dragon-loving daughter.

Oct 31, 201916:20
Season 8, Episode 1: Valerie Francis, Author of Nature Knights

Season 8, Episode 1: Valerie Francis, Author of Nature Knights

This season we're launching a series of interviews with authors of middle grade fiction. First up, Valerie Francis, author of Nature Knights, Crossing the Rubicon, a middle grade fantasy. Valerie Francis is both author and Certified Story Grid Editor. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller.

As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid website. Valerie co-hosts two podcasts for writers. The first, The Story Grid Editor Roundtable, is focused on the craft of writing. Each week Valerie, along with four fellow Certified Story Grid Editors, analyze a film according to the editing method developed by Shawn Coyne. The second is focused entirely on book marketing. On The Book Launch Show, Valerie learns how to develop a relationship with her readers from book marketing expert, Tim Grahl.
Oct 24, 201929:29
S7, E6: School Visit Recap

S7, E6: School Visit Recap

We describe a school visit we did —in matching outfits—where we tried to convince a bunch of kids to become writers and gave them the secrets they need to know.
Oct 06, 201913:33
S7, E5: Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

S7, E5: Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

We are SO excited to talk about the release of the second book in the Simon Snow series from Rainbow Rowell. No spoilers!
Sep 29, 201913:09
S7, E4: Moana

S7, E4: Moana

Nora’s got homework so Alma is our guest cohost for this episode. So, we’re looking at the story structure for Moana. Because the four-year-old got to choose the story.
Sep 24, 201910:58
S7, E3: Nora's Foolscap Continued

S7, E3: Nora's Foolscap Continued

This week we brainstorm and work through some ideas in Nora's story plotting—playing with the idea of time travel in different eras. There might be a climax that takes place in the kitchen at Hampton Court Palace!


Read full show notes at Mommyspen.com.

Sep 01, 201917:05
S7, E2: Nora's Foolscap - Part 1
Aug 23, 201923:30
S7, E1: Nora Starts Story Planning

S7, E1: Nora Starts Story Planning

This season 12-year-old Nora is going to write a short story using all of the story structure principles we’ve been discussing for the past year on the podcast. We discuss how to start story planning. Follow along and write your own story!
Aug 17, 201915:05
S6, E8: The School for Good and Evil

S6, E8: The School for Good and Evil

Nora had to pilot the podcast ship this week due to severe little sister interference. She analyzes book 1 in the popular series The School for Good and Evil using the four-act structure.

Aug 04, 201918:43
S6, E7: Mary Poppins

S6, E7: Mary Poppins

This week, we're going backwards, looking at the original Mary Poppins movie after our analysis of Mary Poppins Returns last episode. This time, we're looking at it through the 5 Commandments of Story developed by Shawn Coyne of Story Grid.

Jul 26, 201916:51
S6, E6: Mary Poppins Returns

S6, E6: Mary Poppins Returns

It’s summer and we’re lazy so we’re doing a movie instead of a book. We liked Mary Poppins Returns way more than we thought we would and we’re analyzing the four act structure.
Jul 13, 201926:04
S6, E5: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

S6, E5: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

This week we dissect Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, looking at the five commandments of storytelling for both Eleanor and Marianne’s story arcs.
Jul 06, 201918:44
S6, E4: The Book of Boy

S6, E4: The Book of Boy

This week we discuss the BRILLIANT middle grade novel THE BOOK OF BOY by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch. The first part of the episode we tell you why you should read the book, then deconstruct the book’s structure, complete with spoilers.
Jun 29, 201924:48
S6, E3: Front Desk by Kelly Yang - Review and Story Structure Analysis

S6, E3: Front Desk by Kelly Yang - Review and Story Structure Analysis

If you're looking for books that feature diverse characters and tackle inclusion themes (and you should be), this lovely little book deserves a spot in your stack. It's the story of a young Chinese immigrant, Mia Tang, who helps her parents manage a hotel and uses her ever-improving English skills to help just about everyone around her. 

Full show notes at Mommyspen.com

Jun 21, 201921:06
S6, E2: One Mixed-Up Night

S6, E2: One Mixed-Up Night

We start off with a few Alma anecdotes and then launch into this week’s book review: ONE MIXED-UP NIGHT by the brilliant and lovely Catherine Newman who is everything, amen.
Jun 09, 201924:41
S6, E1: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - Story Structure Analysis

S6, E1: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - Story Structure Analysis

This week we’re gushing over a young adult novel we love: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. First we talk about why we love it. Then we switch to spoiler territory and look at the four act structure of the book and break down the genres.
May 31, 201954:37
S5, E5: The Fort

S5, E5: The Fort

This week is the last chapter in the beginning hook of my novel: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List.
May 24, 201917:22
Season 5, Episode 4: Six Rafters Back

Season 5, Episode 4: Six Rafters Back

We're reading from my novel, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List. In chapter 4, we find out what Martha's parents have to say about her secret cat adoption and we see Sanjay hide something he was supposed to share with his brother.
May 17, 201914:17
S5, E3: The Closet Door Opens - Chapter 3 of The Cat, The Cash, The Leap, and the List
May 10, 201914:48
S5, E2: Chapter 2 of The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List
May 03, 201913:14
S5, E1: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List - Chapter 1
May 01, 201916:57
S4, E8: Harry Potter Series - Overarching Story Structure Breakdown

S4, E8: Harry Potter Series - Overarching Story Structure Breakdown

We’ve completed the analysis of all seven books in the Harry Potter series so now we’re taking a look at the overarching structure of the entire series.
Apr 05, 201918:51
S4, E7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Story Structure Analysis

S4, E7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Story Structure Analysis

In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point.
Then we analyze the scene where Harry sees the Silver Doe and it leads him to the sword of Godric Gryffindor but then the necklace almost strangles him to death and Ron has to save him.
Finally, we talk about the term “epilogue.”
Mar 29, 201917:40
S4, E6: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Full Story Structure Analysis

S4, E6: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Full Story Structure Analysis

In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point. Then we analyze the scene where Narcissa gets Snape to make the unbreakable vow to help Malfoy with this "task." *SOB* Finally, we explain what an "archetype" is.
Mar 22, 201917:53
S4, E5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Story Structure Analysis

S4, E5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Story Structure Analysis

We break down the overall story structure of the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, do an in-depth scene analysis of the scene where Harry is interviewed by a blackmailed Rita Skeeter, and explain the term verisimilitude.
Mar 15, 201923:11