Podcasts by Story Grid Writing Podcast

Hero, Victim and Perpetrator: The Must-Have Relationships in Your Story from 2023-12-13T17:12:52.289394

Who is the Hero, Victim, and Perpetrator in your story?

What are the relationships between each of them?

The more vague or ungrounded each of these relationships are, the more the st...

How to Connect with Characters: Finding the Motivation and Shadow in Yourself from 2023-12-13T17:12:52.279754

In this impromptu episode, Tim and Danielle discuss the ongoing problems with the work on the Ed McBain EYE WITNESS scene and why Tim can't connect with his characters.

Line Edits: Putting the Final Touches on Eye Witness from 2023-12-13T17:12:52.274274

We're down to line edits on Tim's iteration of the masterwork Eye Witness by Ed McBain.

Shawn, Danielle, and Leslie provide final feedback on how to clean up the last few error messages st...

Final Edits of a Short Story: Beat Construction and 624 Analysis from 2022-10-27T08:00

Now that Tim has had a breakthrough on his iteration of EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain, we're getting down to fixing individual Beats and checking to make sure he's adhered to the Story Grid 624 Analy...

Does Tim Actually Get It Right? How to Nail the Narrative Device from 2022-10-20T08:00

Does Tim Actually Get It Right? How to Nail the Narrative Device

On Tim's 10th draft, he finally makes a breakthrough on his iteration of EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain!

And it ended up be...

Writing or Just Pretending? When there is Zero Flow and Everything is $h*t from 2022-09-29T08:00

Shawn takes a crack at rewriting Tim's scene to help him understand what he's missing on the Narrative Device.

Then we hear Leslie and Danielle's edits and feedback on what he got right an...

Conflict and Emotional Connection: Every Beat, Trope, and Scene Must Have These from 2022-09-24T14:20

There are lots of insights in this week's episode of the podcast.

We look at the emotional connection between the hero and victim, ensuring there is conflict at every level of the story, a...

Who's the Most Guilty Person in Your Story? Hero, Victim, and Villain - Part 2 from 2022-09-15T08:00

Nobody is innocent in your story. Everyone is hiding something.

You must adjust these levels correctly in order for your reader to connect with the right characters.

This is the focu...

Narrative Device: This Affects Every Single Word You Write from 2022-08-25T08:00

Who is telling your story? Who are they telling it to? Why are they telling it?

This is the Narrative Device!

The Narrative Device consists of three main components:

• Autho...
  Listen

Telling the Truth About Writing: Is this Podcast Worth Doing? from 2022-08-18T08:00

Shawn, Leslie, Danielle and Tim face a hard question...

Is the Story Grid Podcast still worth doing?

You might be surprised by what they have to say.

Writing Emotional Pain: How to Care About Your Protagonist from 2022-08-11T08:00

What happens when you can't connect to your protagonist?

This week Tim makes some progress on his scene,  but it's still missing something. The soul in the writing isn't there.

Shawn...

Two Factor Problems: The Must-Have for Writing Captivating Stories from 2022-07-21T08:00

Great stories always answer two-factor problems.

In this episode we see how Tim's mistake of choosing the wrong protagonist messes up the two factor problem. Shawn, Danielle, and Leslie he...

624 Break Down: The Surprising Mistake in Tim's First Draft from 2022-07-14T08:00

In this episode we start comparing the Story Grid 624 Analysis of the first draft of Tim's scene to EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain. Pretty quickly we see that Tim made one small mistake that ends up h...

First Draft Feedback: 3 Editors Give Honest Writing Analysis - Part 1 from 2022-06-30T08:00

Tim has written a first draft of his scene based on the in-depth analysis of Ed McBain's EYE WITNESS.

Listen in as Shawn, Danielle and Leslie give their initial feedback and start ...

How to Plan a Short Story Based on a Masterwork from 2022-06-23T08:00

How do we use all of this masterwork analysis to actually iterate our own short story?

In this week's episode, we look at the 624, Beat, and Trope analysis for the short story EYE WITNESS ...

Story Tropes: Building Blocks of Scenes from 2022-06-16T08:00

What are Tropes and how can they actually help your writing?

Tropes are a toolbox of common components to build a certain kind of story. You can put these building blocks together to creat...

Beat Breakdown: Analyzing Writing Line-by-Line - Part 1 from 2022-05-26T08:00

Now that we have finished up the Story Grid 624 Analysis of Ed McBain's EYE WITNESS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WLiCyxIsCk), it's time to dive all the way down to the line-by-line writing....

624 Review + Trope and Beat Introduction from 2022-05-19T08:00

We have wrapped up our 624 analysis of Ed McBain's short story EYE WITNESS. In this episode, Leslie does a review of the 624 then Danielle does an introduction for Tropes and Shawn follows up wi...

Five Commandments of Storytelling - Part 3 from 2022-05-12T08:00

Continuing our 624 analysis of Ed McBain's short story EYE WITNESS, we are talking through the Five Commandments of Storytelling.

This is the third in a three part episode as we deep dive ...

Five Commandments of Storytelling - Part 1 from 2022-04-28T15:22:47

Continuing our 624 analysis of Ed McBain's short story EYE WITNESS, we are talking through the Five Commandments of Storytelling.

This is a three part episode as we deep dive through each ...

What is happening in your story? (Part 2) from 2022-04-21T08:00

There are four story analysis questions you must answer for every scene in your story:

1. What are the Avatars literally doing?

2. What are the essential tactics of the Avata...

What is happening in your story? (Part 1) from 2022-04-14T08:00

There are four story analysis questions you must answer for every scene in your story:

1. What are the Avatars literally doing?

2. What are the essential tactics of the Avata...

Narrative Device: 3 Questions to Nail the Point of View for Your Story from 2022-03-31T08:00

Figuring out the Narrative Device for your story will unlock your writing in ways you never thought possible. 

There are three questions you must answer: 

- Who is the Author of the ...

The"What If"for Your Story from 2022-03-24T08:00

How do you boil your story down into one "What If" statement? There are four parts to building out the answer to this question and Shawn, Leslie, Danielle, and Tim walk through it together in th...

The Genre Five Leaf Clover: The In-depth Process for Understanding Genre in Your Story from 2022-03-16T20:02:09

The genre of your story is way more than one thing. In this episode of the Story Grid Podcast, learn the five important pieces of understanding your genre — Time, Style, Structure, Reality, and ...

How does Stephen King write? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.474720

How does Stephen King do it? Plus, Shawn and Tim talk about flailing as a writer and how good character development is really done.

The Mathematics of Storytelling from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.471432

Story Grid Math. How many scenes, words, turns does your book need? Also discussed is the 5 commandments of storytelling and Tim's attempt at a rewrite.

Point of View and Narrative Device from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.470397

How can narrative device make your storytelling easier? We also discuss the two types of inciting incidents and how the Story Grid applies to he movie Dead Calm.

The 5 Commandments of Storytelling from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.467890

Learn the 5 commandments of storytelling and how it will make your story better.

Where do great story ideas come from? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.464369

The question every author gets... "Where do you come up with story ideas?" Also, how to write characters that are truthful, even when you can't relate with them.

Creating great writing habits from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.460798

How do great writers actually get their writing done? Shawn and Tim delve into this along with combating fear and reaching your goals.

How to plot and outline your story from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.459303

As Tim begins to plot and outline his story, he gets Shawn's input on exactly how to do it. This process is filled with potential time wasters and distractions, and Shawn helps Tim avoid them. See ...

Do you have to be depressed to be a good writer? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.397598

Another wide ranging episode that eventually lands on an important question. Kurt Vonnegut said "You cannot be a good writer of serious fiction if you are not depressed." Is this really true?

The 2 big questions to ask your first draft from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.383743

This was a haps episode for Tim. Shawn has now read the manuscript and gives his feedback and next steps. They also discuss the two questions you should ask your first draft.

Getting Your Big Scenes Right from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.380506

Is Shawn killing Tim's creativity? This episode starts with that question then moves into deep genre questions and how to use Internal and External genres to tell great stories.

Writing Your 2nd Draft from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.379749

Tim and Shawn work to nail down the specifics for the second draft. Narrative device is a big topic along with nailing down the big events in your story.

Pub 101: Finding an Agent and Selling Your Book from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.376366

In this three part series, Shawn and Tim discuss the ins and outs of the publishing industry. Learn how to find an agent and sell your book to a major publisher.

What Good Editors Know from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.373129

A good developmental editor is mentoring an author through their book. That comes with some basic frustrations, especially when the editor is coaching a newbie like Tim. Shawn shares his views on t...

Story Grid and Non-fiction from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.369957

The 4 categories of non-fiction and how the Story Grid applies to them.

Critiquing Tim's Beginning Hook from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.369226

Tim has finished the first 11 scenes of his book -- the Beginning Hook -- and Shawn wades into his critique on where he did well and where he... didn't.

Getting the Rewrites Right from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.365942

Tim finally nails his scene. What changed? And what is the right process for going from draft to a working scene?

Finishing the Beginning Hook from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.362572

Shawn and Tim discuss the last sequence in the Beginning Hook and getting started on the Middle Build. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

LIVE with Shawn and Tim from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.292886

Shawn and Tim recently spoke at Tribe Conference 2016. This is a recording of that talk. They discuss going pro, the hero's journey, and several other topics. It's a fun episode! You can see the vi...

How long will this take? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.276080

How long does it take to write a great book? Some writers crank it out in a few weeks. Tim is taking much longer. What's the timeline on books? See the video we reference at storygrid.com/podcast

Back to the 5 Commandments of Storytelling from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.272899

You have a scene that's not working, but you can't figure out why. What do you do? Shawn takes Tim back to the 5 Commandments of Storytelling. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

The Big Middle Build Moments from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.269656

There are big moments in every middle build that are extremely important to get right. Shawn and Tim talk through these in this episode. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

Character Trumps Plotting from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.268889

As Shawn and Tim continue discussing the Middle Build and driving the story with characters or plotting. See Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

Finishing the Middle Build from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.268105

After a long slog and a few weeks off, Shawn and Tim dive into the final scenes and sequences of the Middle Build. There's plenty of good, bad, and "just cut the whole scene." Download Tim's scenes...

Just Skip to the End from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.264897

Tim hits some major road blocks on his story. So what's the solution? Also, an important announcement. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast

First Draft is Done. Now what? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.261596

Tim has officially finished his first draft... now what? This is where Story Grid really shines... taking your first draft and making it the best it can be. To see Tim's Story Grid Spreadsheet visi...

Part 2 - The Foolscap Story Grid from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.258336

Move from the micro to the macro with your first draft. The Foolscap Story Grid will help you put your entire novel onto a single page.

Creating a Story Grid - Part 2 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.200994

Tim and Shawn continuing building out the Story Grid Graph to evaluate the first draft. See Tim's Story Grid Spreadsheet at storygrid.com/podcast

The Craft of Non-fiction from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.197741

Shawn uses the second draft of Tim's introduction to focus in on the craft of writing great non-fiction. You can read Tim's new introduction and notes at storygrid.com/podcast

Q&A - Part 1 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.195550

A Q&A with Shawn Coyne. Tim took questions from Twitter and Facebook and spends an hour going through them with Shawn. See the questions at storygrid.com/podcast.

Q&A - Part 2 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.194610

Tim continues throwing your story questions at Shawn. Submit your questions for future episodes at twitter.com/storygrid. See the questions from this episode at storygrid.com/podcast.

What Does the Villain Want? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.192396

As Tim finished up the Beginning Hook and enters the Middle Build, a very important question comes to light. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast

What Shawn has learned from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.189301

After hearing the listener messages from the 100th episode, Shawn reflects on what the last two years have meant to him... and then we dive back into my story.

The 5 Commandments of Storytelling (Revisited) from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.181102

There are 5 Commandments for Storytelling that must apply to every part of your story. Shawn and Tim dive back into these fundamental ideas.

Die Hard and Tim's Middle Build from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.175931

Shawn and Tim continue the discussion around Die Hard and how it applies specifically to Tim's book. See more at storygrid.com/podcast

Slogging the Middle Build from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.175195

Tim finally makes a breakthrough on his middle build and Shawn discusses how you can too. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

Finding My Why from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.172741

Shawn continues to push Tim to find the true "why" behind his non-fiction book.

Truth vs truth from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.172024

What does it mean to tell your truth? Tim and Shawn discuss this along with the rewrite of his introduction.

Q&A: Miniplot, Editors, and Genre from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.168878

Shawn takes listener questions and covers miniplot, how to hire and work with an editor, and deep dives into the differences between genres.

What Does Shawn Think? - Part 2 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.166390

Now that Shawn has gone through the manuscript of Tim's book, what does he think? What's his feedback? What should he do next?

Deep Dive Into Tim's 15 Scenes (Part 2) from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.162454

Shawn and Tim continue work through the 15 most important scenes of The Threshing. Shawn also dives into what is really driving this, and all, stories. More at storygrid.com/podcast

Running Down a Dream from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.160167

Tim's new book Running Down a Dream is coming out next week and he discusses with Shawn what is has been like to write the book.

Game Theory in Story from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.156807

What do video games and story telling have in common? Shawn walks through another tool for analyzing your story.

Writing an Action Sequence from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.156081

Tim took at a crack at writing a fast paced action sequence that allows moves his story forward. Shawn walks him through the ins and outs and what to do next.

How to Write a Great Villain from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.153607

What is the nature of evil and how do you make that into an unforgettable villain in your stories? Shawn and Tim dive into this topic.

Creating Believable Characters from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.150502

How do you create the right cast of characters for your story and make them believable? Shawn walks Tim through a framework to do this correctly.

Shawn's First Read of Tim's 2nd Draft from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.148186

Tim finished his second draft and turned it into Shawn. What's the verdict?

The Job of an Editor from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.146599

Story Grid grew out of the need for better editing. Shawn and Tim discuss the origins and the job of an editor.

Hero's Journey Archetypes - Part 1 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.097205

The sprint is on to finish The Threshing. This week Shawn and Tim begin working through the Archetypes of the Hero's Journey.

Creating a 2nd Edition from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.093649

This episode is two for the price of one. Tim and Shawn first discuss when and how to do a 2nd edition of a book and then they move into discussing Tim's changes to the Beginning Hook of his novel ...

The Math of Storytelling from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.089499

Shawn walks through how taking time to look at math can help you structure your story.

Why Can't I Finish My Book? from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.087167

Weeks have passed since Tim has worked on his novel so he finally admits this to Shawn and asks for advice.

Micro Beats and Hidden Story Meanings from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.081874

In Episode 4 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne splits atoms, finding eight micro beats to Shawn’s single beat in the prologue to Brokeback Mountain, and learns just how perfectly Annie Proulx’s le...

Talent, Inspiration and Blue Collar Work from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.078528

In Episode 8 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne has a bit of a crisis: though she’s found a way to meet the demands of the experiment, the resulting story idea feels lifeless. Is she building a fra...

Live in the Process, Not for the Result from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.077753

In Episode 9 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne turns in a new prologue representing her new POV narrative device, and a few new scenes leading into the middle build. Is the story getting too long?...

The Must-Haves of Big Idea Nonfiction from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.074425

How do you apply the principles of storytelling to nonfiction? What lessons have you learned from Sesame Street that will help you be a better nonfiction writer? Tune in to find out!

Introducing: Story Grid Showrunners Podcast from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.067947

This is big! Three of our Story Grid Certified Editors have teamed up to start the Story Grid Showrunners podcast. If you've ever been interested in how Story Grid can be used with television and e...

Planning Book 2 in a Trilogy from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.065316

The middle build is the hardest part of the book and book two in a trilogy is a whole book dedicated to the middle build! How do you know where to start and build the story? Shawn walks Tim through...

Scene 1, Book 2 from 2022-02-21T11:01:43.062687

Tim has finished the first scene of Book 2 in The Threshing series and gets Shawn's feedback.

Chapter 18 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.982763

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 19 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.981940

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 20 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.981064

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 21 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.980127

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 22 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.979249

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 23 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.978106

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 24 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.977234

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Finishing the First Draft from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.973828

Tim is getting close to finishing his first draft and wants to talk with Shawn about what he can expect when it comes time to run it through the Story Grid methodology.

Worldbuilding in Hero's Journey 2.0 from 2022-02-21T11:01:42.971376

Tim is getting pretty stuck on the worldbuilding side of things with his work in progress. Shawn walks him through how to break these blocks and continues looking at them through the Hero’s Journey...

Two Sides to Every Story from 2022-02-10T09:00

Shawn discusses the two sides  to every story.

What is narrative device? from 2022-02-01T09:16:42.862654

How can narrative device make your storytelling easier? We also discuss the two types of inciting incidents and how the Story Grid applies to he movie Dead Calm.

The Artist's Wants, Needs, and Desires from 2022-01-27T09:00

Shawn Coyne walks through the role you, as the Artist, plays in getting your own wants, needs and desires into your story.

Backstory and an Avatar's Wants, Needs, and Desires from 2022-01-20T09:00

Shawn Coyne discusses the role backstory plays in your character's wants, needs, and desires.

Crafting Story with Wants, Needs, and Desires from 2022-01-13T09:00

Shawn Coyne walks through character wants, needs, and desires and how they impact your storytelling.

How does a writer use Expository Beats to generate words? from 2021-11-18T09:00

Continuing the discussion on the three different types of Beats that build up to Scenes, how do Expository Beats work inside a scene?

How does a writer use Passive Beats to generate words? from 2021-11-11T09:00

Continuing the discussion on the three different types of Beats that build up to Scenes, how do Passive Beats work inside a scene?

What is an Editor Brain vs Writer Brain? from 2021-10-28T08:00

What kind of thinking has to change when you are switching modes from writing to editing?

How does the Story Grid Trinity apply at the Macro vs Micro levels? from 2021-10-21T04:00

It can get confusing switching lenses between Macro and Micro storytelling already. Now, what happens when you layer in the Story Grid Trinity? 

Does On-the-Surface mean External Genre? from 2021-10-14T08:00

Continuing the discussion on the Story Grid Trinity, Shawn Coyne and Kimberly Kessler discuss the On-the-Surface level of the trinity and how the relates to external genres.

How does the Story Grid Trinity apply to Global Internal Genres? from 2021-09-30T20:20:07

Shawn Coyne and Kimberly Kessler discuss the Story Grid Trinity and how this works with internal genres. Also checkout the Story Grid Masterwork Guide to Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda at storyg...

Can Story Grid improve on Masterworks? from 2021-07-29T08:00

A listener asks a bold question: Can the Story Grid tools and methodology make the Masterworks we read and love better? Shawn has a great answer for this week's question.

What defines a Masterwork? from 2021-07-15T08:00

At Story Grid, we spend a lot of time studying and analyzing Masterworks, but how do you know when a book is a Masterwork? Shawn addresses this question in this week's episode.

How to Write Dialogue (for Introverts) from 2021-06-24T14:37:28

This week's listener question is, "How do you Write Dialogue when you are an introvert?". Shawn answers this question and gives recommendations for next steps for writers.

Story Grid Trinity for Nonfiction from 2021-06-17T20:51:30

How does the Story Grid Trinity apply to Big Idea, How-to, Narrative nonfiction, and Memoir? Shawn dives into this question on this week's episode.

Quadrant 4 of the Heroic Journey 2.0 from 2021-06-10T10:53:23

We left all of you hanging back in December with the Heroic Journey 2.0 series, so we decided to correct our error. This week Shawn finishes up our series on the Heroic Journey 2.0 by diving into t...

Story Grid Trinity - Above the Surface from 2021-05-27T08:00

Shawn and Tim discuss the second part of the Story Grid Trinity - Above the Surface.

Story Grid Trinity - On the Surface from 2021-05-20T08:00

Shawn Coyne dives into the Story Grid Trinity and discusses the first, most essential part of the trinity - On the Surface.

Story Grid Trinity from 2021-05-13T08:00

Shawn introduces the foundation of all stories - the Story Grid Trinity.

First Two Steps in the Hero's Journey 2.0 from 2020-11-26T09:00

Shawn starts walking through the Heroic Journey 2.0 infographic looking at how it can help you understand the story you are trying to tell.

Click here to view the infographic referenced i...

Introducing Hero's Journey 2.0 from 2020-11-19T12:27:39

As Tim is finishing up the first draft of his novel, Shawn starts introducing the ideas behind his new Hero's Journey 2.0 models and how it will impact the editing of his manuscript.

Interview with Author Michael McClellan - Part 3 from 2020-10-29T08:00

In part three of this interview, Tim sits down with Michael McClellan, author of THE SAND SEA, to discuss his 12 years of writing and how Story Grid played a role in finishing the novel.

Interview with Author Michael McClellan - Part 2 from 2020-10-22T08:00

In part two of this interview, Tim sits down with Michael McClellan, author of THE SAND SEA, to discuss his 12 years of writing and how Story Grid played a role in finishing the novel.

Interview with Author Michael McClellan - Part 1 from 2020-10-16T16:26:21

Tim sits down with Michael McClellan, author of THE SAND SEA to discuss his 12 years of writing and how Story Grid played a role in finishing the novel.

Chapter 17 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-31T08:00:16

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 16 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-30T08:00:06

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 15 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-29T08:00:02

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork

Chapter 14 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-28T08:00:05

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 13 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-27T08:00:16

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 12 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-26T08:00:29

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 11 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-25T08:00:03

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 10 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-24T08:00:04

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 9 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-23T09:17:03

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 8 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-22T08:00:15

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 7 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-21T08:00:13

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 6 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-20T08:00:08

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 5 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-19T08:00:02

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork

Chapter 4 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-18T08:00:08

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 3 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-17T08:00:16

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 2 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-16T08:00:10

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Chapter 1 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-15T08:00:06

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Intro - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis from 2020-08-14T08:00:20

In this new series from Story Grid, we are analyzing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. Join us as we go chapter by chapter through this masterwork.

Multiple Storylines in One Book from 2020-04-10T20:54:30

How do you write a story with multiple story lines? Shawn walks Tim how this will work with his next book.

Phere and COVID-19 from 2020-03-26T13:36:08

With the pandemic still sweeping the globe, Shawn and I discuss how fear can take over in these situations and what we can do in our lives and our writing.

Systems and Chaos in Your Novel from 2020-03-19T08:00:03

How do you apply the idea of systems and chaos to planning a novel? Shawn walks Tim through this concept as he works on book 2 in his series.

Which book should I write? from 2020-02-20T09:00:14

We only have so much time and energy to dedicate to our writing. When you are stuck between working on two different projects, how do you pick which one is the right choice? Shawn walks Tim through...

Planning the Hero, Victim, and Villain from 2020-02-13T09:00:10

As Tim continues down the path of working on his new novel, Shawn encourages him to take the time to 1) look at the masterworks of his chosen genre and 2) spend sometime thinking about the hero / v...

How to Start a New Novel from 2020-01-30T09:00:16

Now that The Threshing is done and (almost) published, Tim is ready to start his next book! What are the first steps down this path? How can Story Grid help him plan correctly? Shawn walks him thro...

How to Analyze a Scene from 2020-01-23T09:00:01

Continuing the discussion around writing a Contender Guide to a Story Grid Publishing novel, Shawn walks Tim through his mistakes and how to level up the analysis of his own writing.

What is a Contender Guide? from 2020-01-16T09:00:10

How do you analyze a novel to learn from it? This is a big part of Story Grid and our new publishing house. Tim and Shawn discuss Contender Guides -- what they are and why you should care.

Story Grid Guild from 2019-12-20T22:41:38

How do you create a publishing house that isn't beholden to investors or Amazon? Shawn and Tim discuss this idea and how you can be involved! https://storygrid.com/guild

Story Grid Publishing from 2019-12-12T20:13:49

What would it look like if Story Grid launched its own publishing house? Shawn and Tim dive into that in this week's episode.

What is wrong with publishing? from 2019-11-28T15:42:15

When it came time to start thinking about the publishing of The Threshing, Shawn and Tim were faced with a dilemma. There didn't seem to be a good option.

Making Big Idea Nonfiction Work from 2019-11-14T11:54:27

In this final episode on Big Idea Nonfiction, Shawn continues sharing how to write a big idea nonfiction book that works.

Breaking Down the Big Idea from 2019-10-31T08:00:01

What makes a Big Idea book stand apart from the rest? Shawn walks through all of the pieces that go into a Big Idea Nonfiction book that will stand the test of time.

Mastering Nonfiction from 2019-10-24T08:00:17

Tim is back with Shawn and they're talking nonfiction and Story Grid. What are the sub-genres of nonfiction? How do you apply the tools of Story Grid to nonfiction?

Lifting Off For Planet Performance from 2019-08-15T12:00:22

In Episode 10, they conclude that the experiment has been a success. Anne submits her first rough draft, Shawn blesses it, says it’s shaping up to be a fresh and original story in its own right, an...

Anne's First Scenes from 2019-07-25T10:30:01

In Episode 7 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne submits her first two scenes of “Danebury Hill,” her Regency-era take on the beat structure of Brokeback Mountain. Shawn reads them out and gives s...

Completing the Micro Analysis from 2019-07-18T10:30:05

In Episode 6 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne completes her analysis of micro beats and scene types in Brokeback Mountain, and she and Shawn consider the power of individual word choices in struc...

Editor View vs Writer View from 2019-07-11T12:00:15

In Episode 5 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne continues finding micro beats and scene types in Brokeback Mountain’s middle build, and learns the difference between the Editor’s view of a story an...

Brokeback Mountain: Defining the Characters from 2019-06-27T08:30:01

In Episode 3 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne and Shawn define some Regency-era analogs for the Wyoming cowboys of Brokeback Mountain, and step into some controversial territory about appropriate...

Brokeback Mountain: The Foolscap from 2019-06-20T08:30:41

In Episode 2 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne and Shawn review the Editor’s Six Core Questions and use the answers to complete the Global Foolscap worksheet for Brokeback Mountain, laying the gro...

Launching the Masterwork Experiment from 2019-06-13T08:30:32

Welcome to the Story Grid Masterwork Experiment!

In this ten-episode summer series, Shawn Coyne and author Anne Hawley are breaking a great masterwork down to the beat level to find out wh...

2nd Guessing Your Writing from 2019-05-23T12:40:04

Ever struggle in wondering if your writing is good enough? Shawn walks Tim through this with his book.

How to Write a Great Scene from 2019-05-16T09:00:06

Shawn shares about a new project at Story Grid headquarters that will help teach the micro level of storytelling to writers. See more at storygrid.com/ground

5 Commandments and Pheres from 2019-04-25T22:14:16

Shawn and Tim continue walking through the fundamentals of Story Grid and how the new idea of Pheres applies to the 5 Commandments of Story telling.

The Atomic Theory of Storytelling from 2019-04-12T17:53:24

This episodes twists and turns from emotion in storytelling to dissecting the hydrogen atom. It's a great episode and will make you look at your story in a new, fresh way.

What is a Phere? from 2019-03-28T08:00

What is the fundamental unit of story? Shawn talks about a new insight he had at a recent Story Grid event and what it means for us.

The Editor's 6 Core Questions - Part 2 from 2019-02-28T09:00

Shawn continues to walk Tim through the Editor's 6 Core Questions which are the first line of evaluating a manuscript.

The Editor's 6 Core Questions - Part 1 from 2019-02-22T09:00

The Editor's 6 Core Questions is the first tool in the arsenal of how to evaluate a manuscript. Shawn walks Tim through the first 3 questions.

How Important is Genre? from 2019-02-14T09:00

Going back to the basics of Story Grid, Shawn and Tim discuss the role genre plays in storytelling.

How to Refine a Manuscript from 2019-01-26T12:27

After several weeks of analyzing the manuscript, Shawn walks Tim through the final steps of refinement he needs to go through to get it ready for production.

Hero Archetypes and Grounding Reality from 2019-01-19T15:11

Shawn and Tim finish up talking about the Hero Archetypes and then delve into what it takes to ground your book in a realistic world.

Hero's Journey Archetypes - Part 2 from 2019-01-11T15:56

Shawn and Tim continue talking through the Hero's Journey Archetypes, who they are, and how they should be in your story.

Why Story Grid Is Different from 2018-12-21T19:56

This week Shawn sits down with Story Grid Editor, Valerie Francis, to discuss why (and how) the Story Grid method is different from other structural and developmental editing methods.

A New Tool to Fight Resistance from 2018-12-13T09:00

Steven Pressfield and Black Irish Publishing have released a new project around writers and Resistance. Shawn and Tim discuss both what the project is and the bigger ramifications for the world of...

Categorizing Scenes from 2018-11-30T17:37

Your novel is done, now what? Shawn walks Tim through a new level of analysis for his work in progress.

How to Spreadsheet Your Novel from 2018-11-15T09:00

The spreadsheet is a central tool of Story Grid. Shawn walks Tim through how to use it and answers some of his questions.

Why all the suffering? from 2018-10-26T08:00

We all can agree that writing is hard. Learning to level up your writing is even harder. So why all the suffering? Why not just publish a draft that's "good enough"? This is what Shawn and Tim dive...

World Building 101 from 2018-10-11T08:00

What are the building blocks for a believable, fantastical world in your story? Shawn walks through this and hits upon a fundamental reason why Tim's characters have not been working.

Crafting a Great Ending from 2018-09-27T08:00

Tim is working through the final big battle scene and Shawn helps him figure out how to do it right.

How to Finish Your Book from 2018-09-20T08:00

Now that Tim has worked through his block, it's time to finish the book. But how? Shawn walks him through the mindset and tactics to finally finish this draft.

Is it time for Tim to quit? from 2018-09-13T08:00

Every writer hits that moment. Is it time quit this novel and move on to a new project? Tim is facing this with Threshing and talks over the question with Shawn.

Shawn's Dark Night of the Soul from 2018-08-23T08:00

Shawn is in the midst of a publishing project of his own and... it's hit some rough spots. He shares what is going on and how he's working through it.

When is the book done? from 2018-08-17T08:00

Tim brings a common question to Shawn... when do you know your book is ready to publish? Shawn has important insight on this all important question.

Chaos vs Order from 2018-07-27T08:00

What is the overarching engine running every story? Shawn uses Tim's latest scene to step into this question and share some of his latest research.

The Aftermath from 2018-07-20T19:47

Running Down a Dream has been out for a week. What has happened and what next?

Special Guest: Steven Pressfield from 2018-07-11T08:00

Steven Pressfield joins and Shawn and Tim to discuss his new book THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY along with Tim's new book RUNNING DOWN A DREAM.

Getting the Value Shifts Right from 2018-06-21T08:00

A huge part that makes a scene work is the value shifts. They have to work in the scene, the global genre, the internal genre, etc. Shawn walks Tim through how to think about this with his Turning ...

Fixing the Most Important Scene from 2018-06-15T08:00

Shawn walks Tim through the problems with his turning point of the middle build scene (and how to fix them).

Deep Dive Into Tim's 15 Scenes (Part 1) from 2018-05-31T18:32

Tim did his homework by planning out the 15 most important scenes of his book. Shawn starts working through them with him.

Special Guest: Courtney Harrell from 2018-05-24T08:00

Courtney is a Story Grid Certified Editor and is stuck on her book! She reached out to Shawn for help so they jumped on the phone to go over her book and how she can make progress.

Restarting an Old Project from 2018-05-10T08:00

Tim is struggling with stepping back into his fiction book now that he's taken a few months off to finish his non-fiction book. Shawn walks him through how to do it. Plus, a special announcement! S...

What does Shawn think? from 2018-04-19T08:00

Now that Shawn has read Tim's manuscript, he's handing down the verdict. Is it ready for primetime?

Book is Done! Now What? from 2018-04-12T08:00

Tim has finally finished the manuscript for Running Down a Dream. What's next?

Put the Darkness on Paper from 2018-03-29T08:00

How do you write great non-fiction? Shawn continues to walk Tim through the telling of his story.

Interview: Ryan Holiday from 2018-03-22T08:00

Ryan Holiday is the author of eight bestselling books and is quickly becoming one of the most prolific writers of our time. In this interview, Ryan shares his processes for writing and editing his ...

Tell Your Story from 2018-03-15T08:00

Tim continues to work towards telling the Truth in his writing while Shawn gives guidance on what to do next. Download Tim's draft at storygrid.com/podcast

The Middle of the Middle from 2018-02-22T09:00

Tim finally makes it to the middle of the middle build and gets Shawn feedback on what to do next.

Building Your Novel's World from 2018-02-15T09:00

If you've struggled with building a believable, cohesive world for your novel, then this is the episode for you. Also, Tim's goes on a rant about the show Altered Carbon.

Editor Roundtable: Alien from 2018-01-25T09:00

This week we introduce you to the newest Story Grid project... the Story Grid Editor Roundtable Podcast. Listen as a panel of editors walks you through the movie Alien.

Die Hard from 2018-01-18T09:00

Tim spent some of the holiday break putting Die Hard through the Story Grid spreadsheet. He has some observations and questions to run by Shawn. See the spreadsheet at storygrid.com/podcast.

The Story Grid Spreadsheet from 2018-01-11T09:00

Shawn and Tim discuss one of the most important Story Grid tools and how to use it.

Editor's 6 Core Questions - Part 2 from 2017-12-22T14:38

Shawn and Tim continue working through the Story Grid Editor's Six Core Questions.

Editor's 6 Core Questions - Part 1 from 2017-12-14T12:05

There are six questions that can guide your writing from the beginning through drafting and editing your manuscript. Shawn walks you through each one.

Myths of Publishing from 2017-11-30T09:00

There are a lot of commonly held myths about publishing that often derail writers. Shawn and Tim bring their unique perspective to what writers should know about the publishing world and how it rea...

I'm Freaking Out from 2017-11-23T09:00

Tim reaches the point where he wants to throw his book away and start over. Shawn is there to talk him off the ledge.

Rework or Keep Writing? from 2017-11-16T09:00

We all hit those times where we don't know whether to rework what we've written or keeping pushing forward. Shawn talks Tim through this decision.

The 100th from 2017-10-26T08:00

In this 100th episode of the Story Grid Podcast, we here from you the listeners about what this show has meant to you over the last two years.

NaNoWriMo and Story Grid from 2017-10-19T08:00

Are you doing NaNoWriMo next month? If so, you should be getting ready NOW. Shawn walks you through how to use the Story Grid to prepare for writing an entire novel in one month.

Go Back to the Genre from 2017-10-12T08:00

When you get stuck or lost in your story, how do you find your way? Shawn and Tim discuss this as a follow up to last week's episode.

Our Past, Present, and Future from 2017-09-21T16:27

This is episode 96. We're almost to the two year anniversary of the show. Tim spends a bit of time reflecting on the past, present, and future of the Story Grid Podcast. To share your story, visit ...

Q&A - Part 3 from 2017-09-14T08:00

Shawn continues answering questions from listeners about genre, the hero's journey, and more. See the questions at storygrid.com/podcast.

Helping Others Become Better Writers from 2017-08-25T17:39

In this wide ranging episode, Shawn and Tim discuss the best ways to help your fellow writers become better at their craft.

Specificity for Non-Fiction Storytelling from 2017-08-17T08:00

What does it mean to apply specificity to a non-fiction story? It's a tough thing, especially if you're of the literal persuasion. See Shawn's notes on Tim's introduction at storygrid.com/podcast

Non-fiction Conventions and Obligatory Scenes from 2017-07-27T08:00

Non-fiction has specific genres, conventions, and obligatory scenes just like fiction, but they are, of course, a little different. Shawn and Tim delve into what it takes to write a great non-ficti...

Editing Non-Fiction from 2017-07-21T08:02

Now that Tim has finished the first draft of his non-fiction book, Shawn starts working with him through editing.

Planning the 2nd Draft from 2017-07-13T08:00

After a couple months working through the Story Grid tools on Tim's first draft, he's ready to start writing the 2nd draft. Show notes at storygrid.com/podcast

Creating a Story Grid - Part 1 from 2017-06-29T08:00

The next step in editing Tim's first draft is to create a Story Grid Graph. See Tim's Story Grid Spreadsheet at storygrid.com/podcast

The Hero's Journey - Moments from 2017-06-22T08:00

Shawn and Tim continue discussing the Hero's Journey as a tool to evaluate the first draft. Links and info at storygrid.com/podcast

The Hero's Journey - Archetypes from 2017-06-15T08:00

Shawn and Tim dive into the Hero's Journey as a tool to evaluate the first draft. Links and info at storygrid.com/podcast

The Foolscap Story Grid from 2017-05-26T08:30

After you've gone scene-by-scene through your first draft, it's good to step back and take the macro view of your novel.

Micro to Macro: Editing Your First Draft from 2017-05-18T08:13

Once you have filled out the Story Grid spreadsheet for your first draft, what do you next? Keep track of all the work at storygrid.com/podcast.

Spreadsheeting the First Draft from 2017-05-11T08:00

After the first draft is done, it's easy to get stuck on what to do next. Shawn continues walking Tim through the process of using the Story Grid spreadsheet. You can see the spreadsheet in the sho...

The End? from 2017-04-27T08:00

Is this really the end? Tim submits the final 8 scenes of his first draft to Shawn for his feedback. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast

Putting Off the Inevitable from 2017-04-20T08:00

Have you ever put off writing a particular scene or sequence in your story? Tim faces that this week and Shawn walks him through it. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast

The Race to the Finish from 2017-04-13T08:00

Tim and Shawn talk through the Ending Payoff, steadily working to the end of the book. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

Nailing the End of Your Book from 2017-03-30T08:00

As Shawn and Tim continue discussing the beginning of the Ending Payoff, they venture into a discussion on how to make sure the end of your book pays off everything that came before.

Fear of Your Doing Your Best from 2017-03-23T08:00

Tim and Shawn keep moving on the Ending Payoff, but also uncover some deeper issues. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast

Beginning the Ending Payoff from 2017-03-16T08:00

The Middle Build is done. The Ending Payoff has begun. It took Tim four tries to get the first scenes of the Middle Build right. How long will it take him to get the Ending Payoff right? Download T...

Correctly Progressively Complicating Your Scenes from 2017-01-26T09:00

How do you pace your story to keep readers interesting without moving too fast? Shawn and Tim discuss the correct way to progressively complicate your scenes and sequences to write a killer Middle ...

How to finish your 1st draft from 2017-01-19T19:04

How to work with a developmental editor and get to a finished, working first draft.

Dialing in the Sequence from 2017-01-12T09:00

Tim gets much closer with his rewrite of the sequence, but there's still plenty to dial in. How do you identify these moments and how do you make them work? Shawn answers in this episode. Download ...

Starting Your Middle Build from 2016-12-29T13:29

Shawn gives feedback on Tim's first Middle Build sequence and shares principles on how to do it right. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

How Genre Affects Your Story from 2016-12-22T09:00

Shawn always talks about how important it is to know your genre, but it's sometimes a bit fuzzy figuring it out. Tim is in this spot now so Shawn walks him through it.

Scenes and Sequences for your Middle Build from 2016-12-15T09:00

The Middle Build is the longest and most complex section of your novel. Figuring out how to plan it and pace it is really tough. Shawn and Tim dive in on how to do this.

What is the Setting for your Novel? from 2016-11-24T09:00

The 4 questions you have to answer to establish the setting of your novel. Download Tim's world document at storygrid.com/podcast.

World Building in Your Novel from 2016-11-17T09:00

Tim makes the mistake of diving into his middle build before he's really planned out the world. Shawn walks him through how to do this and what makes a great world for your novel. Download Tim's sc...

Planning Your Middle Build from 2016-11-10T09:00

Once you have a working Beginning Hook, it's time to move into the Middle Build. This makes up 50% of your book and can be overwhelming at the start. Shawn and Tim discuss how to dive in. Download ...

Moving from Scenes to Sequences from 2016-10-27T08:00

Shawn critiques Tim's latest scenes, and how you can move into planning and writing sequences. Download Tim's scenes at storygrid.com/podcast.

How to Write a Great Love Story from 2016-10-20T08:00

Part 2 on the love story genre. Shawn and Tim dive into the genre conventions, obligatory scenes, and how you can write a great love story.

The Most Important Genre from 2016-10-13T08:00

If you had to pick one genre to master, what should it be? Shawn answers the question in this week's episode.

Listener Questions and More Rewrites from 2016-09-29T08:00

Shawn and Tim answer a few questions from listeners and then dive into more rewrites of Tim's scenes. Check storygrid.com/podcast for a download of Tim's scene.

How to Rewrite Scenes from 2016-09-22T08:00

How do you take scenes that don't work and rewrite them? Shawn and Tim walk through best practices and common pitfalls.

Still... Critiquing Tim's Beginning Hook from 2016-09-15T08:00

Shawn continues working through the Story Grid for Tim's beginning hook.

The Great Hedonometer from 2016-08-25T08:00

This week we talk with PhD candidate Andy Reagan who is one of the researchers behind the Hendonometer Shawn and Tim discussed a couple weeks ago. Andy shares where they are at with the research an...

Turning Pro as a Writer from 2016-08-18T08:00

What does it take to move from amateur to professional as a writer? Tim and Shawn discuss this in depth and share their experience.

There are only 6 stories from 2016-08-11T08:00

New research shows there are only 6 stories that every book is based on. Shawn and Tim discuss the implications of this and how it applies to Tim's story.

Calibrating Your Scenes from 2016-07-28T08:00

How do you get the stakes and tone of your scene right? As Tim begins to understand how to write a better scene, he struggles with going to far. Shawn works with him on how to write a great opening...

Villains and Inciting Incidents from 2016-07-21T08:00

Who drives the story? This is a harder question to answer than you think. Shawn and Tim dive deep in this question.

Pub 101: How to Work With Your Publisher from 2016-07-14T08:00

In this three part series, Shawn and Tim discuss the ins and outs of the publishing industry. Learn how to work with your publisher and market your book.

Pub 101: Trade vs Indie Publishing and Backstory from 2016-06-30T08:00

In this three part series, Shawn and Tim discuss the ins and outs of the publishing industry. They share their backstory and answer the question, "Should I indie or traditionally publish my book?"

Special Guest: Steven Pressfield - Part 2 from 2016-06-23T08:00

Learn how to fight Resistance and launch your writing career with the amazing Steven Pressfield. Check out his new book NO ONE WANTS TO READ YOUR SHIT.

Special Guest: Steven Pressfield - Part 1 from 2016-06-16T08:00

Learn how to fight Resistance and launch your writing career with the amazing Steven Pressfield. Check out his new book NO ONE WANTS TO READ YOUR SHIT.

What do your characters want? (plus, Tim gets frustrated) from 2016-05-26T08:00

This is the first episode that Tim gets noticeably frustrated. Shawn is trying to teach him how to avoid cliches, hit the right conventions for his genre, and make sure his character's motivations ...

Finding a Marketable Genre from 2016-05-19T08:00

This is an epic episode. Shawn and Tim talk through finding a marketable genre and how to build a book that fits. Then, once the episode was over, they keep talking with the mics on for another hal...

Getting Unstuck from 2016-05-12T08:00

After a week of Tim floundering with his first draft, Shawn starts to rescue him from the pit of despair. Of course, they go back to genre to find the way home. This is a wide ranging episode on ho...

Can you learn to write better (without trying)? from 2016-04-21T08:00

Shawn and Tim discuss unconventional ways to become a better writer. Topics include chicken sexing, Deliberate Practice, and many other things. Also, Tim's now trying to track down a cadaver he can...

How to Write Faster from 2016-04-14T16:12

How can you get more writing done? Is the "wall" even real or just in your head?

When to get feedback from other writers from 2016-03-31T08:00

A wide ranging episode where Shawn and Tim discuss a new way to think about beginning hooks, the high concept "What if?" pitch, when to open the door and get other writer's feedback, and how the "P...

What if my writing sucks? from 2016-03-24T08:00

It was at 8000 words in that Tim realized his writing was terrible. So how does he keep going? Shawn offers his advice on overcoming this and other types of resistance.

What is the Theme of your Story? from 2016-03-17T08:00

What is your theme or controlling idea, and how does it help you tell a better story? Tim and Shawn also discuss how to avoid getting caught in analysis-paralysis and how to build your world the ri...

How to Story Grid a Book from 2016-02-24T09:00

Talking about Story Grid is one thing, putting it into practice is quite another. Tim struggles with applying Story Grid to Harry Potter. In addition, specificity, ins and outs of publishing, and m...

Can I just rip off Harry Potter? from 2016-02-17T09:00

The Hero's Journey and how it works with Story Grid. The characters and scenarios. Also, how to learn from one book to write your own.

Shawn rips apart Tim's scene (again) from 2016-02-10T09:00

Tim writes another scene for Shawn to critique.

Better Non-fiction with Story Grid from 2016-01-27T09:00

Shawn explains how Story Grid can help you be a better non-fiction writer. Also, the editing process and how to know when your book is "done".

How to write a great beginning hook from 2016-01-20T09:00

How do you write an opener for your book that grabs people's attention and doesn't let go? Shawn shares great insights on this along with how to develop believable characters.

Units of Story (beats, scenes, acts, etc) from 2016-01-13T09:00

Learn the units of story telling -- beats, scenes, sequences, acts, etc -- and how they make you a better writer and editor.

The Martian and A Christmas Carol from 2015-12-23T09:00

Learn how the Story Grid works with Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN and Charles Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

The 8 stages of grief/writing from 2015-12-16T09:39

How does the Kübler-Ross model from psychiatry apply to your writing? Also, how to develop your characters and applying the Story Grid to non-fiction.

6 questions (good) editors ask from 2015-11-25T09:00

The 6 questions (good) editors ask and the 5 parts of every story. See the full show notes to download Shawn's critiques of Tim's first scene.

Shawn rips apart Tim's scene from 2015-11-18T09:00

Shawns critiques (rips apart) Tim's first scene. Along the way, they discuss Agatha Christie, Wes Craven, Hemingway, and Freddy Krueger. See full show notes at storygrid.com/podcast to download and...

How not to waste 100k words from 2015-11-11T09:00

How does The Martian work with The Story Grid? Plus, we discuss how to make sure your story is good before writing 100k words and the difference between Internal and External genre.

Diving deep into genre from 2015-10-28T08:00

Shawn and Tim dive deeper into genre and how to find the best internal and external conflicts. Along the way they discuss the hero's journey, love stories, and a woman from the sea.

What is literary vs commercial fiction? from 2015-10-21T08:00

Shawn and Tim discuss literary vs commercial fiction and start diving into the giant subject that is genre.

And that's what life is all about from 2015-10-14T09:00

How can you become a better writer? Join Shawn Coyne, a bestselling editor with 25+ years experience, and Tim Grahl as they dive into the craft of story telling.

In this episode we discus...

And that's what life is all about from 2015-10-14T09:00

How can you become a better writer? Join Shawn Coyne, a bestselling editor with 25+ years experience, and Tim Grahl as they dive into the craft of story telling.

And that's what life is all about from 2015-10-14T09:00

How can you become a better writer? Join Shawn Coyne, a bestselling editor with 25+ years experience, and Tim Grahl as they dive into the craft of story telling.

In this episode we discus...