Story Grid Writing Podcast

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**Story Grid Writing Podcast**

Helping you become a better writer.

Join Shawn Coyne, author of Story Grid and a top editor for 30+ years, and Tim Grahl, struggling writer, as they discuss the ins and outs of what makes a story great.

More at www.StoryGrid.com.

Latest Episodes:

Line Edits: Putting the Final Touches on Eye Witness Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

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 still coming through.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yma-xAE77UnQMNAjTyOUPxF21P_DaFxuNXyQin-0gHo/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-283

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 283 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

Final Edits of a Short Story: Beat Construction and 624 Analysis Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

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 Analysis.

You really see the Story Grid Tools shine in this episode as Leslie and Danielle apply them to Tim's writing to find places still left to fix.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b-RzszE7YzLEn5fSlWAqVQ_OkXhuJg3cxfZImXzIkYI/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-282

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 282 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

Does Tim Actually Get It Right? How to Nail the Narrative Device Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

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 being a simple practice that got him over the hump.

Listen in as Shawn, Danielle, Leslie, and Tim discuss how to nail the narrative device.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RRmqjv90vYpi20B7kbxgdHQwdhFRvB3pESZD6Y52XEg/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-281

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 281 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

How to Connect with Characters: Finding the Motivation and Shadow in Yourself Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

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.

Writing or Just Pretending? When there is Zero Flow and Everything is $h*t Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

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 and wrong.

When they ask Tim what he thinks of all this, lots of emotions start coming out including his feeling that he's not writing anymore... he's pretending to write.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QZGyUNetvNGfKAjwyfF3m4r9RPoMQN4g3Q18oWXoLOw/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-279

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 279 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

Conflict and Emotional Connection: Every Beat, Trope, and Scene Must Have These Sep 24, 2022

Show notes

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, and how better to lock in to the narrative device.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V6ja3HN4uKuS0J4x6pvWBUwkZUiE5uJov5jM3Gj-Yvw/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-278

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 278 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

Who's the Most Guilty Person in Your Story? Hero, Victim, and Villain - Part 2 Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

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 focus Danielle, Leslie, and Shawn take on Tim's scene this week.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M_rP2ARaDQbSlGBmNRESszzYuNN-nrxa0pdJjt0qQRU/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-277

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 277 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

Hero, Victim and Perpetrator: The Must-Have Relationships in Your Story Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

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 story will not read as believable.

This is the focus Danielle, Leslie, and Shawn take on Tim's scene this week.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OQd5NxTcn2JLwrphueCX91A4wXN9BEQFBYwbyN7NJ1M/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-275

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 275 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast

The Impact of a Story Theme: An Interview with Scott Mann and Randle Surles about the book Operation Pineapple Express Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

Figuring out your Story Theme is the key to unlocking the entire roadmap of your story.

Scott Mann is the author of the new book → Operation Pineapple Express: The Incredible Story of a Group of Americans Who Undertook One Last Mission and Honored a Promise in Afghanistan.

Randall Surles is a Story Grid Certified Editor and worked with Scott to develop and produce the book under an extremely tight deadline.

In this interview, they discuss what went into writing the book, how they worked together, and what it meant to write a book like this.

Truth in Fiction: How to Write and Develop Believable Characters Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

How do you ground your characters in a reality that your reader will believe even though you are making the whole thing up?

This week Tim makes the mistake of sterilizing his protagonist to the point where he is no longer interesting or believable. Shawn, Danielle, and Leslie walk him through the steps of using character development and a strong narrative device to fix these problems.

Click here to read Tim's scene: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10bdr_tF4ASohz0cHoNjlbNmsLOVXiDpFw54ugHYLZI8/edit?usp=sharing

To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-274

—

Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com

This is Episode 274 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast