How to Start a New Novel

FromStory Grid Writing Podcast

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How to Start a New Novel

FromStory Grid Writing Podcast

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Length:

51 minutes

Released:

Jan 30, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

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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 through this in this week's episode.Click here to download Tim's new Foolscap.

Released:

Jan 30, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Click here to Subscribe in iTunes. Helping you become a better writer. Join Shawn Coyne, author of Story Grid and a top editor for 25+ years, and Tim Grahl, struggling writer, as they discuss the ins and outs of what makes a story great. More at www.StoryGrid.com.

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Shawn rips apart Tim's scene: 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 read Tim's first scene. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
73 min listen
Where do great story ideas come from?: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
57 min listen
How to Write Faster: How can you get more writing done? Is the "wall" even real or just in your head? by Story Grid Writing Podcast
57 min listen
Creating great writing habits: How do great writers actually get their writing done? Shawn and Tim delve into this along with combating fear and reaching your goals. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
How to plot and outline your story: 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 Tim's initial outline and other downloads at storygrid.com/podcast. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
The 5 Commandments of Storytelling: Learn the 5 commandments of storytelling and how it will make your story better. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
60 min listen
The Mathematics of Storytelling: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
65 min listen
And that's what life is all about: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
62 min listen
How does Stephen King write?: How does Stephen King do it? Plus, Shawn and Tim talk about flailing as a writer and how good character development is really done. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
69 min listen
Units of Story (beats, scenes, acts, etc): Learn the units of story telling -- beats, scenes, sequences, acts, etc -- and how they make you a better writer and editor. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
57 min listen
6 questions (good) editors ask: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
64 min listen
First draft is done. Now what?: Tim has finished his first draft and Shawn gives advice on what happens next and what questions Tim should be asking himself. If you'd like to read Tim's first draft, you can do that at storygrid.com/podcast. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
55 min listen
What is literary vs commercial fiction?: Shawn and Tim discuss literary vs commercial fiction and start diving into the giant subject that is genre. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
75 min listen
What is narrative device?: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
62 min listen
The 8 stages of grief/writing: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
67 min listen
How not to waste 100k words: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
70 min listen
What if my writing sucks?: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
62 min listen
Getting Unstuck: 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 how you can start picking up the pieces of your first draft. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
50 min listen
There are only 6 stories: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
55 min listen
How to Story Grid a Book: 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 more. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
The Martian and A Christmas Carol: Learn how the Story Grid works with Andy Weir's THE MARTIAN and Charles Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
85 min listen
Shawn rips apart Tim's scene (again): Tim writes another scene for Shawn to critique. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
57 min listen
Diving deep into genre: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
65 min listen
The 2 big questions to ask your first draft: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
59 min listen
Getting the Rewrites Right: Tim finally nails his scene. What changed? And what is the right process for going from draft to a working scene? by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
Pub 101: Finding an Agent and Selling Your Book: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
54 min listen
What do your characters want? (plus, Tim gets frustrated): 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 are clear. Unfortunately, Tim is having a hard time catching on. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
71 min listen
Can I just rip off Harry Potter?: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
51 min listen
Villains and Inciting Incidents: Who drives the story? This is a harder question to answer than you think. Shawn and Tim dive deep in this question. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
56 min listen
Pub 101: How to Work With Your Publisher: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen

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John Wick Analysis: Part 2 - Acts and Structure: Access the full Story Grid analysis of John Wick at https://storygrid.com/wick. This is the second in a four part series analyzing the movie John Wick using the Story Grid methodology. This 2014 movie, written by Derek Kolstad, is a genre leading action movie. Story Grid Certified Editor Rachel Arsenault (https://www.rachel-arsenault.com) and Tim Grahl start by looking at the Story Grid Five Leaf Genre Clover before diving into the quadrants and controlling idea. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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John Wick Analysis: Part 1 - Genre and Controlling Idea: Access the full Story Grid analysis of John Wick at https://storygrid.com/wick. This is the first in a four part series analyzing the movie John Wick using the Story Grid methodology. This 2014 movie, written by Derek Kolstad, is a genre leading action movie. Story Grid Certified Editor Rachel Arsenault (https://www.rachel-arsenault.com) and Tim Grahl start by looking at the Story Grid Five Leaf Genre Clover before diving into the quadrants and controlling idea. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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Final Edits of a Short Story: Beat Construction and 624 Analysis: 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 by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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How to Connect with Characters: Finding the Motivation and Shadow in Yourself: 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. To see the transcript of this episode, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-280 — 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 280 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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Conflict and Emotional Connection: Every Beat, Trope, and Scene Must Have These: 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 by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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Story Tropes: Building Blocks of Scenes: 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 create a story that meets the reader expectations for your particular GENRE. Most lists of tropes are a grab bag of story types and/or their components and aspects. They don’t fit together, so they don’t provide a process for consistently crafting scenes and stories that satisfy readers. In the Story Grid Universe, we provide this process by limiting the definition of a trope to a particular level of Story. Story Grid tropes are small story units that are the building blocks writers need to create the arc of change within scenes. In this episode, we start working through the Tropes for the short story EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain (https://amzn.to/3Q2UpqV). To download the Trope Breakdown, visit: https://storygrid.com/episode-264 — Get a free copy of our book Sto by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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Beat Breakdown: Analyzing Writing Line-by-Line - Part 3: Learn how your line-by-line writing can be improved by the Story Grid Beat methodology. In this episode, we show you the final line graph generated by our beat-by-beat analysis and how this can help you write better scenes. — Get a free copy of our book Story Grid 101: The First Five Principles of the Story Grid Methodology: https://storygrid101.com For episode transcript and downloads: https://storygrid.com/episode-263 This is Episode 263 of the Story Grid Podcast: https://storygrid.com/podcast This is our in-depth analysis of the short story EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain: https://amzn.to/3Q2UpqV by Story Grid Writing Podcast
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Introducing Hero's Journey 2.0: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
50 min listen
Editor View vs Writer View: 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 and the Writer’s view. Shawn tells her, “Just be inspired as opposed to being literally crazed about making sure you get everything perfect.” by Story Grid Writing Podcast
45 min listen
Worldbuilding in Hero's Journey 2.0: 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 2.0 lens. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
42 min listen
First Two Steps in the Hero's Journey 2.0: 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 in this episode. https://www.dropbox.com/s/axjngf5r8w6ivcx/Heroic%20Journey%20Macro%20Infographic-01-1.png?dl=0 by Story Grid Writing Podcast
62 min listen
The 2 big questions to ask your first draft: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
59 min listen
Chapter 9 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
15 min listen
When to get feedback from other writers: 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 "Power of 10" will help your editing process. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
54 min listen
Introducing: Story Grid Showrunners Podcast: 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 episodic series, you'll want to have a listen. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
Chapter 7 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis: 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. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
16 min listen
How to Story Grid a Book: 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 more. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
52 min listen
Quadrant 3 of the Hero's Journey 2.0: Tim has finished his manuscript! Shawn gives him the next steps and then they continue discussing the Hero’s Journey 2.0. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
48 min listen
Villains and Inciting Incidents: Who drives the story? This is a harder question to answer than you think. Shawn and Tim dive deep in this question. by Story Grid Writing Podcast
56 min listen

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How to Start a New Novel

How to Start a New Novel

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