In this episode, Certified Story Grid editor Leslie Watts and Writership’s first officer, Liz Green, discuss the way things have changed around the podcast and answer some burning questions about the Story Grid, Leslie’s approach to editing, and why you need to tell your story.
Listen to the Writership Podcast
About Our Guest Host
Liz Green is Writership's first officer, lurking below decks and keeping us shipshape. She's also the writer behind Green Goose Ghostwriting, where online entrepreneurs get help to write books that build their businesses.
Mentioned on the Show
The Sell More Books Show Summit
Jim Kukral of the Author Marketing Club and the Sell More Books Show is doing another big conference, this time in Chicago in May of 2018. It's called the Sell More Books Show Summit and you can learn more and get a ticket here.
Join 175 other writers and publishing friends for this interactive, two-day conference and networking event in Chicago! Eat, drink and learn together, and be on your way to building a stronger and more profitable career as an author.
Only 175 seats are available and early bird pricing will run out soon. Click here to grab your ticket.
Join the Writership Book Club!
Join the Writership Quarter Masters Book Club! Each month I'll choose a book from your suggestions. We'll read it and, together in a (virtual) book club meeting, analyze it the way I would for a Story Grid Diagnostic.
Our next meeting is December 21, 2017 and we're tackling crime stories. For more information, visit our Patreon page.
Send Leslie Your Questions
Click here to email Leslie your questions.
Questions from the episode
Here are some of the questions we cover in this episode:
Why don't you do podcast episodes like you used to any more?
How did you discover the Story Grid? How did you get into it?
Where do the Story Grid principles come from? Is this just something Shawn Coyne invented?
People have been writing amazing stories for centuries without the Story Grid, so why do we need it?
This methodology is all well and good for plotters, but what about pantsers?
Why do you like this better than how you used to edit?
Is this just a fad? Will you go back to editing the "normal" way soon?
What's the deal with obligatory scenes and conventions?
Do writers have to do the Story Grid spreadsheet to get benefit from the methodology? It seems more complicated than it needs to be.
Is the Story Grid a cult?
Editorial Mission—Take Your Question or Problem to the Source
This week, I want you to think of a question or problem you have about writing or revision and go to your favorite source for writing advice. It could be this podcast, the Story Grid, The Creative Penn, Writing Excuses, The Write Practice, or another place. Look around on the site to see if you can find the answer to your problem or question. Google the name and your question and search beyond the first page of results. If you still don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to the owner of the site and ask your question. Even if they can’t answer your question, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
The point of this exercise is to recognize when we have a problem, often we’re not the first to have experienced it, and chances are someone knows how to solve it. It’s good practice to be thorough in your search and to get in touch if you can’t find what you’re after.
Image courtesy of alexraths/bigstockphoto.com.