Whether your characters live and work in a world that looks like ours, or they travel through a portal to someplace virtually unrecognizable to us, exploring new ways to enter your story universe will help you craft a world that better supports the story you want to tell.

Whether your story is realistic or complete fantasy, the time you spend focusing on your setting is valuable because uderstanding the world around your characters will help you create a stronger story. 

We all have some idea of what a resolution is, but what are these scene and story-enders meant to do? In this episode, Leslie explores resolutions so you can write stronger scenes and stories. 

What are scene climaxes, and why do our stories need them? In this episode, Leslie discusses the decisions your characters make and actions they take when faced with a dilemma, so you can write stronger scenes and stories. 

What are crisis questions? Why do our stories and scenes need them? In this episode, Leslie discusses the dilemmas your characters face on the way to resolutions so you can write stronger scenes and stories. 

What are progressive complications? Why do our stories and scenes need them? This week, Story Grid Certified editor Leslie Watts discusses the people, places, things, and events that stand between your characters and their goals within the context of the opening of Anna Ferguson’s YA science fiction novel, The Empire of Saffron. 

What are inciting incidents? Why do our stories and scenes need them? What are the elements of a solid inciting incident? This week, Story Grid Certified editor Leslie Watts discusses these story event catalysts in the context of the opening of Drew Horstman’s fantasy novel, Nicholas Crumb. The editorial mission encourages you to collect inciting incidents by reading and watching stories—and from your own life. 

You’ve written lots of scenes for your work in progress, but how do you know whether they work? Does your scene satisfy basic story principles? In this episode, Leslie shows you how to analyze your scenes by looking at the opening of AW Moyer’s YA fantasy story, The Grim Book.

Although we want strive to be mindful and deliberate while editing, when it comes to drafting our stories, it’s more useful to write with abandon. Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, talks with me about what that means, how to go about it, and why it’s important.

Did you know that everything your characters say and do should be consistent with their essential action and conscious object of desire? In this episode, you'll learn what essential and literal action are and how identifying these items in your scenes will help you level-up your stories.

Have you ever wondered how to take a story that works and make it great? In this episode, you'll discover specific tools to improve a story that’s already working by enhancing the elements of your genre and style to focus on your ideal reader’s specific expectations.

How are dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction are similar and different? Which must-have elements will help you tell a satisfying story in these categories? Find out in this episode with guest host James Thorn.

Is there ever a good time to use second person point of view? Find out in episode 126.

Award-winning poet and creative coach Mark McGuinness talks about why it’s important to put your writing first—both for you personally and for your creative career.

What kind of internal change does your character undergo from the beginning of the story to the end? Have you included the elements necessary to create the reader experience you intend? Find out in episode 124.

In this episode, you’ll find out why Leslie changed her approach to editing to include the Story Grid methodology.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the different types of conflict you can include within your scenes and why in every scene at least a little conflict must arise.

How is basic story structure different in tales that focus on character as opposed to action? In this episode, you’ll find out and learn how to demonstrate change that comes from within.

Scenes are change through action in conflict within a certain space and time. Crisis questions are the dilemmas that force your characters to decide and act. Listen to episode 120 to find out how to make the most of these scene elements.

What are life value shifts, and how can they help you plan, draft, and write your stories? In this episode, we get into the nitty gritty of the changes your character experiences.

If you cringe when people tell you what you must do to tell a great story, you’re not alone. But when you nail down your genre, you gain valuable information to help you plan, draft, and revise your story. In fact, it might be the most important decision you make.

Shoe leather is a term to describe unnecessary information in your scenes. How do you know what’s needed and what can be cut? Check out this episode to find out.

Focusing on story structure will help you write a better story. In this episode, Leslie welcomes Shawn Coyne to discuss the Five Commandments of Storytelling.

Character reactions shouldn’t be random, but based on the way people actually respond to stimulus in their lives. Listen to episode 115 to find out how to craft great scenes by focusing on motivation reaction units.

Inciting incidents are the story events that pull the rug out from under your protagonist, knocking their lives out of balance. Listen to episode 114 to find out how to make the most of these upsetting happenings.

You have a wide variety of tools to support your story, including the words and sentence structure you choose. The trick is to understand when to use different tools to provide the reading experience you’re aiming for. Listen to this episode to find out how to make the most of your language choices.

Flashbacks are a great way to reveal exposition, but they do present some disadvantages. Find out how you can best use these blasts from your story’s past.

Omniscient point of view is often considered old-fashioned, but it offers flexibility and options that you don’t have with the other POVs. While it’s probably the most challenging, you might find that it’s the best vehicle for your story. Why not experiment with this versatile story tool?

To get the most from hiring an editor, you’ll want to tackle certain tasks before you pass on your manuscript. There are plenty of steps you can take to improve your story so that your editor can focus on deeper issues and help you tell a great story.