What is story? As someone who studies plot structure—and the shape of story—I find it an interesting thought exercise to consider the many ways in which the marketplace is increasingly shaping modern writing culture and even storytelling itself. Is story a process or a product? Is it an experience, an archetype, a communication, or a […]
May 4, 2026 by 27 Comments PodcastThe Emotional Toll on Writers in the Modern Landscape (And Why So Many Are Burning Out)
How we doing, fellow writers? Are you hanging in there? Everywhere I look in today’s creative landscape, I can’t help but sense that more and more writers are burning out, and my opinion is that this isn’t caused simply by too much work with too few vacations. At least some of the strain is coming […]
April 6, 2026 by 8 Comments CharactersInternal Conflict vs. External Conflict: The Shift From Projection to Agency in Character Arc
One of the easiest mistakes in writing is assuming stories are about the external action of defeating the antagonistic force, when in reality they are about what the protagonist must become in order to face that conflict. Internal conflict vs. external conflict reveals how your story’s character arcs operate beneath the plot. The tension between […]
March 16, 2026 by 14 Comments Podcast9 Tips for How to Write Dark Stories Responsibly (And Make Hope Feel Earned)
Why do some dark stories feel true and even redemptive while others feel icky and draining? And why do some hopeful stories resonate deeply while others feel saccharine and shallow? When writers consider how to write dark stories responsibly, what we are really asking is a deeper craft question: how do we move through the […]
March 2, 2026 by 12 Comments PodcastEmbodied Writing: How to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Story
Where do our stories come from? Not just theoretically or archetypally, but for each of us as individuals? From where do our stories—our romances, mysteries, fantasies, dramas, tragedies, and comedies—actually arise? Even when prompted by outer inspiration, they still come from somewhere deep inside of us, from a deeply human connection. And where does this […]
February 16, 2026 by 13 Comments PodcastThe Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story
When writers start talking about story structure, usually the first things people think of are beats, turning points, and acts. But underneath all of that is a more fundamental question: What is the shape of story itself? Is story fundamentally linear, moving from beginning to middle to end—or does a different pattern emerge? This question […]
November 10, 2025 by 61 Comments PodcastReflections on Turning 40 (+40 Things You Might Not Know About Me)
Today, I turn 40. Behind the scenes, I’m taking an intentional day to myself (no computer or phone) to celebrate the massive decade that is behind me and to lean into the excitement I feel for the decade ahead. When I turned 30, someone told me my 30s would be the best decade. I often […]
November 3, 2025 by 10 Comments Podcast5 Ways to Keep the Story Moving Between the Big Moments
Many writers discover that connecting the plot points of a story is far harder than identifying them. It’s easy enough to name the big turning points on a beat sheet, but when you sit down to write the pages that bridge those landmarks, the story can feel as if it’s stalling in the middle. The […]
October 27, 2025 by 22 Comments PodcastThe Real Purpose of the Second Act (And Why You Can’t Skip It)
What would stories be without their long, uncertain Second Acts? Imagine if characters stepped straight from their first challenge to their final revelation, skipping all the struggle and the wandering in between. Would the thematic Truths they discover carry the same weight? Would we even believe them? Although the Second Act may look like “just […]
October 20, 2025 by 14 Comments Podcast“Who Am I?” The Midpoint as Self-Recognition in Story Structure
“Who am I?” is the question that echoes beneath every character arc. At the story’s Midpoint, that central query rises to the surface. This central beat—this all-important Moment of Truth in story structure—functions most symbolically as a moment of self-recognition. It is a mirror held up to the protagonist, often by the antagonist, that reveals […]
