A hill I will die on: we need heroic stories. That may seem super obvious. After all, the word “hero” has become all but synonymous with “protagonist.” They are not, however, the same thing. A protagonist is the structural driver of the plot (just as the antagonist is the structural obstacle to that driving momentum). […]
June 15, 2026 by 5 Comments PodcastHow to Write Mythic Fiction: 7 Practices to Reconnect With the Lost Art of Mythmaking
What is mythic fiction, and how can we write it? Earlier this month, I shared a post about how to write mythic fiction, in which I discussed the difference between adapting inherited myths (i.e., just retelling the old symbolic stories over and over in “new” ways) versus creating our own myths. My suggestion was that […]
June 1, 2026 by 11 Comments Writing InspirationHow to Write Mythic Fiction: Stop Borrowing Old Myths and Start Creating New Ones
If you’ve hung around here for any length of time, you know I tend to talk a lot about “archetypal” and “mythic” fiction. But what do those words really even mean—and why are they important? And why might we want to learn how to write mythic fiction? Many contemporary writers are interested in writing mythic […]
May 18, 2026 by 30 Comments PodcastThoughts on How the Marketplace Is Shaping the Stories We Tell
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 […]
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 […]
February 2, 2026 by 8 Comments Writing InspirationStory as Cosmology: Understanding Story as a Framework for Meaning
As storytellers, we spend our lives thinking about story. How does it work? What makes it resonate? What makes certain narratives feel true while others fall flat? We analyze structure, character arc, theme, and meaning, often with the sense that story is something we are shaping from the outside-in. However, story is not just something […]
January 19, 2026 by 38 Comments Writing InspirationWhy Writers Need a Sense of Wonder in Fiction More Than Ever
We live in a storytelling moment deeply fascinated by darkness—and for good reason. Stories have always descended into shadow to help us metabolize our fear, trauma, and moral failure. They name the monster, bringing it out of the shadows where it can be faced and perhaps integrated or understood. But stories don’t just explore darkness; […]
December 15, 2025 by 14 Comments Writing InspirationThe Best Books I Read in 2025: My Top Fiction and Nonfiction Picks
Every December, I love looking back at my year in books. My reading always ends up reflecting everything else in my life. It shows what I’m curious about, what’s inspired me, and how I’ve grown. This year, I feel like really got to fall back in love with reading so much more deeply. For the […]
