“Because It's grounded on a very simple principle. Story, well told, well crafted, well structured, will have a pattern of ebb and flow. The ebb is where the tension builds up, and the flow is where it releases.”

-- Leon Conrad 

In this episode of How to Write The Future podcast, host, Beth Barany talks to award winning author and tutor Leon Conrad where they discuss story structure, storytelling techniques, and how to map story structure for individual characters.

ABOUT LEON CONRAD

Leon Conrad grew up among the souks and bazaars of Egypt. Early encounters with storytelling from a living 'Arabian Nights'-type oral tradition started him on a life-long quest to explore the unique power the human voice has to inspire. A talented pianist and linguist, he studied music in London, UK, working with opera singers and musical theatre performers. He studied storytelling with Shonaleigh Cumbers, a Jewish storyteller from a living oral tradition.

As an author, his ground-breaking book 'Story and Structure: A complete guide' has won several literary awards including the IPNE Nonfiction Book of the Year and was shortlisted for The People's Book Prize. Leon set up The Unknown Storyteller Project in 2018 to help writers use story structure techniques to craft tighter stories and to spot and fix plot holes more effectively.

As a tutor, he works with gifted and talented students age 7+ , helping many to publish their work independently and traditionally. He runs courses for writers of all ages.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhyDoesStoryStory/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeonConrad

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unknownstorytellerproject/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-conrad/

RESOURCES

Story and Structure: A Complete Guide by Leon Conrad

https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Complete-Leon-Conrad/dp/1906069255/

Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/

Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/

Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/

• SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth Barany
• SHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade

c. 2025 BETH BARANY

https://bethba

Questions? Comments? Send us a text!

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CONNECT
Contact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/

CREDITS
EDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://get.descript.com/0clwwvlf6e3j
MUSIC: Uppbeat.io
DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465