How the Story Goes

Sometimes the hardest part of writing is getting yourself to sit down and do it. A few habits can make that a lot easier if you can find the right groove.

The most important decision a Phd candidate will make, is the topic or source for their research. That choice determines everything else.

In today’s episode we enter the topic of academic writing and an overview of writing a dissertation and defending it.

Weber Griffiths, faculty member in the BYU Film Program, and I have an inspiring discussion on the power of genre and fables in stories; and whether or not art is an altruistic endeavor or selfish one.

When you’re working with a finished manuscript there are some tools that will help you determine your next steps.

Mixed in with a handful of Ghost Stories of me and a few of my friends, we do an analysis of what makes a story that can scare the pants off an audience.

The magic behind beautiful prose is editing. Some authors review their drafts countless times to ensure it grips and delights the reader.

The goal of a first draft is to finish the story. Write and don’t look back.

The iterative nature of storytelling demands that the structure be practiced. Novel form is the slowest way to practice. Pitching garners the quickest feedback.

You don’t break ground on a house without a blueprint first. Don’t write a book without an outline first.