In Episode 6 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne completes her analysis of micro beats and scene types in Brokeback Mountain, and she and Shawn consider the power of individual word choices in structuring such a lean short novella.

In Episode 5 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne continues finding micro beats and scene types in Brokeback Mountain’s middle build, and learns the difference between the Editor’s view of a story and the Writer’s view. Shawn tells her, “Just be inspired as opposed to being literally crazed about making sure you get everything perfect.”

In Episode 4 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne splits atoms, finding eight micro beats to Shawn’s single beat in the prologue to Brokeback Mountain, and learns just how perfectly Annie Proulx’s lean, precise word choices deliver plot, theme, exposition, symbolism and subtext all at the same time.

In Episode 3 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne and Shawn define some Regency-era analogs for the Wyoming cowboys of Brokeback Mountain, and step into some controversial territory about appropriate representation of underrepresented groups.

In Episode 2 of the Masterwork Experiment, Anne and Shawn review the Editor’s Six Core Questions and use the answers to complete the Global Foolscap worksheet for Brokeback Mountain, laying the groundwork for Anne’s Regency-era novella.

Welcome to the Story Grid Masterwork Experiment!

In this ten-episode summer series, Shawn Coyne and author Anne Hawley are breaking a great masterwork down to the beat level to find out whether an experienced writer can create a new and original story from exactly the same building blocks.

Episode 1 of the Masterwork Experiment introduces the masterwork and lays out the experimental protocol. Will Anne write something new and fresh? Or will she wind up with a hackneyed copy of a beloved novella? Join us to find out.

Ever struggle in wondering if your writing is good enough? Shawn walks Tim through this with his book.

Shawn shares about a new project at Story Grid headquarters that will help teach the micro level of storytelling to writers. See more at storygrid.com/ground

Weeks have passed since Tim has worked on his novel so he finally admits this to Shawn and asks for advice.

Shawn and Tim continue walking through the fundamentals of Story Grid and how the new idea of Pheres applies to the 5 Commandments of Story telling.