A simple decision-making framework to help you find YOUR best writing path.

Yesterday, I shared a framework to help you make any decision about your writing career.

Well—yesterday, I shared part one of that framework.

And today, I’m back on the podcast with part two!

In yesterday’s episode, I coached you through how to identify your values in your writing. What’s truly important to you?

And in today’s episode, I’ll coach you through identifying your needs. What do you need most in your writing, editing, and publishing process right now?

When you know what you value and what you need, making decisions about your writing journey becomes almost easy.

You’ll know what courses you need. What book professionals you want to hire. What specific areas of learning and development you want to focus on.

Ready for complete clarity about your writing journey? Check out the episode.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Join Notes to Novel: alicesudlow.com/notestonovel
• Ep. 48: How to Choose the Right Writing Resources for YOU Right Now, Part 1

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How to answer the question, “When should I work with an editor?”

Hire an editor. Join a writing course. Work with a book coach. Gather beta readers. Join a writing group.

There are so many resources to help you write and edit an amazing novel.

This is great news when you know exactly what resource you need. If you need a very specific type of support, I can almost guarantee that it exists.

But it’s terrible news when you don’t know what you need. When you don’t know what to look for, all the options are just overwhelming.

So what’s the solution? How do you cut through the overwhelm and find the perfect writing resource for you, right now, at this very moment in your writing career?

Well, that’s what I’m covering in this episode.

I’m going to walk you through my favorite decision-making framework. It’s the answer I give anytime someone asks, “How do I know when to hire an editor?”

And it will help you make any decision in your entire writing career (and maybe in life, too!).

Plus, I’ll show you exactly how to use this framework in a real-life example, a decision you get to make right now:

Should you join Notes to Novel before the doors close this Thursday?

I won’t tell you whether you should join or not. That’s up to you.

What I will do is help you discover what’s most important to you. Then, I’ll show you whether Notes to Novel is a good fit for that.

Think of this episode as a one-on-one coaching session with me where I’ll help you figure out whether the Notes to Novel course is right for you.

There’s no one right answer here. Just a process of discernment you can use for this decision—and every decision you make about your writing journey.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Join Notes to Novel: alicesudlow.com/notestonovel

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"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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See the masterful story structure that undergirds the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon.

Great stories are built on great story structure. And my favorite story structure framework is one that you can apply on every level of story.

It’s called the six elements of story, and it’s an editing tool you can use on every layer of your story.

To prove it, I’m doing a deep dive into the structure of How to Train Your Dragon. First, I broke down the six elements of the movie as a whole. Then, I took a closer look at the first act of the movie.

And in this episode, I’m breaking down the opening scene.

You’ll learn:

• The essential value shifts that change from the start of the scene to the end
• The critical, life-or-death choice Hiccup must make in the very first scene of the movie
• How that choice sets up everything to come
• And more!

Want more? You can see my full analysis of How to Train Your Dragon all on one spreadsheet. Go to alicesudlow.com/dragon to get the spreadsheet.

Then, go find the six elements of story in your scenes!

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Watch the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon
• Watch the resolution of the opening scene
• Get the full How to Train Your Dragon analysis: alicesudlow.com/dragon
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story
• Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
• Ep. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories
• Ep. 45: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your Dragon
• Ep. 46: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in Act 1 of How to Train Your Dragon

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"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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The story structure that makes the first act of How to Train Your Dragon work.

One of my favorite things about the six elements of story structure is the fact that they work everywhere.

You can use them to structure your entire novel. You can use them to structure each act. And you can use them to structure each scene.

And to prove it, I’m breaking down the first act of How to Train Your Dragon to show you the six elements at work.

You’ll learn:

• What values shift in the first act (and why those changes are good and bad)
• The crisis choice Hiccup must make, and the many risks at stake
• How the inciting incident and resolution make the value shifts crystal clear
• And more!

Plus, you can get my full spreadsheet analyzing How to Train Your Dragon at alicesudlow.com/dragon.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Get the full How to Train Your Dragon analysis: alicesudlow.com/dragon
• Watch the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon
• Ep. 45: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your Dragon
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story

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Support the show

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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See the story structure that makes this brilliant movie work.

The six elements of story are the essentials of great story structure. And in the last few episodes of Your Next Draft, I’ve shared a lot of theory about them: what they are, how they work, and where to use them.

But theory only gets you so far. Story structure makes a lot more sense when you can see it at work.

So in this episode, I’m breaking down the movie How to Train Your Dragon so you can see the six elements in practice.

You’ll learn:

• How the inciting incident sets up the conflict of the entire story
• The difficult question Hiccup faces in the crisis—and why both his options have consequences
• Why the climax delivers so well that it gives me chills every time I see it
• And more!

See story structure at work in this masterful example. Then, put it to work in your own stories and craft your own masterpieces!

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story
• Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
• Ep. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories
• Ep. 44: 3 Ways to Apply the 6 Elements of Story Structure to Your Novel

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"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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How to use one story structure tool to edit every part of your story.

The best story structure is the one you can apply to your story.

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been discussing a lot of story theory on the podcast. Today, I’m getting back to application.

In this episode, I’ll show you three ways to apply the six elements of story to your novel.

You’ll learn:

• How to apply one story structure to your story in three ways
• How I edit even the smallest moments of a story to make them punchy and exciting
• Two bonus ways to use this story structure
• And more!

One of my favorite things about this story structure framework? It works at every level of story.

That means that once you learn it, you’re prepared to edit your entire manuscript, your scenes, and more.

In today’s episode, I’ll show you how.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet
• Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing Scenes
• Ep. 25: 4-Act Structure: The Simple Structure to Edit Your Novel (And Why 3 Acts Aren’t Enough)
• Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
• Ep. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories

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Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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The story structure framework I use in every story I edit.

What do fractals and nesting dolls have to do with story structure? More than you might think.

Last week on the podcast, I shared my favorite story structure framework. It’s the same structure I use with all my one-on-one clients and in every novel I edit.

But I didn’t tell you why.

Why is it so powerful? Why do I use it in every story? Why do I love it so much that I’m still talking about it on the podcast?

In this episode, you’ll find out.

You’ll learn:

• Why mastering this one story structure will level up your editing on every level of story
• How this structure works for stories from romance to horror and everything in between
• What this structure has in common with fractals—and why that’s fantastic news for your editing
• And more!

If your story’s structure is feeling a little shaky, give these six elements a try. I think they’ll reveal powerful insights about your story.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story
• Ep. 34: Extended Edition: How Spider-Man’s Leap of Faith Makes Us Feel Triumphant
• Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene

Send me a Text Message!

Support the show

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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A simple, flexible story structure framework that works for every kind of story.

Great stories are built on great story structure.

And while there are a lot of story structure systems out there . . .

. . . I do have a favorite. It’s one that I use every single day in my editing. I apply it to every story I edit. And it works every time.

In this episode, I’m breaking it all down for you.

You’ll learn:

• The 6 moments every great story includes
• How to apply my most popular worksheet to more than just scenes
• Why a piece of story we talk about the least is actually one of my favorites
• The story structure tools that will empower you to tell absolutely any story you want
• And more!

When I learned this framework, it transformed my entire approach to editing. That’s not a hyperbole—learning this made all the difference for me.

I practice it every time I pick up a story. And I’m always discovering new insights it offers into what makes story work.

And who knows? Maybe this will become your favorite approach to story structure, too!

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet (and use it for more than just scenes!): alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet
• Ep. 15: How Long Should it Take for Your Character to Make a Decision?
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story

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Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Story theory doesn’t sap creativity—it helps us reflect truths about the human experience in our art.

When you edit a novel, much of your job is to use story theory to evaluate what’s working and what’s not.

But often, I find that this makes writers uncomfortable. They’re afraid that applying story theory will suck the life, creativity, and originality out of storytelling.

Have you ever felt that way? Ever wondered whether the storytelling principles you use (even the ones I share here on this podcast!) might make your story too predictable, formulaic, and—gasp—boring?

If so, then you’ll love today’s episode of Your Next Draft.

In it, you’ll learn:

• Where story theory actually comes from
• Why story theory works so darn well
• How to test story theory and see how it works—in the real world
• Why using story theory doesn’t have to make your story boring
• And more!

Full confession: this episode was inspired by a moment when I was confronted with story theory in my own life. In fact, my therapist told me something I’ve said to you many times here on this podcast!

So this episode is a little more personal than I typically get here on the podcast. But that moment was such a perfect illustration of why story theory works that I just have to share it with you.

Enjoy this glimpse into how my editor brain works. And see if you can spot story theory around you in your own life!

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing Scenes
• Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story
• Ep. 32: How Spider-Man (And All Great Stories) Makes Us Laugh, Cry, and Feel the Feels
• Ep. 33: The 3-Step Formula to Evoke Emotion and Make Your Readers Feel
• Ep. 34: Extended Edition: How Spider-Man’s Leap of Faith Makes Us Feel Triumphant

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Support the show

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Build a reading habit that helps you edit amazing novels.

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

This quote from Stephen King gets shared a lot in writer circles.

But I have a confession: when I became an editor, I fell into a reading slump. Worse, I stayed in the slump for several years. (After all, Stephen King was talking about writers, not editors, right?)

Last year, I read 58 books, nearly three times the books I read the year before. And this year, I’m on track to surpass that again.

So in this episode, I’m sharing all about how to read in a way that benefits your writing and editing.

How did I get out of the reading slump? And how has reading more impacted my editing? It’s all in the episode.

You’ll learn:

• 5 strategies to use your reading to improve your editing
• The mindset shift that transformed how I read
• The 4 types of books I recommend you read
• How to gamify your reading (and why I’m so fun to watch movies with)
• How complicated it used to be to listen to audiobooks (I felt ancient describing this, but it was not that long ago)

Plus, a few years ago, I created a robust reading tracker spreadsheet so I can quickly reference books when I’m editing. Want to steal my reading tracker? Download my "Read Like an Editor" Reading Tracker here.

Let’s be honest: you and I are in the book industry because we love stories.

I hope this episode gives you strategies to leverage your reading in your editing process.

But more than that, I hope it inspires you and helps you reinvigorate your own reading habit.

Happy reading!

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Download my “Read Like an Editor” Reading Tracker: alicesudlow.com/reading-tracker

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Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »