#151. How Rowling Built A World Ripe For Life Or Death Conflicts (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
Ever wonder how Rowling created such a fantastic, three-dimensional story world for her Harry Potter series? That’s exactly what you’ll hear in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Join me, Abigail K. Perry, and Tim Grahl, as we discuss the world-building in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—and what we learned from our analysis of this mega best seller. You’ll hear us talk about things like: [02:38] How Rowling built a fantastic story world ripe for life and death conflicts (but in a...
23 Juli 202420min
Bonus: How Rowling Used Plot Catalysts to Keep Readers Engaged (A Sneak Peek From My Book!)
Plot catalysts make it difficult for a character to achieve their goals. If you’re writing an Action story, there are three main plot catalysts you’ll want to include in your book—a speech in praise of the villain, a deadline or ticking clock, and one or more set-piece action sequences. Tune into this episode to hear a sneak peek from my new book, The Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and hear how Rowling used plot catalysts to keep readers engaged...
18 Juli 202410min
#150. How Rowling Created A Cast of Compelling Characters (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
Ever wonder how Rowling created such a wonderful cast of quirky and relatable characters in the Harry Potter series? If so, tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry, Tim Grahl, and me talk about the characters in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. You’ll hear us talk about things like: [02:32] How to think about the number of characters you include in your story (and what we can learn from the characters Rowling highlighted in book one)[09:17] How to write a dynamic cas...
16 Juli 202433min
Bonus: What Made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone A Best Seller? (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
What made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a worldwide bestseller? Why does this story still resonate with readers almost thirty years later? And why did Abigail and I agree to spend so much time dissecting every single scene and page to find out how and why it works?! Tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk to Tim Grahl (the CEO of Story Grid) about what it was like to study Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—why we chose this book, what we learned from our analysi...
11 Juli 202425min
[SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT] My Book Is Available For Pre-Order!
Ever wish you could understand exactly what makes your favorite stories so lovable? Me too! So much so that I deconstructed every single scene in the first Harry Potter book to see how and why it worked. And today, I’m super excited to share with you that my brand-new book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide, is officially available for pre-order right now! Tune into this episode to hear me talk about things like: [03:25] What’s inside the book...
9 Juli 202413min
#149. 5 Questions To Write Better Antagonists
Antagonists can make or break a story—both for the writer and the reader. Writers who don’t spend time developing their antagonists tend to write drafts that fall apart in the middle. Anyone who reads a story with a weak or unconvincing protagonist is unlikely to finish it. So, how do we go about making our antagonists just as compelling as our protagonists? How do we write an antagonist with impact? In this episode, I’m sharing five questions that will help you create a compellin...
2 Juli 202425min
#148. How To Use Universal Fantasy To Write Better Books (& Sell More Copies) With Theodora Taylor
“Never wonder if readers will love your story again.” This is exactly what Theodora Taylor teaches you how to do in her book 7 FIGURE FICTION: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE. Despite writing fiction in a niche genre (interracial romance), Theodora Taylor has grown a fanbase of rabid readers and fans through the power of something she calls Universal Fantasy—aka “the ingredients you need to write DELICIOUS stories!” In this episode, Theodora Taylor shares how she d...
25 Juni 202444min
#147. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (June 2024)
Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀 In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach. I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’m excited (or not excited) about, what’s coming up in the next few weeks, what I learn from the writers I work with, and basically anything else that happens during the week! Tune into the episode to hear me talk about things like: [05:07] A behind-the-scenes look at the ma...
18 Juni 202430min
