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The Writers' Common Language: A Shared Vocabulary to Tell Better Stories
Like many beginning writers, Tim Grahl struggled to learn his craft-and even to find the right words to describe his questions and challenges. After reading a library of how-to books, Tim found what he needed in the unique Story Grid approach.
With the help of editor, friend, and Story Grid creator Shawn Coyne, Tim discovered a new vocabulary-what he now calls The Writers' Common Language. Learning this language can help us all think and talk about our stories with more clarity and specificity.
In this book, Tim shares moments from his own journey as a storyteller and how the strategies and tools of Story Grid transformed the way he reads, writes, and edits his own work. "Once you can apply these tools to your own story," he says, "you will be amazed at the progress you can make."
With a shared understanding of terms such as "genre," "point of view," "value shift," and "theme," writers and editors can talk more productively and meaningfully to level up every project.
When we speak in this writers' common language, we can create community, learn from each other, and-most important-bring more great stories into the world.
With the help of editor, friend, and Story Grid creator Shawn Coyne, Tim discovered a new vocabulary-what he now calls The Writers' Common Language. Learning this language can help us all think and talk about our stories with more clarity and specificity.
In this book, Tim shares moments from his own journey as a storyteller and how the strategies and tools of Story Grid transformed the way he reads, writes, and edits his own work. "Once you can apply these tools to your own story," he says, "you will be amazed at the progress you can make."
With a shared understanding of terms such as "genre," "point of view," "value shift," and "theme," writers and editors can talk more productively and meaningfully to level up every project.
When we speak in this writers' common language, we can create community, learn from each other, and-most important-bring more great stories into the world.
86 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2021
5 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 10, 2022
I wish that I'd read this before I read The Four Core Framework--I think I would have understood more of that book if I'd had the "shared vocabulary" from The Writers' Common Language.
This book was clear, specific, and easy to understand, probably because of the examples that were sprinkled throughout.
I do want to read it again to solidify some of the concepts, but I'm confident that I understood most of it.
Like some other story grid books, the audio version of The Writers' Common Language is available for free on YouTube. Thank you so much for that!
This book was clear, specific, and easy to understand, probably because of the examples that were sprinkled throughout.
I do want to read it again to solidify some of the concepts, but I'm confident that I understood most of it.
Like some other story grid books, the audio version of The Writers' Common Language is available for free on YouTube. Thank you so much for that!
February 1, 2022
Get all the Story Grid Beats. Read all the Story Grid Beats.
If you want to level up your craft as a writer, this is the way to go.
Also, these then become a great source of reference when you are stuck with your writing (or doing your weekly Story Grid Guild worksheet).
I'd recommend bookmarking the pages that have concepts, or tools that you'd likely revisit to make it easier to consult these books.
Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 5/5
Mindset: 5/5
Some of My Highlights:
"Until we have a shared language, we cannot have a real discussion about our writing."
"Another way to think about genre is to ask the question, what does our protagonist want and need throughout the story? We call this the Object of Desire."
"Conventions and obligatory moments are circumstances and specific happenings that the reader expects because of the genre of the story."
"Once we choose our genre, the next step is to identify the conventions and obligatory moments our story must have to meet reader expectations."
"Often our global and secondary genres create competing conscious and unconscious wants and needs inside of our characters."
"I start by identifying the Five Commandments in my entire story."
If you want to level up your craft as a writer, this is the way to go.
Also, these then become a great source of reference when you are stuck with your writing (or doing your weekly Story Grid Guild worksheet).
I'd recommend bookmarking the pages that have concepts, or tools that you'd likely revisit to make it easier to consult these books.
Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 5/5
Mindset: 5/5
Some of My Highlights:
"Until we have a shared language, we cannot have a real discussion about our writing."
"Another way to think about genre is to ask the question, what does our protagonist want and need throughout the story? We call this the Object of Desire."
"Conventions and obligatory moments are circumstances and specific happenings that the reader expects because of the genre of the story."
"Once we choose our genre, the next step is to identify the conventions and obligatory moments our story must have to meet reader expectations."
"Often our global and secondary genres create competing conscious and unconscious wants and needs inside of our characters."
"I start by identifying the Five Commandments in my entire story."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews