Write Stories That Work—Without Guessing, Winging It, or Starting Over (Again)
Get step-by-step training from the founder and CEO of Story Grid—the only writing system built from the ground up to show you why stories work and how to build your own.
The Story Grid Guild
Next Session Begins May 3, 2025
9 HIDDEN PROBLEMS IN YOUR WRITING
You’ve read books. Watched videos. Taken online courses.
But something still feels… off. These 9 hidden problems show up again and again, even for smart, committed writers.
Do any of these sound familiar?
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1. Your scenes have no direction.
The writing starts, you feel good about the scene, and then you realize—it's hard to tell exactly when this happens—everything has gone off track.
You keep going, hoping you'll be able to write yourself out of the hole, but eventually the writing peters out and you stop.
On a reread, there is a lot going on. Characters are doing stuff. Plenty of exposition. Lots of description. But it doesn't go anywhere and even you get lost... and you wrote it!
If a reader can't figure out what's going on in your story, they will stop reading.
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2. Your scenes are boring.
It’s hard to get all the details and story bits into your writing without making it boring. You know there needs to be some kind of action happening, but how do you do this without car chases and explosions? What if it’s two people getting coffee or a person traveling alone?
You force yourself to finish the scene, but even you get bored when you read back through it.
And if it’s boring to you, imagine how the reader is going to feel!
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3. Your scenes don't evoke emotion.
Your writing comes out flat and dull like a Wikipedia entry describing something interesting instead of pulling you into the narrative.
As you struggle to put the words down, you’re not sure which verbs, adjectives and adverbs to put down in order to connect your writing to your reader at an emotional level.
You know each word you choose is important, but how do you make those choices?
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4. Too many details in your scenes.
You get lost in the excitement of creating your world and characters, so you keep putting more and more. Before long, you have thousands of words of exposition but nothing has happened yet.
Somewhere in that mess you try to get your story elements in, but you worry that you’ve buried them in an avalanche of description. When you go back to edit though, you know you need to cut, but you’re not sure what to cut or why.
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5. Poorly Developed Characters.
As you develop your story, you keep adding characters without a clear direction on their purpose and how they will add value to the narrative.
On a reread, you start to fear that all of your characters are running together and remain uninteresting and unbelievable. Your protagonist is acting inconsistently and doesn't have a clear path or goal.
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6. Your world is not believable.
You struggle to choose the right details to describe your story’s world to make it feel real and vibrant. So you keep adding more and more, unsure of when you’ve put enough.
The world feels so real to you, but you’re never quite sure if it’s landing on the page in the right way.
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7. Your scenes are full of exposition dumps.
As you write, you struggle with weaving the exposition, dialogue, and action together.
You worry you’re not giving your readers enough information, so you opt to open a scene or stop mid-action and dump all of the information on the reader at once.
But then you worry that you’re back to making your writing boring again.
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8. Your scenes do not have a clear voice.
You don’t feel locked into who you’re telling the story to and why, so the voice shifts as you write. Sometimes you use flowery prose and then switch into Hemingwayesque direct, simple language.
You feel the inconsistency in the word choice, but struggle to lock in on anything that feels coherent throughout the writing.
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9. Your "camera" movement is confusing.
As you write, you bounce from a god-like view of the context to an up-close description of action to dialogue to a different character's vantage point. It feels right in the moment, but when you read through later, you feel like you’re getting jerked around, unsure of where to focus.
If the movement is too jarring, your story will get lost in the chaos.
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Bonus: Your scene is a BLANK PAGE.
You would love to have these problems in your writing, as that would mean you were actually writing.
Instead, when you try to write, you end up staring at the endless blinking of the cursor unsure of where to start and what to write.
If you never write anything then you never have to deal with a reader who doesn't like your writing.
If you saw yourself in any of these, you’re not broken. You’ve just never been taught how to write stories that work.
That’s what the Story Grid Guild is for.
We help writers move from “I think this might work…” to “I *know* this works.” Week by week. Scene by scene.
You’ve Tried the Blogs, the Books, the Courses—But Your Writing Still Isn’t Working. Here’s Why.
You’ve probably done everything “right”:
✗ Bought the craft books
✗ Taken a writing workshop (or five)
✗ Spent hours on YouTube, hoping for that one tip that finally makes it click
But you still feel stuck.
✗ What should you actually focus on?
✗ Why does your writing sound okay—but still fall flat?
✗ And how do you know if your story really works?
Here’s the truth: writing isn’t just about talent or inspiration.
It’s about understanding how stories work—and learning the skills to build them on purpose.
That’s what the Story Grid Guild gives you.
The Story Grid Guild
Stop guessing, hoping, and rewriting forever.
Learn the objective craft of storytelling—scene by scene.
New session begins May 3, 2025.
CURRICULUM
Build Mastery by Studying 4 Great Stories Every Year
Inside the Story Grid Guild, we don’t study just one story at a time—we study four.
Each year, we select four masterworks of fiction across different genres, styles, and narrative approaches. Then we study them together—week by week, layer by layer.
Why four at once? Because great writers learn faster by comparing and contrasting.
By analyzing how different authors solve the same storytelling problems—from character development to scene structure to narrative arc—you’ll build deeper insight, faster.
Each week, you'll:
- Study a new concept drawn from one of the masterworks
- Write a scene that applies what you've learned
- Build the habits and skills of a professional writer
This approach mirrors how professional editors and writers learn to see stories at every level—not in isolation, but in context.
And the result? You won’t just understand story theory. You’ll internalize it—until it becomes second nature on the page.
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Stories That Work—From Start to Finish
You’ll learn how to build rock-solid story structure—so your plot doesn’t fizzle, drift, or stall.
From the first scene to the final payoff, you’ll create narratives that move with purpose and keep readers engaged.
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Characters That Feel Real
Say goodbye to flat protagonists and unclear motivations.
You’ll craft characters whose desires, dilemmas, and choices drive the story forward—and make readers feel something.
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Scenes That Actually Work
You’ll master the sentence-by-sentence mechanics of powerful writing—so your scenes don’t just sound good… they do something.
Dialogue, exposition, beats, movement—it’s all here, taught step by step.
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A Professional's Writing Experience
Great writing doesn’t happen by accident.
You’ll train like a pro—studying masterworks, writing weekly, and learning a repeatable process you can use for any story you want to tell.
Two Experts. One Proven System.
Weekly Training
🧠 Core Story Structure
Taught by Shawn Coyne
Shawn teaches the foundational principles that make stories work—from genre and structure to theme and narrative drive. You'll learn to think like an editor and build stories that resonate on every level.
You’ll learn how to:
- Master the 20 core scenes every story needs
- Understand genre conventions and reader expectations
- Analyze masterworks to uncover what makes them powerful
- Build strong narrative arcs with clear internal logic
- ]Apply Simulation Synthesis to deepen meaning and cohesion
✍️ Scene-Level Writing Skills
Taught by Tim Grahl
Tim translates theory into practice with hands-on scene work. Every week, you’ll take what you learn and use it to write your own scene—improving your craft one page at a time.
You’ll learn how to:
- Write scenes that hook readers from the first line
- Craft seamless transitions that drive momentum
- Create vivid dialogue that reveals character and conflict
- Balance exposition, description, and movement
- Polish your prose without losing voice or impact
Find Your People. Grow Together.
Writing Community
Connect daily with fellow writers in our private online community, where you'll find encouragement, accountability, and peer support. This vibrant space brings together writers from across the program to share experiences, celebrate victories, and support each other through challenges.
- Shared accountability and encouragement
- Topic-specific discussion groups
- Connections with writers at all levels
- Resource sharing and recommendations
- Writing goal tracking and celebrations
The Story Grid Framework: Four Levels of Mastery
Through the Story Grid Guild, you'll learn about the four levels of story that make writing work:
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On-the-Surface
Learn how to write scenes that actually move the story forward. No more dead dialogue, exposition dumps, or “what’s the point?” paragraphs.
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Beyond-the-Surface
Understand how meaning is created through change. You’ll learn to embed emotional depth and narrative drive—even in small moments.
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Above-the-Surface
Explore the worldview and philosophy beneath every great story. Discover how to write stories that feel cohesive, intentional, and powerful.
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Through-the-Surface
Tap into the deeper purpose of storytelling—how great fiction helps us make sense of life. This is where craft becomes art.
Everything Included in Your Guild Membership
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WEEKLY TRAINING
Clear, step-by-step instruction based on that week’s concept from the masterworks we’re studying. Each lesson includes examples, how-tos, and practical takeaways.
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WEEKLY WRITING
You’ll write one original scene (or rewrite the previous scene) based on the week’s training—applying what you’ve learned to build muscle and momentum.
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MONTHLY LIVE WORKSHOPPING
Join a live workshop led by Story Grid CEO Tim Grahl where you will workshop writing skills live, together on a call.
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MONTHLY INSTRUCTOR Q&A
Ask your burning questions and get answers straight from the team behind Story Grid. Can’t attend live? Send in your questions and watch the replay.
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ACCESS TO STORY GRID AI
Get writing help from our custom-trained AI, built on 4+ million words of Story Grid methodology. Think of it as your personal TA—ready to help 24/7.
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PRIVATE COMMUNITY FORUM
Find support, share wins, and get accountability inside our members-only forum. Connect with writers who speak your language and take their craft seriously.
Meet Your Instructors
These are the people guiding you through the Story Grid Guild.
Shawn Coyne
Creator and Founder of Story Grid
Shawn Coyne is the founder of Story Grid, a methodology and publishing house dedicated to analyzing and creating stories that work. With over thirty years in publishing, his books have sold more than 27 million copies and achieved an unprecedented 83% success rate—making his projects 2.5 times more likely to succeed than the industry average. His career spans roles at Dell Publishing, St. Martin's Press, and Doubleday Publishing, before founding three independent publishing houses: Rugged Land, Black Irish Books, and Story Grid Publishing. His book The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know has sold over 100,000 copies and spawned a chart-topping podcast with millions of downloads. He has edited numerous bestselling authors including Steven Pressfield, Robert McKee, Randy Komisar, Steven Kotler, and David Mamet. His innovative work integrating storytelling principles with cognitive science and evolutionary theory has led to the development of Simulation Synthesis Theory, which he teaches through lectures and workshops worldwide. Known for his unique ability to break down complex writing principles into practical, actionable steps, he has helped thousands of writers master their craft through his clear, systematic approach to storytelling. As a writer, editor, and publisher, he has analyzed, acquired, edited, written, marketed, represented, or published 374 books across all genres, working with both emerging writers and literary legends like Elmore Leonard, Jack Olsen, Maeve Binchy, and Belva Plain.
Tim Grahl
CEO of Story Grid
Tim Grahl is the C.E.O. of Story Grid, a university and publishing house dedicated to teaching and publishing complex stories. He is the author of the bestselling book marketing methodology and protocol, Your First Thousand Copies and The Book Launch Blueprint. His memoir Running Down a Dream, a warts and all confession of the trials and tribulations of a contemporary small business owner, drew accolades from Ryan Holiday, Barbara Corcoran, Daniel H. Pink, Derek Sivers, and Steven Pressfield, who described it as "Indispensable." The writing of his first novel, a young adult science fiction coming of age action story, The Threshing, was the subject of the first three years of the Story Grid Podcast, a perennial chart topper on multiple podcast bestseller lists. His latest novel, The Shithead, has earned praise from multiple New York Times bestselling authors and established him as a writer of authentic, transformative fiction. Through his rapidly growing YouTube channel with over 25,000 subscribers, he teaches the craft of writing to authors around the world.
What Our Students Are Saying
"The Guild has completely transformed my writing."
"By exploring story in a more complete way, I’m now able to construct a more cohesive narrative; and then pairing this understanding with beat to beat level instruction, I’m able to get the right words on the page. The Guild is a commitment, but one that is well worth it."
— Amy Kelm
"I spent years in the wilderness of craft books, university writing classes and local writer workshops."
"I was trying to find someone who could not only tell HOW to do this mysterious task of writing a novel but also tell me where mine was going wrong! I had some amazing teachers and I knew I had good instincts and I had tons of writing "practice" but I did not have a map... I was always wandering around. Story Grid is the map... actually it's the star chart, the globe and the atlas. Add to that a community of writers and instructors who all speak the same language... you will not get lost again."
— Krista Adams, Writer and Story Grid Certified Editor
"There is so much more value than I was expecting."
"When I first signed up, I was worried I was making a mistake. It was a lot of money to me. But now that I realize how much is involved and how much I'm getting out of it, I feel like it was actually an amazing deal. It's such an intensive course and the trainers are putting so much work into it, and I'm so glad that I get to be part of it."
— Annette Roth
"This material isn't talked about anywhere else."
"The Story Grid Guild is the only place to get it. I've been challenged and frustrated, but all in a good way. I love the forums. It is wonderful to be in a community where people care so much about learning and understanding the material.
I know two people joining the new semester. I did not try to encourage them to join. Instead, I kept going on about the incredible concepts I was learning, the new perspectives for analyzing works, etc. It just got them interested and wanting to have it for themselves."
— Pam G
"I have learned so much from the guild that has improved my writing."
"This teaching is objective, not subjective. I am able to understand logically where there is a problem and then how to fix it.
If you're tired of getting feedback based on 'feelings,' if you're ready to understand the bones of story and learn to use them to build your own unique stories, stories that work, then the Story Grid Guild is the right place to learn."
— Cathy Ryan
"I always tell anyone and everyone to join the Guild!"
"It is the most useful writer's resource because it has specific and actionable development tools to diagnose a scene to make it work. The information I've learned in the Story Grid Guild cannot be found anywhere else. Story Grid has been the most helpful resource out of everything I've read to improve my writing.
The community of writers is an extra resource of limitless knowledge and experience of the same writing mindset. The Guild members have an understanding of the same Story Grid methodology, and they're excellent at helping to explain concepts. It's invaluable, and I benefit from it in ways that I'd never get on my own."
— Kristi Stalder, author of Navigating Assisted Living
Join the Story Grid Guild and Start Training Like a Pro
A New Session Begins May 3, 2025
Stop rewriting scenes that don’t work. Start writing with confidence—week by week.
You’ve spent enough time trying to piece together conflicting advice from books, blogs, and workshops. The Guild gives you one system, one community, and a clear weekly process to help you master the craft of writing stories that work.
You’ll get two structured 24-week semesters of weekly lessons, writing assignments, and feedback—so you’re always clear on what to do next.
✅ Weekly Lessons ($997 value)
✅ Weekly Scene Assignments ($997 value)
✅ Monthly Live Workshops ($697 value)
✅ Monthly Q&A with Instructors ($497 value)
✅ Access to Story Grid AI ($997/year)
✅ Private Community of Writers (Priceless)
🟰 $4185+ total value
Current Membership Pricing (before April 25th):
✅ $179/month or $1790/year
✅ Rate is locked in for life
Note: Price increases to $249/month or $2,490/year on Friday, April 25th at 11:59pm Pacific.
FAQs
1. Is this right for me if I’ve already taken other writing classes?
Yes—if you still feel like something’s missing in your writing.
Most of our members have already taken workshops, read the books, and watched the YouTube videos. What they tell us again and again is: “This is the first time it actually clicked.”
We don’t teach surface-level hacks. We teach how stories actually work—so you can finally take control of your craft.
2. I'm just getting started. Will I be able to keep up?
Absolutely.
The Guild is built to meet you where you are. We have members who’ve never finished a draft—and others with several manuscripts under their belt.
What they have in common is a desire to stop guessing and start writing with confidence.
Every lesson is broken down into manageable steps, and you’ll get the support and structure you need to stay on track.
3. How much time will this take each week?
About 2–4 hours per week, depending on how deep you go.
Each week includes:
- A short lesson (usually 30–60 minutes)
- A scene writing assignment (1–2 hours)
- Optional small group sessions and community interaction
The Guild is structured to fit into a busy life—but deep enough to transform your writing if you commit.
4. What exactly do I get in the Guild?
Each membership includes:
- Weekly lessons from Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl
- Weekly scene assignments to apply what you learn
- Monthly live Q&A calls with the instructor
- Monthly workshopping sessions to see real-time feedback
- A private community forum
- Access to our exclusive Story Grid AI
- All content is recorded and available to revisit any time
5. What happens if I miss a live call?
No problem—every call is recorded and posted to your dashboard within 24 hours.
You can also send in questions ahead of time if you know you can’t attend live.
6. Is there 1-on-1 feedback?
Not inside the Guild.
But we do offer scene-by-scene, personal coaching inside the Writer Mentorship Program. Many Guild students graduate into that program after building a solid foundation.
7. I write nonfiction. Is this still a good fit for me?
The Story Grid Guild is focused on leveling up your line-by-line writing as well as your overall understanding of narrative theory. This will improve your skills across all writing whether it's fiction, nonfiction, marketing or even your daily emails.
The methodology in the Guild has been applied across all genres and, even though we use a scene from a masterwork of fiction as the study tool for the semester, you will be surprised how much it applies across everything you write.
8. I still have more questions. Who can I contact?
If you've still got questions, simply send us an email at [email protected].
What Our Students Are Saying
"This will become the required basics for every writer in the future."
"The concepts of Story Grid are brilliantly insightful to the writing process. If you want to understand the structure of story and how to write well, you need to study Story Grid."
— Bill Babb
"If you really want to learn how to write — really — then this is the way to go"
"This is what I've been waiting for forever. Nobody out there is doing this and this is the only way to really become good at writing.
We have to know what we're doing. Nobody becomes a doctor by winging it. Why is it assumed that writing is any different?
Shawn is a visionary."
— Shelley Malka, Ph.D
"I would recommend this to all real writers out there that want to be proud of their work."
"Stop wasting your time typing out fancy words and stop trying to copy other writers styles. Instead, learn how to tell a story on three different levels and beyond. You won't regret leveling up yourself."
— S.E. Mckee
"One-of-a-kind deep-dive learning you can't get ANYWHERE else."
"Members of the Guild are challenged to improve our writing skills together. We share questions and reach understanding while sharing resources generously."
— Johne Cook, author of The Blue Golem
"Story Grid is the best way to analyse stories in a practical, useful way whilst still keeping the process creative."
"Think about some vague piece of writing feedback you've had in the past, such as being told that something ‘doesn’t flow right’ or a character seems ‘off’. Story Grid will show you how to analyse all aspects of Story to help you understand why something is working, or why not. "
— Linda
"The Guild offers extensive resources on story craft."
"If you're thinking you'd like to write a story, have a draft or two, or have been writing a story for a long time but don't know how to finish it, Story Grid can provide the tools you need, like a trusty roadmap, to know where to begin, how to plow through the middle, and how to reach the end without wasting time and energy and, most importantly, WORDS."
— Estee Cortez
Join the Story Grid Guild and Start Training Like a Pro
A New Session Begins May 3, 2025
Guild Membership
You’ve spent enough time trying to piece together conflicting advice from books, blogs, and workshops. The Guild gives you one system, one community, and a clear weekly process to help you master the craft of writing stories that work.
One year of Guild membership consists of two 24-week semesters and includes:
- Weekly instruction from Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl
- Weekly scene assignments with expert examples
- Monthly live workshopping and Q&A
- A private, supportive community of serious writers
- Exclusive access to Story Grid AI (your 24/7 writing assistant)