Develop Your Writing Skills
With Direct Training from
Story Grid's Founder and CEO
The Story Grid Guild
Next Session Begins January 4, 2025
9 HIDDEN PROBLEMS IN YOUR WRITING
Do these show up for you?
🔄
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.
🥱
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!
😱
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?
🤷♀️
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.
👨👩👧👦
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.
🙄
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.
🗑️
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.
📣
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.
🎥
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.
😢
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.
Transform Your Writing Through Professional Training and Proven Methods
Learning to write well requires understanding both the fundamentals of craft and the principles of storytelling. But finding reliable guidance can be challenging.
Most writers face these obstacles:
✗ Conflicting advice from countless books, blogs, and YouTube videos
✗ Writing "rules" that work for some stories but not others
✗ Endless theory without practical application
✗ No clear path from basic techniques to advanced skills
✗ Uncertainty about what to learn next
✗ Hours spent studying craft without seeing real improvement
The Truth About Learning to Write: Writing isn't just about talent or inspiration. It's about understanding how stories work and learning proven techniques from experienced teachers.
Here's the Good News: You can learn directly from the creators of Story Grid. Every week, Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl teach the same concepts and principles they use to help writers create stories that work.
That's exactly what the Story Grid Guild provides—direct access to professional training from industry veterans who have helped hundreds of writers improve their craft.
The Story Grid Guild
Learn to write scenes and books that are so good
readers can't help but keep turning pages.
New session begins January 4, 2025.
CURRICULUM
Over 3 years, you will learn to create:
Page-Turning Plot
Learn the fundamental principles of story structure and how to create narratives that keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
Compelling Characters
Develop memorable characters with clear motivations, believable conflicts, and satisfying arcs that resonate with readers.
Publishable Works
Transform your writing from first draft to final manuscript, mastering the skills needed to create professional-quality fiction.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS
Weekly Training
Core Story Structure
Taught by Shawn Coyne
Through progressive, systematic training, Shawn will guide you through mastering the foundational elements that make stories work. His decades of publishing experience inform every lesson, ensuring you understand not just the "what" of story structure, but the deeper "why" that makes it resonate with readers.
- Master the 20 core scenes every story needs
- Learn how to create compelling narrative arcs
- Understand genre conventions and reader expectations
- Study scene analysis from multiple masterworks
- Master the different types of conflict and how to use them
- Create powerful story endings that satisfy readers
Specific Writing Skills
Taught by Tim Grahl
Each session builds on proven techniques that transform your writing at the scene level. Tim's practical, hands-on approach helps you develop the technical mastery needed to bring your stories to life.
- Develop strong narrative techniques
- Master scene-level mechanics
- Learn to create engaging dialogue
- Perfect your narrative point of view
- Build scenes that hook readers from the first line
- Create seamless scene transitions
- Craft exposition that brings your story world to life
Group Support
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
Training at Every Level
Through the Story Grid Guild, you'll learn about the four levels of story that make writing work:
On-the-Surface
Discover the fundamentals of scene writing—the essential building block of all great stories. Learn how scenes engage readers, move stories forward, and serve a clear purpose.
Beyond-the-Surface
Explore how stories develop deeper meaning. Learn how to move past just what happens to understand why it matters, and how to create work that resonates on an emotional level.
Above-the-Surface
Study the philosophical and structural elements that give work coherence and power. Learn the principles behind weaving complex narratives that serve a larger purpose.
Through-the-Surface
Understand how stories transcend their individual elements to become something greater—how authentic experience and universal truths combine to create art.
Self-Study Program Includes:
🧑🏫
WEEKLY TRAINING
Every Saturday you will receive access to new writing instruction covering the week’s topic. This will include examples, how-tos, and next steps for your personal writing practice.
✍️
WEEKLY WRITING
Every Saturday with the release of the instruction, you will get access to the week's writing homework. This is a scene to write specifically based on the training.
💻
MONTHLY LIVE WORKSHOPPING
Every month, join your fellow writers in a group coaching led by Story Grid CEO Tim Grahl.
🏘️
COMMUNITY FORUM
Find other writers to connect and form writing groups to work together to level up your craft of writing.
🤖
STORY GRID AI
Get exclusive access to the new chat AI developed and trained on the full Story Grid methodology.
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 Now
A New Session Begins January 4, 2025
Guild Membership Includes
Join the only writing program based on a complete narrative theory developed over thirty years by editor and author Shawn Coyne.
One year of Guild membership consists of two 24-week semesters and includes:
- Weekly Instruction
Every Saturday you will receive access to new writing instruction covering the week’s topic. This will include examples, how-tos, and next steps for your personal writing practice. - Weekly Homework
Every Saturday with the release of the instruction, you will get access to the week's writing homework. This is a scene to write specifically based on the training. - Monthly Instructor Q&A
Each month, join the semester's instructor for a live Q&A to ask your questions on the month's topic, instruction, and practice. - Monthly Live Workshopping
Submit your scenes for live workshopping and feedback to learn alongside your fellow students. - Group Practice and Discussion
You will have the opportunity to join small groups of other Guild members to weekly work and practice together.
$197/month
or, pay for a year and save $167!
FAQs
What happens when I join?
You will have a link on your My Account page so you can access the Guild Dashboard.
This will give you access to the dashboard for the new semester of the Story Grid Guild. You will be able to access the Story Grid Foundations series of courses and other resources to get you started.
On Saturday, January 4th you will receive the first weekly training and homework to kick off the semester of training.
How much of a time commitment is the Story Grid Guild?
You will have plenty of opportunities to invest in leveling up your craft inside the Guild through training, practice, and community.
The weekly training and assignment takes roughly two hours to complete. The small group meetings last less than an hour and the monthly live Q&As last sixty to ninety minutes.
Beyond that, we welcome you to invest as much time as you have available in the various resources to work with the material.
Who will be leading the training each week?
The weekly training will be divided between Story Grid Founder Shawn Coyne and CEO Tim Grahl.
How does the semester schedule work?
Every six months we start a new semester of training. We will follow a specific curriculum that takes you start-to-finish through a masterwork scene to gain a deep understanding of Beats in your line-by-line writing.
What happens if I can't attend a live Q&A call with Tim or the instructors?
All calls will be recorded and posted to the Guild dashboard. They'll be available for the duration of your membership so you can listen to them at your convenience. You'll also have an opportunity to send questions in advance.
What does the practice consist of? Are we writing our own material, or analyzing and dissecting the works of others?
Each week there will be an assignment based on that week's training. The assignments vary depending on the material in the week's training. The Guild is not meant to work on your current work-in-progress. It's focused on skill acquisition that will level up all your future writing.
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.
What sort of feedback do we get?
We are not able to provide 1-on-1 feedback to Guild members. We have the community forum that allow you to work with other students on your answers and we provide general feedback based on what we are seeing in the answers. We also have monthly Q&As with the Tim Grahl to answer questions along the way.
If you are interested in getting 1-on-1 feedback we recommend joining the Writer Mentorship Program.
Can I join whenever I want?
Because the Guild is now running on a 6-month semester cycle, registration is currently open for the semester that begins January 4, 2025.
How do renewals work?
Your membership will automatically renew for both the yearly and monthly membership options. Continuing the membership is the only way to lock-in your pricing and avoid future price increases.
What if I need to cancel?
If you need to cancel a future renewal, please notify us at [email protected] at least one week before your renewal date. Keep in mind, once you cancel there is a 6-month waiting period to rejoin and you will not be able to rejoin at your previous pricing.
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 Now
A New Session Begins January 4, 2025
Guild Membership Includes
Join the only writing program based on a complete narrative theory developed over thirty years by editor and author Shawn Coyne.
One year of Guild membership consists of two 24-week semesters and includes:
- Weekly Instruction
Every Saturday you will receive access to new writing instruction covering the week’s topic. This will include examples, how-tos, and next steps for your personal writing practice. - Weekly Homework
Every Saturday with the release of the instruction, you will get access to the week's writing homework. This is a scene to write specifically based on the training. - Monthly Instructor Q&A
Each month, join the semester's instructor for a live Q&A to ask your questions on the month's topic, instruction, and practice. - Monthly Live Workshopping
Submit your scenes for live workshopping and feedback to learn alongside your fellow students. - Group Practice and Discussion
You will have the opportunity to join small groups of other Guild members to weekly work and practice together.