The Writers’ Common Language: A Shared Vocabulary to Tell Better Stories
Written by Tim GrahlEdited by Leslie Watts
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.
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Tim Grahl is the author of the fiction work The Threshing and the nonfiction works Running Down a Dream and Your First 1000 Copies. For over a decade he has worked with top authors and creatives including Daniel H. Pink, Barbara Corcoran, Hugh MacLeod, Hugh Howey, Chip and Dan Heath, and many more. He has run the campaigns to launch dozens of bestselling books and built and sold two companies. He works with his friend and editor Shawn Coyne at Story Grid Universe where they help writers tell better stories.
Leslie Watts is a certified Story Grid editor, writer, and podcaster. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember: from her sixth-grade magazine about cats to writing practice while drafting opinions for an appellate court judge.
When the dust settled after her children were born, she launched Writership.com to help writers unearth the treasure in their manuscripts. She believes writers become better storytellers through practice, and that editors owe a duty of care to help writers with specific and supportive guidance to meet reader expectations and express their unique gifts in the world.