Master the Craft of Writing
Transform Your Writing Through 1-on-1 Expert Guidance and Deliberate Practice

The Story Grid Writer Mentorship Program

Next Cohort 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.

What's Really At Stake When Your Scenes Don't Work?

The journey from blank page to masterwork-level novel requires mastering both the fundamentals and the grand vision of storytelling.

When either is missing:

✗ Readers put down your book, never experiencing the story you worked so hard to tell.

✗ Your most powerful scenes fall flat because readers checked out pages ago.

✗ The characters you've lived with for years remain lifeless on the page.

✗ The profound truths in your story never reach the people who need them.

✗ Your voice—your unique perspective on the world—goes unheard.

✗ The hundreds of hours you've spent writing yield stories that don't move people.

The Truth About Great Writing: Creating stories that matter requires mastering every level of the craft—from compelling scenes to complete novels that transform readers. You need both the foundation and the vision.

Here's the Good News: This is a learnable journey. Every great author started exactly where you are. The difference? They found a systematic path forward and expert guidance to light the way.

That's exactly what the Story Grid Writer Mentorship Program provides—a clear path from your first scene to your final masterwork.

THE STORY GRID
Writer Mentorship Program

Learn to write scenes and books that are so good
readers can't help but keep turning pages.

New cohort begins January 4, 2025.

CURRICULUM

In less than 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


Practice
Write consistently with focused assignments that build specific skills, creating multiple iterations as you refine your craft.

Feedback

Receive detailed, actionable feedback from your dedicated mentor, helping you identify both strengths and areas for improvement.

Analyze

Learn to study masterworks like a professional editor, understanding not just what works, but why 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

1-on-1 Guidance

Personal Mentorship

Your dedicated mentor serves as your guide throughout the entire program, providing consistent support and accountability. They work closely with our teaching team to create a customized learning path that addresses your specific needs and challenges.

  • Weekly detailed feedback on your writing assignments
  • Bi-weekly one-on-one coaching calls
  • Customized guidance based on your specific needs
  • Regular progress assessments
  • Development of specific focus areas for improvement
  • Strategic planning for your writing goals
  • Ongoing support and accountability

Customized Writing Assignments

The heart of your development happens through carefully structured writing assignments that build your skills progressively. Each week brings new challenges designed to expand your capabilities while reinforcing fundamental techniques.

  • Weekly scene writing assignments
  • Focused revision exercises
  • Progressive skill development
  • Practical application of concepts
  • Scene analysis practice
  • Genre-specific challenges
  • Systematic skill building

Group Support

Interactive Workshops

Connect with fellow writers in dynamic group sessions where you'll analyze scenes, share insights, and deepen your understanding of story craft. These workshops complement your individual work by providing new perspectives and collaborative learning opportunities.

  • Weekly group sessions
  • Deep scene analysis
  • Masterwork study
  • Peer learning opportunities
  • Q&A sessions with expert coaches
  • Craft development exercises

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

A Merit-Based Path to Writing Mastery

The Writer Mentorship Program is structured over three years, divided into six six-month semesters. However, this is a maximum timeframe—your actual journey could be shorter based on your progress and mastery of writing skills.


A Merit-Based Path to Writing Mastery

Rather than automatically moving forward every six months, you'll advance through four levels of writing proficiency when you demonstrate mastery:

On-the-Surface

Master the fundamentals of scene writing—the essential building block of all great stories. You'll learn to write scenes that engage readers, move stories forward, and serve a clear purpose.

Beyond-the-Surface

Develop your story's spirit and deeper meaning. Move past just what happens to understand why it matters, creating work that resonates on an emotional level.

Above-the-Surface

Master the mind of story—the philosophical and structural elements that give your work coherence and power. Learn to weave complex narratives that serve a larger purpose.

Through-the-Surface

Create stories that transcend their individual elements to become something greater—work that emerges from authentic experience and speaks universal truths. This is where individual craft transforms into art.


While many writers will use the full three years to develop their craft, others may progress more quickly. Your mentor will work closely with you to:

  • Assess your current writing level
  • Identify specific areas for improvement
  • Recognize when you're ready to advance to the next level
  • Ensure you build a solid foundation for future growth

The program's structure ensures you have up to three years to master these skills, but allows for faster progression if you demonstrate consistent excellence in your writing. What matters isn't how long it takes, but that you achieve true mastery at each level.


Writer Mentorship Includes:

🗺️ 

PERSONALIZED PLAN

We will help you identify your goals and work with you to develop your personal writing plan. This will help inform your Mentor so they are guiding you towards your goals for the program.

☎️ 

1-ON-1 MENTOR CALLS

Every two weeks, you will meet via Zoom with your Mentor 1-on-1 to discuss your progress, ask questions, and receive feedback.

🧑‍🏫 

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.

🖍️ 

WEEKLY WRITING REVIEW

Every week, your Mentor will review your writing assignment and give direct, actionable feedback.

📄 

CUSTOM ASSIGNMENTS

During the assignment review, your Mentor will provide custom follow-up assignments to help you take your writing further.

💻 

LIVE GROUP COACHING

Every week, join your fellow Writer Mentorship writers in a group coaching led by a Story Grid Certified Editor.

Meet Your Instructors

These are the people guiding you through the Writer Mentorship Program.

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.

JOIN THIS PROGRAM FOR WRITERS:
Writer Mentorship Program

1-ON-1 WRITER MENTORSHIP

One of the best ways to speed up any learning practice is to shorten the feedback loop of your practice.

The time between doing the practice and getting specific, expert feedback on your practice should be as short as possible.

This is what you get when you join the 1-on-1 Writer Mentorship.

Each week, your Mentor gives you feedback on the week’s assignment along with follow-up, custom assignments to go deeper on your skills.

Along with this, you will have 1-on-1 coaching calls along with weekly group coaching calls and a personalized writing plan.

Here's what our 1-on-1 Writer Mentorship students
have to say about their experience...

Do you think a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing is the best way to develop your line-by-line writing?

An MFA program won’t provide anywhere near the rigor and level of useful writing training found in the Story Grid Writer Mentorship Program.

Watch the videos below to hear from students who also have their MFA in Creative Writing.

Apply Now

A New Cohort Begins January 4, 2025

Investment in Your Writing Future

The Writer Mentorship Program is structured as a three-year journey divided into six-month semesters. Your tuition covers one semester of intensive, personalized training. However, because we use a merit-based advancement system, talented writers who demonstrate mastery may progress more quickly through the program.

What Makes Our Pricing Different

  • Pay per semester rather than the full three years upfront
  • Advance at your own pace based on writing mastery
  • No penalty for taking longer if needed
  • No extra charge for progressing faster
  • All-inclusive pricing covers every aspect of the program

Each Semester Includes:

  • Weekly 1-on-1 mentorship and feedback
  • Bi-weekly coaching calls
  • Weekly group workshops
  • Complete access to training materials
  • Writing community membership
  • Custom assignments and assessments

SEMESTER TUITION

$5960
or $1090/month

FILL OUT AN APPLICATION

FAQs

Do I get personal 1-on-1 attention?

✅ YES! Every student is paired with a highly trained, dedicated Story Grid Mentor who provides consistent guidance throughout the program. The mentorship includes:

  • Written and video feedback on every scene you write
  • Bi-weekly one-on-one coaching calls
  • Custom assignments based on your specific needs
  • Regular progress tracking through our rubric system

We carefully match students with mentors based on your application process. If you feel the match isn't working, you can request a different mentor at any time.

Will I actually improve as a writer?

✅ YES! First of all, we have been running this program for over three years and continued to improve our training and curriculum.

He help you improve through:

  • Weekly writing and immediate expert feedback that identifies exactly what you did right, what needs work, and specific steps for improvement
  • A proven progression path that builds your skills systematically: First mastering individual scenes, then combining scenes into compelling short stories, and finally crafting complete novellas
  • Our comprehensive rubric system lets you track specific improvements in your writing skills. Your mentor updates your progress dashboard every four weeks to show exactly where you're growing.
  • Our merit-based advancement ensures you build a rock-solid foundation before moving to more complex challenges. Think of it like earning belts in martial arts - you advance when you've mastered the skills at your current level.

Our systematic approach to developing writing skills works because it combines proven theory with constant practice and expert feedback.

Can I join even if I've never written before?

✅ YES! The program is designed to meet you exactly where you are. We've had successful students who had never written creatively before starting the program, as well as experienced writers looking to enhance their skills.

You don't need any preparation or previous writing experience. The program starts with fundamentals and builds progressively. Your mentor will adjust the feedback and guidance to match your current skill level and help you advance at your own pace.

Will I be able to collaborate with other students?

✅ YES! You'll have access to a vibrant writing community in several ways:

  • Weekly workshops with your cohort (10-20 writers) where you'll analyze scenes together and deepen your understanding of story craft
  • A dedicated Slack channel where you can connect with writers from every level of the program - from brand new students to those working on their novellas
  • The annual Writer Mentorship Summit in Nashville where you'll spend 2½ days with fellow writers, celebrate program milestones, and forge lasting connections

To maintain a supportive, pressure-free environment, all feedback comes exclusively from our expert mentors. This means you can focus on learning and building relationships with fellow writers without the stress of critiquing each other's work. Our students consistently tell us this creates a more encouraging and collaborative atmosphere where lasting friendships flourish.

You'll be learning alongside others who share your commitment to mastering the craft of writing, creating an energizing environment for growth.

What happens if I miss the live sessions? Can I still access them?

✅ YES! All live sessions are recorded and posted to your training dashboard, where they'll be available for the duration of your membership. This includes:

  • Weekly workshop sessions
  • Group coaching calls
  • Special trainings and events

You can send questions in advance to ensure they're addressed during the session, even if you can't attend live. Your mentor will also review any important points during your one-on-one calls.

We have students from different time zones and with varying schedules, so we've made sure you never miss critical training just because you can't make a live session. While we encourage live attendance when possible for the interactive elements, many successful students primarily engage with the recorded content.

Remember, the most important parts of the program—your writing submissions, mentor feedback, and one-on-one calls—are all scheduled at times that work for you.

Do I have time in my schedule for this program?

✅ YES! The weekly commitment is ~5-7 hours per week, broken down into:

  • Training videos (~1 hour)
  • Live workshop (~1 hour)
  • Writing assignment (~2-3 hours)
  • Reviewing feedback (~30 minutes)
  • Bi-weekly mentor call (30-60 minutes)

We've designed the program to work for busy professionals, parents, and retirees. Most of our current students are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s with full lives outside of writing. Here's how we make it manageable:

  • Flexible scheduling - multiple workshop times to choose from and mentor calls scheduled at your convenience
  • Recorded sessions - all live content is recorded so you never miss important training
  • Break weeks built into the schedule for catching up and review
  • Async learning - most of the work can be done when it fits your schedule

The only fixed time commitments are your chosen workshop slot and bi-weekly mentor calls that you set the schedule for. Everything else fits around your life.

The program is an investment in your writing future, but one that's designed to work with—not compete against—your existing commitments.

Will I know if I'm actually improving?

✅ YES! We use a comprehensive rubric system to track your development across specific writing skills. Your mentor updates your progress dashboard every four weeks, identifying areas of improvement and skills that need focus.

Advancement through the program is merit-based rather than time-based. While we expect most students to complete the program within three years, you'll move forward based on demonstrated mastery rather than time served. This ensures you build a solid foundation before tackling more complex writing challenges.

Think of it like earning belts in martial arts - you advance when you've mastered the skills at your current level, not just because you've put in time. We guarantee you won't pay for more than three years of training, even if you need more time to complete all levels.

I write nonfiction. Is this still a good fit for me?

✅ YES! The Writer Mentorship program 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 training 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.

I still have more questions. Can I get them answered?

✅ YES! Simply email us at [email protected] and our CEO will respond ASAP.

Apply Now

A New Cohort Begins January 4, 2025

Investment in Your Writing Future

The Writer Mentorship Program is structured as a three-year journey divided into six-month semesters. Your tuition covers one semester of intensive, personalized training. However, because we use a merit-based advancement system, talented writers who demonstrate mastery may progress more quickly through the program.

What Makes Our Pricing Different

  • Pay per semester rather than the full three years upfront
  • Advance at your own pace based on writing mastery
  • No penalty for taking longer if needed
  • No extra charge for progressing faster
  • All-inclusive pricing covers every aspect of the program

Each Semester Includes:

  • Weekly 1-on-1 mentorship and feedback
  • Bi-weekly coaching calls
  • Weekly group workshops
  • Complete access to training materials
  • Writing community membership
  • Custom assignments and assessments

SEMESTER TUITION

$5960
or $1090/month