It’s a wrap! Season 1: State of the Industry is done. After interviewing some truly stellar guests with their fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in all different areas of self-publishing, the guys, Niamh, and Bonnie sit back to discuss what patterns they’ve seen and what lessons they’ve learned.The gang discusses being mindful both of what they are doing and what they are choosing no longer to do, about strengths and weaknesses, as well as the overall feeling of bullishness on the future of indie-publishing in general. They also talk about how it may be the end of the amateur hour of self-publishing when anyone can throw something resembling a book together, put it up, and expect to get sales, but for those willing to put in the time and serious work, the future looks bright. And they explore the ways in which traditional publishing companies have started to act more like indies with competitive pricing and slightly more rapid publishing, and the ways indies are acting more like trads in taking both their branding and businesses more seriously.They also get into more specifics about things like analytics, ads, audiobooks, and more!Tune in for everyone’s biggest take-aways.

It’s a wrap! Season 1: State of the Industry is done. After interviewing some truly stellar guests with their fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in all different areas of self-publishing, the guys, Niamh, and Bonnie sit back to discuss what patterns they’ve seen and what lessons they’ve learned.The gang discusses being mindful both of what they are doing and what they are choosing no longer to do, about strengths and weaknesses, as well as the overall feeling of bullishness on the future of indie-publishing in general. They also talk about how it may be the end of the amateur hour of self-publishing when anyone can throw something resembling a book together, put it up, and expect to get sales, but for those willing to put in the time and serious work, the future looks bright. And they explore the ways in which traditional publishing companies have started to act more like indies with competitive pricing and slightly more rapid publishing, and the ways indies are acting more like trads in taking both their branding and businesses more seriously.They also get into more specifics about things like analytics, ads, audiobooks, and more!Tune in for everyone’s biggest take-aways.

State of the Industry: Patterns and Lessons

Craig Martell

“There’s never been a better time to be an indie author,” Craig Martell says on this episode of the Story Studio Podcast.Craig Martell runs the 20 Books to 50K facebook group and events with Michael Anderle who we also interviewed in this State of the Industry series. In this interview, Craig shares the behind the scenes of both his own wildly successful author journey and how he came to host live author events with Michael.Listen in to learn all about Craig’s take on current industry trends and how he uses his catalog and ad dollars wisely to assure ongoing full-time income, based on years of experience.Click HERE to learn more about the 20 Books to 50k Facebook Group.And you can find LMBPN publishing where both Michael Anderle and Craig Martell HERE.

“There’s never been a better time to be an indie author,” Craig Martell says on this episode of the Story Studio Podcast.Craig Martell runs the 20 Books to 50K facebook group and events with Michael Anderle who we also interviewed in this State of the Industry series. In this interview, Craig shares the behind the scenes of both his own wildly successful author journey and how he came to host live author events with Michael.Listen in to learn all about Craig’s take on current industry trends and how he uses his catalog and ad dollars wisely to assure ongoing full-time income, based on years of experience.Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">20 Books to 50k Facebook Group</a>. And you can find <a href="https://lmbpn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LMBPN publishing</a> where both Michael Anderle and Craig Martell <a href="https://lmbpn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

State of the Industry with Craig Martell

Erin Wright

Erin Wright is a contemporary western romance author who also runs the fantastic online/Facebook Group called Wide For The Win. Erin was initially invited onto the podcast in place of having someone on from Apple since it is very difficult (maybe impossible) to get someone from Apple on a podcast to talk about the state of the industry, but her interview gave us all so much more. Erin has been very successful with her books in the Apple store, but she also has an excellent track record of making her catalog sell well wide, across multiple bookselling sites and platforms, (as in providing a full-time income), and she has been helping others to do the same.Listen in to find out how Erin does it and how she helps others do it too.If you are an author who wants to publish your books wide (rather than exclusively through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program) then check out the Wide for The Win Facebook group here. You can also learn more about Erin Wright here.

Erin Wright is a contemporary western romance author who also runs the fantastic online/Facebook Group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wide For The Win</a>. Erin was initially invited onto the podcast in place of having someone on from Apple since it is very difficult (maybe impossible) to get someone from Apple on a podcast to talk about the state of the industry, but her interview gave us all so much more. Erin has been very successful with her books in the Apple store, but she also has an excellent track record of making her catalog sell well wide, across multiple bookselling sites and platforms, (as in providing a full-time income), and she has been helping others to do the same.Listen in to find out how Erin does it and how she helps others do it too.If you are an author who wants to publish your books wide (rather than exclusively through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program) then check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wide for The Win Facebook group here</a>. You can also learn more about <a href="https://erinwright.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Erin Wright here</a>.

State of the Industry with Erin Wright on Apple

Mark Lefebvre

When the guys first met Mark Leslie Lefevbre, they got to know him as Mark Kobo, because he was working for Kobo back then. Now Mark works for Draft2Digital, through which he continues to promote wide publishing options, including Kobo, but, through the easy-to-use Draft2Digital dashboard interface, also Barnes &amp; Noble, Apple Books, and more. Draft2Digital also makes it easy for indie authors to get their books into library systems, which has recently seen some pretty incredible growth in market share while much of the country (and the world) has been rotating through various levels of lockdown and quarantine.Listen in to learn more about Mark’s journey and about what Draft2Digital can do for the modern indie author, now and into the future. You can also learn more about Mark through his Stark Reflections podcast.

When the guys first met Mark Leslie Lefevbre, they got to know him as Mark Kobo, because he was working for Kobo back then. Now Mark works for <a href="https://draft2digital.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Draft2Digital</a>, through which he continues to promote wide publishing options, including Kobo, but, through the easy-to-use Draft2Digital dashboard interface, also Barnes &amp; Noble, Apple Books, and more. Draft2Digital also makes it easy for indie authors to get their books into library systems, which has recently seen some pretty incredible growth in market share while much of the country (and the world) has been rotating through various levels of lockdown and quarantine.Listen in to learn more about Mark’s journey and about what Draft2Digital can do for the modern indie author, now and into the future. You can also learn more about Mark through his <a href="https://starkreflections.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stark Reflections</a> podcast.

State of the Industry with Mark Lefebvre from Draft2Digital

Andre Chaperon

Shawn Twing

Andre Chaperon and Shawn Twing are writing and business partners. Together they run a website called Tiny Little Businesses (which you can find at https://tinylittlebusinesses.com). Sean first found Andre through his Autoresponder Madness course. Andre also spoke at the very first S&amp;S event (after at first refusing to). Shawn has been in digital marketing for more than two decades and, at one point, was a customer of Andre’s Sphere of Influence product.It’s so refreshing to hear online marketers say that a smaller, more engaged list that is genuinely interested in hearing from you is better than having a huge list of people who only rarely care whether they hear from you or not. Their focus in writing emails is on quality communication and storytelling through email. How can you best connect with your audience through writing emails? Anyone with an email list should definitely listen in to learn more about what Andre and Shawn have to say.

Andre Chaperon and Shawn Twing are writing and business partners. Together they run a website called Tiny Little Businesses (which you can find at <a href="https://tinylittlebusinesses.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://tinylittlebusinesses.com</a>). Sean first found Andre through his Autoresponder Madness course. Andre also spoke at the very first S&amp;S event (after at first refusing to). Shawn has been in digital marketing for more than two decades and, at one point, was a customer of Andre’s Sphere of Influence product.It’s so refreshing to hear online marketers say that a smaller, more engaged list that is genuinely interested in hearing from you is better than having a huge list of people who only rarely care whether they hear from you or not. Their focus in writing emails is on quality communication and storytelling through email. How can you best connect with your audience through writing emails? Anyone with an email list should definitely listen in to learn more about what Andre and Shawn have to say.

State of The Industry with Andre Chaperon and Shawn Twing

Damon Courtney

Once upon a time, there was a fiction writer who wanted to send a free copy of his book to his mom. But he didn’t want her to have to read it in a word doc on her desktop. He wanted her to see the book in its finished form, with the cover and copyright and all the rest. And he wanted her to read it on her e-reader, just like any other published book.Back in 2015, the solution didn’t exist, but luckily Damon Courtney had the drive and technical know-how to create it. Damon is the founder of Bookfunnel, which is now the industry standard for delivering free books to readers. Whether it be getting advanced copies of books to ARC teams, or rewarding subscribers to newsletters with extra “secret” stories, Bookfunnel has become the very best way to get free books onto the electronic reading devices of readers everywhere.Listen in to hear more about the Bookfunnel story, why you need it, and go here to get your own account: https://bookfunnel.com.

Once upon a time, there was a fiction writer who wanted to send a free copy of his book to his mom. But he didn’t want her to have to read it in a word doc on her desktop. He wanted her to see the book in its finished form, with the cover and copyright and all the rest. And he wanted her to read it on her e-reader, just like any other published book.Back in 2015, the solution didn’t exist, but luckily Damon Courtney had the drive and technical know-how to create it. Damon is the founder of Bookfunnel, which is now the industry standard for delivering free books to readers. Whether it be getting advanced copies of books to ARC teams, or rewarding subscribers to newsletters with extra “secret” stories, Bookfunnel has become the very best way to get free books onto the electronic reading devices of readers everywhere.Listen in to hear more about the Bookfunnel story, why you need it, and go here to get your own account: <a href="https://bookfunnel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bookfunnel.com</a>.

State of the Industry with Damon Courtney from Bookfunnel

It’s no secret that the audiobook segment of the publishing industry has been growing in recent years. In the last 9 months of stay-at-home orders and quarantines, people have been listening to audiobooks more than ever. But a lot of indie authors don’t know how to break into the audiobook market. How do you find the right narrator and get the right recording quality necessary for platforms like Audible and Chirp?Well, Will Dages from Findaway Voices is there for you. Findaway Voices is as close to being the Draft2Digital of audiobooks as anyone in the industry is. They have a whole host of narrators that they help match to the books that are best for their voices and match the voices that are best for your books. Or if you have the setup and the voice for it and really want to read your own books, you can upload the audio files yourself.Listen in to learn more about Findaway Voices and all things audiobook, and when you’re ready to set up a Findaway Voices account yourself, go to https://findawayvoices.com.

It’s no secret that the audiobook segment of the publishing industry has been growing in recent years. In the last 9 months of stay-at-home orders and quarantines, people have been listening to audiobooks more than ever. But a lot of indie authors don’t know how to break into the audiobook market. How do you find the right narrator and get the right recording quality necessary for platforms like Audible and Chirp?Well, Will Dages from Findaway Voices is there for you. Findaway Voices is as close to being the Draft2Digital of audiobooks as anyone in the industry is. They have a whole host of narrators that they help match to the books that are best for their voices and match the voices that are best for your books. Or if you have the setup and the voice for it and really want to read your own books, you can upload the audio files yourself.Listen in to learn more about Findaway Voices and all things audiobook, and when you’re ready to set up a Findaway Voices account yourself, go to <a href="https://findawayvoices.com" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://findawayvoices.com</a>.

State of The Industry with Will Dages from Findaway Voices

Jane Friedman

Sean has known Jane Friedman since before the beginning, way back when Yesterday’s Gone was just the seed of an idea and he approached her to talk about a series of Shel Silverstein-like children’s poem’s that he wanted to write. She invited him to talk to one of her college classes about copywriting, and they have been close friends ever since.Jane has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry and is an expert in business strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential industry newsletter for authors, and has worked for F+W Media and the Virginia Quarterly Review. In 2019, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World; her newsletter was awarded Media Outlet of the Year in 2020.Jane’s most recent book is called The Business of Being a Writer. Also, in collaboration with The Authors Guild, she wrote The Authors Guild Guide to Self-Publishing.Learn more about Jane Friedman here: janefriedman.com/about/

Sean has known Jane Friedman since before the beginning, way back when Yesterday’s Gone was just the seed of an idea and he approached her to talk about a series of Shel Silverstein-like children’s poem’s that he wanted to write. She invited him to talk to one of her college classes about copywriting, and they have been close friends ever since.Jane has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry and is an expert in business strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the editor of <a href="https://hotsheetpub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hot Sheet</a>, the essential industry newsletter for authors, and has worked for F+W Media and the Virginia Quarterly Review. In 2019, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World; her newsletter was awarded Media Outlet of the Year in 2020.Jane’s most recent book is called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Business-Chicago-Writing-Editing-Publishing/dp/022639316X/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Business of Being a Writer</a>. Also, in collaboration with The Authors Guild, she wrote <a href="https://www.authorsguild.org/member-services/writers-resource-library/authors-guild-guide-e-publishing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Authors Guild Guide to Self-Publishing</a>.Learn more about Jane Friedman here:<a href="https://www.janefriedman.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> janefriedman.com/about/</a>

State of The Industry with Jane Friedman

Dave Chesson

In today’s episode, the guys talk to Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur.com, a website devoted to teaching advanced book marketing. His tactics and insights help both Fiction and Nonfiction authors get their books discovered by the right readers.Dave and the guys talk about how he went from being a career military member to becoming an author and how his curiosity about categories and keywords led him to create Kindlepreneur. Any author selling ebooks on Amazon today will really want to listen to Dave.Dave is also the creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors see what’s really going on in the book market so they can pick better keywords and categories to help them sell more books.You can learn more at Kindlepreneur.com and publisherrocket.com.

In today’s episode, the guys talk to Dave Chesson, founder of <a href="https://kindlepreneur.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kindlepreneur.com</a>, a website devoted to teaching advanced book marketing. His tactics and insights help both Fiction and Nonfiction authors get their books discovered by the right readers.Dave and the guys talk about how he went from being a career military member to becoming an author and how his curiosity about categories and keywords led him to create Kindlepreneur. Any author selling ebooks on Amazon today will really want to listen to Dave.Dave is also the creator of <a href="https://publisherrocket.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Publisher Rocket</a>, a software that helps authors see what’s really going on in the book market so they can pick better keywords and categories to help them sell more books.You can learn more at <a href="https://kindlepreneur.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kindlepreneur.com</a> and <a href="https://publisherrocket.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">publisherrocket.com</a>.

State of The Industry with Dave Chesson from Kindlepreneur

Alex Newton

As powerful people are so fond of saying, “Knowledge is Power” and in the world of ebook publishing, Alex Newton’s K-Lytics is a powerful thing. Knowing the real numbers about the category, genre, and subgenre that you publish in can help to give you a deeper understanding, more realistic expectations, and help to make ebook launches and sales a little more predictable. Niamh has been a huge fan of K-lytics from even before she entered the publishing space and was eager to ask Alex a lot of questions. Listen in for all of his helpful answers so you can join Niamh, Bonnie, and the guys in all getting a whole lot smarter about analytics during this interview.You can learn more about K-lytics and sign up for your own account right here: www.k-lytics.com

As powerful people are so fond of saying, “Knowledge is Power” and in the world of ebook publishing, Alex Newton’s K-Lytics is a powerful thing. Knowing the real numbers about the category, genre, and subgenre that you publish in can help to give you a deeper understanding, more realistic expectations, and help to make ebook launches and sales a little more predictable. Niamh has been a huge fan of K-lytics from even before she entered the publishing space and was eager to ask Alex a lot of questions. Listen in for all of his helpful answers so you can join Niamh, Bonnie, and the guys in all getting a whole lot smarter about analytics during this interview.You can learn more about K-lytics and sign up for your own account right here: <a href="https://k-lytics.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.k-lytics.com</a>

State of The Industry with Alex Newton from K-Lytics

Stories turn songs into symphonies, events into memories, and lives into legends. In our crowded world, “knowing your story” cuts through the noise so you can make your mark — whether you want to sell more books, increase profits, or just make a difference. At Sterling &amp; Stone, Story is our business. The Story Studio Podcast is where we explore ways we can all tell our stories better.

I appreciate the nuggets of wisdom that I’ve been able to get over the last several years of listening. But the podcast has lost its way and its value. Too much rambling and very little content.  I used to be very interested in their upcoming projects even though it’s not my genre because they described the process and struggles. Now it’s just a drinking game where I take a shot every time one of the boys says “we can’t talk about that“ or “that thing with that name that’s not ready“.  Nonetheless I wish them much success.

Down Hill

I reviewed the show a long time ago and tonight while listening I decided to look at the reviews. OMG! I can’t believe how rough they are. Those people don’t understand. I know you guys have grown and I appreciate the direction you’re moving in. Happy for you guys and wishing you much success

Dang! These recent reviews are harsh!

The Story Studio Podcast - Writing, Storytelling, and Marketing Advice for Writers & Business

Ideas are spooky. Where do they even come from? And what happens if they disappear forever? These questions have plagued creatives for years and has created a culture of self-limitation among authors. Today, we have Neeve on the show to talk about her new Stone Tablet, Endless Ideas, and how you can overcome creative block and become an idea machine.We Talk About:Neeve and her new book with Sean, Endless Ideas (https://sterlingandstone.net/endless-ideas). Sean’s wife, Cindy, doing her first 10+ second handstand.Johnny and Sean’s research trip to a legal cannabis farm.Neeve listening to a podcast called Spooked (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/spooked).Dave’s satisfaction with Mr. Robot’s new season.Why processing is the magic of ideation.Why Neeve starts with “no.”A Tale of Two Authors and the spectrum of idea execution (https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors). Conquering writer’s block.An example of Dave reshaping an idea.Neeve’s idea grading system.

Ideas are spooky. Where do they even come from? And what happens if they disappear forever? These questions have plagued creatives for years and has created a culture of self-limitation among authors. Today, we have Neeve on the show to talk about her new Stone Tablet, Endless Ideas, and how you can overcome creative block and become an idea machine. We Talk About: Neeve and her new book with Sean, Endless Ideas (<a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/endless-ideas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/endless-ideas</a>). Sean’s wife, Cindy, doing her first 10+ second handstand.Johnny and Sean’s research trip to a legal cannabis farm.Neeve listening to a podcast called Spooked (<a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/spooked" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/spooked</a>).Dave’s satisfaction with Mr. Robot’s new season.Why processing is the magic of ideation.Why Neeve starts with “no.”A Tale of Two Authors and the spectrum of idea execution (<a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors</a>). Conquering writer’s block.An example of Dave reshaping an idea.Neeve’s idea grading system.

SSP087 Idea Generation with Neeve

After writing millions of words in the trenches of the self-publishing landscape, Johnny, Sean, and Dave have emerged with many lessons learned from publishing more than one hundred titles. In this episode the guys share their biggest takeaways, including:  Why there are always exceptions to the rules. Why you need to “know your why.” How to frame your expectations appropriately. Why you can’t copy someone’s tactics wholesale. The difference between long-term thinking and short term thinking. Why you need to hone your craft. Why the lack of momentum and unfulfilled promises are the worst things that can happen. How to add subtext to your fiction in order to craft great interpersonal conflict. How developing your unique writing voice is what will attract your ideal reader. How the market is changing and why it will continue to do so. Why you should appreciate where you are in your journey. Why genre hopping is a LOT of work and costly. How publishing on Amazon is similar to SEO. Why writing a book is not the finish line, it’s the starting gate. Readers don’t care about traditionally published vs. self-published. They want quality. How to balance art and commerce when writing stories. Collaboration is the most important part of the process. Why it’s important that you don’t obsess over stats and sales.  Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future. 

After writing millions of words in the trenches of the self-publishing landscape, Johnny, Sean, and Dave have emerged with many lessons learned from publishing more than one hundred titles. In this episode the guys share their biggest takeaways, including: <ul> <li>Why there are always exceptions to the rules.</li> <li>Why you need to “know your why.”</li> <li>How to frame your expectations appropriately.</li> <li>Why you can’t copy someone’s tactics wholesale.</li> <li>The difference between long-term thinking and short term thinking.</li> <li>Why you need to hone your craft.</li> <li>Why the lack of momentum and unfulfilled promises are the worst things that can happen.</li> <li>How to add subtext to your fiction in order to craft great interpersonal conflict.</li> <li>How developing your unique writing voice is what will attract your ideal reader.</li> <li>How the market is changing and why it will continue to do so.</li> <li>Why you should appreciate where you are in your journey.</li> <li>Why genre hopping is a LOT of work and costly.</li> <li>How publishing on Amazon is similar to SEO.</li> <li>Why writing a book is not the finish line, it’s the starting gate.</li> <li>Readers don’t care about traditionally published vs. self-published. They want quality.</li> <li>How to balance art and commerce when writing stories.</li> <li>Collaboration is the most important part of the process.</li> <li>Why it’s important that you don’t obsess over stats and sales.</li> </ul> Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to <a href="https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future</a>.

SSP003 What We Learned Publishing Over 100 Books

No matter how successful you are as a storyteller, you have to start somewhere. There’s always a story number one. Today, we talk about our very explorations into storytelling, what motivated us to get started, and what those experiences taught us at the time.

No matter how successful you are as a storyteller, you have to start somewhere. There’s always a story number one. Today, we talk about our very explorations into storytelling, what motivated us to get started, and what those experiences taught us at the time.

SSP092 Our First Stories

A few weeks ago, we had an interesting discussion in the company when we tried to identify a movie with a true dual-protagonist setup. We came up with one (maybe three) between several of us. Could such a setup be so rare? Who the main character or protagonist is in a story is not always straightforward, especially in today’s era of serialized everything. Today, we wanted to talk about the potential ambiguities of primary characters in modern fiction.We Talk About:A Tale of Two Authors: https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors.Dave enjoyed El Camino (https://www.netflix.com/title/81078819).Johnny enjoying: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0022VV0RC?tag=sswebpage-20) and Quiet by Susan Cain (https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking-ebook/dp/B0074YVW1G?tag=sswebpage-20).Sean enjoying Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MJ3TDCZ?tag=sswebpage-20).This started from a slack debate: can you have more than one, equality important protagonist?What makes a main character?Case Study: Stand By Me.Our main characters.Case Study: Titanic.Every character is the hero of their own story.Case Study: Better Call Saul.

A few weeks ago, we had an interesting discussion in the company when we tried to identify a movie with a true dual-protagonist setup. We came up with one (maybe three) between several of us. Could such a setup be so rare? Who the main character or protagonist is in a story is not always straightforward, especially in today’s era of serialized everything. Today, we wanted to talk about the potential ambiguities of primary characters in modern fiction. We Talk About: <ul><li>A Tale of Two Authors: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/twoauthors</a>.</li><li>Dave enjoyed El Camino (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81078819" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/81078819</a>).</li><li>Johnny enjoying: </li><li>The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0022VV0RC?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0022VV0RC?tag=sswebpage-20</a>) and </li><li>Quiet by Susan Cain (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking-ebook/dp/B0074YVW1G?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking-ebook/dp/B0074YVW1G?tag=sswebpage-20</a>).</li><li>Sean enjoying Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MJ3TDCZ?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MJ3TDCZ?tag=sswebpage-20</a>).</li><li>This started from a slack debate: can you have more than one, equality important protagonist?</li><li>What makes a main character?</li><li>Case Study: Stand By Me.</li><li>Our main characters.</li><li>Case Study: Titanic.</li><li>Every character is the hero of their own story.</li><li>Case Study: Better Call Saul.</li></ul>

SSP086 Who’s The Main Character?

It’s our final podcast of 2019, and we’re feeling a lot of gratitude as we wrap up the year to spend time with our families. This year has been a whirlwind, and our story studio has experienced many trials and triumphs. Today, we wanted to talk about a few of them with you as we look forward to 2020.We Talk About:How Sean thinks Merry Happy Whatever is proof here’s an audience for everything (https://www.netflix.com/title/80997965). Dave loved the season finale of Mr. Robot and is excited for The Witcher (https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685). Johnny’s lesson in confidence.Sean’s record year in writing.How 2019 was Sterling &amp; Stone’s “Year of Long-term Decisions.”The steepening of the Self-Publishing success curve.The Stone Tablet Series.The 2019 Avalanche.In 2020:Johnny is looking forward to high-octane production.Dave is looking forward to his new super-secret project.Sean is looking forward to the success of the other authors in the studio.

It’s our final podcast of 2019, and we’re feeling a lot of gratitude as we wrap up the year to spend time with our families. This year has been a whirlwind, and our story studio has experienced many trials and triumphs. Today, we wanted to talk about a few of them with you as we look forward to 2020. We Talk About: How Sean thinks Merry Happy Whatever is proof here’s an audience for everything (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80997965" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80997965</a>). Dave loved the season finale of Mr. Robot and is excited for The Witcher (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685</a>). Johnny’s lesson in confidence.Sean’s record year in writing.How 2019 was Sterling &amp; Stone’s “Year of Long-term Decisions.”The steepening of the Self-Publishing success curve.The Stone Tablet Series.The 2019 Avalanche. In 2020:Johnny is looking forward to high-octane production.Dave is looking forward to his new super-secret project.Sean is looking forward to the success of the other authors in the studio.

SSP095 Sterling and Stone 2019 Year-in-Review

Out of the madness of our story studio emerged an idea that we think those of you who take part in NaNoWriMo will appreciate: a universal outline we’re calling the Steal This project. Already several of the authors in our studio are tackling the story with their own unique spin, and today we wanted to bring on the architect of the outline and an author executing the idea, Bonnie and Joel, to share with you how we approached creating a universally applicable outline and how you can use this idea in your own creative process.We Talk About:One-Click Cover (https://sterlingandstone.net/oneclick).The Aristocrats Joke.The purpose of the Steal This project.How Bonnie approached the outline.How Joel fleshed out the outline.Other writers attempting the outline.Finding the spark that ignites excitement in the writer.How Joel honed his idea superpower.Applying this idea to your writing right now.

Out of the madness of our story studio emerged an idea that we think those of you who take part in NaNoWriMo will appreciate: a universal outline we’re calling the Steal This project. Already several of the authors in our studio are tackling the story with their own unique spin, and today we wanted to bring on the architect of the outline and an author executing the idea, Bonnie and Joel, to share with you how we approached creating a universally applicable outline and how you can use this idea in your own creative process.We Talk About:One-Click Cover (<a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/oneclick" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/oneclick</a>).The Aristocrats Joke.The purpose of the Steal This project.How Bonnie approached the outline.How Joel fleshed out the outline.Other writers attempting the outline.Finding the spark that ignites excitement in the writer.How Joel honed his idea superpower.Applying this idea to your writing right now.

SSP088 Steal This with Bonnie and Joel

The most important part of achieving a goal is not at all sexy. It’s the process—the system you follow day in and day out that results in success. The best way to ensure that you stick to your system is by hacking your lifestyle and building habits around the systems you create. But hacking yourself is often uncomfortable. There needs to be a willingness to step out of your comfort zone if you want to improve. In today’s episode, we share a few ways you can tune your habits to reach your goal.  We Talk About:  The power of streaks (streaks app / strides app) Awareness of when you should take action Bundling activities Establishing rewards Dictation as a supplement rather than a replacement The difference between procrastination and a tactical delay. The magic of re-framing Accountability

The most important part of achieving a goal is not at all sexy. It’s the process—the system you follow day in and day out that results in success. The best way to ensure that you stick to your system is by hacking your lifestyle and building habits around the systems you create. But hacking yourself is often uncomfortable. There needs to be a willingness to step out of your comfort zone if you want to improve. In today’s episode, we share a few ways you can tune your habits to reach your goal. We Talk About: The power of streaks (streaks app / strides app) Awareness of when you should take action Bundling activities Establishing rewards Dictation as a supplement rather than a replacement The difference between procrastination and a tactical delay. The magic of re-framing Accountability

SSP054 Habit Hacking

Our creative routines cover the gamut in our studio, proving there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to how to be a productive storyteller. But there are general guidelines to becoming a productive and prolific storyteller, and today we wanted to talk about our routines so you can learn from our mistakes and successes. We Talk About: Worst. Show. Ever. is back! Everything in Dave’s refrigerator is ruined. Sean is finishing the hardest book he’s ever written today. Sean’s routine &amp; early creation time. Dave’s routine &amp; deadlines. How our story meetings have evolved. Johnny’s routine &amp; constant optimization. Breaking the procrastination loop. Accountability. Thomas Wolfe’s fail-safe method of productivity. Learning to be honest with yourself. The exceptions that prove the rule. Resources: https://www.rd.com/culture/daily-rituals-authors/ https://masoncurrey.com/daily-rituals — In 15-Minute Dictation, Platt and Silver show you how to adjust your approach to dictation to leave behind frustrating starts and stops and finally be able to produce more books in less time: https://sterlingandstone.net/book/15-minute-dictation/ This is a book about how Dave understands darkness, its place in story, and how I make dark fiction that people enjoy reading. And, at its heart, this book isn’t just about the dark, but also the light. And in our darkest times, it’s more important than ever that we hold onto the light. But first, we must be willing to explore the darkness: https://sterlingandstone.net/book/into-the-darkness/ If you’ve ever wondered what sets the outstanding career authors apart from the wannabes, if you’ve ever been faced with doubts and fears, this is the book for you. Pick up your copy of The 10X Author today!: https://sterlingandstone.net/book/the-10x-author/ Join the list for LIVE SHOW Reminders: https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow  Join the mailing list for nonfiction book updates: http://sterlingandstone.net/stonetable

Our creative routines cover the gamut in our studio, proving there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to how to be a productive storyteller. But there are general guidelines to becoming a productive and prolific storyteller, and today we wanted to talk about our routines so you can learn from our mistakes and successes. We Talk About: Worst. Show. Ever. is back! Everything in Dave’s refrigerator is ruined. Sean is finishing the hardest book he’s ever written today. Sean’s routine &amp; early creation time. Dave’s routine &amp; deadlines. How our story meetings have evolved. Johnny’s routine &amp; constant optimization. Breaking the procrastination loop. Accountability. Thomas Wolfe’s fail-safe method of productivity. Learning to be honest with yourself. The exceptions that prove the rule. Resources: <a href="https://www.rd.com/culture/daily-rituals-authors/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.rd.com/culture/daily-rituals-authors/</a> <a href="https://masoncurrey.com/daily-rituals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://masoncurrey.com/daily-rituals</a> — In 15-Minute Dictation, Platt and Silver show you how to adjust your approach to dictation to leave behind frustrating starts and stops and finally be able to produce more books in less time: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/book/15-minute-dictation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/book/15-minute-dictation/</a> This is a book about how Dave understands darkness, its place in story, and how I make dark fiction that people enjoy reading. And, at its heart, this book isn’t just about the dark, but also the light. And in our darkest times, it’s more important than ever that we hold onto the light. But first, we must be willing to explore the darkness: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/book/into-the-darkness/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/book/into-the-darkness/</a> If you’ve ever wondered what sets the outstanding career authors apart from the wannabes, if you’ve ever been faced with doubts and fears, this is the book for you. Pick up your copy of The 10X Author today!: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/book/the-10x-author/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/book/the-10x-author/</a> Join the list for LIVE SHOW Reminders: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow </a> Join the mailing list for nonfiction book updates: <a href="http://sterlingandstone.net/stonetable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sterlingandstone.net/stonetable</a>

SSP081 Writing Routines

Jamie Davis

One of our favorite and hardest working author friends is Jamie Davis. Throughout the time we’ve known him, he’s always held true to the work ethic of the 21st century storyteller: write, publish, repeat. And though it took time to make the career a full-time endeavor, Jamie is the model for anyone who’s unsure if their niche storytelling style will ever find an audience. We Talk About: Jamie found out he will be a grandfather. Sean is excited for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood trailer. Dave is excited about the Deadwood movie. Dave explains why he thinks the end of GOT sucked. Jamie’s origin story. Jamie’s super-secret marketing strategy. Planning and flexibility. Jamie’s transition into a full-time author. Jamie’s success in audiobooks. All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: http://sterlingandstone.net/locker. To get live show reminders: https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow.

One of our favorite and hardest working author friends is Jamie Davis. Throughout the time we’ve known him, he’s always held true to the work ethic of the 21st century storyteller: write, publish, repeat. And though it took time to make the career a full-time endeavor, Jamie is the model for anyone who’s unsure if their niche storytelling style will ever find an audience. We Talk About: Jamie found out he will be a grandfather. Sean is excited for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood trailer. Dave is excited about the Deadwood movie. Dave explains why he thinks the end of GOT sucked. Jamie’s origin story. Jamie’s super-secret marketing strategy. Planning and flexibility. Jamie’s transition into a full-time author. Jamie’s success in audiobooks. All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: <a href="http://sterlingandstone.net/locker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sterlingandstone.net/locker</a>. To get live show reminders: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow</a>.

SSP068 Doing the Work with Jamie Davis

Dave always loved Green Mile by Stephen King andreally wanted to do something serial-based. In 2008 Available Darkness was the first thing Daveand Sean serialized on their website. But getting traffic to the website toread it was a struggle. In 2011 Sean and Dave realized that Kindle could be perfectfor serials. They could publish directly to readers, new episodes updatedquickly, and could be delivered directly to reader’s devices. Readers could gethooked, love it, and have immediate access to the next episode as soon as itwas ready. Using the language of episodes and seasons, the way TV showsdo, to communicate with readers, they tried their next serial experiment with Yesterday’sGone. Many people told them it was a terrible idea, but they did it anywayand fans responded. Find out what’s worked and what hasn’t for the guys writingserial fiction. And what kind of series and serials they are working on now.Resourcesand linksGreen MileAvailable DarknessYesterday’s GoneThe SopranosBreaking Bad

Dave always loved Green Mile by Stephen King and really wanted to do something serial-based. In 2008 Available Darkness was the first thing Dave and Sean serialized on their website. But getting traffic to the website to read it was a struggle. In 2011 Sean and Dave realized that Kindle could be perfect for serials. They could publish directly to readers, new episodes updated quickly, and could be delivered directly to reader’s devices. Readers could get hooked, love it, and have immediate access to the next episode as soon as it was ready. Using the language of episodes and seasons, the way TV shows do, to communicate with readers, they tried their next serial experiment with Yesterday’s Gone. Many people told them it was a terrible idea, but they did it anyway and fans responded. Find out what’s worked and what hasn’t for the guys writing serial fiction. And what kind of series and serials they are working on now.Resources and links<ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003L786TQ/?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Green Mile</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Available-Darkness-David-W-Wright-ebook/dp/B009YWLV94/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Available+Darkness&amp;qid=1580845135&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Available Darkness</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SZJ3RZG/?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yesterday’s Gone</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/the-sopranos-4e03024d-2f23-423a-934c-23adf1e62fe9?&amp;cmp=8651&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=BM%20Search%20HBO&amp;utm_term=the%20sopranos%20netflix&amp;ds_rl=1263136&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2OuG3NK45wIVx0XVCh3-EgXSEAAYASAAEgIdt_D_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sopranos</a></li><li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70143836" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Breaking Bad</a></li></ul>

SSP099 The Guys Discuss: Serial Fiction

We just released The Story Solution. It’s our first new non-fiction book in a long time and marks a new generation of non-fiction under the Stone Table imprint. In The Story Solution, we address your meaning and purpose in life and how you can use story to discover it. Today, we talk about the ideas behind the book and how you can apply its concepts to live your best life. We Talk About: Darren Aronofsky’s Mother (https://www.hulu.com/movie/mother-076d945a-5e48-4411-9a65-3e8f2dd68258?content_id=1312732) The origin of The Story Solution. The difference between Genre Therapy and The Story Solution. How Sean and Dave reframed their stories. A craftsman’s approach to your own life. Using theme as a guiding light. Finding your plot points. Focusing on what your story is: it’s your choice. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: http://sterlingandstone.net/locker. To get live show reminders: https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow.

We just released The Story Solution. It’s our first new non-fiction book in a long time and marks a new generation of non-fiction under the Stone Table imprint. In The Story Solution, we address your meaning and purpose in life and how you can use story to discover it. Today, we talk about the ideas behind the book and how you can apply its concepts to live your best life. We Talk About: Darren Aronofsky’s Mother (<a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/mother-076d945a-5e48-4411-9a65-3e8f2dd68258?content_id=1312732" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.hulu.com/movie/mother-076d945a-5e48-4411-9a65-3e8f2dd68258?content_id=1312732</a>) The origin of The Story Solution. The difference between Genre Therapy and The Story Solution. How Sean and Dave reframed their stories. A craftsman’s approach to your own life. Using theme as a guiding light. Finding your plot points. Focusing on what your story is: it’s your choice. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution</a> All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: <a href="http://sterlingandstone.net/locker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sterlingandstone.net/locker</a>. To get live show reminders: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow</a>.

SSP072 The Story Solution

Almost literally, Sterling and Stone is a house built on research… or the lack thereof. In part, our collaboration started because of a research roadblock, a dare, and putting a Unicorn in a Western novel. And though we proudly retell that story when it’s useful, the reality of our day-to-day storytelling is different. We do a lot of research. The trick is chasing the right lead. In today’s podcast, we share how we approach the research portion of our pre-production and give a few hacks to help you avoid the Wikipedia research hole. We Talk About: Sean is reading and re-reading the Jim Collins catalog and enjoying it. Dave is reading Lost Connections by Johann Hari (https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B07583XJRW/). Johnny is absolutely enjoying-without-any-hate-watching-what-so-ever Riverdale, Season 3 (https://www.netflix.com/title/80133311). The distinction between “get to research” and “have to research.” Using research for immersion and character. Dave’s need for authenticity. Directing the camera and trusting the reader’s imagination. Acquiring new experiences. The 80/20 rule for research and finding the few details that matter. Johnny and Sean’s favorite hacks for side-stepping deep research. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: http://sterlingandstone.net/locker. To get live show reminders: https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow.

Almost literally, Sterling and Stone is a house built on research… or the lack thereof. In part, our collaboration started because of a research roadblock, a dare, and putting a Unicorn in a Western novel. And though we proudly retell that story when it’s useful, the reality of our day-to-day storytelling is different. We do a lot of research. The trick is chasing the right lead. In today’s podcast, we share how we approach the research portion of our pre-production and give a few hacks to help you avoid the Wikipedia research hole. We Talk About: Sean is reading and re-reading the Jim Collins catalog and enjoying it. Dave is reading Lost Connections by Johann Hari (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B07583XJRW/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B07583XJRW/</a>). Johnny is absolutely enjoying-without-any-hate-watching-what-so-ever Riverdale, Season 3 (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80133311" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80133311</a>). The distinction between “get to research” and “have to research.” Using research for immersion and character. Dave’s need for authenticity. Directing the camera and trusting the reader’s imagination. Acquiring new experiences. The 80/20 rule for research and finding the few details that matter. Johnny and Sean’s favorite hacks for side-stepping deep research. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution</a> All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: <a href="http://sterlingandstone.net/locker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sterlingandstone.net/locker</a>. To get live show reminders: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow</a>.

SSP074 Story Research

We like to make up fun names for each step of our process at Sterling and Stone. Since we introduced the idea of StoryJackets, we’ve gotten many requests for us to talk more about what they are and how they work. That’s what this episode is all about. And because we couldn’t do the topic justice without her, Bonnie’s here to help us share how you can build a StoryJacket into your own process.  We Talk About: What a StoryJacket is, and how we do StoryJackets. The improvement arc of our pre-production process. Asking the cascade of “whys.” The essential elements a StoryJacket should check for. What you shouldn’t focus on. The importance of narrative causality. How to give and take critiques.  —  Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future.

We like to make up fun names for each step of our process at Sterling and Stone. Since we introduced the idea of StoryJackets, we’ve gotten many requests for us to talk more about what they are and how they work. That’s what this episode is all about. And because we couldn’t do the topic justice without her, Bonnie’s here to help us share how you can build a StoryJacket into your own process. We Talk About: What a StoryJacket is, and how we do StoryJackets. The improvement arc of our pre-production process. Asking the cascade of “whys.” The essential elements a StoryJacket should check for. What you shouldn’t focus on. The importance of narrative causality. How to give and take critiques. — Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to <a href="https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future</a>.

SSP026 The StoryJacket Process

Breaking Bad is a masterwork in storytelling. In this episode, Johnny, Sean, and Dave talk about the importance of story structure. They break down how the first episode Breaking Bad:  Sets up the protagonist’s character arc Gives a sense of inevitability Tells a confident story  If you have Netflix, you can watch the first episode of Breaking Bad here: https://www.netflix.com/title/70143836. The time markers in the notes correlate with the podcast, not the Breaking Bad episode. Prologue:  (14:18) In the opening scene we start with Walt in trouble. The cops are coming. He records a video for his family. Walt runs out to meet the cops in his underwear with a gun.  Starting State:  (15:20) Flashback to three weeks earlier and how it leads to the that moment. Walt’s life is mundane, he has little power or control over his life, and he feels emasculated. (16:43) At school we see more of what his life is like. The scene uses the definition of chemistry to show the theme of the show. We see him being treated with disrespect by the students. (18:28) Walt works at a car wash after his job teaching kids, reinforcing his powerlessness, and feelings of being undervalued. (19:20) Walt drives home and struggles with the simplest things in life. A surprise birthday party is waiting for him when he arrives. We see he feels powerless and emasculated through his interaction with Hank. The seed of an idea is planted, followed by a lack-luster hand job.  Inciting Incident:  (22:41) Walt finds out he has cancer. (23:44) Walt’s first taste of control and first act of defiance occurs when he’s asked to do something at the car wash that represents everything he hates about his life. He refuses and quits. (24:58) Walt tells Hank he wants to do the ride along.  Plot Turn 1:  (25:28) During the ride-along, we meet Jesse and see how Walt responds to another taste of power when he realizes that he knows something Hank doesn’t. (28:12) Walt confronts Jesse and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. (31:40) Skyler and Marie’s relationship is presented, and Walt steals supplies from the High School.  Pinch Point 1:  (32:05) Walt and Jesse need to find a place to cook. (35:52) Jesse uses the name of the show in dialogue. (36:44) Walt buys an RV to cook in.  Midpoint:  (36:58) Second act of defiance. Walt is helping his son buy jeans and kids are making fun of him. Walt attacks one kid in a rage. (38:36) Walt and Jesse are in the desert with the RV and Jesse sees how great Walt’s cooking skills are. (39:06) Walt and Jesse needs to find who to sell the drugs to. We meet Crazy 8 and Emilio.  Pinch Point 2:  (40:53) Walt is cooking when Jesse brings Crazy 8 and Emilio to meet him. Emilio recognizes Walt from the ride-along with Hank and suggests killing them. Walt strikes a deal: he’ll teach them how to cook like him if they let him live. (41:30) Walt tells Emilio to put out his cigarette. He flicks out the window of the RV where it lands in dry grass. Walt mixes two toxic chemicals and traps the two inside to die. The cigarette catches fire.  Plot Turn 2:  (43:06) Walt puts a mask on Jesse and drives the RV away from the fire. He gets the RV stuck, so he gets out with the gun and we arrive at the point where we started. He sees it’s not the cops coming, but the fire department. The fire trucks pass them by.  Resolution:  (44:37) Walt goes home, cleans the money, and gets in bed with his wife. When his wife asks what happened, he instead makes love to her, asserting himself like he hadn’t before and feeling powerful.  Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future. 

Breaking Bad is a masterwork in storytelling. In this episode, Johnny, Sean, and Dave talk about the importance of story structure. They break down how the first episode Breaking Bad: <ul> <li>Sets up the protagonist’s character arc</li> <li>Gives a sense of inevitability</li> <li>Tells a confident story</li> </ul> If you have Netflix, you can watch the first episode of Breaking Bad here: <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70143836" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/70143836</a>. The time markers in the notes correlate with the podcast, not the Breaking Bad episode. Prologue: <ul> <li>(14:18) In the opening scene we start with Walt in trouble. The cops are coming. He records a video for his family. Walt runs out to meet the cops in his underwear with a gun.</li> </ul> Starting State: <ul> <li>(15:20) Flashback to three weeks earlier and how it leads to the that moment. Walt’s life is mundane, he has little power or control over his life, and he feels emasculated.</li> <li>(16:43) At school we see more of what his life is like. The scene uses the definition of chemistry to show the theme of the show. We see him being treated with disrespect by the students.</li> <li>(18:28) Walt works at a car wash after his job teaching kids, reinforcing his powerlessness, and feelings of being undervalued.</li> <li>(19:20) Walt drives home and struggles with the simplest things in life. A surprise birthday party is waiting for him when he arrives. We see he feels powerless and emasculated through his interaction with Hank. The seed of an idea is planted, followed by a lack-luster hand job.</li> </ul> Inciting Incident: <ul> <li>(22:41) Walt finds out he has cancer.</li> <li>(23:44) Walt’s first taste of control and first act of defiance occurs when he’s asked to do something at the car wash that represents everything he hates about his life. He refuses and quits.</li> <li>(24:58) Walt tells Hank he wants to do the ride along.</li> </ul> Plot Turn 1: <ul> <li>(25:28) During the ride-along, we meet Jesse and see how Walt responds to another taste of power when he realizes that he knows something Hank doesn’t.</li> <li>(28:12) Walt confronts Jesse and makes him an offer he can’t refuse.</li> <li>(31:40) Skyler and Marie’s relationship is presented, and Walt steals supplies from the High School.</li> </ul> Pinch Point 1: <ul> <li>(32:05) Walt and Jesse need to find a place to cook.</li> <li>(35:52) Jesse uses the name of the show in dialogue.</li> <li>(36:44) Walt buys an RV to cook in.</li> </ul> Midpoint: <ul> <li>(36:58) Second act of defiance. Walt is helping his son buy jeans and kids are making fun of him. Walt attacks one kid in a rage.</li> <li>(38:36) Walt and Jesse are in the desert with the RV and Jesse sees how great Walt’s cooking skills are.</li> <li>(39:06) Walt and Jesse needs to find who to sell the drugs to. We meet Crazy 8 and Emilio.</li> </ul> Pinch Point 2: <ul> <li>(40:53) Walt is cooking when Jesse brings Crazy 8 and Emilio to meet him. Emilio recognizes Walt from the ride-along with Hank and suggests killing them. Walt strikes a deal: he’ll teach them how to cook like him if they let him live.</li> <li>(41:30) Walt tells Emilio to put out his cigarette. He flicks out the window of the RV where it lands in dry grass. Walt mixes two toxic chemicals and traps the two inside to die. The cigarette catches fire.</li> </ul> Plot Turn 2: <ul> <li>(43:06) Walt puts a mask on Jesse and drives the RV away from the fire. He gets the RV stuck, so he gets out with the gun and we arrive at the point where we started. He sees it’s not the cops coming, but the fire department. The fire trucks pass them by.</li> </ul> Resolution: <ul> <li>(44:37) Walt goes home, cleans the money, and gets in bed with his wife. When his wife asks what happened, he instead makes love to her, asserting himself like he hadn’t before and feeling powerful.</li> </ul> Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to <a href="https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future</a>.

SSP004 Breaking Down Breaking Bad

“Where do you get your ideas?” It’s a question that every author gets asked at least once in their career. And the true answer is never satisfying to the untrained eye: “Ideas are all around you.” In today’s podcast, we talk about what inspires us to tell great stories and our process when actively looking for inspiration. We Talk About: Watching and reading stories for inspiration for your own work. Inspiration vs. Execution. Watching shows that lost their way and figuring out why. What Johnny listens to when writing different stories. What the guys look for in inspiration. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: http://sterlingandstone.net/locker. To get live show reminders: https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow.

“Where do you get your ideas?” It’s a question that every author gets asked at least once in their career. And the true answer is never satisfying to the untrained eye: “Ideas are all around you.” In today’s podcast, we talk about what inspires us to tell great stories and our process when actively looking for inspiration. We Talk About: Watching and reading stories for inspiration for your own work. Inspiration vs. Execution. Watching shows that lost their way and figuring out why. What Johnny listens to when writing different stories. What the guys look for in inspiration. — You are the main character of your own story, so why not construct your story the way a writer does? The Story Solution will show you how! If you’re ready to take charge of your life the way a writer takes charge of their story, then pick up your copy today: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/storysolution</a> All of our best writing and publishing advice in one, affordable book bundle: <a href="http://sterlingandstone.net/locker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://sterlingandstone.net/locker</a>. To get live show reminders: <a href="https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sterlingandstone.net/liveshow</a>.

SSP075 Story Inspiration

Today’s intro-absent podcast is the beginning of a brand new look for the show. For too long, we’ve been struggling to fit into a business suit that’s too small and not at all our style. In order to complete our journey of becoming a 100%-Story-First company, we need to extend the effort to every facet of what we do. Today, we talk about then the journey of the Story Studio Podcast and how it is evolving to give you a learning experience that’s truly novel. We Talk About: What kind of show we want to have. What changes on April 1st. Getting back to our roots for real this time. The difference between performative teaching and opening the door.

Today’s intro-absent podcast is the beginning of a brand new look for the show. For too long, we’ve been struggling to fit into a business suit that’s too small and not at all our style. In order to complete our journey of becoming a 100%-Story-First company, we need to extend the effort to every facet of what we do. Today, we talk about then the journey of the Story Studio Podcast and how it is evolving to give you a learning experience that’s truly novel. We Talk About: What kind of show we want to have. What changes on April 1st. Getting back to our roots for real this time. The difference between performative teaching and opening the door.

SSP051 Opening the Door to the Story Studio

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield personifies Resistance as an almost corporeal being of sorts, something that must be faced, battled, and defeated and a daily basis in order to do the real work you were meant to do.As usual, Sean, Johnny, and Dave all see resistance asslightly different creatures that show up in their lives in similar, butdistinct ways. And they each have different ways of dealing with it that fittheir personalities and work style. Sean sees Resistance as a virus that mutates and is a littledifferent each time he gets infected. Dave views resistance with the same kindof hatred that he reserves for things he doesn’t know and that drives the deepinternal feeling of suckage. Johnny struggles most with projects that get difficultand start eating his face. Listen in to find out how they battle and defeat resistance,each in their own particular way.Resources and LinksThe War of ArtTell Me Who I Am VoyeurThe Transfiguration

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield personifies Resistance as an almost corporeal being of sorts, something that must be faced, battled, and defeated and a daily basis in order to do the real work you were meant to do.As usual, Sean, Johnny, and Dave all see resistance as slightly different creatures that show up in their lives in similar, but distinct ways. And they each have different ways of dealing with it that fit their personalities and work style. Sean sees Resistance as a virus that mutates and is a little different each time he gets infected. Dave views resistance with the same kind of hatred that he reserves for things he doesn’t know and that drives the deep internal feeling of suckage. Johnny struggles most with projects that get difficult and start eating his face. Listen in to find out how they battle and defeat resistance, each in their own particular way.Resources and Links<ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007A4SDCG/?tag=sswebpage-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The War of Art</a></li><li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80214706" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tell Me Who I Am</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80176212" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Voyeur</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Transfiguration-Eric-Ruffin/dp/B074JJF8BJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Transfiguration</a></li></ul>

SSP107 The Guys Discuss: Battling Resistance

Closing down the Smarter Artist part of Sterling and Stone was bittersweet for us. We have a desire to teach, but the transactional nature of the Smarter Artist brand leeched life from the fiction side of the company. We’re passionate about uplifting the community through honest transparency, but a tell-all platform became the very thing that crippled us. If we wanted to continue telling stories, letting go of the Smarter Artist was inevitable. And the best way to fill the void was to turn our educational efforts inward. But we realized that as the stable of writers within the company grew, our need for an internal curriculum became more and more essential. We need to have materials available for our storytellers that allows them to learn everything we’d learned about the art of storytelling and the practice of collaboration. Then we met someone awesome: Neeve Silver.  Neeve joined the family to help us market our books as we settle into the fiction-first stage of the company. And as an outsider looking in, she showed us how we were stepping back from our community when they needed us most. And that was the lightbulb moment. In today’s (and next week’s) podcast, we want to share what the next chapter of the non-fiction side of Sterling and Stone looks like. And we believe that it’ll both serve our internal needs and the needs of those who still want to learn from our hijinks.  We Talk About: Black Summer (https://www.netflix.com/title/80198988) Sean recommends watching The Sinner (https://www.netflix.com/title/80175802) for a study on Mystery Box storytelling Neeve recommends All Our Wrong Todays (https://www.amazon.com/All-Our-Wrong-Todays-Novel-ebook/dp/B01FEY5EP2) Smarter Artist has evolved into the Stone Table. Building an internal curriculum. Neeve’s perspective after two months in the company. Why the Smarter Artist wasn’t sustainable. The forthcoming Stone Table books.

Closing down the Smarter Artist part of Sterling and Stone was bittersweet for us. We have a desire to teach, but the transactional nature of the Smarter Artist brand leeched life from the fiction side of the company. We’re passionate about uplifting the community through honest transparency, but a tell-all platform became the very thing that crippled us. If we wanted to continue telling stories, letting go of the Smarter Artist was inevitable. And the best way to fill the void was to turn our educational efforts inward. But we realized that as the stable of writers within the company grew, our need for an internal curriculum became more and more essential. We need to have materials available for our storytellers that allows them to learn everything we’d learned about the art of storytelling and the practice of collaboration. Then we met someone awesome: Neeve Silver. Neeve joined the family to help us market our books as we settle into the fiction-first stage of the company. And as an outsider looking in, she showed us how we were stepping back from our community when they needed us most. And that was the lightbulb moment. In today’s (and next week’s) podcast, we want to share what the next chapter of the non-fiction side of Sterling and Stone looks like. And we believe that it’ll both serve our internal needs and the needs of those who still want to learn from our hijinks. We Talk About: Black Summer (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80198988" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80198988</a>) Sean recommends watching The Sinner (<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80175802" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.netflix.com/title/80175802</a>) for a study on Mystery Box storytelling Neeve recommends All Our Wrong Todays (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Our-Wrong-Todays-Novel-ebook/dp/B01FEY5EP2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/All-Our-Wrong-Todays-Novel-ebook/dp/B01FEY5EP2</a>) Smarter Artist has evolved into the Stone Table. Building an internal curriculum. Neeve’s perspective after two months in the company. Why the Smarter Artist wasn’t sustainable. The forthcoming Stone Table books.

SSP061 The Stone Table: Reimagined with Neeve Silver

As we prepare our novels for new storytelling mediums, it has forced us to revisit stories that are years old. And if you’ve ever gone back to read your older books, you know what this experience is like: a cringe-fest.  What’s interesting is that when Sean began the adaptation process for one of our earlier successful stories, Yesterday’s Gone, he discovered something very interesting the differences between his and Dave’s approach to the creative process.  Even after several years of collaboration, we are still learning new things about our collaborative process, and in today’s Story Studio, we want to share how identifying this difference might improve our process going forward. We Talk About: 10 Percent Happier. The merits of always including a pee scene. Two different approaches to mystery boxes. Getting comfortable with not knowing it all. The difference between thinking in scenes and thinking in events. Why breaking bad creative habits is healthy.

As we prepare our novels for new storytelling mediums, it has forced us to revisit stories that are years old. And if you’ve ever gone back to read your older books, you know what this experience is like: a cringe-fest. What’s interesting is that when Sean began the adaptation process for one of our earlier successful stories, Yesterday’s Gone, he discovered something very interesting the differences between his and Dave’s approach to the creative process. Even after several years of collaboration, we are still learning new things about our collaborative process, and in today’s Story Studio, we want to share how identifying this difference might improve our process going forward. We Talk About: 10 Percent Happier. The merits of always including a pee scene. Two different approaches to mystery boxes. Getting comfortable with not knowing it all. The difference between thinking in scenes and thinking in events. Why breaking bad creative habits is healthy.

SSP058 Teaching an Old Dave New Tricks

The creative mind is mysterious. As storytellers, we build entire worlds and shape unforgettable characters. But when asked where we get our ideas, it’s often difficult to pin down one exact influence. But one thing is certain: the inspiration for our work comes from the experiences we expose ourselves to. We’ve been putting in an effort to gain more creative fuel, and in today’s episode, we talk about what Sean learned when he took a trip to interact with a group on prison inmates. We Talk About: Last WSE coming at some point when Dave is ready to explode. The live show revival on 4/26 The difference between a pilot vs. an episode 1. Why TV studios have a problem with the White Space pilot episode. Screen Rant Pitch Meetings (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL–PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l) Reliable Ralph’s story. Why Sean’s not known for his biggest mistake.

The creative mind is mysterious. As storytellers, we build entire worlds and shape unforgettable characters. But when asked where we get our ideas, it’s often difficult to pin down one exact influence. But one thing is certain: the inspiration for our work comes from the experiences we expose ourselves to. We’ve been putting in an effort to gain more creative fuel, and in today’s episode, we talk about what Sean learned when he took a trip to interact with a group on prison inmates. We Talk About: Last WSE coming at some point when Dave is ready to explode. The live show revival on 4/26 The difference between a pilot vs. an episode 1. Why TV studios have a problem with the White Space pilot episode. Screen Rant Pitch Meetings (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL--PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL–PgETgAz5FGoatB9KQzbnpv0bgZqU2l</a>) Reliable Ralph’s story. Why Sean’s not known for his biggest mistake.

SSP060 Sean Goes to Prison

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