The Architecture of Story – Details, episodes & analysis

In this final episode of The Architecture of Story, author Meg Rosenthal sits down with Mindy Kuhn, owner of Warren Publishing, to talk about how the publishing industry has evolved and continues to change its shape. Faced with the reality that technology evolves at this same rapid rate, the two discuss what role generative AI plays in this modern stage and how authors can navigate this space.

Click to watch Kurt Vonnegut on Shapes of Stories: https://youtu.be/oP3c1h8v2ZQ?si=hPlMDGodWtEnOGa8

Connect with Mindy and Warren Publishing:

https://www.warrenpublishing.net

Instagram @warrenpublish

TikTok @warrenpublishing

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and J.N. Kindig discuss several archetypal ways that you can cross that final threshold and NAIL that finish line... or in other words, finish your story. Using a traditional three act story structure as the vehicle to arrive at the final image, Kindig brings to the conversation her own education from her recent masters in English degree to guide us all to different types of narrative endings we can employ.

Click to learn more about Jeff VanderMeer and Wonderbook: https://wonderbooknow.com/about/

Connect with Jordan:

https://www.authorjnkindig.com

Instagram @authorjnkindig

TikTok @authorjnkindig

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Kalyn Fogarty team up to break down the structure of the Saves The Cat Beat Sheet as outlined in the novel Saves The Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. The duo then takes this conversation a step further in discussion of how to utilize this outline when working with multiple perspectives. More information on Saves the Cat can be found on Jessica Brody's official website: https://www.jessicabrody.com

Connect with Kalyn:

https://www.kalynfogarty.com

Instagram @kfogartyauthor

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Benjamin Bradley list out the tenets of a mystery novel and go through the steps of how you can write your own. Bringing their own fresh perspectives on both writing and the publishing industry, the conversation makes the genre seem... well... less mysterious.

Connect with Benjamin Bradley:

https://benjaminbradleywrites.com/whlb

Instagram @BenjaminBradleyWrites

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Hannah Hamrick go beyond the structure of the physical plot points of a novel and dive deep on the characters that make up these stories. They walk through certain techniques that they use to flesh out their characters to get to know their attributes, their wants vs. their needs, and things that help fuel their arcs. Once we know who our players are, the two talk about how to break down the plot by using action and reaction to further deepen the reader's understanding of the growth being done on the page.

Connect with Hannah Hamrick:

https://authorhannahhamrick.com

Instagram @authorhannahhamrick

TikTok @authorhannahhamrick

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and C.C. Tyler break down key definitions within the genre of fantasy and discuss various plotting techniques they use to outline their stories. They talk at length about the arcs needed within each individual book, but the necessity of a global arc tracking over the series as a whole as well. Saves the Cat and the Four Act Story Structure are both dissected in this conversation.

*Recommend watching Episode 2: Saves the Cat prior to this episode so certain definitions make sense.

More information on the 3 and 4 act story structures:

https://reedsy.com/blog/guide/story-structure/three-act-structure/

https://thenovelsmithy.com/the-four-act-structure/

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2024/09/the-missing-link-in-three-act-structure/

https://rachaelherron.com/developing-novel-4-act-story-structure/

Connect with C.C. Tyler:

https://www.authorcctyler.com

Instagram @authorcctyler and @coachcctyler

TikTok @authorcctyler

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Nicole Ryan discuss the 7 Point Story Structure, a technique popularized by Dan Wells. They first detail what the 7 points within this structure are and how they provide a loose, skeletal outline. Then, following the steps that Dan Wells describes himself, they walk through how to apply this method to your own story planning.

Click to watch the Dan Wells lecture on the 7 Point Story Structure: https://youtu.be/KcmiqQ9NpPE?si=ogF1siRMon4msE5c

Connect with Nicole:

https://nicoleryanbooks.com

Instagram @nicoleryanbooks

TikTok @nicoleryanbooks

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Shannon McLellan go into detail about the intricacies of weaving a plot twist into your story. They define a plot twist and provide examples of different kinds of twists before giving you tips and tricks on how to effectively pull one off. Finally, the duo talks about the effects on your story's structure depending on when the plot twist occurs.

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Alissa DeRogatis focus on the story arcs found specifically in the ROMANCE genre of fiction. Using the book, "Romancing the Beat" by Gwen Hayes as a guide, they outline the beats this genre hits and how you can apply them to your own work. Connect with Alissa:https://www.alissaderogatis.comInstagram @alissaderogatisTikTok @alissaderogatis

Connect with Meg:https://megrosenthal.comInstagram @megrosenthalauthor TikTok @megrosenthal.author

In this episode of The Architecture of Story, authors Meg Rosenthal and Rennie Dyball dive into prose technique and the timeless advice us writers have received regarding showing, not telling your readers what is happening in your book. But what does that really mean, and how do you accomplish this? Through specific and sensory details as well as dialogue tips and tricks, Meg and Rennie walk you through how to stay in "scene" in your writing and when it is appropriate to slip into "summary." Connect with Rennie:

https://www.renniedyball.com

Instagram @renniedyball

Connect with Meg:

https://megrosenthal.com

Instagram @megrosenthalauthor

TikTok @megrosenthal.author