The greatest stories bleed their author’s soul into every scene. Onto every page. The greatest stories are great because they stay with you. Because their authors understood how to access their unique storytelling magic.
Think back to when you learned to drive a car…
It felt overwhelming. Clunky. Even scary at times. There were so many moving parts.
You had to consciously tell your brain to check the rearview mirror, to judge the distance between yourself and the car in front of you, to make sure your blinker was on when switching lanes.
But the more you practiced, the more second nature it became.
The moving parts settled into your subconscious until you were able to drive easily and well without having to direct conscious effort to every component of driving.
When you were learning, you likely needed your brain on full volume.
This still sometimes happens when I’m driving. If I’m lost or the weather is bad or the traffic is congested I turn the music down and allow my conscious brain to blast at full volume.
But assuming the driving conditions are normal, once you learned how to drive you could allow your mind to wander. More importantly, you could turn your favorite music all the way up.
In this scenario, the technical parts of driving are the mechanics, and your favorite music is the emotion: your voice. You.
Once you got comfortable driving, you could make a cross-country trip and turn up your favorite songs. The ones that ignite your passion, soul, joy, and creativity. That help you understand who you are. You already know what this music is, you simply layered it into the driving experience.
The same is true with writing. You already have your own voice. You just have to tap into it.
By never worrying about trying to pattern yourself after someone else, no matter how successful they are or how much you admire them. By never worrying about getting answers or validation from anyone outside of yourself. By trusting deeply and completely your own voice, your own answers, your own storytelling. And understanding the power behind that. You create storytelling magic.
Mechanics that are so ingrained in you that they have blended into the background, taking shape outside the windows of your conscious when you sit down to write. Emerging into characters and worlds that embody the mechanics and the emotion of storytelling. That are simply you.
Once you do this, once you combine the mechanics + emotion of storytelling, you create magic.
Hi, I’m Shirsten.
My greatest superpower is breaking down and understanding patterns that live beneath the surface.
This applies to a lot of things in life, but my fascination and passion live in the study of story.
I love writing stories, but perhaps even more, I love learning about the complexities at work underneath the surface of successful stories and storytellers.
That’s what you’ll find in this program.
WHAT IS STORYTELLING MAGIC?
Storytelling magic is very simple:
Mechanics + Emotion
Story Mechanics
The framework, techniques, & building blocks at work behind successful stories.
Story Emotion
The storyteller’s voice, which includes the three layers of voice: insight, emotion, and expression.
When you combine these things, writing becomes magnetic.
Stories have an emotional, memorable, and lasting impact.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?
Storytelling Magic is for fictional writers looking to:
Access a deeper part of themselves and better understand the unique perspective & approach they bring to the table
Write stories that connect with readers powerfully based on story science
Finish their books
In this program, we will examine the internal landscape of you as a storyteller as well as the mechanics working behind the scenes of every successful story. It applies to writers of all experience levels, genres.
What’s included:
3 intensive modules filled with lessons on the mechanics + emotion of storytelling
(includes brain-based activities to help you understand the mechanics of story deeply and lessons to help you tap into your unique writing voice)
1) How to Use the Program and apply it to your own writing
2) Mechanics of Story: The Mechanics
Full Story Breakdown for 9 famous fictional characters (see the mechanics of story in action and learn how to analyze other stories in order to more deeply understand your own voice)
See in-depth and detailed full Character Arcs and beat-by-beat breakdowns for stories from Harry Potter to Jane Eyre and more.
3) Emotion of Story: Your Voice
Downloadable workbook
Easy Ask portal
(get fast and simple answers by submitting questions 24/7)
BONUS Content:
1) Plug-and-Play formula to overcome writer’s block, imposter syndrome, fear of rejection, and more every time they come up
2) Library of templates + every interactive activity included throughout the program
3) How to Evaluate Your Writing + Other Stories
