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

We’ve heard dozens of different stories (lies, usually) that authors tell themselves as reasons they can’t start their writing journey. One of the most common is “I’m too old now.” We’ve heard it from friends, family, and even our own audience. So, in the interest of putting that lie to rest, we’ve invited one of Sterling and Stone’s own “old” authors on the show so she can give her advice to those of you who are still disqualifying yourself based on age.

We Talk About:

How Dave’s car tried to kill him.

Johnny’s something cool... which is Dave’s story.

Sean is happy about the return of I’m Sorry on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/80171611).

Ninie’s book, Typin’ Bout My Generation (https://sterlingandstone.net/mygeneration).

Ninie’s origin story.

The generational gap.

The secret of eternal youth.

The real power of Ninie’s book.

Ninie’s Kitchen Table.

Passing down your stories to future generations.

—

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: https://sterlingandstone.net/stonetable

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.

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.

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.

In today’s episode of The Story Studio Podcast Sean and Johnny rewatched The Godfather and Dave watched it for the first time and asked some great questions of each other.

• How does a movie live up to the legacy of being one of the best movies ever?
• How do all of the cliches and moments endlessly referenced in other films fall when finally seeing the original source material for the first time?
• What makes this movie such a classic? And how does it compare to so many of the movies and shows that it inspired which came afterward?
• Sopranos vs The Godfather.
• Goodfellas vs The Godfather.

Most of all, you’ll want to tune in to today’s episode to find out what Dave hates about The Godfather and what authors can take from classic films like The Godfather and apply to their own work.