The Story Spine: A Must Have Tool for Every Writer

Before I focus on the Story Spine, an update is in order on the way forward in 2025.

Goals and Changes for 2025

My fiction writing languished as I focused on bringing TYB’s Academy into reality.

Soon after the Academy came online, I noticed a decided loss of my joy. That drop in happiness affected me and those who matter most in my life. So I made the hard decision to make changes.

Here are my goals and changes for this year.

• I will focus on writing fiction this year,
• That change in focus requires me to discontinue the Academy, and
• I’ll post only when I see something that others may find useful.

The updated and expanded Trellis Method for 2025 is available here.

Where Can I Read about the Story Spine?

A long-time subscriber asked for background material on the Story Spine.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Story Spine is a writing tool that uses an intuitive format to build a backbone for your story. That spine allows you to envision the foundation of the entire narrative from beginning to end. Best of all, its fairy-tale format is simple and fun to use.

When I say foundation, the Story Spine lays the groundwork for the Story Body and then Story Beats.

Where You Can Read More about the Story Spine

In the Trellis Method Bundle, Step 6 is about the Story Spine, Story Body, and Story Beats, which includes a detailed workbook and a prompt-based worksheet (downloaded to your computer so you can use it again and again).

I’ve written extensively about these subjects, and I’ll share a few.

• Story Spine:
  • Build a Story Spine
  • Add Stakes to the Story Spine
• Story Body:
  • How to Outline the Story Body of Your Novel
  • Plot a Story Using the Story Body Structure
• Story Beats:
  • Story Beats: Discover an Easy Way to Write Your Novel’s Essential Scenes
  • The Trellis Method: Discover What Story Beats Can Do for Your Writing

Please let me know if you find these useful.

Frequency of Posts

Given the change in writing focus, I’ll only post when there’s something to share.

Instead of a separate monthly email broadcast to subscribers, I’ll go back to using the RSS feed.

• For those unfamiliar with an automated RSS feed from WordPress, it sends out an email whenever there’s a new post to read.
• Keep in mind you’ll need to click on the link to read the content.

If you have a question about a post or the Trellis Method Bundle, you can reply to any of my emails, and I enjoy responding to you.

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