Fiction Writing Made Easy

#160. How Tim Grahl Wrote His Best Book Yet In 6 Months

Sep 24, 2024

Tim Grahl, CEO of StoryGrid and seasoned author, dives into the secrets behind his latest novel, The Shithead. He shares how blending real-life experiences with fiction fueled his creativity. Tim explains his agile writing process, finishing the book in just six months through effective planning. He highlights the importance of crafting compelling scenes and discusses innovative marketing strategies for launching his work. Discover valuable tips and insights that can transform your own writing journey!

46:04

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Tim Grahl

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Quick takeaways

Tim Grahl completed his novel 'The Shithead' by focusing on strategic planning and scene-writing skills, demonstrating a structured approach to enhance storytelling.

The podcast highlights the growing field of book coaching, providing resources for aspiring coaches to assist writers in developing their craft effectively.

Deep dives

The Rising Role of Book Coaching

Book coaching is emerging as a valuable profession within the evolving book publishing industry. For individuals passionate about reading and writing, becoming a book coach presents an opportunity to transition away from traditional jobs, enabling them to assist aspiring authors in honing their craft. The podcast highlights resources available for those interested in pursuing this path, such as free training videos that offer guidance on establishing a successful book coaching business. This growing field not only supports writers in improving their skills but also opens new avenues for coaching professionals in the literary landscape.

Intro

4min

Crafting 'The Shithead': A Journey of Inspiration

5min

Navigating Character Reception and Writing Techniques

23min

Navigating the Creative and Marketing Landscape of Writing

4min

Engaging Readers Through Strategic Giveaways

7min

Enhancing Your Writing Craft with Practical Resources

2min

How do you know if you’re actually getting better at writing?

In this episode, my guest, Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid and the author of multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction, shares his answer to this question. Tim believes that his new book, The Shithead, is the best book he’s ever written—and I happen to agree with him! So, how did he get here? What did he do to become a better writer? And more importantly, what can YOU learn from Tim’s story to become a better writer yourself?

Tune into this episode to hear things like:

[04:26] Where the idea for Tim’s new novel, The Shithead, came from, and how he blended real life with fiction to create a compelling story
[13:18] How Tim went from brainstorming to finished draft in about six months—and why spending time upfront to plan the foundational elements of the story saved him a ton of time (and stress) in the long run
[15:15] Tim shares what he believes to be the secret to writing the best book he’s ever written (spoiler alert: it’s learning how to write a really good scene!)
[32:46] Tim’s plans for launching and marketing this book—you won’t want to miss this part. Tim is the book launch guy, and his insights are golden!

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a better writer—and what you can do to practice your craft in a meaningful way—then you’re going to love this episode!

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