Your Next Draft

Discover how to choose the right writing resources for you, including working with an editor, joining a writing course, getting a book coach, or gathering beta readers. Find out how to navigate the overwhelming options available and learn a decision-making framework to help you make the right choices. Get insights into the Notes to Novel course and whether it aligns with your values and needs. Consider joining before the doors close if it's the right fit for your writing journey.

See the masterful story structure that undergirds the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon.Great stories are built on great story structure. And my favorite story structure framework is one that you can apply on every level of story.It’s called the six elements of story, and it’s an editing tool you can use on every layer of your story.To prove it, I’m doing a deep dive into the structure of How to Train Your Dragon. First, I broke down the six elements of the movie as a whole. Then, I took a closer look at the first act of the movie.And in this episode, I’m breaking down the opening scene.You’ll learn:The essential value shifts that change from the start of the scene to the endThe critical, life-or-death choice Hiccup must make in the very first scene of the movieHow that choice sets up everything to comeAnd more!Want more? You can see my full analysis of How to Train Your Dragon all on one spreadsheet. Go to alicesudlow.com/dragon to get the spreadsheet.Then, go find the six elements of story in your scenes!Links mentioned in the episode:Watch the opening scene of How to Train Your DragonWatch the resolution of the opening sceneGet the full How to Train Your Dragon analysis: alicesudlow.com/dragonEp. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StoryEp. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and SceneEp. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great StoriesEp. 45: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your DragonEp. 46: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in Act 1 of How to Train Your DragonSend me a Text Message!Want my support in your revision?In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.Get started by telling me about your story here. Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

The story structure that makes the first act of How to Train Your Dragon work.One of my favorite things about the six elements of story structure is the fact that they work everywhere.You can use them to structure your entire novel. You can use them to structure each act. And you can use them to structure each scene.And to prove it, I’m breaking down the first act of How to Train Your Dragon to show you the six elements at work.You’ll learn:What values shift in the first act (and why those changes are good and bad)The crisis choice Hiccup must make, and the many risks at stakeHow the inciting incident and resolution make the value shifts crystal clearAnd more!Plus, you can get my full spreadsheet analyzing How to Train Your Dragon at alicesudlow.com/dragon.Links mentioned in the episode:Get the full How to Train Your Dragon analysis: alicesudlow.com/dragonWatch the opening scene of How to Train Your DragonEp. 45: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your DragonEp. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StorySend me a Text Message!Want my support in your revision?In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.Get started by telling me about your story here. Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

See the story structure that makes this brilliant movie work.The six elements of story are the essentials of great story structure. And in the last few episodes of Your Next Draft, I’ve shared a lot of theory about them: what they are, how they work, and where to use them.But theory only gets you so far. Story structure makes a lot more sense when you can see it at work.So in this episode, I’m breaking down the movie How to Train Your Dragon so you can see the six elements in practice.You’ll learn:How the inciting incident sets up the conflict of the entire storyThe difficult question Hiccup faces in the crisis—and why both his options have consequencesWhy the climax delivers so well that it gives me chills every time I see itAnd more!See story structure at work in this masterful example. Then, put it to work in your own stories and craft your own masterpieces!Links mentioned in the episode:Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheetEp. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StoryEp. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and SceneEp. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great StoriesEp. 44: 3 Ways to Apply the 6 Elements of Story Structure to Your NovelSend me a Text Message!Want my support in your revision?In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.Get started by telling me about your story here. Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Learn how to apply the six elements of story structure to your novel in three different ways. Discover how this story structure framework can be used at every level of your story, from the overall manuscript to individual scenes. Explore the concept of beats and how they can enhance conflict and change within a scene. Gain insights into editing your novel using the six elements of story structure, and download a worksheet to help identify these elements in your own story.

Discover the power of a story structure framework in editing every level of a story. Explore the six elements of story structure that can be used in any genre. Learn about the recursive nature of these elements and how they enhance specific scenes. Find out how this structure can be applied at every level of a story to develop storytelling skills.

A simple, flexible story structure framework that works for every kind of story.Great stories are built on great story structure.And while there are a lot of story structure systems out there . . .. . . I do have a favorite. It’s one that I use every single day in my editing. I apply it to every story I edit. And it works every time.In this episode, I’m breaking it all down for you.You’ll learn:The 6 moments every great story includesHow to apply my most popular worksheet to more than just scenesWhy a piece of story we talk about the least is actually one of my favoritesThe story structure tools that will empower you to tell absolutely any story you wantAnd more!When I learned this framework, it transformed my entire approach to editing. That’s not a hyperbole—learning this made all the difference for me.I practice it every time I pick up a story. And I’m always discovering new insights it offers into what makes story work.And who knows? Maybe this will become your favorite approach to story structure, too!Links mentioned in the episode:Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet (and use it for more than just scenes!): alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheetEp. 15: How Long Should it Take for Your Character to Make a Decision?Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StorySend me a Text Message!Want my support in your revision?In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.Get started by telling me about your story here. Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Story theory doesn’t sap creativity—it helps us reflect truths about the human experience in our art.When you edit a novel, much of your job is to use story theory to evaluate what’s working and what’s not.But often, I find that this makes writers uncomfortable. They’re afraid that applying story theory will suck the life, creativity, and originality out of storytelling.Have you ever felt that way? Ever wondered whether the storytelling principles you use (even the ones I share here on this podcast!) might make your story too predictable, formulaic, and—gasp—boring?If so, then you’ll love today’s episode of Your Next Draft.In it, you’ll learn:Where story theory actually comes fromWhy story theory works so darn wellHow to test story theory and see how it works—in the real worldWhy using story theory doesn’t have to make your story boringAnd more!Full confession: this episode was inspired by a moment when I was confronted with story theory in my own life. In fact, my therapist told me something I’ve said to you many times here on this podcast!So this episode is a little more personal than I typically get here on the podcast. But that moment was such a perfect illustration of why story theory works that I just have to share it with you.Enjoy this glimpse into how my editor brain works. And see if you can spot story theory around you in your own life!Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing ScenesEp. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every StoryEp. 32: How Spider-Man (And All Great Stories) Makes Us Laugh, Cry, and Feel the FeelsEp. 33: The 3-Step Formula to Evoke Emotion and Make Your Readers FeelEp. 34: Extended Edition: How Spider-Man’s Leap of Faith Makes Us Feel TriumphantSend me a Text Message!Want my support in your revision?In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.Get started by telling me about your story here. Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Discover strategies to leverage your reading in the editing process. Learn how the speaker overcame a reading slump and how reading more has impacted their editing. Explore different categories of books to read and the mindset shift that transformed their reading habits. Get tips on tracking your reading habits and reading like an editor.

Learn how to avoid disappointing endings in your story by ensuring that the problem you solve in the climax is the same as the one you set up. Discover common issues with endings that don't work and how to spot and fix them. Explore the importance of aligning main plot and subplot stakes, distinguishing between them, and maintaining consistency for a cohesive narrative flow.