S17:E21: What's Happened to Modern Storytelling? (+ 6 Ways Storytelling Can Find Its Soul Again)

What makes a character unforgettable? It’s not just quirks or dialogue. It’s personality. Your characters' personalities shape their arcs, influence their voices, drive their goals, and and connect plot and theme into a cohesive whole. In this episode, we’ll explore why personality is the secret ingredient to compelling storytelling and how you can use it to create characters who resonate with readers long after the final page. You’ll Learn: 3 reasons personality is the foundation of great characters 4 ways personality drives storytelling (arc, voice, conflict, theme) 10 practical tips for weaving personality into your plot, dialogue, and arcs How to use tools like the Enneagram and MBTI to stress-test your character development Whether you’re outlining your next novel or revising a draft, this episode will help you unlock deeper, more authentic storytelling through the lens of personality.

Why All Stories Are Myth (and How They Transform the Psyche) What if every story you’ve ever loved—whether it’s Spirited Away, The Lord of the Rings, or Pride & Prejudice—wasn’t just entertainment or even “realistic” fiction, but myth in disguise? In this week’s episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast, we explore the mythic foundation of narrative and why all stories are myth at their core. Together, we’ll look at how archetypal story structure emerges across cultures and genres, why every character in a tale can be seen as an aspect of the psyche, and how archetypal character arcs—from the Hero’s Journey to the Maiden, Queen, King, Crone, and Mage—offer writers a timeless blueprint for building powerful, resonant fiction. When you understand story as mythic storytelling—as a dream of the unconscious, a symbolic map of initiation and transformation—you begin to see how narrative has always been about more than plot. Story is the theater of the self. It’s how writers and readers alike experience growth, healing, and the deeper truths of being human. Join me as we step into the mystery of mythic storytelling and discover how these ancient patterns can transform not just your stories, but your writing life.

Feeling bored at the movies? Learn what's happened to modern storytelling and what it will take to restore the magic and emotional impact.

Here's how writers can apply the five conflict management styles to create richer, more realistic character conflicts in your fiction.

Discover the 5 types of scene endings—Yes, No, No But, and No And—and why one of them might be weakening your story’s momentum.

If writers don't consume stories with intention, who will? Here are 7 mindful habits to read more intentionally and get more from stories.

What makes a bad story? The answer may surprise you. Here's what really makes a story fail—and how to fix it.

Intentional storytelling means making creative choices with purpose. Here’s why that matters more than ever in an AI-driven content world.

Discover how to honor your character's history while crafting different character arcs for the same character in new stories.

Discover systems that can help you write different character arcs for the same character in your series. Keep stories interesting and unique!