The Five Commandments of Storytelling

You want readers to care deeply about your story. You want to capture their hearts and change their minds.

Whether you’re writing a mystery, romance, epic fantasy, or coming-of-age memoir, Story Grid Certified Editor Danielle Kiowski has what you need: a proven approach to construct a story arc that connects readers with your characters to deliver the message at the heart of your story. This approach is called The Five Commandments of Storytelling.

And just what are the Five Commandments? 

Inciting Incident

Turning Point Progressive Complication

Crisis

Climax

Resolution

Each commandment works with the others to create an arc that reveals character and elicits empathy. Through that connection, readers will find themselves transformed by the power of your story long after they’ve turned the final page.

Kiowski doesn’t simply define the Five Commandments, she shows you precisely how they work in classic novels—including Pride and Prejudice, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and The Silence of the Lambs—and in the beloved film, It’s a Wonderful Life.

“To tell your story well, you need to know what makes a story work,” says Kiowski. The Five Commandments of Storytelling is your guide to what makes a great story work.

Isn’t it time to take your story to the next level and change some lives?