Podcast appearances and mentions of shawn coyne

Send a textRandy Surles—retired Army Ranger and Green Beret turned editor, ghostwriter, and Story Grid-certified book coach—joins Joe to talk directly to veterans who feel called to tell their story but don't know where to start.After 25 years in Special Operations, Randy transitioned from the military to the writing world, studying under Shawn Coyne and helping dozens of veterans turn their experiences into memoirs, leadership books, and fiction. Along the way, he's seen what works—and what doesn't.Joe reflects on his own year-and-a-half journey working with Randy on his forthcoming book—including the uncomfortable but necessary process of clarifying the message, identifying the right reader, and moving beyond “I just want to write a book” to “Here's who this is for.”Randy explains why most military memoirs never gain traction, why writing “for everyone” is the fastest way to reach no one, and how to identify the single reader you're actually trying to serve. He also breaks down the realities of publishing—from traditional deals to hybrid models to self-publishing—and why marketing is often harder than writing.Watch the full interview on YouTube!Joe and Randy also discuss:How the Hero's Journey mirrors a military careerThe power of identifying your single audience member (SAM)Why most books sell fewer than 500 copiesWhat veterans misunderstand about traditional publishingThe truth about hybrid publishers and upfront costsWhy building an email list may matter more than social media followersHow writing 600–700 words a week can turn into a finished bookWhy accountability (even the annoying kind) makes the differenceWhether you're transitioning out, reflecting on your career, or feeling the quiet pull to capture your experiences before they fade, this episode offers a practical roadmap—and a reality check—for veterans who want to turn their story into something that serves others. Also, check out Randy's website: Militaryeditor.comA Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. Logistics Systems Incorporated (LSI) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business supporting DoD and federal civilian agencies with enterprise IT operations, global logistics support, cybersecurity, data, and mission support services. Founded by a veteran Army leader, LSI is known for operating inside complex, high-consequence environments where leadership, discipline, and execution matter. Their teams support large user communities and mission-critical systems across defense and civilian agencies.

Send us a textIf you're new to writing, you've probably read the title of this episode and thought, "Oh, great, my scenes need to turn, now." Or perhaps you're not new to writing, heard this term before, and you're thinking, "I don't think so." Before you hit the pause, please hear me out.Value shifts are a great way to ensure that each scene moves the story forward and pulls its weight. I also realise that I'm not the first person to discuss turning a scene or value shifts in the writing space. But I want to assure you that I don't want to add more confusion to the mix or discuss this topic in a way that is overly complicated. That's why I've called this The Beginner's Guide.In this beginner's guide, I will define the term value shifts or the concept of the turning of a scene, explain how a scene turns, and share non-spoiler-y examples from the mystery and romance genres. Also, I'll show you how to check if your scenes turn and move the story forward. On top of this, I'll demonstrate how to fix a scene that doesn't turn.Without further ado, let's get into the episode.Course, Podcasts, Books, and Tools MentionedCheck Out the Show Notes ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap050/ TAP047, What is a story beat? ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap047/TAP046, Ending Scenes with Cliffhangers ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap046/TAP045, The Anatomy of a Scene ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap045/TAP041, What is a Scene? ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap041/Story by Robert McKee ⇢ https://amzn.to/49VnLAe *Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell ⇢ https://amzn.to/3Wcq8eN *Story Grid by Shawn Coyne ⇢ https://amzn.to/4aZNs3O *Suggest an Episode Topic ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/request/Got a burning question that you would love me to answer on the podcast ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/question/Answers to Questions on Writing from Previous Shows ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/question/faq/Be on the Podcast | https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/podcast/interview/Support the showConnect with me on Social MediaDiscord: https://discord.gg/HZX7HZBQUfFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpreneurpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpreneurpodcast/X: https://twitter.com/writeradhayYouTube: www.youtube.com/c/authorpreneurpodcast/videosGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/authoradhay/Merch Store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/WriterADHay/shop* This is a service or product offered by me** My bookish merchandise store

The antagonist drives the middle of a story, so what happens when the antagonist is a really weak character? Well, if you're a filmmaker and can cast Emilio Estevez, you might get away with it. If you're a novelist, you're in trouble. This week, Melanie and I take a look at The Mighty Ducks where the story is thin but the ice is thick. While this movie doesn't offer up the best example of the villain's monologue, thankfully, it's got lots to teach us about turning points. -V. Get The Fundamentals of Storytelling today! Go to storynerd.ca/courses and use coupon code CANADA50, now through July 7, for 50% off. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.

This week, I talk with Tim Grahl, CEO of Story Grid and author of The Shithead, a novel that's both thrilling and deeply personal. Tim made a name for himself as a book marketer who landed multiple titles on the New York Times  Bestseller list at the same time. Tim's work with Story Grid, alongside his partner Shawn Coyne, has guided hundreds of aspiring authors in mastering the essential elements of storytelling, helping them transform “I hope I can write a book someday” into a published reality. We cover a range of topics, from Tim's journey as a book marketer to his insights on the power of structure in storytelling. We also dive into his personal experiences, including the impact of therapy on his growth as both a person and a professional. Tim's work ethic and passion for meaningful storytelling are infectious, and I think you'll find our conversation both inspiring and thought-provoking. Let's get to it! In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (05:06) - Tim's perfect vacation (11:54) - Doing work that people don't understand (15:19) - The "secret" to Tim's success (20:34) - The moment Tim knew his business was broken (31:06) - What is an object of desire? (34:10) - The problem with online courses (and how to fix it) (01:03:47) - Behind the scenes of writing a meaningful book (01:13:37) - Success and the half warm beer theory (01:18:03) - Reflecting on regret (01:24:28) - How therapy changed everything (01:32:58) - Chasing insight vs integration (01:38:19) - Tim's beautiful future (01:42:47) - Who Tim is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

In this episode, host Mark Miller and guests John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne, delve into the transformative project "Mentoring the Machines." This innovative work bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and narrative storytelling to grapple with the existential challenges posed by artificial general intelligence (AGI). John Vervaeke, renowned for his insights into the meaning crisis in contemporary society, and Shawn Coyne, a seasoned narrative philosopher and editor, collaborate to articulate the complexities of AI's impact on human existence. They discuss their approach to transforming Vervaeke's seminal online video essays into a narrative format accessible to all audiences, transcending the boundaries of academia and professional domains. The conversation highlights the urgency of understanding AI's rapid evolution and its potential to reshape our world fundamentally. From deep fake videos to ethical dilemmas in AI governance, the discussion navigates through the ethical, philosophical, and practical dimensions of this transformative technology.  This episode sets the stage for a series that promises profound insights into how we can navigate and thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world, exploring not only the scientific and technical aspects but also the profound existential questions that arise from the convergence of technology and humanity. Join us as we contemplate the future and confront the deep impact of an artificially intelligent tomorrow. 

Many people dream of becoming writers one day. The possibility of making money selling books filled with their creative writing, stories, or solutions is exciting. However, many don't know what it takes to get their books traditionally or self-published or how much money they can make as writers.  In this episode, long-time MILMO Show listener Randy Surles gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to write, edit, and publish a book that will have commercial success, whether traditionally or self-published. SGM Randall Surles (Ret.) served for nearly 32 years in the Army as an infantryman in the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he parachuted into Panama during Operation Just Cause. He then served over 20 years as a Green Beret in various positions, specializing in medicine, weapons, tactics, and intelligence.  While still serving on active duty, Randy completed his BA in U.S. History from Campbell University and his MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Texas at El Paso. After retiring, Randall Surles trained under editor Shawn Coyne to become one of a handful of Story Grid Certified Editors. He currently works as a Podcaster, Developmental Editor, Book Coach, Ghost Writer, and Author. He specializes in editing military fiction and non-fiction books, but also enjoys editing/ writing Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Thrillers. The show notes can be found here: https://milmo.co/podcast/earning-a-living-as-a-writer

As I wrote the outline and script for the show on value shifts, I realised that there is a smaller unit of story that I need to discuss that's integral to understanding value shifts or how a scene turns. So, I considered adding it to that episode but soon discovered that the final version of the episode would be too long. That's why I created this, hopefully, short bonus show where I discuss what is a story beat. And how you can use them to create better scenes.Course, Podcasts, Books, and Tools MentionedCheck Out the Show Notes ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap047/The previous Episode ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap046/TAP045, The Anatomy of a Scene ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap045/TAP041, What is a Scene? ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/tap041/Story by Robert McKee ⇢ https://amzn.to/49VnLAe *Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell ⇢ https://amzn.to/3Wcq8eN *Story Grid by Shawn Coyne ⇢ https://amzn.to/4aZNs3O *Suggest an Episode Topic ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/request/Ask a Question ⇢ https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/question/Products I RecommendScrivener ⇢ https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=authorpreneurpod *Grammarly Premium ⇢ https://www.grammarly.com/Pro Writing Aid ⇢ https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=22911 *AutoCrit ⇢ https://www.autocrit.com/Marlow/Authors.ai ⇢ https://authors.ai/marlowe/?awref=rt2q4bq7zq *Fiverr ⇢ https://www.fiverr.com/DIVI Theme ⇢ https://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=66529 *Other Useful LinksLooking for an affordable premade book cover? | https://levillainbookcovers.com/shop/ **Be on the Podcast | https://authorpreneurpodcast.com/podcast/interview/Host Your Author Website with SiteGround ⇢ https://www.siteground.com/go/authorpreneur *Support the Show.Connect with me on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/writeradhayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpreneurpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpreneurpodcast/YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/authorpreneurpodcast/videosGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/authoradhay/Merch Store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/WriterADHay/shop* This is a service or product offered by me** My bookish merchandise store

This episode, first released on the “Into the Impossible” channel with Dr. Brian Keating, brings together the brilliant minds of John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne to discuss the advent of artificial general intelligence and its potential consequences. The conversation starts with the motivations behind major tech figures' drive towards AI development and touches upon the issues of trust, adaptation, and the inherent human susceptibility to self-deception. Vervaeke and Coyne, through their book  "Mentoring the Machines: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow," advocate for a nuanced understanding of AI, urging for a mentorship approach to machine development that could ensure AI's alignment with human flourishing. Their dialogue also ventures into the realms of psychology, cognitive science, and the philosophical underpinnings of AI, making a compelling case for the transformative power of AI, not only technologically but also existentially for humanity. Bios and Links: Dr. Brian Keating is the Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego, specializing in cosmic microwave background research to explore the universe's origins. An acclaimed writer, his book "Losing the Nobel Prize" is an Amazon Editors' favorite. He excels as a public speaker, inventor, and podcaster. Explore more at his website, follow him on Twitter, or watch his insights on YouTube.    Shawn Coyne, creator of Story Grid, brings over three decades of publishing expertise, notably with the Big Five publishers, as an independent publisher, literary agent, and head of Genre Management Inc. Dive into his editing method and explore more at Story Grid.   Embark on a journey with us to tackle the Meaning Crisis by joining our exclusive Patreon group: John Vervaeke | Responding to The Meaning Crisis with The Vervaeke Foundation. Connect with John: Website | YouTube | Patreon | X  Resources:   The Vervaeke Foundation   Awaken to Meaning   Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne    Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow -  John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne    John Vervaeke Video Essay: AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist Quotes:  "We should really be framing artificial intelligence as a mentoring of intelligent beings who have the capability and potentialities of becoming even perhaps better than we are." - Shawn Coyne [00:05:52] "It's only when you have genuine intelligence for the actual system or entity itself—an autopoietic system—a system that cares about information because it's taking care of itself in a moment by moment basis. Only then could you have something that would actually care about what's going on—the true, the good, or the beautiful." - John Vervaeke [00:15:05]   Glossary of Terms: AGI (Artificial General Intelligence): A level of artificial intelligence that can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a level of competence comparable to or surpassing that of a human. Relevance Realization: The process by which cognitive beings determine what information is relevant to their goals and what is not. Autopoiesis: The property of a living system (such as a bacterial cell or a multicellular organism) that allows it to maintain and renew itself.   Chapters:  00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:45 - The Genesis of "Mentoring the Machines"  00:08:50 - AI, Psychology, and the Alignment Problem  00:16:40 - The Evolution of Editing and Publishing in the AI Era 00:21:00 - Bridging Knowledge and Wisdom 00:29:00 - Einstein, Imagination, and AI's Emotional Depth 00:37:30 - Deciphering Consciousness: AI and the Hard Problem 00:44:40 - Educational Evolution: AI, Pedagogy, and the Future of Teaching 00:53:50 - AI's Impact on Personalized Storytelling  00:58:30 - AI, Psychology, and the Future of Psychotherapy 01:04:20 - Conclusion  

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Explore the complex relationship between AI and human insight in this thought-provoking episode with John Vervaeke, Ken Lowry, Jonathan Pageau, and DC Schindler. While deeply engaging with the scientific and philosophical aspects of artificial intelligence, the panel discusses its broad implications for our understanding of consciousness, culture, and rational thought. Key points include AI's challenge to our self-perception, its potential to reshape societal norms, and the critical examination of whether AI can approach human-like wisdom and ethical reasoning. The dialogue invites listeners to contemplate AI's role in redefining human rationality, wisdom, and the foundational structures of our societies.   Ken Lowry is a dedicated explorer of the good, true, and beautiful through his channel Climbing Mt Sophia, focusing on wisdom and virtue dialogues. His work fosters key collaborations, enhancing discussions on spirituality and philosophy.   Jonathan Pageau, a French Canadian icon carver and speaker, examines symbolic patterns to reconnect modern life with traditional arts, advocating for the re-enchantment of our contemporary world through ancient wisdom.   DC Schindler, a philosopher and professor, delves into metaphysics, ethics, and cultural philosophy, examining classical philosophy's impact on modern challenges, including AI, and its influence on culture and understanding. John Vervaeke: Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   X: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/   Ken Lowry: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbingmt.sophia Substack: https://kenlowry.substack.com/   Jonathan Pageau: Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jonathanpageau     DC Schindler: Website: https://www.johnpaulii.edu/academics/faculty/d-c-schindler/   Join our new Patreon https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/   Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/ Books, Articles, Publications, and Videos AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist - John Vervaeke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-_RdKiDbz4&list=PLND1JCRq8Vui2YOOfrxbeRwJk5jZPmAth&index=1 Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Machines-Orientation-Artificially-Intelligent-ebook/dp/B0CBXKL7P1 Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH8W8XLF Divination and Human Nature: A Cognitive History of Intuition in Classical Antiquity - Peter Struck https://www.amazon.com/Divination-Human-Nature-Cognitive-Intuition/dp/0691183457/ Quotes   "I do not honestly see how it is possible for humans to make something that is not derivative of themselves... the idea that these things could not be either ways to increase certain people's power or parasites on our own consciousness seems to me not conceivable." - Jonathan Pageau [00:24:22] "One of the problems that I'm seeing is that a lot of this is motivated by economic, by greed, by the capacity to be economically superior to other companies... what is actually driving AI is something like mammon." - Jonathan Pageau [00:21:39]  "I wonder whether it's possible to be intelligent without first being alive. There's something about the nature of a living thing that allows intelligence to emerge. Intelligence is a way of being before it's a way of acting and is analogous to what it means to be alive rather than just carry out functions that look like life." - DC Schindler [00:42:59]   Chapters    [00:00:00] - Opening Remarks: AI's Scope and Impact [00:03:00] - Defining AI: Weak, Strong, and AGI [00:18:30] - Ethical and Philosophical AI Considerations [00:32:35] - Integrating Wisdom with AI Development [00:41:40] - Distinguishing Intelligence and Rationality in AI [00:51:48] - Aligning Humanity to AI-Driven Cultural Shifts [01:23:00] - Consciousness and Technology: Extending the Human Mind [01:42:23] - Speculating AI's Future Directions [01:57:44] - Final Thoughts: Reflecting on AI's Complexity  

Paid subscribers get full access to my interview with John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne. The first half of this episode is available to all listeners. To hear the entire conversation, become a paying subscriber here. Meghan has been threatening to do an episode on artificial intelligence, and finally she makes good. This week, she welcomes two guests: the philosopher, neuroscientist, and popular YouTuber John Vervaeke and the editor and publishing entrepreneur Shawn Coyne. They have collaborated on Mentoring The Machines,  a series of short books–technically, it's one book in four parts–about artificial intelligence. Their aim is to offer a clear understanding of the implications of AI and to invite readers to think about their own participation in its development and how their own choices can move that development in a positive or negative direction. In this conversation, they explain what drew them to this subject, how they came to work together, and how worried we should be about computers destroying civilization. GUEST BIOS John Vervaeke is an award-winning professor at the University of Toronto in the departments of psychology, cognitive science, and Buddhist psychology. He is the author and presenter of the YouTube series, “Awakening from the Meaning Crisis,” “After Socrates” and the host of “Voices with Vervaeke.” Sean Coyne is a writer, editor, and the founder of Story Grid. Learn about Mentoring The Machines. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING

“It might seem strange to start a story with an ending, but all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time.” - Abigail K. PerryIn this episode, we're talking about The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom to see how and why it works. Join Abigail K. Perry and me as we break down this first chapter to see how it hooks our interest and pulls us into the story. Here's a preview of what's included:  [02:40] Chapter summary: Abigail reads a summary of the first chapter and talks about how (and why) the author gives away the ending of the story upfront.[15:52] Macro analysis: We talk through the 7 Key Questions as laid out by Paula Munier in her book, The Writer's Guide to Beginnings, and how the chapter serves as a compelling opening for a character-driven story.[21:42] Abigail talks about how this story is a great example of a novel with a unique voice.[45:46] Micro analysis: We talk through the structure of the scene using the 5 Commandment scene framework as laid out by Shawn Coyne at The Story Grid, including the use of “postcard scenes”—a term they borrowed from Donald Maass.[58:30] Final thoughts: The first chapter is essential in driving the story forward so writers should ensure that they are delivering enough of the big picture to engage readers. Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show! Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

In this first episode of the "Philosophy of Meditation" series, Rick Repetti and John Vervaeke take listeners on an engaging exploration of the intricate world of meditation and its deep roots in philosophical thought. John shares his transformative journey from a strict fundamentalist Christian background to finding solace and depth in Eastern philosophy and the practice of mindfulness. Rick and John's conversation navigates through the nuances of meditation and contemplation, shedding light on how these practices enrich the pursuit of wisdom and self-awareness. The discussion also bridges the gap between academic and practical philosophy, illustrating their vital role in understanding and cultivating wisdom. For listeners, this episode offers a deep, reflective insight into the philosophy of meditation, providing a comprehensive view of how these ancient practices are relevant and transformative in the modern world. The outcome is a rich tapestry of ideas, encouraging listeners to explore their own paths toward wisdom and self-realization.   Glossary of Terms   Dialogos: A form of dialogue that affords a reciprocal flow state. Mindfulness: The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences. Cognitive Science: An interdisciplinary field exploring the mind and its processes. Neoplatonism: A philosophical system developed as a version of the teachings of Plato. DIME Model: an ecology of practices for philosophical wellbeing: D=Dialogue, I=Imaginal, M=Mindfulness, and E=Embodied practice.   John Vervaeke: Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   X: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/   Rick Repetti: Website: https://www.rickrepetti.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickrepetti/  X: https://twitter.com/rickrepetti  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophicalpractitioner/   Join our new Patreon https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke   The Vervaeke Foundation - https://vervaekefoundation.org/   Awaken to Meaning - https://awakentomeaning.com/   John Vervaeke YouTube Awakening from the Meaning Crisis https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ After Socrates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOwjmZx12gk&list=PLND1JCRq8Vuj6q5NP_fXjBzUT1p_qYSCC AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist https://youtu.be/A-_RdKiDbz4   Books, Articles, and Publications   Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti  https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X Experimental Phenomenology: An Introduction - Don Ihde https://www.amazon.com/Experimental-Phenomenology-Introduction-Don-Ihde/dp/0887061990 Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/Mentoring-Machines-Orientation-Artificially-Intelligent/dp/1645010821/ Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CH8W8XLF The Republic by Plato - The Internet Classics Archive https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html Relevance, Meaning and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom Vervaeke, J., & Ferraro, L. (2013) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286508333_Relevance_Meaning_and_the_Cognitive_Science_of_Wisdom Quotes   "Mindfulness and philosophy converge in cognitive science, enriching our understanding of wisdom." - John Vervaeke  "Meditation and contemplation are integral for a holistic philosophical understanding." - Rick Repetti "The journey to wisdom involves integrating academic philosophy with life practices." - John Vervaeke Chapters with Timestamps   [00:00:00] Introduction to the Series [00:03:00] John's Personal Journey to Philosophy and Meditation [00:06:00] The Convergence of Mindfulness and Academic Philosophy  [00:11:40] Defining Meditation and Contemplation  [00:19:24] Discussion on Academic Philosophy and Its Practice  [00:22:20] Exploring the Philosophy of Meditation  [00:41:00] The Impact of Meditation in Personal Life  [00:52:00] Neoplatonic Levels of Meditation  [00:55:50] Integration of Eastern and Western Philosophical Practices  [01:17:16] Exploring the Verveke Foundation and Its Role  [01:24:00] The Importance of Community and Shared Practices  [01:28:00] Final Thoughts and Reflections    Timestamped Highlights   [00:01:00] - Introduction to the Philosophy of Meditation series. [00:02:01] - Rick's reflection on how the series began. [00:03:13] - John's journey to meditation, philosophy, and philosophy of meditation  [00:07:12] - Integration of academic philosophy and mindfulness practices. [00:11:48] - Defining meditation and contemplation. [00:14:39] - Deepening the understanding of consciousness. [00:19:49] - The role of academic philosophy. [00:22:29] - The philosophy of meditation within cognitive science. [00:31:02] - Can meditation contribute to philosophy? [00:41:00] - The importance of meditation in personal life.   [00:52:00] - Explanation of Neoplatonic meditation levels. [00:55:50] - John Vervaeke discusses integrating Eastern and Western practices. [00:58:19] - Discussion on balancing personal idiosyncrasies and universal challenges. [01:00:38] - John shares his mystical experience of Plato's forms. [01:02:41] - Reflection on the transformative impact of mystical experiences. [01:06:40] - Critical perspective on the current state of mindfulness practices in North America. [01:09:00] - The need for a deeper understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and wisdom. [01:14:22] - Advice for practitioners of meditation and mindfulness. [01:17:16] - Introduction to the Verveke Foundation and its objectives. [01:24:00] - Emphasizing the need for community and shared wisdom practices. [01:28:00] - Closing remarks and gratitude for the podcast series.  

John Vervaeke and guest Sam Tideman delve into the intricate world of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its intersection with healthcare. Sam, an expert in biostatistics, machine learning, and AI, shares valuable insights from his professional experiences, particularly in healthcare system optimization. The conversation navigates the ethical and moral challenges of applying AI in complex environments like emergency departments, the intricacies of predictive modeling, and the broader societal implications of AI, including its energy consumption and public perception. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in understanding the nuanced interplay between technology, healthcare, and ethics, offering a comprehensive perspective on the current and future potential of AI to transform lives and systems.   Sam Tideman, an accomplished healthcare data scientist with an MS in Biostatistics, blends his analytical acumen with a passion for theology in his podcast, "Transfigured." The podcast features long-form discussions exploring the identity of Jesus, reflecting Sam's unique intersection of scientific expertise and spiritual inquiry.   Glossary of Terms   AGI (Artificial General Intelligence): An AI that has the ability to understand, learn, and apply its intelligence to a wide range of problems, much like human intelligence. Biostatistics: The application of statistics to a wide range of topics in biology.   Resources and References:   Dr. John Vervaeke: Website | YouTube | Patreon | X | Facebook Sam Tideman: YouTube   The Vervaeke Foundation John Vervaeke YouTube Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - series Artificial Intelligence - series The Crossroads of Predictive Processing and Relevance Realization | Leiden Symposium   Books, Articles, Publications, and Videos Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne  Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne  Predictive processing and relevance realization: Exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Andersen, B., Miller, M., & Vervaeke, J. (2022).   Related Resources Chicagoland Bridges of Meaning Meetup   Chapters with Timestamps   [00:00:00] Introduction of Sam Tiedemann and Episode Overview  [00:01:15] Sam's Background and Intersection with AI  [00:04:11] The Role of AI in Healthcare and Emergency Departments  [00:14:26] The Limitations of AI in Morally Complex Environments  [00:24:34] Discussion on AI's Capability to Predict vs. Normative Decision-Making  [00:53:06] The Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact of Training AI Models    Timestamped Highlights   [00:00:00] John opens the discussion by welcoming Sam and introducing the topic of artificial general intelligence (AGI). [00:01:15] Sam shares his diverse background, which spans theology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. [00:06:15] The conversation focuses on AI's potential and dangers, setting the stage for the day's discussion. [00:09:28] Sam reflects on the complexities he faced while trying to implement AI in emergency department forecasting. [00:14:53] Sam points out the practical limitations of AI in real-world applications. [00:21:38] Sam criticizes the inflated expectations surrounding AI in healthcare projects. [00:26:26] John and Sam discuss how predictive processing and relevance realization can be integrated into AI. [00:29:37] They delve into the potential of AI to emulate human qualities like intentionality and care. [00:34:11] John emphasizes the need to recognize the limitations of AI in solving complex real-world problems. [00:38:30] Sam's parable features an AI model in healthcare that prescribes drugs probabilistically and learns from outcomes, hinting at AI's emerging agency. [00:42:10] The feasibility of AI replicating human intuition and judgment in complex scenarios is questioned. [00:46:15] John highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and developing AI. [00:49:57] Philosophical aspects of AI, such as intentionality and consciousness, are explored in-depth. [00:53:30] Sustainability concerns in AI development, especially compared to the human brain's efficiency, are discussed. [01:06:40] The episode concludes with a discussion on AI's inability to align with human normativity and the limitations of its social, cultural, and biological understanding.  

John Vervaeke explores the intricacies of predictive processing and relevance realization within cognitive frameworks. His dialogue unpacks complex concepts like the frame problem, the relevance problem, and how these theories intertwine within the larger quest for artificial general intelligence. Vervaeke debates the nature of intelligence, discusses the importance of managing the overwhelming influx of information, and the trade-offs between general and specialized problem-solving. John provides detailed explanations of how these cognitive processes are foundational to our interaction with the world and links them to broader philosophical notions of meaning and connectedness.   Resources and References:   John Vervaeke: Website | Patreon | Facebook | X | YouTube The Vervaeke Foundation   Books   Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne    Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne    The Rediscovery of the Mind - John R. Searle    Publications   Relevance Realization and the Emerging Framework in Cognitive Science - Vervaeke, J., Lillicrap, T., Richards, B. (2012) The naturalistic imperative in cognitive science - Vervaeke, J. (1997) Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences.  - Andersen, B. P., Miller, M., & Vervaeke, J. (2022) Flow as spontaneous thought: Insight and implicit learning - Vervaeke, J., Ferraro, L., Herrera-Bennett, A. (2018) Gaining Insight Into the “Aha” Experience - Topolinski, S., Reber, R. (2010) The Frame Problem -Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy   Chapters with Timestamps   00:00:20 - John's introduction to predictive processing 00:01:23 - Explanation of the frame problem 00:03:56 - The relevance problem in artificial intelligence 00:08:23 - Discussion on bioeconomic levels of cognitive processing 00:13:06 - How the brain solves environmental fitting 00:22:35 - The integration of predictive processing and relevance realization 00:34:01 - The concept of optimal grip 00:47:39 - Linking flow state to expertise and wisdom 00:54:40 - How wisdom relates to complex problem-solving 00:55:00 - The importance of reorienting oneself in complex situations  

Riffing with Rhea Wessel about writing today, she provided great insight into lining up singular problems, creating solutions through headlines, and packing in knowledge to "enable constraint."  Rhea speaks fondly of your mentors, especially her English teacher- Mrs. Thorpe,  Shawn Coyne and Stephen Pressville. From them, she learned to deconstruct stories and bring conversations forward.  Enjoy hearing lessons from her youthful Mom and Dad that include "never give up" and "love and accept others."  In her role of leading the Institute for Thought Leaders, her quest is to help subject experts be heard.  And there's more-  Understanding thought-leadership writing is one thing.Doing it, and doing it well, is another.How do you quickly attract people to your idea and engage the reader? How do you find the right point of view?Simply put: You've got to think like a journalist and find the right story angle.That process is called story framing.When a story is framed well, sophisticated readers will gladly hear what you have to say. Visit www.rheawessel.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

Riffing with Rhea Wessel about writing today, she provided great insight into lining up singular problems, creating solutions through headlines, and packing in knowledge to "enable constraint." Rhea speaks fondly of your mentors, especially her English teacher- Mrs. Thorpe, Shawn Coyne and Stephen Pressville. From them, she learned to deconstruct stories and bring conversations forward. Enjoy hearing lessons from her youthful Mom and Dad that include "never give up" and "love and accept others." In her role of leading the Institute for Thought Leaders, her quest is to help subject experts be heard. And there's more- Understanding thought-leadership writing is one thing.Doing it, and doing it well, is another.How do you quickly attract people to your idea and engage the reader? How do you find the right point of view?Simply put: You've got to think like a journalist and find the right story angle.That process is called story framing.When a story is framed well, sophisticated readers will gladly hear what you have to say.Visit www.rheawessel.com

Open positions at EB.  Shawn Coyne and Sen Joe Courtney talk about filling those positions.

Dr. John Vervaeke engages in a multi-faceted conversation with Carla Groom, who is ingeniously incorporating cognitive science into her work. Vervaeke provides a scholarly background on mental models, drawing from philosophy and cognitive science to elucidate how humans make sense of their world. Groom shares her front-line experiences, revealing how these theories translate into actionable insights in government. The discussion evolves into a kaleidoscope of ideas, from the dynamics of mental models in decision-making to the nuanced philosophy of 'we agency' and collective intelligence. The conversation not only dissects the complexities of problem-solving in the public sector but also expands to the cosmos as they explore how NASA scientists navigate rovers on Mars. Focusing on the intricate balance between human cognition and the demands of large organizational structures, this episode is an intellectual treasure trove for anyone fascinated by the crossroads of cognitive science, governance, and human behavior.   Carla Groom is a pioneering force in the realm of behavioral science, currently steering the field of Human-Centred Design Science at the UK's Department of Work and Pensions. With a doctorate in social psychology from Northwestern University, she identified fundamental flaws in traditional empirical research methods, leading her to become a luminary in policy and organizational decision-making. Carla's unique practice focuses on debunking false assumptions in policy design by digging deep into contextual human behavior. Not only is she a sought-after conference speaker and academic peer reviewer, but she also thrives on educating others in her transformative methods. Her multidisciplinary team of experts continually enriches her own understanding, making her a perpetual student in a field in which she has substantially evolved.   Resources:   Carla Groom: LinkedIn | X John Vervaeke: Website | Patreon | Facebook | X | YouTube   The Vervaeke Foundation Circling & Dialogos - workshop   John Vervaeke — YouTube: Bridging Behavioral Science & Government Policies for a Meaningful Work Experience AI: The Coming Thresholds and The Path We Must Take | Internationally Acclaimed Cognitive Scientist The Future of Governance: The Future of Governance Part 1 | Jordan Hall and John Vervaeke The Future of Governance Part 2 | Jordan Hall and John Vervaeke The Future of Governance Part 3 | Jordan Hall and John Vervaeke   Climbing Mt. Sophia Compassion: A Dialectic into Dialogos with John Vervaeke, Christopher Mastropietro and Ryan Barton   Books Mental Models - Philip Johnson-Laird Dynamics in Action: Intentional Behavior as a Complex System - Alicia Juarrero Context Changes Everything: How Constraints Create Coherence - Alicia Juarrero The Blunders of Our Governments - Anthony King, Ivor Crewe Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne Mentoring the Machines: Origins - Part 2: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne   Publications Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem - Brett P. Andersen, Mark Miller & John Vervaeke Distributed Cognition and the Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke The Enactment of Shared Agency in Teams Exploring Mars Through Rovers - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke The Experience of Presence in the Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Dan Chiappe, John Vervaeke Cognition in the Wild - Edwin Hutchins   Miscellaneous UTOK Conference 2023 | Full Video Library Mundus Imaginalis or the Imaginary and the Imaginal - Henry Corbin Wolfgang Smith & John Vervaeke at The Meaning Code   People Brett Andersen Mark Miller Geoffrey Hinton Cory Lewis   Timecodes:   00:00:00 — Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Carla Groom, a UK government employee who is working on integrating cognitive science into her work. She acts as a liaison between various UK civil service departments. 00:01:20 — They discuss the challenges of understanding the underlying assumptions and mental models that people bring to problem-solving and communication. 00:07:33 — Dr. John Vervaeke discusses the concept of mental models as proposed by Philip Johnson-Laird, which he describes as a mixture of a picture and propositional labels used to model a situation. 00:15:00 — Carla Groom talks about simulating changes and responses in the UK government's hierarchical system. 00:19:20 — Dr. Vervaeke elaborates on how models act as emissaries for a worldview. 00:24:31 — The discussion centers on causality in understanding and solving issues. 00:30:09 — Groom raises questions about the hidden factors that influence our paths to success. 00:33:20 — Dr. Vervaeke shares an anecdote about NASA scientists forming connections with rovers. 00:39:07 – Vervaeke emphasizes the importance of understanding a minister's worldview. 00:44:30 — Carla emphasizes the need for new mental models in systemic thinking. 00:47:28 — Carla Groom agrees with Vervaeke on the necessity for evolving worldviews. 00:50:38 — The challenge of translating specialist language is discussed. 00:55:40 — The tension between domain specificity and professional specialization is examined. 00:58:20 — John Vervaeke explains the practice of oscillating between specialized processing and collective reasoning. 01:03:40 — Carla urges appreciation for the complexity in government problems.

Hooboy, this movie gets better with age. Why? Because when we watch it through the lens of 2023 it has much more depth and nuance. Glenn Close's character (Alex) is supposed to be the villain, but is she really? If you want to create a multi-dimensional antagonist who drives the plot and raises the stakes, you've got to listen to this episode.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircleFor information about Valerie's upcoming webinars, visit: www.valeriefrancis.ca/webinarsTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

In this episode of Voices with Vervaeke, Dr. John Vervaeke and guest Alexander Beiner, a leading voice in the world of psychedelics, discuss psychedelics' role in contemporary society. They tackle complex topics like the dangers and potentials of mixing politics with psychedelics, the mechanics of mystical experiences, and the modern meaning crisis. The duo also delves into the risks and rewards of commodifying psychedelic experiences. They explore the latest scientific studies, personal accounts, and anecdotal evidence, weaving them into an intricate narrative that invites listeners to consider psychedelics beyond recreational use. From trials at Imperial College London to DMT injections and the exploration of meta-cognitive skills, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in the intricacies of the human mind, altered states, and the possibility of a collective conscious awakening.   Alexander Beiner (@AlexanderBeiner) is an author, journalist, and facilitator who is dedicated to bringing countercultural perspectives into mainstream conversation. With an approach that blends writing and experiential transformation, he's committed to helping us navigate the complex era we find ourselves. Alexander is the author of 'The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World'' and also pens a popular Substack with the same name. He serves as an executive director for Breaking Convention, Europe's seminal conference on psychedelic medicine and culture. Additionally, he co-created and co-facilitates Regenerative Stewardship, a legal psilocybin retreat. A pioneer in alternative media, he was one of the founders of Rebel Wisdom, a platform that delved into the realms of systems change and cultural sensemaking.   Resources: Alexander Beiner: Website | Substack | X John Vervaeke: Website | Facebook | X   The Vervaeke Foundation   Rebel Wisdom — YouTube: Psychedelic Capitalism and The Sacred   John Vervaeke — YouTube: John Vervaeke: Artificial Intelligence, The Meaning Crisis, & The Future of Humanity Conversation with John Vervaeke - AI edition - Jordan Hall   Regenerative Stewardship Breaking Convention Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project ‘I took part in a radical psychedelic clinical trial and it changed my life forever' 'Why Socrates was a Monster' with John Vervaeke We Will Call It Pala   Books: The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World - Alexander Beiner How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence - Michael Pollan Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge - Jeremy Narby The Razor's Edge - W. Somerset Maugham Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values - Robert M Pirsig Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being: Relation as Ontological Ground - James Filler  Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne   Publications: Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans: II. Subjective Effects and Preliminary Results of a New Rating Scale - Rick J. Strassman MD; Clifford R. Qualls PhD; Eberhard H. Uhlenhuth MD; Robert Kellner MD, PhD A Model for the Application of Target-Controlled Intravenous Infusion for a Prolonged Immersive DMT Psychedelic Experience - Andrew R. Gallimor, Rick J. Strassman On Revelations and Revolutions: Drinking Ayahuasca Among Palestinians Under Israeli Occupation - Leor Roseman, Nadeem Karkabi The Self-Organization of Insight: Entropy and Power Laws in Problem Solving - Damian G. Stephen, James A. Dixon   People: Ram Dass Timothy Leary Terence McKenna Marc Lewis Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner Robin Carhart-Harris Juensung Kim Michel Ferrari Daniel Schmachtenberger Iain McGilchrist Émile Durkheim Bernardo Kastrup Nicholas of Cusa  Ben Sessa Peter Gasser Friederike Meckel Aldous Huxley   Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Dr. John Vervaeke introduces his guest, Alexander Beiner, a founding figure of Rebel Wisdom.  00:03:22 - Beiner shares how the psychedelic counterculture influenced him and his exploration of the potential role of psychedelics in societal change. 00:06:50 - The conversation turns to the transformative possibilities offered by psychedelic experiences, highlighting both their enlightening and limiting aspects. 00:11:38 - Dr. Vervaeke probes the relationship between the duration of a DMT trip and its perceived intensity while contrasting mystical and visionary experiences. 00:18:00 - Delving into the sensory richness of psychedelic trips, Alexander expounds on the accompanying emotions like relevance, mystery, and familiarity. 00:23:00 - Skepticism and belief intersect as both speakers explore the advantages of an agnostic viewpoint when interpreting profound experiences. 00:26:40 - Dr. Vervaeke advocates for mindfulness as preparatory groundwork, cautioning against blindly conferring authority to psychedelic apparitions. 00:29:19 - Alexander talks about the research done by his wife, Ashleigh Murphy-Beiner, in the psychedelic world. He emphasizes the significance of leaning into what's coming up but also acknowledges the need to zoom out and take a step back. 00:34:00 - Vervaeke introduces the concept of overfitting and underfitting in machine learning, drawing parallels to our mental processes and how psychedelics can introduce noise to prevent overfitting. 00:40:43 - Reverence as a virtue is discussed, accompanied by reflections on the cultivation of epistemic virtue. 00:47:20 - Alexander suggests that even partial acceptance of panpsychism or idealism can enrich our perspectives in a meaningful way. 00:54:39 - John and Alexander discuss the dark side of AI and the manipulative potential of making things salient and opening people up to misinformation. 01:01:18 - Dr. John Vervaeke talks about the importance of the dialogical character of experiences and how they differ from traditional enlightenment experiences 01:09:51 - John describes the stages of Dialogos, including interpersonal intimacy, intimacy with the logos, and intimacy with the ground of being itself. 01:10:49 - John praises Alexander's book and his efforts to address the meaning crisis and explore the psychedelic renaissance.  

I've got a powerful storytelling tip to share today.Back in my fiction writing days, I thought non-stop action made a great story. But I was missing something vital, which I found in Shawn Coyne's "Story Grid."Here's the key: Every great story has two journeys. First, there's the external journey, like Frodo's quest or Luke Skywalker's mission. But beneath that, there's the internal journey…the hero's struggle with identity, self-doubt, and purpose.The magic happens when these two journeys mirror each other. As external action intensifies, so does internal conflict. The hero's doubt and self-discovery peak as the external battle climaxes.Remember, it's not the explosions that make a story, but the hero's internal transformation.For instance, when my fiancee left me, I was in a van with debt. The external struggle was clear, but the internal battle, questioning my self-worth, was the real story.So, when crafting your stories, intertwine both journeys. It's a game-changer for connecting with your audience.LEAVE A REVIEW if you liked this episode!! Let's Connect On Social Media! youtube.com/anthonyvicino twitter.com/anthonyvicino instagram.com/theanthonyvicino https://anthonyvicino.com Join an exclusive community of peak performers at Beyond the Apex University learning how to build a business, invest in real estate, and develop hyperfocus. www.beyondtheapex.com Learn More About Investing With Anthony Invictus Capital: www.invictusmultifamily.com Multifamily Investing Made Simple Podcast Passive Investing Made Simple Book: www.thepassiveinvestingbook.com

Dr. John Vervaeke reunites with guest Damien Walter in an engaging second episode to unpack the fascinating theory of Star Trek as a potent contemporary mythos. They dissect storytelling as a "psycho-technology" that mirrors human cognition and immerses us in collective human experiences. The episode focuses on how Star Trek bridges the gap between traditional, modern, and postmodern narratives, with discussions on metamodernism and its relevance in narrative reconstruction. Vervaeke and Walter delve into Plato's influence on narrative crafting, modern myth-making, and the cultivation of new ways to access the sacred. Walter elucidates the unique structure of Star Trek, explaining its appeal to society's conservative aspects and its subversion of the military-industrial complex. Vervaeke aligns Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, further establishing its significance in our modern narrative.   Timecodes: [00:00:00] Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Damien Walter, setting the stage for an exploration of Star Trek as a contemporary mythos. [00:01:03] Damien Walter shares his video essay, inspiring the conversation around the postmodern deconstruction of Star Trek. [00:03:16] Walter discusses how storytelling enables persona creation, marking a critical moment in understanding narrative impact. [00:07:00] Vervaeke probes the authority of metanarratives, challenging postmodernism's stance, and introduces metamodernism, hinting at a new stage of societal narratives. [00:11:07] Walter addresses our need to integrate different stages of civilization and personas into our narratives. [00:13:06] Emphasis on the need to appreciate past narratives while fostering narrative evolution. [00:18:15] Highlighting societal desire for dismissed narratives, using "Top Gun Maverick" and "Lord of the Rings" as examples. [00:20:35] Vervaeke discusses liminal spaces, focusing on the reinvention of narratives. [00:25:24] Walter delves into Plato's influence on myth-making and his innovative approach to philosophy through dialogues. [00:30:38] Vervaeke explores the philosophical ideas of Heraclitus and Parmenides and their interplay in Plato's thinking, then the conversation shifts towards the cultivation of myths, discussing the organic growth of narratives. [00:35:44] Walter presents Gene Roddenberry as a modern myth-maker, transitioning to Star Trek's narrative analysis. [00:39:05] Comparing the idealized order in Star Trek's Enterprise to Plato's Republic. [00:43:01] Vervaeke commends Damien Walter's thesis, aligning Star Trek's philosophy with the Enlightenment's mythos, dissecting Star Trek's ability to cater to conservative aspects of society while still providing a platform for progress. [00:47:14] Walter discusses Star Trek's critique and subversion of the military-industrial complex, demonstrating its dual appeal. [00:50:15] Vervaeke builds upon Walter's point, illuminating the series' progressive elements rooted in the Enlightenment's mythos. [00:52:47] Walter and Vervaeke delve into the idea of Star Trek's Federation as a utopian vision, a 'sacred' space for exploring societal issues. [00:57:00] The episode concludes with reflections on how Star Trek, as a modern mythos, offers a new perspective for understanding our society and its future.   Resources:   Voices with Vervaeke: Part 1: Science Fiction & Philosophy: Star Trek's Deep Commentary with Damien Walter  | The Transformational Impact of Story Telling with Shawn Coyne    Why Do Movies Feel So Different Now? Culture Series by Iain M. Banks  

Dr. John Vervaeke and Gregg Henriques once again welcome Brendan Graham Dempsey to engage in profound explorations of transcendent naturalism, wisdom traditions, and the crucial significance of adaptive insight within our current existential landscape. Through discussions on religious reconstruction, animism, hyper-agents, and the role of wisdom in technology, the episode explores the connections between the sacred and the modern world. Dr. Vervaeke emphasizes collective intelligence and agency, while Brendan Graham Dempsey passionately speaks on the unfolding process of the sacred. Gregg Henriques proposes concepts like "wise NAGI" and reflects on collective awakening. Together, they inspire listeners to rethink the integration of religion, science, and reality, emphasizing the need for understanding and harmony.   Resources: Brendan Graham Dempsey Unified Theory of Knowledge   Publications: Relevance, Meaning and the Cognitive Science of Wisdom - John Vervaeke and Leonardo Ferraro  Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. - Dacher Keltner, Jonathan Haidt    Videos:  Ep 67 | UTOKing with Howard Bloom | The Blooming Universe Neuroenlightenment: John Vervaeke at TEDxUofT John Vervaeke: Artificial Intelligence, The Meaning Crisis, & The Future of Humanity. John Vervaeke and Paul Vanderklay Dialogue about the Quest for a Spiritual Home   Books: Mentoring the Machines: Orientation - Part One: Surviving the Deep Impact of the Artificially Intelligent Tomorrow - John Vervaeke, Shawn Coyne  The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity - Bobby Azarian    Quotes: "I think the key here is to appreciate the roles that individuals can play when culture has reached its limits, and that is something that we have to take up the task of individually, of saying, alright, how do I explore this domain of the sacred, what are my intuitions, what are my sensitivities to the transcendent, and begin to give voice to those, to write them down, to externalize them, to objectify them, to put them back into culture so that we can collectively bring these new symbolizations together, ideally in a new networked way that allows for new collective representations of the sacred of the God concept of the divine." - Brendan Graham Dempsey "There's a reconceptualization of the sacred, not as the perfect or complete, but as an inexhaustible fount of intelligibility that simultaneously always shines in and always withdraws from our grasp because relevance realization is incompletable and the world contains radical uncertainty, not just unfound or uncalculated risk." - Dr. John Vervaeke Timecodes: [00:00:20] Dr. John Vervaeke introduces Brendan Graham Dempsey's work on merging Vervaeke and Gregg Henriques's work related to transcendent naturalism. [00:06:38] Dempsey discusses the Religious Reconstruction Project and the learning process, confronting the limits of world models. ​​[00:11:40] Gregg Henriques reflects on the idea of finding meaning at the edge of what we know. [00:13:55] Dr. Vervaeke introduces the concept of the sacred as an always-beyond intelligibility, challenging traditional views. [00:21:03] Delving into schemas, animism, and the risk of misunderstanding reality. [00:28:03] Brendan Graham Dempsey introduces the concept of a new God, an iconic representation of the infinitely receding and illuminating element of reality, suggesting this could help us better understand our world.  [00:32:00] Gregg Henriques introduces the concept of the "fifth joint point" and the need for collective awakening and understanding of the underlying structure. [00:35:00] Vervaeke mentions his upcoming book, suggesting that the proposals that prepare us for the future should have authority, and mentions the internet as a potential common ground for dealing with the advent of AGI. [00:38:37] Speaking on the transformative power of encountering the "really real" and how it's woven into everything else suggests that this profound understanding of reality has a sense of authority. [00:45:20] Dr. Vervaeke and Dempsey discuss logos and multi-layered symbolic articulation underscoring the importance of language in expressing this multi-layered form. [00:49:18] Emphasizing intermediary models in learning complex concepts. [00:52:19] Brendan Graham Dempsey discusses the idea of humans as a way for the cosmos to know itself, and how this perspective gives meaning to his life. He emphasizes the need for these truths to work at an embodied, lived reality. [00:59:15] Stressing the need for alignment between religious conceptions and reality. [01:02:02] Gregg Henriques shares his perspective on the enlightenment gap and the inadequacy of science in grounding our fundamental relevance realization across all modes of being. [01:04:22] Proposing a trans-subjective epistemology, recognizing interplay over time. [01:05:44] Discussing naturalism's role in framing the context for science.  

writing coach Kevin T. Johns says goodbye to The Story Grid Podcast, which published its final episode last week. Kevin discusses the importance of the podcast, and his admiration for its hosts Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl, and explains how their podcast was a profound act of generosity for both writing coaches and students of writer's craft.

Season 5 kicks off with Men in Black. Valerie is studying plot structure, and Melanie is studying resonance. Now, admittedly, plot structure doesn't sound very sexy but it's one of the first decisions a writer must make. If you haven't chosen a structure for your novel, how will you know if what you've written is working? Resonance is the ability to evoke or suggest images, emotions, and memories, and all successful writers use it to draw on their readers' experiences. So, how are you putting it to use in your own WIP?For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle: www.valeriefrancis.ca/innercircleTo learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website: www.melaniehill.com.auFollow Valerie on Instagram and Twitter @valerie_francisFollow Melanie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @MelanieHillAuthor

Thanks for tuning in to the Activated Authors podcast. If you're ready to ACTIVATE your author career, head on over to https://activatedauthors.com/ On today's episode, Dan and Sam dive into their understanding of what story is, and explore what exactly goes into the makeup of a “good” story. Recommended Resources The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snowflake-Method-Advanced-Fiction-Writing-ebook/dp/B00LWBZ696/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20CNK5PWQEV1Y&keywords=the+snowflake+method&qid=1664734849&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjE2IiwicXNhIjoiMi4wMiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNzkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+snowflake+method%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 The Complete Works of Shakespeare https://www.amazon.co.uk/William-Shakespeare-Complete-Works-Oxford/dp/0199267189/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=the+complete+works+of+william+shakespeare&qid=1664734966&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjMwIiwicXNhIjoiMi43MiIsInFzcCI6IjIuODUifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+complete+works+of+%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-6 Elementary https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Deductionist/dp/B00FZGWU2K/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=elementary&qid=1664735043&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjgyIiwicXNhIjoiMy43MiIsInFzcCI6IjMuODcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=elemen%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3 Save the Cat by Blake Synder https://www.amazon.co.uk/Save-Cat-Only-Screenwriting-Youll/dp/1932907009/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=save+the+cat+blake+snyder&qid=1664735806&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjU5IiwicXNhIjoiMS40MiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTcifQ%3D%3D&s=instant-video&sprefix=save+the+cat+blak%2Cinstant-video%2C81&sr=1-1-catcorr The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Grid-What-Good-Editors-ebook/dp/B00WT7TP8A/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=story+grid+shawn+coyne&qid=1664735856&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjk1IiwicXNhIjoiMS41NiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTAifQ%3D%3D&s=instant-video&sprefix=story+grid%2Cinstant-video%2C117&sr=1-1 Three Story Method by J Thorn & Zach Bohannon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Story-Method-Foundations-Fiction-ebook/dp/B085272J6B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J5FFBYWI7B72&keywords=the+three+story+method&qid=1664736005&s=books&sprefix=the+three+story+method%2Cstripbooks%2C71&sr=1-1 Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/mzJrka7K8o8  Claim your FREE 30 days of Activated Authors! https://activatedauthors.com/ Find out more about Daniel Willcocks https://www.danielwillcocks.com/ IG: @willcockswriter Twitter: @willcockswriter Find out more about Samantha Frost https://www.mastressofnone.com IG: @mastressofnone Special thanks to: Show theme: Karl Hughes Show editing: Sam Frost  

Recorded on July 14th, 2022In this episode, I go back and share my entire writing journey up to this point. From my first confrontation with rejection in elementary school, to how I believed I was a literary genius in my teenage years & early twenties (and how I was brutally brought back to reality), to my worst writing years and how I got through them!Mentioned in this episode:On Writing by Stephen King: https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781982159375NaNoWriMo: https://nanowrimo.orgShawn Coyne & The Story Grid (website): https://storygrid.comThe Story Grid by Shawn Coyne (book): https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781936891351Rachael Herron: https://rachaelherron.com/write/Scrivener: https://a.paddle.com/v2/click/49535/150971?link=1570The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781936891023Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield: https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781936891030Do the Work by Steven Pressfield: https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781936891375Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://bookshop.org/a/85049/9781594634727Writers of the Future Contest: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/J. Thorn: https://theauthorlife.comKsenia Anske: https://www.kseniaanske.comHorror Writers Association: https://horror.orgThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction: https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/Read the full transcript of this episode: https://leftie-aubes-writing-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1-my-journey-so-far/transcriptSupport the show (and my writing career!): https://ko-fi.com/leftieaubeTag me on your screenshots of the show @leftieaube and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leftieaube/⬇️ Visit my Bookshop page: https://bookshop.org/shop/leftieaube ⬇️When you buy a book from this page, you are supporting an indie bookstore, the author of the book AND me, all at the same time!Try out Scrivener (my favorite writing tool ever, the one I use to write all my novels!): https://a.paddle.com/v2/click/49535/150971?link=1570This podcast is recorded and edited using Descript: https://www.descript.com?lmref=V_4suQIt is hosted by Simplecast: https://simplecast.comIntro music credit: “Cinematic Cello Arpeggio Trailer” by Gregor Quendel, found on Free Sound https://freesound.org/s/555995/Disclaimer: Some of the above links are affiliates. At no extra cost to you, I'm receiving compensation for any purchase made through those links. Buying through those links supports my writing journey, which I highly appreciate!

In this episode, Valerie and Melanie review their key takeaways from the ten films they studied this season. Tune in to learn their best advice for authors, ah-ha moments and resource recommendations.

Mentioned: - The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne – https://amzn.to/2Yw6Elx  Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody – https://amzn.to/3xf7TFV - Sarah Beth Yoga - https://www.youtube.com/c/sarahbethyoga - Yoga with Kassandra - https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithkassandra - Yoga with Bird - https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaWithBird - A Midsummer Night's Dream @ Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA - https://www.theoldglobe.org/pdp/22-season/a-midsummer-nights-dream   The My Imaginary Friends podcast is a weekly, behind the scenes look at the journey of a working author navigating traditional and self-publishing. Join fantasy and paranormal romance author L. Penelope as she shares insights on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast | Get the Footnotes newsletter - http://lpen.co/footnotes Support the show - http://frolic.media/podcasts! Stay in touch with me! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

While this film may not be listed among Pixar's Top 10, there's still plenty to love about Turning Red and we need more stories that explore these themes. From a craft perspective, Melanie sees it as a good example of how the beginning of a story sets up the end, and Valerie considers whether the red panda is a metaphor that works.

In this episode, Melanie takes us on a deep dive of spy stories, their conventions and subgenres. It turns out that what we usually think of as spy stories might not be spy stories at all! Meanwhile, Valerie examines the testing plot and offers advice about how to write historical fiction that works.

If you're interested in character development, this award-winning film is one you want to study. However, if you're interested in studying examples of crime stories (which is how this movie has been marketed), maybe give it a pass. Tune in to find out why!

What does it take to launch your book and build a fanbase? What do most writers misunderstand about the craft of writing and launching their book? Tim Grahl has dedicated the last 10 years of his life helping over 100 authors – from bestsellers to first time writers – get their books into the hands of more readers. In this episode we talk about smart and authentic marketing steps every writer can take to find their first 1000 readers and give their book a chance of reaching the bestselling lists. We also dive into Tim's memoir Running Down a Dream and talk about writing about devastation and grief.Tim Grahl has worked with authors like Dan Pink, Ramit Sethi, Shawn Coyne, Pamela Slim, Dan and Chip Heath and has launched dozens of books to the top of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other bestseller lists. He also runs  The Story Grid podcast, where he had his own book edited live by editor Shawn Coyne. Tim has written books on building an audience: Your First 1000 Copies; on building a business: Running Down a Dream, He has also been the architect behind the hugely successful Story Grid writing community and works with Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne at Black Irish Publishing.*SHOW NOTES[03:46] Tim talks about the vulnerability of being critiqued live on The Story Grid podcast with Editor Shawn Coyne[09:38] How to build the right audience, and the benefits of learning in public for accountability[12:12] How a successful book launch always starts with a good plan[12:23] What went wrong with The Threshing's launch, and the things Tim did right to market The Sand and Sea (280,000-word epic fantasy) [15:38] Why it's harder to get people to read a book than buy one, and what Tim and his team did to sell The Sand and Sea[19:38] Building an email list as the number one marketing tactic sell and promote your book[23:51] The importance of building a habit and why being consistent is better than doing one big push on anything that you do[26:22] Tim's advice for those who are trying to build their email list, and why you should treat the process as an adventure. Plus how to get your first 100 subscribers.[30:56] The value of being consistent in whatever you do[32:25] Tim's definition of marketing[34:07] The story behind Tim's memoir, Running Down a Dream, the dream he was running down and how it's evolved over time*QUOTES FROM TIM GRAHL“If you see any books that are still selling ten years after they came out, it's not because the publishing house did an amazing job marketing the book ten years ago. I think of it as a rocketship. If you turn off the engine when it's halfway out of that atmosphere, it's going to crash down to earth every single time. So if you can just get it out of the atmosphere, now we can see if it's going to live on its own. And that's how I think of marketing a book is the job of the publisher / author is to get that book out of the atmosphere. And the goal is to get 10,000 people to read the book. At that point, you find out if the book's going to fly on its own because, again, I can force 10,000. I can't force a million or five hundred thousand or a hundred thousand.”*RESOURCESStory Grid Podcast by Shawn Coyne and Tim GrahlRunning Down A DreamBook LaunchMentioned authors:Dan PinkRamit SethiPamela SlimDan and Chip HeathRyan HolidayJames ClearSteven PressfieldJeff GoinsMentioned books of Tim Grahl:Your First 1000Running Down A DreamThe ThreshingOther books mentioned:Tales of Iceland by Stephen MarkelySave The Cat! By Robert MckeeMachine Man by Max BarryThe Sand and Sea by Michael McClellanThe War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven PressfieldAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Amazing Scrolls of Wonder by M.J. ThomasThe Dip by Seth GodinAnything You Want by Derek SiversOthers:Hugh MacLeod - author and cartoonistConvertKit - a marketing platformMatt's blog post where he mentioned Chris Guillebeau's booksSong: Runnin' Down a Dream by Tom PettyDerek Sivers' CD BabyJoe Rogan's podcastElizabeth Gilbert - journalist and author*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.comTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalon*CREDITSProduction by Victoria Spooner. Artwork by Emma Winterschladen

A story makes one point. If your story is about everything, then it's about nothing. Understanding genre is a vital skill for writers because everything in a story flows from it; it's the key to telling a story in an entertaining and effective way. Can you boil your story down to one idea? Does your choice of genre help your story make its point?

Is it first or third person? Past or present tense?As you'll see in this week's podcast episode, Point of View is about way more than this.See more here:https://storygrid.com/point-of-view/A story's global Point of View includes the technical choices writers make to deliver the story to the reader. The POP premise and Narrative Device suggest Point of View combinations that create the effect of the story told by the Author to the single Audience member.Person refers to the vantage point from which the written story is presented the reader.First Person: I (or we) wrote a story.Second Person: You wrote a story.Third Person: Alex (or she or he or they) wrote a story.Tense distinguishes the timeframe of the story.Past: I wrote a scene.Present: You write (or are writing) a scene.Future: Alex will write a scene.Mode: The final technical choice focuses on how the information is presented. This is the storytelling Mode.Showing is an objective and immediate mode that creates the effect of being present and observing the events of the story. Here are some examples.First Person: The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsSecond Person: Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerneyThird Person: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, or “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest HemingwayTelling is a subjective mode that readers experience as if someone or something is collecting, collating, and sharing the events and circumstances of the story.First Person: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, or Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen FieldingSecond Person: “How to Be an Other Woman” by Lorrie Moore.Third Person: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, Animal Farm by George Orwell, or Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa CatherListen as Shawn Coyne, Tim Grahl, Leslie Watts, and Danielle Kiowski work through the Point of View for the the short story EYE WITNESS by Ed McBain: https://www.amazon.com/McBain-Brief-Ed-ebook/dp/B01KFBQEY4/This is a Episode 254 of the Story Grid Podcast - https://storygrid.com/podcast

In this week's episode, we take a deep dive into a topic that most people who enjoy pop culture have thought of at some point: “What is Science Fiction?” In this first part, we lay the groundwork for discussing our favorite Sci-Fi across all media by defining terms of science fiction. If you enjoy this episode, please like, share and subscribe to the podcast. You can reach us at Secretoriginsmc@gmail.com and visit the Facebook group The Secret Origins of Mint Condition. We are also on Instagram @secretoriginsmc. :11 James introduces the show with our special guest, Jack Adrien, to try and answer the question, “What is science fiction?" James gives a background of how this question evolved as a topic we wanted to discuss and then turns it over to Jack for some opening thoughts. We begin with different ideas centered around the question, “how do we define science fiction?” 3:45 Jack starts by defining the subject based on the definition given by Shawn Coyne in “The Story Grid,” sharing all the possible sub genera of science fiction. Jack then goes on to talk about a broader idea of science fiction called the Novum. First coined by Ernst Bloch, it means “an element of science that one could imagine could exist.” Chris responds with his own thoughts based on the definitions that Jack presented. 10:18 Joe brings up the topic of “Cognitive Estrangement” that Darko Suvin coined, estranging us from reality. This leads to Joe giving his thoughts about the definition put forward by Jack. James also weighs in with his thoughts and how they have changed from when he first started consuming science fiction. 13:48 Jack provides a definition of “Cognitive Estrangement” this leads to talking about a purist definition of Sci-Fi. This brings us to the works of Ted Chiang. Jack admits that he likes his sci-fi in between a purist definition and the larger, more forgiving definition, like “The Matrix”. Chris asks the question: does the genre advance the story that the person is telling? This leads us to a comparison of The Expanse vs Game of Thrones. 22:20 Joe responds and weighs in on the idea of story. He quotes Isaac Asimov and brings up how sci-fi grew into its own brand of literature. James expounds upon this with Joe, and how that job of sci- fi is to inform and entertain. Jack weighs in with his thoughts on story; how story can define how we fit in the real world and what is going on in the real world. 28:45 Joe responds to Jack and gives his own definition of science fiction: “speculation through introspection." Where do we fit in the universe? Chris builds upon what Joe said about story and how binding history to a story made him more interested in learning about history. 32:35 Jack talks about how frustrating it is when science fiction gets lumped in with action adventure, arguing there is no story or substance with these stories or movies. This leads to a conversation about why a science fiction movie has not won an Academy Award. Joe backs up Jack's thoughts on how people misclassify sci-fi and that is part of what prevents it from getting the respect it deserves. Chris talks about gatekeeper culture and how that is seen in many parts of society, and not just sci-fi. 38:52 Jack goes over Shawn Coyne's 5 leaf infographic (this will be available below). This breaks down stories and sub classification. Jack also defines “miracle exemptions:" how far removed from reality is a story before it becomes fantasy. Story Grid - How to Write a Book People Will Read available at https://storygrid.com/ The Story Grid Five Leaf Genre Clover Infographic available at https://storygrid.com/resources/five-leaf-genre-clover-infographic/

My debut novel I AM JUSTICE is now available for purchase. https://www.amazon.com/Am-Justice-D-P-Watkins/dp/1645010759/ Shawn Coyne is a thirty year book-publishing veteran. He's acquired, edited, published or represented works from everyone from Michael Connelly and David Mamet to Don Winslow and Betty White. During his years as an editor at the Big Five publishing houses, as an independent publisher, as a literary agent both at a major Hollywood talent agency and as head of Genre Management Inc., and as a bestselling co-writer and ghostwriter, Coyne created a methodology called The Story Grid to teach the editing craft. Story Grid - https://storygrid.com/ Sign up for my newsletter, Chapter 1, where I break down the first chapter of mysteries and thrillers to figure out how they hook us—or why they fail to. https://firstchapter.substack.com/ Support the show at https://www.donswriting.com/support​​​​ You can follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/donswriting --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/don-watkins/support

In this talking shop episode, we reviewed two different writing tools. Ashley's choice this month was The Elements of Style (4th Edition) by William Strunk Jr and E.B. White, and Sarah reviewed the Story Grid, with the book being written by Shawn Coyne, and the accompanying podcast produced by Shawn Coyne and Tim Grahl. In our leisure reading time, Sarah talked about Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, and Ashley discussed The King Must Die by Mary Renault.

Ever have trouble plotting? Can't figure out why your book isn't working? Want to get ahead of the editorial game? The Story Grid Method by Shawn Coyne has been a game-changer for both Megan and Grace. While Megan's still getting the hang of it, Grace's story grid is what type-a dreams are made of. Listen along as we discuss the various ways The Story Grid has helped us develop our novels and why we swear by it before starting our second drafts. Join our community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewritersclimaxpodcast Check out The Story Grid Method by Shawn Coyne here: https://storygrid.com/ You can also check out his podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/story-grid-podcast/id1049406375 Grab a copy of The Lost Apothecary: https://amzn.to/39tCnub Read Grace's short story here: Read Megan's short story here: https://thewritersclimax.com/?p=293 Submit your character story here: https://thewritersclimax.com/contact/ This week's prompt: Poetry - Longing - Daisy

Sat atop a Welsh mountain in 2007 in a moment of depression and despair, Chris Joseph had the first in a series of instances of clarity that would eventually lead him to coaching. On the brink of a meltdown, he knew his Ph.D. in Computational Mechanics was no longer serving him. Buddhism, yoga and mediation became the elixir for him and soon he found he couldn't sleep with excitement at the discoveries he was making. His life changed when he trained to become a mindfulness teacher with Breathworks, and Chris went on to complete his Ph.D. and launch his first coaching practice. But it wasn't a success and in the end he gave it up. His extraordinary journey includes a multitude of highs and lows, from making £10,000 a month in passive income to losing it all to a fraudulent trader. Now he's back coaching and headed for a seven-figure year with his highly successful practice.In this episode, we talk about:Where his practice went wrong the first time round.Why the inner work is so important - understanding that you can only take people as far as you can go yourself.Why a true insight always comes packaged with an action - an ‘outsight' or an ‘outer action'.How to invite an individual to coaching - how to make it feel like a gift to the individual and not a request for yourself.Alongside the practical we get into some big topics: death, impermanence, the importance of play and the effects of all these on our lives. And it is a total pleasure to be in a space with Chris' beautiful open-heartedness.For more information about Chris, visit www.christopherjoseph.co.uk, find him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drchrisjoseph/ or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrisjoseph.uk/ For information about Robbie's wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswalecoaching.com.Music by My Good Man William listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/communityThings and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):~8: Rich Waterman: https://www.richwaterman.com/ ~10: The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/~12: Michael Neill: https://www.michaelneill.org/~12: Dick Bettinger: http://3principlesmentoring.com/index.html ~12: Sydney Banks: https://sydbanks.com/~14: Breathworks: https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/~20: Unleash the Power Within with Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/ ~25: Unleash the Power Within with Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/~26: The Coaching Academy: https://www.the-coaching-academy.com~26: Richard Bandler: https://richardbandler.com~26: John LaValle: https://www.nlplifetraining.com/trainers/john-lavalle~26: The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prosperous-Coach-Increase-Income-Clients/dp/1600250300 ~26: Breathworks: https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/~27: Simon Coulson: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prosperous-Coach-Increase-Income-Clients/dp/1600250300~27: Peter Thompson: https://peterthomson.com/ ~27: Michael Neill: https://www.michaelneill.org/ ~27: Project Kairos with Rich Litvin: https://richlitvin.com/kairos/~30: Steve Hardison video: https://youtu.be/0Tine-9dz-Y~32: Rich Waterman: https://www.richwaterman.com/ ~33: Three Principles: https://threeprinciplesfoundation.org/ ~33: Eckhart Tolle: https://eckharttolle.com/ ~33: Bryon Katie: https://thework.com/ ~33: The Coaching Academy: https://www.the-coaching-academy.com~33: Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ ~37: Crazy Good by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250343/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JMAKFbP0PYJ7E ~43: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1936891026/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_xlBKFbG7XW11B~50: Loom: https://www.loom.com~1.11: Cardiff University: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk ~1.29: Wealth Warrior by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250408/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EFCKFbY9VGH7M~1.29: Time Warrior by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250378/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_kICKFbB90WCJN~1.29: The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1608681890/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_8RCKFbEEPT36Y~1.31: The Meaning Revolution by Fred Kofman : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1524760730/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_BsSKFbKHQ773N~1.45: Chris's contact details: email address: chris@christopherjoseph.co.uk, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrisjoseph/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisjoseph.uk/~1.50: Steve Hardison: https://theultimatecoach.com/

This season we're launching a series of interviews with authors of middle grade fiction. First up, Valerie Francis, author of Nature Knights, Crossing the Rubicon, a middle grade fantasy. Valerie Francis is both author and Certified Story Grid Editor. She has published fiction for both women (love stories for busy women) and children (middle grade fantasy), and is currently working on her first thriller. As a bona fide story nerd, her passion for the craft of storytelling led her to become a Certified Story Grid Editor in 2017. Her non-fiction credits include a Story Grid Guide to Bram Stoker's Dracula (publication TBA) and regular articles for the Fundamental Fridays column on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid website. Valerie co-hosts two podcasts for writers. The first, The Story Grid Editor Roundtable, is focused on the craft of writing. Each week Valerie, along with four fellow Certified Story Grid Editors, analyze a film according to the editing method developed by Shawn Coyne. The second is focused entirely on book marketing. On The Book Launch Show, Valerie learns how to develop a relationship with her readers from book marketing expert, Tim Grahl.

This week, we're going backwards, looking at the original Mary Poppins movie after our analysis of Mary Poppins Returns last episode. This time, we're looking at it through the 5 Commandments of Story developed by Shawn Coyne of Story Grid.

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. A client of mine recently asked me what novels I would recommend for the purpose of demonstrating different aspects of writer's craft. This episode answers that question by revealing 13 novels every writer should read! Listen to the podcast now now or read the full transcript below. Episode Transcript Hello beloved listeners and welcome back to The Writing Coach podcast. I am your host Kevin T. Johns. If this is your first time listening to the podcast, welcome. We love new listeners. This is episode ... oh boy, I always forget to check before we start recording. It's probably episode 59 or 60 or something, which means if you enjoy this episode there's another 58, 59 episodes out there that you can go check out where I chat with all sorts of amazing people. Shawn Coyne, Jenny Blake, Chandler Bolt. Everyone in the world of helping authors. Tons of great interviews in there with people like Jeff Goins. Everyone you want to hear me chat with, I chat with. Go back. Dig into those archives and check out some of those older episodes. Normally, I interview someone else, but every once in a while, like actually the last few episodes, it's just me. This is going to be another one of them because of one of my one-on-one coaching clients ... I'm a writing coach guys. It's not just a title of a podcast. It's something I do professionally. One of my clients asked me a really great question. I gave it a lot of thought. I decided I was going to answer him in podcast format. Reza, you are probably listening to this. Thank you so much for asking such a great question. We are going to get to it in a minute. Reza is one of my one-on-one clients. I have a couple other one-on-one clients who have come on board as of late. Peter if you are listening to this, and Attila -- welcome aboard guys. I can't wait to work with you to get your books written. This episode is going to address a very specific question that Reza asked. Reza grew up in Iran and came to Canada, where I live ten, years ago. He's really been focusing on his English writing for the last ten years. He's always been very interested in non-fiction. That's the type of writing he does. He's writing a nonfiction self-help book. He said, "Kevin, if I did want to start exploring English fiction, what would be some great books  I could read that could help me understand writing better?" I thought that was such a great question! That's what we are going to get into in today's podcast. We are going to talk about 13 different books that I think every writer should read. Each of these books is going to demonstrate a different aspect of a writer's craft that I think is really important. Before we get into that, I do want to say this is not a conversation about overturning the cannon of traditional English literature. This is a podcast episode about writer's craft. Alright? From the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read in my life, these were the books that came to mind as great examples, the best examples in different aspects of the craft of novel writing. I will warn you, most of the authors I have chosen are white, heterosexual, American men. I'm not going to apologize for my bias. I like what I like, but I will acknowledge my biases. I'm a left-leaning, white, heterosexual, Canadian, male with a masters degree in English literature. All of my book choices are going to be biased by that position of privilege that I'm coming from. I do want to acknowledge that. If you are listening to this and you are an Aboriginal person or you are a gay man or you are a woman for whom English is not your first language, by all means, create your own list of your favorite examples of different aspects of the writer's craft. These just happen to be the people who I resonate with, who I've read in my life, and who jump out at me as great examples of different aspects of writing. With that politically correct public service announcement out of the way, let's dive into some great books that every single writer should read. The Great Gatsby / Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald Lightning in a Bottle Right off the bat, we are going to kick it off with maybe the biggest of them all. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Why should you read this book? It's the great American novel. It is beautifully written. Brilliantly plotted. The characterization is crystal clear. There are surprising plot twists, but on top of all of that, it's one of those rare things in art. It's one of those things that every artist strives after: that magical piece of art where everything just works. Everything gels for where Fitzgerald was in his life. For the story that he chose to tell. Everything comes together in The Great Gatsby to work perfectly. I'm going to throw a twist on this for you. I don't want you just to read The Great Gatsby. I also want you to read F. Scott Fitzgerald's follow up to The Great Gatsby, which is Tender is the Night. There's a reason for that. In the exact same way that everything works in The Great Gatsby, just every aspect of it is sublime, nothing works in Tender is the Night. Tender is the Night is a disaster of a book. It's the follow-up to what I would probably argue is the greatest American English language novel of all time. A lot of writers that I know, they do this thing where they compare themselves not just to the greatest writers of all time, but they look at the one masterpiece from the greatest writer of all time. If you are going to sit at home and say, "Oh my God, my novel is a piece of crap compared to The Great Gatsby." You know what? It probably is, but F. Scott Fitzgerald's follow-up was also a piece of crap in comparison to The Great Gatsby. I really think it's important that as a writer you understand there is craft. There is technique. There's hard work. There's going pro. There is all of that, but there also is a magical element. Fitzgerald couldn't recreate it. None of us can. If we could all recreate it, we'd all have hit books year after year after year, but there is something magical that comes together in The Great Gatsby that is just the complete opposite in Tender is the Night. Read both those books so that you can understand not just the genius of The Great Gatsby, but also was a fluke it was, arguably, compared to Fitzgerald's follow-up book. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Point of View The next book that I want to recommend is The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I picked this book because one of the biggest challenges I see aspiring novelists struggling with is point of view. Point of view is such a tricky element of writing. A lot of first time novelists go into writing a book not even really understanding what it is or how it functions. They do a lot of head-hopping or they jump back and forth between third person or omniscient. They are not conscious of the role the point of view plays in narrative fiction. The Catcher in the Rye is an absolutely wonderful example of an author capturing a character's point of view. Holden Caulfield is our main character in The Catcher in the Rye and everything we experience as readers in that book is filtered through Holden's point of view. There is not an omniscient narrator. Salinger didn't choose to have God up in the sky looking down on New York and narrating Holden's adventures. We are there inside Holden's head, experiencing the journey with him and the language that Salinger uses, it isn't Salinger's language. It's Holden's language. The way New York is described is the language Holden would use to describe New York, not J. D. Salinger. That very important element of point of view is captured perfectly in The Catcher in the Rye. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson Attitude and Voice Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson is one of my favorite books. It's what I would point people to when they are talking about "voice" or "authorial voice." People are often a little too obsessed with voice and what is their writerly voice. So you can look to the writing of Hunter S. Thompson for an example of writer whose voice is different from every other writer's. I can read a piece of writing from Hunter S. Thompson and know that it's Hunter S. Thompson without anyone telling me. There's very few writers that you could say that about. I was conscious of following up The Catcher in the Rye with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas because J.D. Salinger was a writer for The New Yorker magazine. The New Yorker, to a certain extent, defined a certain style of writing and liberal intellectual approach to literature in New York City for a lot of the 20th century. I like to compare that to Hunter S. Thompson, who is this other voice. Thompson is the outsider voice. He wrote Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for Rolling Stone magazine. This was a Rock n' Roll journalist writing for a counter culture magazine. I think for all of the beauty and intelligence and wit that you are going to find in the work of Salinger, you are going to find energy and rage and just in your face energy and attitude coming out of Hunter S. Thompson's writing. I highly recommend checking it out. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Poetic Brilliance It's so hard to answer the question, "What's your favorite book of all time?" But when I have to settle on  a single book, it's Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. If you found out you had three days to live and you only had one book to read in those last three days of your life, I'd want you to read Mrs. Dalloway. It captures everything. It takes all of existence and, in a narrative that takes place over a single day with just a handful of characters, somehow captures the psychological complexity of human existence within a book that is just absolutely beautif

Welcome to The Writing Coach. On this podcast, I speak with the instructors, editors, coaches, and mentors who help writers and authors create their art, build their audience, and sell their work. One year ago, I launched Writer's Craft Academy, my private membership site and group coaching program. In episode 59 of The Writing Coach, I celebrate the year's victories, as well as discuss some lessons learned. Listen now! Episode Transcript Hello, beloved listeners, and welcome back to The Writing Coach podcast. Now as you guys know, on this show, normally I interview folks who work with writers to help them succeed, but today, it's going be just me. I'm going be the person who works with writers to help them succeed on today's show, because as I record this, it is the first of February, which means it's been one year since I launched Writer's Craft Academy. Writer's Craft Academy is my private membership site and group coaching program. And as I said, I launched it one year ago. We now have 12 months under our belt, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to look back on how the year's gone, how everything has worked within the Academy and what hasn't worked as well. Let's dive into it! Video Training Library First off, the notion of Writer's Craft Academy came to me for a couple of different reasons, but one was I noticed there's a major problem with online courses. I sold two online courses previously, one called The Novel Writer's Blueprint and one called Smash Fear and Write like a Pro. One of the things I noticed about The Novel Writer's Blueprint was that people were not finishing the course The more I thought about it, the more this kind of made sense, because the course was walking people through the entire project of writing a book, from initial idea creation all the way through to completed manuscript. And the reality was, most of the people who were taking the course were in the early stages of working on their book, which meant they didn't need the latter stages of the course yet. Maybe eventually they were going to come back to it and finish the course, once they were at that latter stage in their manuscript drafting, but probably they wouldn't because we lose focus. How often do we say we're going to come back and finish a course, but then not end up doing it? I mean that happens, right? I started thinking about maybe what writers need isn't this “module one, module two, module three” style single course that's going to walk people through what they need to learn, but rather this library of resources that are available when you need them. You know in the training library there's a whole mini-course in there on revisions, but you don't have to feel compelled to watch it if you're at the idea creation stage of your writing. And that's the other thing… as a writing coach, it almost seemed antithetical to be selling courses, because I don't want people taking courses. I want people working on their writing. As fun as it is to take a course, a lot of the time people use education as an excuse to not do the hard work of just sitting down and actually writing. I liked this idea of having this training library there, so that when someone has a question, I can say, yes, go watch these three videos from our training library tonight. It'll specifically address your question and show you some examples, and then you can get back to your writing. It also allows me to just create shorter videos for things that don't necessarily have to fit directly within the larger context of a course. I'm thinking, for example, I have a video on how to use Microsoft Styles in Microsoft Word, so that you can turn your chapter titles into hyperlinks, and then have Microsoft Word self-generate a table of contents for you. It's just a little bit easier way to organize a manuscript if you are writing in Microsoft Word. But I mean, that's not part of a course on how to write a book. It's just a video I knew some of my clients would find helpful. So the video training library allows me to have this place where even if I only have a two-minute video I want to create to show someone something, I can get that in there. As the year went on the library grew and we now have over 50 training videos in there, which I think is a really, really great collection of resources available for The Writer's Craft Academy members. We also record our book club calls, and I think that has actually become a really interesting resource as well. So maybe I'll talk about that next. Writer's Craft Book Club I've run several different group coaching programs before, and I've sold different online courses before, but one of the new concepts that I added to Writer's Craft Academy when we launched a year ago was the idea of a monthly book club. Each month, in Writer's Craft Academy, we have a theme. So the theme might be Story Structure, or the theme might be Dialogue, or the theme might be Genre. Then we would have a writer's craft non-fiction book on that theme that we would all read over the month. And then we would all get together on an additional kind of bonus call at the end of the month and just talk about the book. And I think it's been one of my favorite parts of Writer's Craft Academy, having these calls. It's so much fun, but it also having a group of people working through these writer's craft books together allows us to develop a shared vocabulary. One of the first books that we read was Shawn Coyne's book, The Story Grid, and we were actually lucky enough to have Shawn Coyne join us for our book club session, which was really extraordinary. But the point being, once we all read that book, I could talk about the “five commandments of story-telling,” and everyone in the group would know what we were talking about. And the great thing is, as I said, we record all of our book club calls. And they go into the video training library as well, so that if someone joins Writer's Craft Academy today and wants to read The Story Grid, well, guess what? They can now go and also watch the book club discussion that we had based around that book, which I think is a really cool thing. And obviously, as a writer, and as a writing teacher and an instructor, I love books about writing, so it's just so much fun to get to do it in a group environment. And I think it educates you, as well, when you are forced to talk about a book that you've read. You have to articulate your learning, and sometimes if you just read a book alone, and you say, “Oh, that was great. We learned a lot,” but it doesn't get embedded, or it doesn't get absorbed into your daily life, if you don't put it into practice and start talking about it and verbalizing it with other people. I think having The Writer's Craft Academy book club is really helpful on a number of different levels. Another thing that I love about the book club is that it shows the members that there is no one right way to write a book. I have a perspective from my experience. I have recommendations that I make to people, but I don't know the answer for everyone, and so when we read a different book about the craft every month, members get to see that perspective, and they get to see, oh, well, KM Weiland approaches writing from how Robert McKee approaches writing, which is different from how Natalie Goldberg approaches writing, which is how Shawn Coyne does. You really get to see this myriad of perspectives. I think part of my role as a writing coach and as a writing instructor is not to tell my clients “this is the right way to do it,” but to introduce them to the possibilities that are out there, the different ways of approaching things, so that they can find the one that's right for them. So again, that's another reason why I think the book club has just been a real success and been a lot of fun. Author Community Next up is the community aspect of Writer's Craft Academy, which is probably my absolute favorite part. I think the resource library is great. I think the book club is so much fun, but our weekly group coaching calls are so beneficial on so many levels for our members, as well as our forum. We have a private Facebook group, so while we meet every week for a group call, we also are able to continue to share information, and resources, and help each other out between coaching calls. Even if I wasn't interested in creating this private membership site and in this group coaching program, even if I was just focusing exclusively on my one-on-one clients, I think I would still include some sort of group component to my one-on-one coaching. I have seen my one-on-one clients, who also participate in Writer's Craft Academy, get so much value out of it, out of being supported by others but also being able to share their frustrations, or celebrate their victories, or get differing perspectives, or bounce ideas off one another. We have about ... I think at the moment we have about 16 members in Writer's Craft Academy, so it's not one of these massive programs, where you have a thousand people involved and no one knows each other. We're a really tight-knit community, and so it feels more like friendship than it does any sort of coaching program. It just feels like a community and a safe place for aspiring authors where they can come together and get what they need. And sometimes what they need is a kick in the butt and some accountability from me. But other times, what they need is just to hear that other writers are going through the same struggles that they're going through. And other times, they just need a place where they can go online and say, “Hey guys, I finished chapter 22 this week. No one else in the world really knows what that means or what a success that is or how far I've come from when I was struggling with chapter two for six months back.” Writer's Craft Academy's community component is a place where writers can do that. ...

In this episode, Leslie is joined by Shawn Coyne, the author of T_he Story Grid: What Good Editors Know_. They discuss the five commandments of story in the context of chapter five of _Animal Farm_ by George Orwell and what makes this story a great one to analyze. The five commandments (the inciting incident, progressive complications, crisis question, climax, and resolution) provide the basic structure for your global story, but also your acts, sequences, and scenes, like nesting dolls. If you learn to execute the five commandments in your story, you'll become a better writer. This week's mission encourages you to look for the five commandments in one of your favorite stories, and then use them to plan or revise your own work-in-progress.

Fiction needs what editor Shawn Coyne calls “obligatory scenes” — the elements that satisfy audience expectations and make the book a must-read. Do those elements exist for content? And if so … what are they? Today, Sonia Simone gives her thoughts on the “must-include” elements of a solid content marketing program. In this 28-minute episode,... Listen to episode --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/copyblogger-podcast/message

In this episode, I interview Shawn Coyne, author of the book, “The Story Grid.”  He talks about the writing process, and how adversity plays an important part in creating a great story that's engaging. Guest Bio: Shawn Coyne created Story Grid to help authors tell stories that work. He has edited and published hundreds of… The post SA 043: Shawn Coyne on the Importance of Conflict in Storytelling, Resistance, and Doing the Work appeared first on Nick Dinardo.