Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story

This 226-page book was published eleven years ago and still remains pertinent. Grisanti has a background of twelve years as a studio executive mentored by Aaron Spelling, working as Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, and serving as a mentor for the CBS Diversity Program. She launched her own company (Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc.) in 2008 and was hired to be the Writing Instructor at NBC’s Writers on the Verge. She is also a blogger for the Huffington Post.The foundation for this book is to deepen a writer’s writing skills and increase your audience’s connection with your story. This is accomplished by each writer calling on their own life experiences to add depth and reality to their stories.The book is divided into four sections: Set Up (the universal life moments that start the story), Dilemma (establishing the character’s dilemma and a clear goal for them), Action (how the character’s strong dilemma and a clear goal lead their central character into action), and Goal (what the character’s life is like after attaining their goal).This book is aimed at scriptwriting, but I believe that the concepts can be used in any genre of writing. I am a pantser that writes flash fiction and cozy mysteries, and I took a great deal away with me after reading this book. Using my own life experiences as a springboard for my writing will make blocking out my stories easier and has already given me more confidence in what I am writing.This book is an excellent guide for writing and decision-making, as well as for focusing on the process without getting lost in it. Bottom line – as writers, we have to do the work!I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to get in touch with their own life experiences, wants to make a living as a writer, and wants to connect with their audiences in a strong fashion. This book is for all writers, not just screenwriters.

Nobody knows story better than Jen Grisanti. Her extensive background as a studio exec has started a movement of looking at the rigorous requirements of writing for television at work in the story of our own lives. I had many ah-ha! moments while reading this book (I'm very late with a review), and obviously so did others. Since reading this last year the concept of one's life story is spreading through the blogosphere with those blogging about self-development and personal power. Jen started a movement, and deserves credit for her breakthrough.I came across this book while learning more about writing for TV and thought her eye was so spot-on with story that I took her Teleseminar. Her ability to read a script and laser in on its strengths and weaknesses was amazing to witness. She has the same uncanny ability for guiding people and business through the labyrinth of their own challenges. However, she is not ego-driven or threatened by the opinions of those she guides. She's insistent that you have to do the work, but never bullies anybody into doing it her way or the highway. As long as you're willing to do the work, she's there to guide, and I can't think of a better place to start mining the brilliance of this woman than with this book. Her voice here is as non-hostile as her consultations and Teleseminar. It's very comforting and liberating.I'd recommend this book to anybody interested in story structure (boy, is it ever complex for TV!) and how it applies to writing the script of one's own life. It's an awesome book.

I had just finished a dark-comedy screeplay and had the displeasure of hearing it read out loud. I realized I felt nothing for the main character. Granted, the heroine does some not-so-nice stuff, but still, I hated her. Someone suggested I read Jen Grisanti's book, "Story Line." They said the book helps you put "heart" into your script. My friend was right. After reading the book, I realized my heroine was one-dimensional and I didn't like that one dimension I was seeing. The book showed me ways to tap into my own hopes and dreams, disappointments and heartaches and then give some of them to my main character. Duh, right? I knew about this, I've done this before, but in this one script I just couldn't get myself to go to that dark place, and that was the reason my character wasn't ringing true. The book helped me do the work needed to, first, get me in touch with those scary emotions and then put a piece of myself into the main character, which made her more empathetic. Suddenly, the heroine was jumping off the page. After rewriting the script, I still didn't want to have a beer with the main character, but I could certainly empathize with her struggles. Which allowed me to hang with her at the beginning of her arc and then root for her as she eventually grew and changed. Great book!

I am a writer who has been a client of Jen’s for over a year. I’m unabashedly biased about her expertise, wisdom and extraordinary skills as a writing coach. I write glowing reviews about Jen because, not only have I devoured her books, I am currently signing another contract for her services. My money is where my reviews are. :) In “Story Line” Jen says, “This book is for any writer, novice or professional, as well as anyone who is interested in writing but hasn’t taken the first step.” I would go even further and recommend the book for anyone at a fork in the road searching for a beacon of light through the darkness. Story Line is really all about you. It has wonderful story analyses based on some of the best contemporary stories on TV and in movies, and, the bonus for me is the tagline of the title: “Finding Gold in Your Life Story.” Story Line is not only a “how to” for writers; it is a way to discover the answer to the question “why am I driven to do this?” Jen uses inspirational quotes throughout; my favorite is by Robert Southey, “It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” Story Line burns deeply for me. I also highly recommend Jen Grisanti’s website, newsletter and services.