How to Structure a Novel

In this episode of the Other People podcast, host Brad Listi interviews author Mark Cecil about how to structure a novel. Cecil shares his journey of writing six unsuccessful novels before delving into story theory and developing his own approach. They discuss the distinction between "book matter" and "story matter," the importance of character change, and the usefulness of understanding storytelling tropes and genres. Cecil emphasizes that originality comes from informed choices and the arrangement of existing conventions. The conversation covers the "plotter vs. pantser" dichotomy, the hero's journey, three-act structure, inciting incidents, and the importance of internal character arcs. Cecil also shares resources, including books and theorists, that have influenced his understanding of storytelling.