Contrary to popular belief, there is no vault in Hollywood holding the secret that turns a story into a commercial success. In this episode, Johnny, Sean, and Dave share how a story can be crafted to appeal to a wider audience and reach beyond the established boundaries of genre. You’ll learn:  

• How a commercial story is defined.
• Why a good commercial story understands dramatic tension.
• How to use character development to retain your audience.
• How emotion can allow you to float a story that is mostly very kinetic and action-centric.
• Why some characters endure and why others do not.
• The cross-section between commercial and “good.”
• Why “classic” and “commercial” are not the same things.
• How extraneous elements can push away your audience.
• Why stories that lack a good hook are likely to suffer commercially.
• How posters, loglines, and social proof quotes can help communicate your vision to a broad audience.

  Are you wondering what the ever-growing demand for superb storytelling skills means for your future? Check out our latest interview as Johnny and Sean dive deep into that question in “Storytelling Is the Future: How to Build On Your Self-Publishing Success.” Download the interview from the info box or show notes in YouTube or head over to https://www.sterlingandstone.net/future.