Supercharge your storytelling and writing skills

with story structure consultant Leon Conrad
multi-award-winning author of Story and Structure: A complete guide

Reception for Story and Structure: A complete guide

Shortlisted for
The People's Book Prize

With a breathtakingly simple and yet profound handful of symbols, Conrad has created a flexible and precise system for analyzing the inner structure of stories. With this lens he lays bare the absolute essence of all the imaginable story forms, from fairy tales and quest stories to tragedies, riddles and koans. It's a powerful tool for storytellers and scholars and will change forever how you view the simple but profound act of saying "Once upon a time.."

Christopher Vogler,
Author of The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers

Leon Conrad takes readers around the world to look at eighteen distinct story structures – from Quest to Tricksters,
from Rags-to-Riches to Death-and-Rebirth.
The idea that stories can be mapped using six symbols is fascinating.
Yes, there are rules and laws that govern every story that’s ever been told.
Anyone who loves to read stories – or loves to write them – will find much to learn and amuse in STORY AND STRUCTURE

Lisa See, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Photo: Asís G. Ayerbe - Wikimedia Commons

extraordinary book ... twenty-two detailed chapters ... a simple and easy-to-understand visualization of story structures
Leon Conrad is passionate about stories ... He effortlessly depicts the link between stories and life. His dedication ... is evident. Nobody can deny that the book is well-researched.
The way Conrad uses story structures to analyze poetic forms ... is admirable.
One of my favorite chapters in this book would be the one on tragedy ... Conrad includes three original stories in this section. Though short, the stories rang a bell for me. This is a testament to Conrad’s talent as an author. I would love to read some of his fiction stories.
... an enlightening read ... bound to teach you a lot about stories and life.
The thought-provoking illustrations by Jason Chuang add a special edge to this special book.
I highly recommend Leon Conrad’s book to writers and academics.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5

Book review excerpt | Kajori Sheryl Paul | The Chrysalis BREW Project

January 2023

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Want to tell or write stories more compellingly?

There's craft and art involved in telling and writing stories.
Both involve story structures and plot patterns.

Story structures are like the familiar patterns we see in strings of beads. Knowing the patterns and how they fit together allows you as a storyteller and writer to recognise and tell more compelling stories - naturally.

Plot patterns are the individual arrangements and placements that make up a unique story. Make sure you don't miss a beat (or bead) by mastering the twelve elements of story creation: twelve steps to mastering the magic of story - and engaging in a life-long relationship with the magic of words and the mystery of language.

An Engaged and Engaging Editor and Writing Coach

How can I help you?

I work with Academics, Graduate and Post Graduate Students, aspiring and published Authors, Playwrights, Novelists, Storytellers, and young writers keen to hone their craft and become published authors.

Book a consultation

It's easy - if you can't find an available slot,
contact me and we'll find a date and time that works.

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Testimonials

ESL Academic
Copy Editing Testimonial
I'm really impressed by the work you did with my article. It stands halfway between language editing and peer-review, but formulated in a thoughtful and perceptive way most academic peer-reviews are not nowadays. Needless to say, I've found it extremely helpful and I'll be happy to refer again to your services for my future articles.
Christopher Chilton
Writer & Storyteller
Working with Leon is rigorous and tough, and at times I wasn't sure what I had let myself in for, but this only goes to show how much more I needed to do to get my work to the next level. Not only did he help edit and refine my work but he also imparted lasting wisdom that is proving invaluable to me as a writer and storyteller on a daily basis.
Alessandro Scafi
Author (Grounded in Heaven - Cultural Autobiography)
It's difficult to find the words to thank you, Leon: thank you for your careful, frank and extremely useful criticism; for having – and asking me for – such high standards of writing; for teaching me that "writing is re-writing". It always happened: I was first surprised, because I thought my text worked quite well – and disappointed when you urged me to rethink and rewrite it; then I trusted your judgment and worked hard on it; finally, I was very happy to discover why you were not happy about what I had thought to be my "final" version, even happier when I fixed it. Above all, it is your understanding of story structure that has been so helpful. I am now very pleased that you encouraged me to apply your structural approach so rigorously to my work.
Lali Ayers
ESL Editorial Support for Photography / Philosophy of Art MA Degree Work
Leon has been an outstanding editor, always ready to go above and beyond what is required. His vast and impressive range of knowledge of art and philosophy allows him to see and assess a piece of work from a wider viewpoint and he has made many very deep contributions to helping me improve my work.

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Photo credits:
Leon Conrad
And on Unsplash: Quino Al, Thought Catalog, Dan Dennis, Tim Mossholder,
Petr Sevcovic, and Townsend Walton