Tim Grahl | Writing Coach

I help you write a novel you're proud to publish.

I've written 6 books and worked with 400+ writers.

Click profile link to see how we can help you.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Writers, did you watch the segment of this video (at 26:00) on the StoryGrid publishing house?

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

7th Annual State of Story Grid Address https://t.co/PEwl7DXXPr

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

I keep revising... why isn't it getting better? https://t.co/BEUhGZJGsq

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Why can't I apply what I've learned about story structure? https://t.co/OSSqaSLaiZ

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Can't I just get feedback from beta readers? https://t.co/FlwppTstCY

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Why can't I stay consistent with my writing? https://t.co/sWLlAkHqKJ

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Won't my structure make my writing feel generic? https://t.co/2pYStAYDch

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Why can't I see what's wrong with my writing? https://t.co/uQOvvJ7nWf

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Is my writing just a hobby? https://t.co/nLhSx8acfH

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

When is the right time to get serious about my writing? https://t.co/w90HiZssBb

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Am I too old to take my writing seriously? https://t.co/aAvIJll9tC

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Why am I stuck after studying so much story structure? https://t.co/UcxeWQqsEu

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

We're raising the standard for fiction at Story Grid. Join me at 1pm ET today for a live conversation about what we believe, what we are building, and why it matters now.
https://t.co/pLS8KhNflQ

Can't attend live? Register before start time and you'll get a link to the replay.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

@Redrorie Any time someone opens your book and reads the first paragraph, there's a chance that you'll get a full story read, a review, and a recommendation to a friend. Your method is a good one.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

This is a text I just sent to someone who asked about my marketing plan for books, specifically why I’m focused on giving away as many copies as possible as fast as possible:

I haven’t found many resources on this approach because, as far as I can tell, almost nobody is thinking this way.

Here’s the logic I’m using:

1. Do I believe this particular book is good enough that, if people actually read it, they will tell other people about it?

2. Is my goal for this book to still be selling well ten years from now?

3. Do I have the money to invest in publishing and marketing this book without needing to earn it back in the first one to two years?

If the answer to all three of those questions is yes, then the marketing strategy that makes the most sense to me is to give away as many copies as possible to people who might realistically read at least the first page.

In the past, we didn’t have the revenue to do this. We could really only promote new books to our own email list and hope for the best.

That’s no longer the case, and we have a book coming out next week.

Here’s how we’re approaching it.

First, we have an existing email list on the training side of our company. That list alone allows us to give away roughly 1,600 copies before the book is even officially released.

From there, we’re planning to run Meta and YouTube ads that send people to a page where they can get a free copy of the book.

Once someone gets the book, they drop into an email sequence that nudges them to actually read it and, if they do, to leave a review within the first month.

The goal is that when we release our next book in January, we’ll be able to give away 10,000 copies just through our list alone.

I’m optimizing for readers, not short-term sales velocity.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

@BruceRF1 Someone needs to write the story with surprise dragons.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Stop trying to shock your readers with random plot twists. Real unpredictability comes from a character's impossible choice—not a surprise dragon in chapter twelve.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

🏚️ Rewrite this to show what the character is experiencing instead of telling:
The house was creepy.

Use only sensory details—what can be seen, heard, or felt.

[J. Z. Pitts @jzpitts]

@MatthewBockholt Ya got a point there. I learn something new with every writing project. But if you want to learn faster more efficiently, work under guys like @StoryGrid

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

Review of a Story Grid mentorship graduate
Thank you, Martin!

[Martin Maenza @mcmaenza]

Book Review: The Trauma Machine by Brent G Spaulding (published Jan 13, 2026, by @StoryGrid ). An interesting fiction take on time travel. https://t.co/Ntn5kSEWrK #TheTraumaMachine

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

@veynre It's all right. I just want to see emotion and showing language.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

😳 Telling: Kelly was embarrassed by her mistake in front of everyone.

Use dialogue to show it instead of tell it. Make us feel it without naming the emotion.

Reply with your version.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

A look at our books' marketing plan:

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

This is a text I just sent to someone who asked about my marketing plan for books, specifically why I’m focused on giving away as many copies as possible as fast as possible:

I haven’t found many resources on this approach because, as far as I can tell, almost nobody is thinking this way.

Here’s the logic I’m using:

1. Do I believe this particular book is good enough that, if people actually read it, they will tell other people about it?

2. Is my goal for this book to still be selling well ten years from now?

3. Do I have the money to invest in publishing and marketing this book without needing to earn it back in the first one to two years?

If the answer to all three of those questions is yes, then the marketing strategy that makes the most sense to me is to give away as many copies as possible to people who might realistically read at least the first page.

In the past, we didn’t have the revenue to do this. We could really only promote new books to our own email list and hope for the best.

That’s no longer the case, and we have a book coming out next week.

Here’s how we’re approaching it.

First, we have an existing email list on the training side of our company. That list alone allows us to give away roughly 1,600 copies before the book is even officially released.

From there, we’re planning to run Meta and YouTube ads that send people to a page where they can get a free copy of the book.

Once someone gets the book, they drop into an email sequence that nudges them to actually read it and, if they do, to leave a review within the first month.

The goal is that when we release our next book in January, we’ll be able to give away 10,000 copies just through our list alone.

I’m optimizing for readers, not short-term sales velocity.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

@JagsArthurson You got me.

[Tim Grahl | Writing Coach @StoryGrid]

“This is not acceptable.”

Rewrite this line to sound truly frustrated or angry.