The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe

S2 E20 – What Writers Need to Know to Avoid Getting Scammed by Hollywood I was recently contacted by an editor on Facebook Messenger, asking for my feedback on a deal that somebody was trying to make with her client. Apparently they were offering really huge option terms on the gal's novel, like $350,000, which is ridiculous. And then they added, "But everybody has to pay the casting dir...

S2 E19 – The Top 10 Habits You Need to Become a Successful Writer I recently read an article about the mystery behind Tom Brady's greatness. He wasn't "born" great. He became great by establishing good habits and discarding bad ones. He's great because he's disciplined. Most writers are just wannabe's who never actually become published. The difference between th...

S2 E18 – Elements of a Christian Worldview: It All Comes Down to Morality Some Christians are concerned about writing certain types of material.  For example, what if I'm writing sci fi or fantasy, and in my story world, there's a different mythology that seemingly contrasts to the truth of Christianity? This episode unpacks what to look for to make sure your story mythology doesn't...

S2 E17 – Elements of a Christian Worldview: Why Theology and Psychology Matter In this episode, I argue that there are two things that we can do as writers to become better storytellers: Develop a greater understanding of human psychology, and become better theologians.  Both of these categories inform us as to the truth about our human experience. We have to be honest about those things we know t...

S2 E16 – Breaking Your Story in Five Easy Steps – Part 5 – How Does it End? While you don't need to know all the details or plot points of your story, you do have to know something. Namely, you need to know who your character will be by the end of the story, or what kind of change he or she will undergo. The Hero's Journey is built on the idea that the hero comes back from his journey ch...

S2 E15 – Breaking your Story in Five Easy Steps – Part 4 – What's the Inciting Incident? Many writers get confused about what the Inciting Incident is, and where it needs to happen in the story. Here's a definition that I've found helpful, along with a few key tips.  The INCITING INCIDENT is something that happens that draws your character into the main conflict of the story and lau...

S2 E14 – Breaking your Story in Five Easy Steps – Part 3 – What does Your Protagonist Need? It’s essential for you to understand the difference between your character’s want versus their need. It’s also essential for writers to understand how the two things are connected, so that together, they form the whole of the character’s journey – both the plot AND the emotional arc of the story.  To that e...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E13 – Why is Gratitude so Important? Finding Peace in the Midst of Your Pain Since it's Thanksgiving, we're taking a break from the current series in order to contemplate the concept of gratitude, which is one of the qualities we lose when we embrace a cynical moral worldview. In place of gratitude, we feel resentment, bitterness, and enti...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E12 – Breaking your Story in Five Easy Steps – Part 2 – What does Your Protagonist Want? When it comes to staying on track with a story, there is nothing more important than giving your main character a clear, actionable goal to pursue. To that end, you need to know what your character wants – what is he or she after – and then make sure that he or...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E11 – How to Break Your Story in Five Easy Steps (Part 1: Find Your Main Character)  DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website at www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In this episode, Zena launches into a new series to help writers identify the five main steps that will help them to break down their...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E10 –Seven Things that are NOT Heroic (but are often Characterized as being so) DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website at www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION – In this episode, Zena lists 7 things that are often lauded as being heroic in stories, but are not actually heroic. These include: 1. To have...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E9 – Why the Success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Gives Me Hope DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website at www.thestorytellersmission.com.  EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In this episode, Zena reviews 3 practical things that writers must do to uphold a biblical moral worldview even if they have an anti-hero at the center o...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E8 – An Example from the Christian Community of a Story that Violates a Biblical Moral Worldview DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website at www.thestorytellersmission.com.     EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In this episode, Zena breaks down a story idea written by a Christian and shows how that story violates a biblical Christ...

In this episode, Zena analyzes Fight Club, No Country for Old Men, and The Road. These three stories represent case studies of what happens when writers don't have a clear moral worldview or when they fail to have a clear protagonist versus an anti-hero at the center. Follow along with the cheat sheet or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellers...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 E6 – How the Anti-Hero Archetype has Infected our Kinds of Stories Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In S2 E4, Zena drew a distinction between different types of characters. A protagonist, which is a hero in the...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2 - EPISODE 4 – The Hero's Paradox: How to Write Flawed Characters without Undermining their Heroic Potential Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website at www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In this episode, Zena addresses the practical implications of...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE SEASON 2: EPISODE 3 – The Rise of the Anti-Hero and a Cynical Moral Worldview   Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In this episode, Zena breaks down the history of the anti-hero archetype over time, and shows how thi...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE S2- EPISODE 2 – The Rise of the Anti-hero and Morally Questionable Characters Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.  EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   Building on the foundation laid in episode 1 of what constitutes a heroic character, Zena goes on to addr...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE Season 2, Episode 1   What the World Needs Now are Heroes DOWNLOAD THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE FOR FREE on The Storyteller's Mission Website.  www.thestorytellersmission.com.  EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   In the first episode of season two of this podcast, Zena reviews reasons why stories matter, and what kinds of stories present a special oppo...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 70 – The Eight Essential Ingredients for Great Storytelling   Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   Episode 70 marks the final episode of Season One of this podcast. Thus, it feel apropos in this final episode t...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 69 – How to Get the Story out of the Character's Head and onto the Page Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   I was recently invited to be a guest during a Pep Talk session for Susan May Warren's Novel...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 68 – Optional Character Qualities You Can Apply to Your Villains Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website www.thestorytellersmission.com.  EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   This week we finish up our series on 21 potential character qualities that you can apply to your villains in o...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 67 – The Distorted Character Qualities of Villains - Part 3 Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website.   EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   For the last two weeks, we've been reviewing the 21 character qualities that apply to heroes (from episode 57) and began applying them to vi...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 66 – The Distorted Character Qualities of Villains - Part 2 Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website.   EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   Last week, we began reviewing the 21 character qualities that apply to heroes (from episode 57) and began applying them to villains, since these...

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE EPISODE 65 – The Distorted Character Qualities of Villains Follow along with the cheat sheet below, or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website.    EPISODE DESCRIPTION –   Last week, we launched into a discussion about what makes a great villain since villains must be formidable foes for your heroes. If you don't have...