​I’ve been teaching creative writing for almost as long as I’ve been a professional writer. Over the years, those classes have served as a kind of laboratory where I’ve been able to develop, test, discard, and refine my own theories about what stories are, why they matter, and what all great stories have in common. 

That work eventually grew into a book.

I’ve been writing it for more than ten years, although “writing” may be too tidy a word for the process. The book has developed in fits and starts because every time I thought I had finally nailed down a concept, I encountered another film, novel, thinker, or classroom discussion that complicated the idea and pushed it deeper. What began as a practical guide to story structure gradually became something much more ambitious: an attempt to develop a grand unified theory of storytelling.

The book explores how plot, character, and theme work together; why protagonists and antagonists so often become mirror images; how stories dismantle the identities characters build around partial truths; and why storytelling remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for understanding reality and learning how to live within it.

After years of revision, I’ve finally reached the point where the theory feels complete enough to present to the world. Not final—one of the arguments of the book is that every interpretive framework should remain open to challenge and revision—but coherent, useful, and ready to be tested by readers.

And, thanks to the magic of self-publishing, I’ll be able to continue refining and updating the book as my thinking evolves.

I’m only a couple of weeks away from completing the manuscript, so keep an eye out for the official publication date soon.

I'm embarrassed to say it's just been pointed out that on p. 81 of The Crisis Companion, we accidentally used a piece of interior art from Avengers 181, drawn by John Byrne, rather than the cover to that issue, which was drawn by George Pérez. An honest mistake that somehow slipped past me, the designer, the publisher, and our proofreader. It will be fixed in future editions of the book. For the sake of comparison, here is Byrne's image in the book, followed by Pérez's cover. 

I'll be appearing with publisher John Morrow and other TwoMorrows authors to discuss our upcoming books. In my case, The Crisis Companion, available to pre-order now.