Welcome to Story Deep Dive.
Story Deep Dive is for authors and avid readers who want to understand what makes a novel unforgettable but struggle to break down the storytelling techniques that create emotional resonance and page-turning tension.
Every writer wants to craft an unputdownable book. But most end up feeling stuck, unsure why their story isn’t landing, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice because they don’t know how to analyze and apply proven storytelling elements in a practical way.
If this sounds familiar, you've probably tried reading craft books and taking online courses. Maybe you've even hired a coach or joined expensive programs—but still haven't seen the results you hoped for.
Here’s why:
Most authors in the storytelling space focus on memorizing writing rules instead of understanding how great stories are built from the inside out.
As a result, they end up stuck in analysis paralysis, doubting their creative instincts, and losing confidence in their ability to create stories readers love.
But after years of writing, editing, and analyzing bestselling novels, we discovered that the key to unforgettable storytelling is mastering how plot, character arcs, and themes work together to create emotional payoffs—rather than treating them as separate pieces.
So, if you want to elevate your writing craft, but also avoid burnout and confusion as you learn, then this podcast is for you.
Who Are We?
We’re Dana Pittman, a USA Today bestselling romance author and book coach, and Rachel Arsenault, a developmental editor and co-host with a deep love for all things fiction.
Together, we’ve spent over two decades working with authors, reading, writing, and dissecting stories to understand what makes them unputdownable.
We started Story Deep Dive because we’ve seen how intimidating the writing process can feel and how much clarity and confidence authors gain when they learn to break down a novel step-by-step.
What began as two friends geeking out over books has grown into a space where we can share insightful discussions and actionable takeaways to inspire writers and entertain book lovers.
Now we’re sharing everything we’ve learned about storytelling in a fun and accessible format.
Why subscribe?
Every week, we release one podcast episode that helps you strengthen your storytelling skills without overloading you with jargon or vague advice.
No more wondering why some scenes work and others fall flat.
No more guessing how to make your characters' emotional journeys believable.
No more second-guessing your instincts as a writer.
Each episode combines expert analysis and lighthearted conversation to help you understand and apply storytelling techniques, delivered in an engaging, bite-sized format that takes about an hour to listen to.
We cover everything from plot structure to character arcs to themes and emotional stakes. Not only do you get in-depth discussions about books, but each episode also comes with the following:
Real-world examples from popular novels.
Breakdowns of what works (and what doesn’t) in storytelling.
Practical insights you can use in your own writing.
Our goal is for you to find something inspiring and actionable in every single episode.
And our promise is to demystify storytelling with humor, insight, and authenticity because we believe writing can be both purposeful and fun.
Ready to dive deeper into storytelling?
Click here to listen to our latest episode and see why authors and book lovers are excited about Story Deep Dive!
