Author guide
Shawn Coyne Books in Order
Shawn Coyne is an American writer, editor, publisher, literary agent, and story theorist with more than thirty years of experience in book publishing. He created the Story Grid methodology, a system for analyzing and improving narrative structure, and founded Story Grid Publishing. Coyne has written and co-written books on story craft, publishing, sports history, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and masterwork analysis. His authored and co-authored books include The Story Grid, The Ones Who Hit the Hardest, Cognitive Dominance, Story Grid 101, The Four Core Framework, and Mentoring the Machines.
Shawn Coyne's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these

Story Grid 101: The Five First Principles of the Story Grid Methodology
The most concise introductory overview of Coyne's Story Grid principles and tools.

The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know
The foundational full-length statement of Coyne's editorial methodology.
Read in order
Books by series
nonfiction series · complete
Mentoring the Machines
A four-part nonfiction series by Shawn Coyne and John Vervaeke examining artificial intelligence, cognition, meaning, and human agency.
- 1 Mentoring the Machines - Part 1: OrientationAmazon ↗
Book 1 · nonfiction · 2023
- 2 Mentoring the Machines - Part 2: OriginsAmazon ↗
Book 2 · nonfiction · 2023
- 3 Mentoring the Machines - Part 3: ThresholdsAmazon ↗
Book 3 · nonfiction · 2025
- 4 Mentoring the Machines - Part 4: AlignmentAmazon ↗
Book 4 · nonfiction · 2026
nonfiction series · ongoing
Masterwork Guide
Story Grid masterwork-analysis guides applying Coyne's narrative tools to major works of fiction.
- 1 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis GuideAmazon ↗
Book 1 · nonfiction · 2017
- 4 Story Grid Analysis: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis GuideAmazon ↗
Book 4 · nonfiction · 2020
- 5 The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien: A Story Grid Masterworks Analysis GuideAmazon ↗
Book 5 · nonfiction · 2020
nonfiction series · ongoing
Story Grid Beats
Short Story Grid books that break writing and publishing problems into focused, practical units.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (5)
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The Ones Who Hit the Hardest: The Steelers, the Cowboys, the '70s, and the Fight for America's SoulAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2010
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The Story Grid: What Good Editors KnowAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2015
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Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon's Quest to Out-Think FearAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2019
- The Four Core Framework: Needs, Life Values, Emotions, and Events in StorytellingAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2020
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Story Grid 101: The Five First Principles of the Story Grid MethodologyAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2020