A simple system to write powerful stories — fast.
What is Tale Spinning?
Tale Spinning is a practical, human way of thinking about stories.
It’s a method that brings plot, character, and theme together, not as abstract ideas, but as parts of the same conversation. Instead of juggling theory, frameworks, and rules, you work through a single, intuitive flow—one that mirrors how stories actually feel when they work.
Tale Spinning helps you outline complete stories with confidence, even when you’re unsure where to begin or why something isn’t clicking yet. It’s designed to reduce doubt, not creativity—to give you clarity without boxing you in.
Whether you’re writing a screenplay, novel, comic, or game, the method gives you something solid to hold onto: a repeatable way to shape stories that feel emotionally grounded, purposeful, and alive.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about finally feeling like you know what you’re doing—and enjoying the process again.
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Why Tale Spinning Works
- Simple — One framework that organizes every element of story at once.
- Fast — Build a full outline in hours instead of weeks.
- Universal — Works across mediums, genres, and tones.
The Four Universal Story Types
Almost every story makes two quiet but decisive choices.
First: is the protagonist fundamentally a Hero or a Villain?
Second: will the story reward their behavior—or punish it?
That’s it.
Everything else—tone, genre, even the ending—flows from how a character’s moral choices collide with the nature of the universe they live in. Together, these two axes form a simple 2×2 that reveals four universal story types.
Once you see them, you’ll start recognizing them everywhere. More importantly, you’ll know exactly which kind of story you are telling.
Use this framework to diagnose any story—or to design your own from the ground up.
Kind Universe Comedy
A talented Hero recognizes their bad habit, lets it go, and is rewarded for it.
The world responds kindly when they change—and they achieve their dream.
Kind Universe Tragedy
A gifted Villain refuses to let go of their flaw.
The universe gives them every chance… and they destroy themselves chasing what they want.
Cruel Universe Tragedy
A gifted Hero holds onto their virtue no matter the cost.
The world is indifferent—or hostile—and ultimately breaks them for doing the right thing.
Cruel Universe Comedy
A talented Villain finally stops resisting who they are.
By abandoning their last trace of goodness, they align with a cruel world—and win.
These aren’t moral judgments.
They’re story engines.
Choose the universe. Choose the character.
The rest of the story will start to reveal itself.
What You’ll Learn in the Full Course
- How story structure actually works
- Why characters struggle and how they transform
- How to think about universes, morality, and narrative “physics”
- How the four Story Types shape every plot
- How to begin any story with clarity and purpose
About the Creator
I was raised by engineers, so naturally I ran off to make movies.
Tale Spinning is the system I built after years of taking stories apart to see not just how they work but more importantly why they work.
If you want to learn storytelling that’s clearer, more satisfying, and actually fun — you’re in the right place.
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Articles
Articles on storytelling, structure, and creativity.