Description

Book Synopsis

This book offers a unique approach to storytelling, connecting the Enneagram system with classic story principles of character development, plot, and story structure to provide a seven-step methodology to achieve rapid story development. Using the nine core personality styles underlying all human thought, feeling, and action, it provides the tools needed to understand and leverage the Enneagram-Story Connection for writing success.

Author Jeff Lyons starts with the basics of the Enneagram system and builds with how to discover and design the critical story structure components of any story, featuring supporting examples of the Enneagram-Story Connection in practice across film, literature and TV. Readers will learn the fundamentals of the Enneagram system and how to utilize it to create multidimensional characters, master premise line development, maintain narrative drive, and create antagonists that are perfectly designed to challenge your protagonist in a way that goes beyo

Trade Review

"Rapid Story Development is a wealth of information--a real handbook that's revolutionary in scope--one that isn’t leaving my desk for a second."

Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling Author Pictures of You, Is This Tomorrow?

"In his first book, Anatomy of a Premise Line, Jeff Lyons has already contributed greatly to the world of those seeking to understand story structure. In his new book, Rapid Story Development, he takes those original and highly useful ideas even further, showing how writers and other story tellers can use the enneagram to know their characters and better understand how these people form the heart of any story. Jeff has a really unique vision and a gift for articulating how a story must be structured in a way that is smart but also accessible."

Malena Watrous, Author and Lead Instructor for Stanford's Continuing Studies Online Writing program.

"Groundbreaking! Truly a game-changer for any serious storyteller. Jeff Lyons' Rapid Story Development masterfully melds story structure with the Enneagram - the ancient wisdom of human relationships - into actionable steps to craft stories from the ground up. It is a deep dive into motivation, dynamic action and reaction to drive your unique story."

Julie Janata, Producer, Director, Editor - two-time Emmy Award winner



Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Dedication

List of Figures

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part 1: The Enneagram for Writers

Chapter 1: It’s All About Development

Chapter 2: What Is the Enneagram for Writers?

Chapter 3: The Enneagram System Essentials

Chapter 4: The Enneagram Model

Chapter 5: Enneagram Character Styles

Chapter 6: Character Communication Styles

Chapter 7: Character Conflict Styles

Chapter 8: Character Evolution and De-Evolution

Part 2: The Enneagram-Story Connection

Chapter 9: Character Beginnings and Endings and Change

Chapter 10: The Moral Component

Chapter 11: The Moral Enneagram

Chapter 12: The Middle: Moving the Story Forward

Chapter 13: Building the Supporting Cast

Chapter 14: The Structure of the Opposition

Chapter 15: Enneagram Story Teams

Chapter 16: Enneagram Story Team Roles

Part 3: The Seven-Step Rapid Story Development Process and Case Studies

Chapter 17: The Rapid Story Development Process

About the Author

Appendix 1: Quick Reference—Rapid Story Development Standing Definitions

Appendix 2: Quick Reference—The Nine Character Styles

Appendix 3: Quick Reference—The Enneagram Wings

Appendix 4: Example—Team Development in the Action-Adventure Genre

Appendix 5: Example—Team Development in the Romance Genre

Appendix 6: Enneagram Resources

Appendix 7: Writer Resources

Appendix 8: The Conscious Writer Manifesto

Appendix 9: e-Resources

Index

Rapid Story Development

    Product form

    £37.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 25 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Jeff Lyons

    15 in stock


      View other formats and editions of Rapid Story Development by Jeff Lyons

      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      Publication Date: 1/23/2019 12:09:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9781138929708, 978-1138929708
      ISBN10: 1138929700

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      This book offers a unique approach to storytelling, connecting the Enneagram system with classic story principles of character development, plot, and story structure to provide a seven-step methodology to achieve rapid story development. Using the nine core personality styles underlying all human thought, feeling, and action, it provides the tools needed to understand and leverage the Enneagram-Story Connection for writing success.

      Author Jeff Lyons starts with the basics of the Enneagram system and builds with how to discover and design the critical story structure components of any story, featuring supporting examples of the Enneagram-Story Connection in practice across film, literature and TV. Readers will learn the fundamentals of the Enneagram system and how to utilize it to create multidimensional characters, master premise line development, maintain narrative drive, and create antagonists that are perfectly designed to challenge your protagonist in a way that goes beyo

      Trade Review

      "Rapid Story Development is a wealth of information--a real handbook that's revolutionary in scope--one that isn’t leaving my desk for a second."

      Caroline Leavitt, New York Times Bestselling Author Pictures of You, Is This Tomorrow?

      "In his first book, Anatomy of a Premise Line, Jeff Lyons has already contributed greatly to the world of those seeking to understand story structure. In his new book, Rapid Story Development, he takes those original and highly useful ideas even further, showing how writers and other story tellers can use the enneagram to know their characters and better understand how these people form the heart of any story. Jeff has a really unique vision and a gift for articulating how a story must be structured in a way that is smart but also accessible."

      Malena Watrous, Author and Lead Instructor for Stanford's Continuing Studies Online Writing program.

      "Groundbreaking! Truly a game-changer for any serious storyteller. Jeff Lyons' Rapid Story Development masterfully melds story structure with the Enneagram - the ancient wisdom of human relationships - into actionable steps to craft stories from the ground up. It is a deep dive into motivation, dynamic action and reaction to drive your unique story."

      Julie Janata, Producer, Director, Editor - two-time Emmy Award winner



      Table of Contents

      Table of Contents

      Dedication

      List of Figures

      Foreword

      Acknowledgments

      Introduction

      Part 1: The Enneagram for Writers

      Chapter 1: It’s All About Development

      Chapter 2: What Is the Enneagram for Writers?

      Chapter 3: The Enneagram System Essentials

      Chapter 4: The Enneagram Model

      Chapter 5: Enneagram Character Styles

      Chapter 6: Character Communication Styles

      Chapter 7: Character Conflict Styles

      Chapter 8: Character Evolution and De-Evolution

      Part 2: The Enneagram-Story Connection

      Chapter 9: Character Beginnings and Endings and Change

      Chapter 10: The Moral Component

      Chapter 11: The Moral Enneagram

      Chapter 12: The Middle: Moving the Story Forward

      Chapter 13: Building the Supporting Cast

      Chapter 14: The Structure of the Opposition

      Chapter 15: Enneagram Story Teams

      Chapter 16: Enneagram Story Team Roles

      Part 3: The Seven-Step Rapid Story Development Process and Case Studies

      Chapter 17: The Rapid Story Development Process

      About the Author

      Appendix 1: Quick Reference—Rapid Story Development Standing Definitions

      Appendix 2: Quick Reference—The Nine Character Styles

      Appendix 3: Quick Reference—The Enneagram Wings

      Appendix 4: Example—Team Development in the Action-Adventure Genre

      Appendix 5: Example—Team Development in the Romance Genre

      Appendix 6: Enneagram Resources

      Appendix 7: Writer Resources

      Appendix 8: The Conscious Writer Manifesto

      Appendix 9: e-Resources

      Index

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account