Our approach
Story is the foundation we lay
before the rest of the work begins.
We apply a story-first philosophy across books, podcasts, screen and business storytelling.
At Good Prose Studios, we believe story is more than entertainment. It’s the architecture that underpins civilisation and culture. Humans are hard-wired to remember stories. Story impacts us like nothing else – and, when executed well, is potent enough to travel across time.
Long before social media and algorithmic influence, we used story to communicate. The language we use to understand ourselves today is still based on stories we inherited from ancient empires. Works like Antigone, the Iliad and Cinderella, which pre-date the birth of Christ, continue to be taught in schools and universities.
Yet, in a world flooded with content, we are starved of storytelling craft. In the digital age, more people than ever before have the ability to tell their story to the world. But very few have been trained in storytelling principles. Without story craft, storytelling falls flat. Without story, we are all simply shouting to be heard.
Great storytelling isn’t accidental. It is built on a repeatable, recognisable structure which enables story to build meaning and memory. That’s the difference between content and story, and it’s the basis of our work at Good Prose Studios.
Take a look inside one of our strategic storytelling workshops.
The golden rules of storytelling in one simple framework.
The Architecture of Story: Our proprietary, research-backed storytelling system.
All great storytelling looks like this:
The Architecture of Story is the foundation stone of our work at Good Prose Studios. It’s a proprietary, research-backed storytelling system shaped by our founder Dr Erin O’Dwyer over her three decades in the creative arts.
The Architecture of Story applies across all modes and genres of storytelling. Indeed, it holds power across all forms of communication – from books to films, to policy white papers, to podcasts, keynote speeches, and social media. The Architecture of Story is what sutures your audience in, no matter the place or time.
When you work with Good Prose Studios, you’ll learn the value of the Architecture of Story – and apply it to bring your storytelling to life.
How we approach our work as expert story consultants.
A systematic approach designed for busy professionals.
While all client work at Good Prose Studios is bespoke, most client journeys unfold like this:
01
Discovery.
We begin by understanding your goals, audience and context.
02
Strategy.
We apply our proprietary storytelling framework, shaping a clear strategic direction.
03
Work-in-progress.
We get to work – writing, editing or consulting to bring your story to life.
04
Refinement.
We collaborate. Feedback and iteration ensures the final output reflects your goals.
05
Handover.
We provide clear deliverables and actionable next steps – with a targeted roadmap for implementation.
Discovery.
We begin by understanding your goals, audience and context.
Strategy.
We apply our proprietary storytelling framework, shaping a clear strategic direction.
Work-in-progress.
We get to work – writing, editing or consulting to bring your story to life.
Refinement.
We collaborate. Feedback and iteration ensures the final output reflects your goals.
Handover.
We provide clear deliverables and actionable next steps – with a targeted roadmap for implementation.
We believe in the power of storytelling.
Our values guide every project we work on.
We are creative
We play to our strengths, acknowledge our weaknesses, and prioritise work that we love.
We are communicators
We speak clearly, work collaboratively, and set realistic expectations – with ourselves, our clients and our partners
We are committed
We demand excellence and deliver to deadline – on time, every time.
We are courageous
We are ‘soft’ on the people and ‘hard’ on the problem, and welcome difficult conversations
We are holistic
We work in ways that allow us to balance our professional and personal lives.
We are mentors and mentees
We practice omni-directional mentorship, to unite behind the sum of our parts and offer dynamic, innovative services.
Why the art of storytelling matters.
We care deeply about story, including yours.
The best communication doesn’t come from data points. It draws on timeless storytelling techniques, which move people, change lives and transform thinking.
Story is the sum of essential forces working together. Once you understand the architecture that exists beneath a story, publication success stops looking like luck and starts looking like strategy.
When story is built on a time-honoured tradition, it does more than just succeed – it endures in human memory for generations to come.
At Good Prose Studios, our mission is simple: To empower people to tell their stories, use our innate understanding of storytelling to influence society for the better, and help our clients to write, tell, research, publish and share stories that matter.
Our affiliations
FAQs.
Frequently asked questions.
Who leads Good Prose Studios?
Good Prose Studios is led by Dr Erin O’Dwyer, a storytelling expert and award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience in the Australian media landscape. Erin has worked on the inside of major Australian media outlets like News Ltd, Fairfax Media and the ABC, and taught journalism at top universities including the University of Sydney, UNSW, QUT and the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business, ensuring excellence and expertise across the full spectrum of our services.
What types of clients do you work with?
Our clients include authors, academics, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders. We work with individuals and organisations who want to use story to communicate their message. Our team is experienced in handling a wide range of communications projects, ensuring each client receives personalised attention and expertise. If you are seeking compelling content and high–impact storytelling, Good Prose Studios is here to help.
How does Good Prose Studios maintain quality in its services?
At Good Prose Studios, we deliver high quality content – on time, every time. We work collaboratively to ensure we meet our clients’ needs and expectations. Our team of writers, editors and narrative strategists are experts in their fields. We stay up to date with the latest media and content trends, while staying true to the ancient elements of good communication and storytelling.
What is the process of working with Good Prose Studios like?
Working with Good Prose Studios is a collaborative process. We begin with an initial consultation to discuss your needs. This is followed by a detailed brief to ensure we fully understand your objectives. Once the project scope is defined, our team of skilled writers, editors, content creators and narrative strategists get to work. We maintain open communication and work collaboratively, providing regular updates via email or face-to-face meetings to ensure the final product meets your expectations.
I have a project or idea, but I need guidance. Where’s the best place to start?
Great question. For any professional, organisation or author, you can start with a free discovery call to discuss your project and goals. From there, we can recommend a specific service offering.
Do you offer services for international clients?
Yes, we work with clients across Australia and around the world. Our team is experienced in handling many different types of communications projects, across a range of genres, platforms, industries and geographic locations. We are skilled in working with culturally and linguistically diverse clients, and clients for whom English is a second language. We use digital communication tools to ensure seamless communication and collaboration with international clients. We provide the same level of professionalism and personalisation to all our clients, no matter their location.