Do you really know your characters, or are you just moving them around the page?

Real character depth doesn't come from a bio sheet—it comes from treating your characters like real people and finding their breaking point.

In this episode of The Author's Mind, Shilo Creed sits down with Dr. Rod Berger to discuss how to "interview" your characters to find their hidden truths. We explore the critical technique of establishing a character's "normal" specifically to shatter it, and the mindset shift every author needs to build confidence and survive the editing process.

Inside this episode:

• The Interview Method: Why you should stop writing descriptions and start asking your characters questions.
• Breaking Normal: How to establish a character's reality just to break it for maximum tension.
• Writer Resilience: How to develop the "thick skin" required to handle brutal feedback and keep writing.

Special Guest: Dr. Rod Berger Communication expert and author of The Narrative Edge, Rod has conducted over 4,000 interviews with global leaders and storytellers.

Connect with Rod Berger here: https://www.drrodberger.com/book

Find Shilo's books here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFV59FRQ?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771886025&sr=1-1&ref

Looking for her other pen names? Check them out!

Elysian Hunt ~ Clean Rom Coms

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFZ4P281?binding=kindle_edition&ref


Quinn Knightly ~ Medieval action adventure

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4YMGZL?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1771885958&sr=8-1&ref

C.R. Fulton ~ Middle-grade chapter books that are wholesome:

https://bakkenbooks.com/collections/the-campground-kids-collection

Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode Summary: Welcome to The Narrative Edge! In this episode, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Emmy Award-winning editor Max Partain for a candid conversation about storytelling, creativity, authenticity, and the evolving landscape of content creation. Max shares his journey from childhood challenges with OCD and ADHD to finding his voice as a creative professional. Together, they explore the nuances of editing, the impact of AI on storytelling, and the importance of radical candor and vulnerability in both personal and professional relationships. Whether you're a storyteller, creative, or simply curious about the art of narrative, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & Max’s Early Story 02:00 – The Power of Storytelling and Personal Narratives 04:30 – Childhood, OCD, and Finding a Voice 08:00 – Roleplaying, Video Games, and Story Structure 12:00 – Editing: From Black & White to Nuance 16:00 – The Art of Guiding an Audience 20:00 – Storytelling in the Age of Algorithms 24:00 – Authenticity vs. Brain Rot in Content Creation 28:00 – Getting in the Creative Zone 32:00 – The Superpower of Focus and Routine 36:00 – Vulnerability, Radical Candor, and Client Relationships 40:00 – AI, Editing, and the Future of Storytelling 44:00 – Teaching Storytelling to the Next Generation 48:00 – The Importance of Self-Discovery and Ongoing Growth 52:00 – Max’s Advice for Creatives & Where to Find Him 55:00 – Closing Thoughts & Resources

Connect with Max Partain

• Instagram: @maxpartain
• Website

Connect with Dr. Rod Berger

• Book: The Narrative Edge – Available wherever books are sold
• DM “Lost chapter” on social for a special bonus!

Thanks to Riggg Productions for supporting this episode.

--- If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on storytelling and creativity!

Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.