From Craft to Intuition: The Decline of Structured Storytelling and The Rise of Emotion-Driven Writing

Introduction – The Premise and Importance

For most of history, writing was understood as a learned skill—a structured craft that required discipline, technique, and mastery. From Aristotle’s Poetics to the great literary traditions of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, storytelling was treated as both an art and a science, where carefully constructed plots, pacing, and rhetorical devices worked together to create powerful narratives.

However, something changed. Over time, the idea of writing as a deliberate craft was overshadowed by the rise of pure intuition, emotional expression, and freeform storytelling. Today, many writers no longer approach storytelling as a skill to be honed but as a raw outpouring of feeling, where structure is viewed as restrictive rather than essential. The result? Modern writing often falls into one of two extremes: either rigid adherence to formulaic storytelling or aimless, emotion-driven narratives with no clear structure.

This thesis explores how and why writing shifted from structured storytelling to an intuition-first approach. It traces key historical moments—from the structured foundations of classical storytelling, to the emotional revolt of Romanticism, to the breaking point of the 1970s-80s, when postmodernism and academia rejected storytelling craft in favor of pure expression. We will analyze how these shifts led to today’s writing landscape, where the loss of structure has made many modern stories feel weaker, unfocused, or lacking in intentionality.

Yet, the goal of this thesis is not to argue for a return to rigid, prescriptive storytelling. Instead, it presents an argument for balance—why both structure and emotion are essential to great storytelling. By reclaiming lost skills while maintaining the emotional depth modern writing values, we can create stories that are both compelling and intentional.

At its core, this is a call to action. Writers must understand that intuition without craft is chaos, and craft without intuition is soulless. True mastery lies in blending the two. The best writers in history didn’t just feel their way through stories—they understood why their stories worked and how to wield emotion with precision.

Through this exploration, we will uncover how modern writers can restore the balance and reclaim the full power of storytelling. Let’s begin.

Historical Foundations – Writing as a Learned Craft

Ancient & Classical Periods: Writing as Rhetoric and Structure

From its earliest origins, storytelling was seen as a deliberate craft, closely tied to rhetoric, logic, and structure. The ancient Greeks and Romans developed systems of storytelling and argumentation, where clarity, persuasion, and structured progression were key.

• Aristotle’s Poetics (4th century BCE) laid the groundwork for structured storytelling, emphasizing beginning, middle, and end, as well as concepts like catharsis and dramatic unity.

• Greek tragedy (Sophocles, Euripides) demonstrated the controlled use of tension, character arcs, and thematic resolution.

• Roman rhetoric (Cicero, Quintilian) reinforced storytelling as a persuasive art, where structure wasn’t just recommended but essential.

In these traditions, storytelling wasn’t about raw emotional release—it was about effectively shaping ideas and emotions to create a specific impact. The goal was always to create clear, structured narratives that engaged and transformed audiences.

Medieval & Renaissance Eras: Allegory, Morality, and Structural Art

During the medieval period, storytelling continued to be structured and purposeful, often tied to religious, moral, or political instruction.

• Medieval allegories (e.g., Dante’s Inferno, The Canterbury Tales) used structured narrative forms to convey lessons and moral insights.

• The Renaissance (Shakespeare, Cervantes, Marlowe) blended complex emotional depth with strict structural forms, proving that storytelling could be both intellectually rigorous and emotionally powerful.

Shakespeare, for instance, carefully crafted five-act structures while embedding deep character psychology, illustrating that structure and emotion could coexist harmoniously.

The Enlightenment (17th-18th Century): Structure Meets Philosophy

By the 17th and 18th centuries, storytelling became increasingly logical, moral, and structured, influenced by Enlightenment ideals of reason and clarity.

• Novels like Robinson Crusoe and Pamela followed clear, structured arcs, designed to reflect moral and personal growth.

• Dramatic structure remained key, with thinkers like Goethe and Lessing refining classical ideas for modern storytelling.

• Scientific advancements in psychology and logic influenced narrative form, reinforcing that good storytelling required deliberate design, not just instinct.

At this stage, writing was still deeply structured and intentional—though it was becoming more personal and character-driven, laying the groundwork for the Romantic shift to come.

Key Takeaway:

For most of history, storytelling was treated as both an art and a skill—with structure as a fundamental pillar. Writers were not expected to rely solely on intuition; they were taught how to construct compelling narratives. The shift toward emotion-driven, freeform storytelling had not yet taken hold—but the seeds were being planted.

The Rise of Emotion-Driven Writing in the Romantic Era

By the late 18th century, the world of storytelling underwent a dramatic transformation. The Romantic Movement emerged as a response to the rigid structures of the Enlightenment, prioritizing emotion, individual experience, and natural expression over rationality and order. This was the first major moment in history when storytelling began shifting from deliberate craftsmanship to pure intuition.

How Romanticism Changed Storytelling

The Romantics saw art—including literature—as a means of personal expression and emotional transcendence, rather than as a structured form of communication. This shift had several key effects on storytelling:

• Subjective Experience Became Central – Stories now emphasized the protagonist’s inner turmoil, personal desires, and emotional conflicts over external events.

• The Rejection of Classical Form – Traditional three-act structures and rigid poetic forms were often abandoned or subverted in favor of more fluid, expressive storytelling.

• Nature and the Sublime as Emotional Catalysts – Romantic writers used nature as a mirror for human emotion, creating atmosphere-driven narratives rather than structured plots.

• Glorification of the Individual and the Outsider – Heroes were no longer guided by societal expectations or duty; instead, they were rebellious, misunderstood figures driven by passion.

Key Writers and Works That Defined the Shift

Several influential Romantic writers paved the way for emotion-first storytelling:

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1774) – A deeply introspective novel about a man overwhelmed by his emotions, leading to tragedy. This work popularized raw, personal storytelling.

• Mary Shelley (Frankenstein, 1818) – Although structured, Frankenstein embraced subjective emotions, inner turmoil, and tragic fate, breaking from traditional horror narratives.

• Lord Byron & Percy Bysshe Shelley – Their poetry and dramatic works embodied melancholy, passion, and individual suffering, inspiring an entire generation to embrace expressive, intuitive writing.

• Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights, 1847) – A novel that discarded traditional plot structures in favor of a stormy, emotional, and nonlinear narrative, reflecting the protagonist’s internal chaos.

The Consequences of Romanticism on Writing

While the Romantic Movement expanded the emotional depth of storytelling, it also marked the beginning of a decline in structural discipline. The emphasis on intuition over design planted the seeds for future movements that would eventually reject structure entirely.

What was gained:

• Richer, more emotionally complex characters.

• Greater focus on individual perspective and internal conflict.

• Freedom from restrictive classical forms.

What was lost:

• A clear sense of plot structure and narrative progression.

• The discipline of balancing emotion with deliberate storytelling mechanics.

• An understanding that craft and intuition should work together, not against each other.

Romanticism’s Lasting Impact

The Romantic focus on emotion-driven storytelling never disappeared. It directly influenced Modernism and Postmodernism, leading to a world where, eventually, structure would be seen as optional rather than essential.

The Modernist Break – The Fragmentation of Story Structure

Modernism and the Erosion of Classical Storytelling

By the early 20th century, literature underwent another radical transformation. The Modernist Movement emerged as a response to the industrialization of society, the horrors of World War I, and a growing disillusionment with traditional narratives. Modernist writers abandoned classical structure, embracing fragmentation, ambiguity, and introspection. This shift further distanced storytelling from deliberate craft and structure, making it increasingly reliant on impressionistic and intuitive writing.

How Modernism Changed Storytelling

Modernist writers sought to break free from the constraints of traditional storytelling, leading to major changes in narrative form:

• Stream of Consciousness Became the Norm – Writers experimented with interior monologue, directly immersing readers into characters' chaotic thoughts and emotions (James Joyce, Virginia Woolf).

• Disjointed, Nonlinear Narratives – Many stories abandoned clear timelines, forcing readers to piece events together without a structured arc.

• A Rejection of Absolute Meaning – Rather than presenting clear messages or morals, Modernist texts often left interpretation entirely up to the reader.

• Emotion as a Private, Personal Experience – Unlike Romanticism’s externalized, dramatic emotions, Modernist literature focused on subdued, introspective emotion, often at the cost of traditional plot progression.

Key Writers and Works That Defined Modernism

Several influential Modernist writers reshaped the way stories were told:

• James Joyce (Ulysses, 1922) – A chaotic, unstructured novel that pioneered stream of consciousness, defying traditional plot conventions.

• Virginia Woolf (Mrs. Dalloway, 1925) – A novel unfolding over a single day, using shifting perspectives and internal monologues to replace a structured narrative.

• William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury, 1929) – A novel told through multiple, unreliable narrators, reflecting fractured personal realities.

• T.S. Eliot (The Waste Land, 1922) – A poem structured as a fragmented collage, requiring deep interpretation rather than delivering a clear meaning.

The Consequences of Modernism on Writing

Modernism revolutionized literature by breaking free from rigid constraints, but it also contributed to the decline of structured storytelling as an essential craft.

What was gained:

• Deep psychological complexity in characters.

• An openness to experimentation and new narrative techniques.

• Increased focus on subjectivity and reader interpretation.

What was lost:

• Clear, engaging plot progression.

• The idea that narratives should be structured for maximum emotional impact.

• A universal, shared framework for storytelling that could resonate across cultures.

Modernism’s Lasting Impact

The Modernist belief in subjective interpretation, nonlinear storytelling, and ambiguous meaning laid the groundwork for Postmodernism, which would take these ideas even further—abandoning not just structure, but the very concept of authorial intent itself.

Postmodernism and the Final Dismantling of Traditional Storytelling

By the mid-to-late 20th century, the Postmodernist Movement emerged as a response to the growing skepticism toward absolute truths, grand narratives, and the very idea of objective meaning. If Modernism fragmented traditional storytelling, then Postmodernism obliterated it entirely, rejecting not only structured narrative but also the authority of the writer in determining meaning. This shift transformed storytelling into a freeform, interpretative exercise, where structure became optional at best, irrelevant at worst.

How Postmodernism Changed Storytelling

Postmodernist writers actively sought to deconstruct and challenge everything about traditional storytelling, leading to several key changes:

• The Death of the Author – Following Roland Barthes' 1967 essay "The Death of the Author," the idea emerged that an author’s intent was meaningless; only the reader’s interpretation mattered.

• Metafiction and Self-Referentiality – Stories became self-aware and deconstructed their own existence (Italo Calvino, Kurt Vonnegut).

• Intertextuality and Pastiche – Instead of telling new, original stories, Postmodern writers often collaged existing works, styles, and references (Thomas Pynchon, Jorge Luis Borges).

• Nonlinear and Fragmented Narratives Taken to the Extreme – Unlike Modernist fragmentation, which still contained a central thread, Postmodern narratives often lacked a clear beginning, middle, or end (David Foster Wallace, Samuel Beckett).

• Irony and Playfulness Over Emotional Investment – Postmodern works often mocked traditional storytelling tropes, replacing sincerity with self-aware irony.

Key Writers and Works That Defined Postmodernism

Several authors pushed storytelling to its absolute experimental limits:

• Thomas Pynchon (Gravity’s Rainbow, 1973) – A dense, chaotic novel filled with paranoia, conspiracy, and interwoven plots that challenge the idea of linear storytelling.

• Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five, 1969) – A novel where time is experienced non-linearly, deliberately breaking traditional cause-and-effect logic.

• Don DeLillo (White Noise, 1985) – A satirical take on media saturation and reality’s fragmentation.

• David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest, 1996) – A novel filled with footnotes, nonlinear subplots, and constant deconstruction of its own meaning.

The Consequences of Postmodernism on Writing

Postmodernism made storytelling a playground of endless possibility, but it also deepened the erosion of structured narrative and clear authorial intent.

What was gained:

• A limitless sense of experimentation in storytelling.

• The freedom to challenge traditional storytelling norms.

• Greater interactivity in how audiences engage with texts.

What was lost:

• A clear, unified approach to storytelling that resonates with a broad audience.

• The idea that a story should be designed to create specific effects in a reader.

• Emotional sincerity and investment, as irony and detachment became dominant.

Postmodernism’s Lasting Impact

The Postmodernist movement’s rejection of structure and meaning laid the groundwork for the fully intuition-driven, freeform storytelling we see today. This shift influenced academia, literature, and even social media storytelling, leading to a world where craft is often seen as secondary to pure expression and interpretation.

The Academic Shift – How Universities Abandoned Writing as a Craft

The Institutionalization of Postmodernism in Academia (1970s-80s)

By the 1970s and 1980s, the effects of Modernism and Postmodernism had fully permeated academia, fundamentally changing the way writing was taught. What was once a discipline rooted in structure, technique, and intentional craftsmanship became a theoretical, freeform, and largely interpretive exercise. Instead of teaching students how to construct compelling narratives, universities increasingly emphasized literary analysis, deconstruction, and postmodern ideals that rejected the necessity of structure altogether.

How Academia Shifted Writing from Craft to Theory

Universities played a major role in further dismantling traditional storytelling by pushing several key changes in how writing was taught:

• Creative Writing Became an MFA-Dominated Field – Instead of learning writing as a structured craft, students entered Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs that emphasized experimentation, literary fiction, and self-expression over fundamental storytelling skills.

• The Rise of Deconstructionist Theory – Heavily influenced by Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Roland Barthes, literary studies moved away from examining how stories worked and instead focused on dissecting texts to reveal hidden biases, contradictions, and subjective interpretations.

• Genre Fiction Was Marginalized – Academics dismissed structured, commercial storytelling (mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers) as "lowbrow", favoring experimental or literary fiction that often prioritized theme over readability.

• The Author’s Role Was Undermined – With the widespread acceptance of "The Death of the Author", universities reinforced the idea that an author’s intent didn’t matter, making storytelling less about deliberate construction and more about open-ended interpretation.

Key Figures and Works That Cemented the Shift

The following academic movements and thinkers solidified the idea that structured storytelling was outdated:

• Jacques Derrida (Deconstruction, 1967) – Asserted that texts contained infinite meanings, which undermined the need for clear structure or authorial intent.

• Michel Foucault (Power and Discourse, 1970s-80s) – Framed literature as a function of power structures, shifting writing studies toward political and cultural critique rather than craft mastery.

• Roland Barthes (The Death of the Author, 1967) – Popularized the idea that meaning was determined only by the reader, diminishing the importance of structured, intentional storytelling.

• The Growth of Postmodern Literary Criticism (1970s-80s) – Professors and scholars increasingly emphasized metafiction, irony, and experimental narratives, discouraging the study of clear, compelling storytelling techniques.

The Consequences of Academia’s Shift on Writing

While these academic trends expanded the boundaries of literary discussion, they also weakened the teaching of narrative structure and storytelling fundamentals.

What was gained:

• A more diverse range of perspectives and interpretations in literature.

• Greater acceptance of non-traditional, experimental storytelling.

• The incorporation of social, cultural, and political critique into literature.

What was lost:

• The systematic teaching of narrative structure, pacing, and emotional resonance.

• An emphasis on storytelling as a craft rather than an abstract, intellectual exercise.

• The idea that stories should be constructed for audience engagement and impact.

Academia’s Lasting Impact

The institutionalization of Postmodernism in writing education cemented the belief that structure was unnecessary and that raw expression alone was enough. This shift deeply influenced modern literature, leading to a generation of writers who never learned the technical foundations of storytelling.

The Digital Media Disruption – The Acceleration of Structureless Storytelling

The Rise of Digital Media and the Decline of Structured Storytelling

As the 21st century unfolded, digital media, self-publishing, and social media storytelling reshaped how narratives were created and consumed. While Postmodernism and academia had already weakened traditional storytelling structures, the rise of digital platforms accelerated the shift away from structured, crafted narratives toward fragmented, rapid, and purely emotional storytelling. This period saw the emergence of writing as an accessible, instant form of expression rather than a deliberately refined craft.

How Digital Media Changed Storytelling

The explosion of digital platforms brought about several transformative shifts in the way stories were told and valued:

• Self-Publishing and the Erosion of Editorial Gatekeeping – Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Wattpad allowed anyone to publish without editorial oversight. This led to an increase in raw, unpolished storytelling that often lacked structural refinement.

• Social Media and the Rise of Bite-Sized Narratives – Twitter threads, Reddit posts, and TikTok stories introduced fragmented, episodic storytelling that prioritized immediacy and emotional engagement over structured arcs.

• Fanfiction and Online Communities – With the accessibility of platforms like AO3 (Archive of Our Own) and Wattpad, non-traditional narratives gained popularity, often prioritizing emotional fulfillment, tropes, and wish fulfillment over traditional structure.

• The Meme-ification of Storytelling – Internet culture fostered a shortened attention span, favoring viral, high-impact moments over long-form, carefully crafted narratives.

• AI-Generated and Algorithm-Optimized Content – The rise of AI-driven writing tools and content designed to maximize engagement over depth further shifted the focus from well-structured storytelling to mass consumption and algorithmic appeal.

Key Trends That Reinforced the Shift

Several trends further cemented the decline of structured storytelling in the digital era:

• Virality Over Craft – Success in digital media often depends on engagement metrics, shares, and relatability, rather than structural or thematic excellence.

• Tropification of Narrative – Internet writing relies heavily on repeatable tropes and formulas, making storytelling feel predictable yet emotionally resonant.

• Speed Over Refinement – The demand for quick content turnaround has made the traditional process of careful revision and structuring seem outdated.

• Democratization of Content – The accessibility of publishing has blurred the lines between professional storytelling and amateur storytelling, making structured narratives feel less necessary.

The Consequences of Digital Disruption on Writing

While digital media opened up storytelling to more voices and perspectives, it also accelerated the loss of structured, carefully crafted narratives.

What was gained:

• Greater inclusivity and diversity of voices in storytelling.

• The democratization of publishing, making it accessible to anyone.

• Faster and more engaging ways to consume stories.

What was lost:

• The expectation of structured storytelling as a necessary skill.

• The discipline of editing, refinement, and crafting well-paced narratives.

• A focus on depth and narrative longevity over quick emotional engagement.

The Lasting Impact of Digital Media on Storytelling

With digital media’s emphasis on speed, accessibility, and virality, structured storytelling has become an afterthought rather than a foundation. Writers today often prioritize momentary impact over long-term narrative cohesion, leading to an era where emotion dominates, but structure is increasingly neglected.

The Polarization of Storytelling – Formula vs. Chaos

How Writing Became Divided Between Over-Formulaic and Structureless Storytelling

In the modern era, storytelling has become deeply polarized. Writers today often fall into one of two extremes—rigid formulaic writing that follows strict narrative structures or completely unstructured, freeform storytelling driven purely by emotion and intuition. As a result, many modern stories lack the balance between intentional craft and organic creativity, leaving readers with narratives that either feel predictable and mechanical or aimless and incoherent.

The Rise of Rigid, Formulaic Storytelling

In response to the freeform, often chaotic nature of digital storytelling, many writers and industries—especially Hollywood and mainstream publishing—have embraced hyper-structured storytelling formulas as a safety net.

• The Domination of "Save the Cat" and The Hero’s Journey – Many modern films, books, and scripts rigidly adhere to pre-defined story beats, leading to predictable narratives that lack individuality.

• Hollywood Screenwriting Rules – With studios prioritizing three-act structures, inciting incidents, and midpoint reversals, originality often takes a backseat to formula.

• Genre Tropes and Expectations – Commercial fiction increasingly relies on repeatable, easily marketable tropes, which can stifle creativity.

• Algorithm-Optimized Content – Streaming services and digital publishers encourage stories that fit pre-determined engagement patterns rather than those that break new ground.

The Problem With Over-Reliance on Formulas

While structure is essential, rigid adherence to formulas leads to several issues:

• Loss of uniqueness – Too many stories follow the same blueprint, making them feel interchangeable.

• Emotional shallowness – The focus on hitting story beats can come at the cost of deeper character exploration.

• Lack of risk-taking – With an emphasis on marketability, many stories avoid unconventional or experimental storytelling.

The Growth of Structureless, "Vibes-First" Writing

At the opposite extreme, digital culture, fan-driven narratives, and social media storytelling have made structure optional, or even undesirable.

• The Rise of "Vibes Over Plot" Storytelling – Many modern stories, especially in self-publishing and fanfiction, prioritize aesthetic, mood, and character dynamics over clear progression.

• Fragmented and Nonlinear Narratives – Some writers actively avoid traditional arcs, resulting in stories that lack direction or resolution.

• Stream-of-Consciousness and Slice-of-Life Writing – Increasingly popular styles emphasize moment-to-moment immersion rather than structured development.

• Minimal to No Editing in Digital Spaces – Many stories, especially those on Wattpad or AO3, are published in raw form, bypassing the refinement that structured storytelling typically demands.

The Problem With No Structure

While this approach allows for greater creative freedom, it also presents major challenges:

• Lack of coherence – Many stories meander without clear stakes or resolutions.

• Emotional indulgence over narrative purpose – Writers often prioritize personal catharsis over audience engagement.

• Weakened storytelling impact – Without intentional structure, even strong concepts can fail to deliver satisfying experiences.

The Need for Balance – Why Structure and Intuition Must Work Together

Great storytelling has never been about rigid adherence to formulas or complete narrative chaos—it’s about the balance between structure and organic creativity.

How Writers Can Regain Balance:

1. Understand Story Structure, But Don’t Be a Slave to It – Learn frameworks like the three-act structure or The Hero’s Journey, then adapt them to suit the story’s needs.

2. Let Emotion and Vibes Guide the Story, But With Purpose – Emotional resonance should enhance the plot, not replace it.

3. Prioritize Editing and Refinement – Even freeform writing benefits from revision and shaping to enhance clarity and impact.

4. Encourage Innovation Without Losing the Core of Narrative – New storytelling techniques should serve the experience, rather than exist purely for experimentation’s sake.

The Lasting Impact of Storytelling Polarization

The divide between formulaic storytelling and chaotic freeform narratives has left many writers uncertain about how to balance structure and creativity. By acknowledging both the strengths and weaknesses of these extremes, storytellers can reclaim the ability to craft narratives that are both engaging and meaningful.

Conclusion – The Full Arc of the Storytelling Shift

From Structure to Intuition: Where We Stand Today

The evolution of storytelling from a structured craft to an intuition-dominated art form has been gradual but definitive. What began as rhetorically structured narratives in the ancient world transformed through the Romantic emotional revolution, fractured under Modernist experimentation, and was ultimately deconstructed entirely by Postmodernism and academic theory. The digital age accelerated this shift, creating an environment where formula and chaos exist as opposing forces, leaving many modern writers uncertain about how to approach storytelling.

What This Shift Has Meant for Modern Writing

The effects of this transformation are undeniable, shaping the way stories are written, consumed, and valued in the modern era:

• The Loss of Traditional Storytelling Mastery – Once considered essential knowledge, principles like pacing, tension, and narrative cohesion are often dismissed or underdeveloped in modern works.

• The Dominance of Emotion Over Craft – Stories are now often judged more by how they feel in the moment rather than how effectively they are constructed for long-term impact.

• The Rise of Reader-Driven Interpretation – With authorial intent undermined by Postmodernism, many works are written to be open-ended and fluid, leading to ambiguity over clarity.

• The Polarization of Storytelling Methods – Writers now often fall into hyper-structured formulas or completely unstructured narratives, lacking a middle ground that balances both elements.

Does This Mean Storytelling Has Declined?

Not necessarily. The shift does not signify the death of storytelling, but rather a transformation in how stories function. While traditional storytelling techniques have weakened in some areas, new possibilities have emerged:

• More Diverse and Inclusive Voices – The removal of strict storytelling conventions has allowed for non-traditional narratives and underrepresented perspectives to thrive.

• Greater Experimentation and Freedom – Writers can now explore unconventional forms, perspectives, and structures that would have been dismissed in previous eras.

• A More Emotionally-Driven Medium – Though structure has weakened, emotional depth and reader engagement have become stronger focal points.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The future of storytelling will likely be defined by how writers, educators, and industries choose to balance structure and freedom. If the past shows anything, it is that storytelling constantly evolves, adapting to new cultural, technological, and intellectual movements. The key question is whether future storytellers will reclaim the lost aspects of craft while preserving the strengths of modern emotional expression.

In the end, storytelling is not just about structure or intuition—it is about the harmony between the two. The challenge for modern writers and creators is to bridge the gap, rediscovering what made structured storytelling powerful while embracing the expressive possibilities of the contemporary era.

This is the state of storytelling today: a landscape shaped by centuries of transformation, now standing at a crossroads between order and chaos. The next step? That’s up to the storytellers of tomorrow.