Becca Grischow can outline an entire novel in just under an hour.
You might be thinking, well that’s probably because she’s had a lot of practice. That’s true. Grischow is a Chicago-based author who has worked on more than 50 written and ghostwritten books. But there’s one other factor that makes her a storyboarding whiz: Miro.
From sticky notes to Miro Boards
Grischow is an avid Miro sticky notes and whiteboard user, first using them in 2021 when she was working in a marketing role at a tech company, and then relying on them to help her create new worlds when her writing side hustle became a full-time job.
“I’ve used Google Docs and pen, paper, and sticky notes for outlining, but Miro is always my go-to,” Grischow told us. “It’s so much easier to organize my thoughts and quickly revisit ideas rather than digging through pages of notes.”
Showcasing her unique approach on Tiktok
Grischow recently outlined her storyboarding approach on TikTok and shared her template.
@beegriz We’re halfway theough #nanowrimo, and if you’re not making the progress you want to be making on your book, I’ve gotchu, boo. Here’s EXACTLY how I outline my books (in less than an hour) using @Miro—and you can literally use the EXACT template I use at miro.com/storyboarding! Happy outlining to my fellow plotters 💕 How to outline a book How to plot a book How to write an outline Writing advice #writingtips #writingadvice #plottervspantser ♬ original sound – Becca the Writer
Grischow uses Miro to build out characters, define each story’s setting, chart character relationships, introduce specific scenes (even if they aren’t fully fleshed out), and break stories down by chapter.
“When I’m ghostwriting, outlines and storyboards help me to show the client what’s inside my head, and they keep me organized while I’m working,” she explained. “For my own work, storyboarding and outlining helps me keep my thoughts organized. I’m always adding to my original notes, and the ‘blueprint’ for the book certainly changes as I work, but it’s important for me to have at least a rough idea of where I’m headed in a story.”
Topics and genres change, but planning is a constant
That TikTok video, which has more than 30,000 views (she has another with over one million!), is just one insight into Grischow’s writing process. In fact, it looks entirely different depending on the client.
“You can’t approach a memoir the same way you approach a romance novel, and I can’t approach my own work the same way I approach a ghostwriting project,” Grischow said. “Each client has their own specific needs, and each project varies.”
But the one consistent part of her process? The planning.
“I have never been the sort of writer to fly by the seat of my pants,” Grischow said. “For ghostwriting, planning is important because it allows you and your client to be on the same page before you actually write the book. I wouldn’t want to get halfway through a project only to realize that I’m not fulfilling the client’s vision!”
Demystifying the art of the outline
So far, Grischow has written six books that began with a storyboard in Miro, and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“It’s easy to use and easy for my clients to understand,” Grischow said. “Walking a ghostwriting client through a Miro board that outlines their book is much friendlier and easier to understand than trying to guide them through pages and pages of black text on a white screen. An outline in Miro is something that anyone can understand, whether or not they’re a writer.”
A new chapter with Miro
Grischow has been ghostwriting since 2017, when a friend referred her to her first consistent ghostwriting project for a romance author. Now, she runs a full ghostwriting agency. Grischow focuses on romance, memoirs, and nonfiction, and has a team of writers with expertise in a wide variety of genres.
“Writing was my first love,” she said. “I’ve been writing since I was six years old, and I am so lucky that the thing that I love to do the most is also the thing I get to do for work.”
As for the next page of Grischow’s writing journey: She’s currently working on her second book in a two-book deal with Viking Books (Penguin), and finishing up a ghostwriting project, whose Miro board she still references, to, as she puts it, “make sure I’m on the right track.”
Storyboarding is just one of the many ways Miro helps creators and knowledge workers move smarter and faster.
