The Art & Business of Writing Podcast with Nicolas Cole The EDAN Writing Framework: Explanation, Narration, Action, Description
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May 1, 2026 A clear breakdown of four core writing elements: explanation, description, action, and narration. Short exercises show how to isolate and practice each piece. Practical metaphors compare the parts to chess and color-coded sentences. A step-by-step plan explains how to combine elements to build stronger openings and advance craft.
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Writing Is Four Building Blocks
- Writing can be unbundled into four fundamental pieces: Explanation, Description, Action, and Narration (EDEN).
- Nicolas Cole compares these pieces to chess pieces so you can learn each function before combining them into complex moves.
Color Code Sentences To See Structure
- Cole uses color-coding sentences to map EDEN pieces in paragraphs and visualize structure like Lego blocks.
- He highlights that entire paragraphs dominated by one piece (one color) reveal predictable pacing and reader feeling.
Explanation Gives Actions Meaning
- Explanation supplies context that gives actions meaning and can be deployed before, during, or long after an action appears.
- Cole notes TV and novels often delay explanation like a chess move placed now but activated many moves later.
