24Q4 | Writing Vertical Stories: Cypress Bai on Hooks, Story Structure, and Adapting Web Novels

Today’s episode features a conversation from our 2025 Q4 Short Drama Forum with Cypress Bai — founder of Storypod Studio, former Head of Content & Production at DramaWave, and one of the key writer-producers shaping the English-language vertical drama landscape. In this interview, Cypress shares how she first entered the vertical space, how she approaches adapting Chinese and English web novels, and why structure, rhythm, and emotional clarity matter even more in short dramas. We also talk about character design, cliffhangers, book-to-series adaptation, and how Hollywood’s three-act storytelling translates into vertical formats. It’s a sharp, practical conversation for anyone writing, producing, or studying micro-dramas. Let’s dive in. -- 📘 Want to dive deeper into the storytelling logic behind global short dramas? Check out my book — Short Drama Writing 101: From Industry Logic to Social Psychology — a 126-page guide for producers, writers, and platform strategists. 👉 https://payhip.com/b/K82oz 🌿 Just starting out or curious about how short dramas work? Try my online course — Short Drama Writing 101 for Everyone — designed for grassroots creators and newcomers who want to understand short-drama storytelling in a fun, accessible way. 👉 https://payhip.com/b/oMALI