Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story (Helping Writers Become Authors #3)

Margaret Geraghty

This book will inspire you to write, even if you have only a few minutes to spare. It may also change the way you think about writing. Drawing on a mix of disciplines, including psychology, art, linguistics, and advertising, each chapter offers you a writing-related discussion, followed by a five-minute exercise. Whether you are a beginner writer, an experienced writer looking for new ideas, or you simply want to use writing to gain self-awareness, the book will help you to: \* Access your inner self, the personal memories that reflect universal patterns of the total human narrative. \* Gain fresh insight into the nature of stories and storytelling. \* Recognise your own life as an inexhaustible source of story ideas. \* Stimulate creative thought, including right-brain techniques for 'stepping outside the box'. \* Escape writing blocks. \* Establish an enjoyable writing routine. Just pick a page and begin your writer's journey. Lire plus…

Marina Oliver

Everyone has a book in them' is a phrase we have all heard. It may be true, but it's the getting it out that matters. This book is designed to help you put your novel on the page in the way that will give you the best chance of selling it to a publisher. It's not easy. It can be hard work and often disappointing, and luck plays a critical part, but it is possible. With persistence, knowledge of the world of publishing and belief in yourself, you can succeed. The rewards - seeing your book on public display or in the hands of a reader - and the delight in achievement, make all the effort worthwhile. This book will show you the practical steps to be taken in order to reap those rewards. It deals specifically with: getting started; finding the right story; setting the scene; creating the right characters; working with other writers; submitting work; and getting to grips with the publishing process. Lire plus…

Sophie King

Writing short stories is both a science and an art. You need a certain amount of skill but you will increase your chances by studying your market and learning what magazine editors are looking for. It is not always obvious. "How to Write Short Stories" will take you as a would-be writer through the tricks of the trade by: helping you discover what the different magazines are looking for and how to think up ideas to suit; demonstrating how you can write different slants, such as twist in the tales and feel-good stories; and, advising on how you can win fiction competitions. "How To Write Short Stories" is packed with tips, quotes and inside angles from magazine editors and relevant experts. AUTHOR BIOG: Sophie King is the pseudonym for journalist Jane Bidder. As well as writing novels - The School Run; Mums@Home, Second Time Lucky and her latest novel The Supper Club*), she has had literally hundreds of short stories published in women's magazines such as Woman's Weekly; Take a Break; My Weekly; and Best. Sophie lectures in creative writing for Oxford University and West Herts College. She is also the writer in residence for Grendon Underwood Prison. CONTENTS: 1. Identifying Your Market 2. Good Idea 3. Nice to Meet You! 4. Plotting your Short Story 5. Viewpoint. Whose Shoes are you Standing In? 6. Who's Speaking Please? 7. First Person or Third? 8. Beginnings and Endings 9. Twist in the Tale Short Story 10. How to Write Feel-good Stories or Tug-at-the Heart Tales 11. How... Lire plus…

Christopher Vogler

See why this book has become an international best seller and a true classic. The Writer's Journey explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style that's made it required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world. The updated and revised third edition provides new insights and observations from Vogler's ongoing work on mythology's influence on stories, movies, and man himself. Lire plus…

Orson Scott Card

This book made me stop writing for a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. Not only is it very informative, it's entertaining too and presents the information in very lucid way. I've yet to read Card's fiction, but even the examples he provides in this book are intriguing enough to make me wish the story went on from there! He definitely knows what he's talking about. I felt like after reading the book I had a much clearer understanding about what I was doing in my own characterization. Just being aware of things like the difference between presentational and representational stories, levels of narrative penetration and so forth really help demystify the writing process. I've read a fair number of writing reference books and was pleasantly surprised to find that even in the most basic chapters, like the point of view sections, there was new information for me or information that was presented in a different light. I think this book could be helpful to writers of all skill levels. If you're a novice, the amount of information and number of choices he presents might at first seem intimidating, but even if only a tenth of the book sinks in the first time you read it, you will be a better writer for it. And if you're already pretty comfortable with your level of expertise, I think you'll find the breakdown helps you become more consciously aware of what you're doing. Another thing I liked about it was that it provides examples of bad characterization. ... Lire plus…

Editor, Gregory Victor Babic

Has No Book Cover!Motivation for Writers, Every Day of the Year. Specifically selected Quotations for each Calendar Date illuminate all aspects of the Writing Process. * The First Quotation illustrates the Pre-Writing or Preparation Stage (of Thinking and Planning) * The Second Quotation illustrates the Writing or Creation Stage (of Drafting and Editing) * The Third Quotations illustrates the Post-Writing or Celebration Stage (of Publishing and Marketing) ''This is a treasury of inspiration, stimulation and fun for writers.'' Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual ''No matter what page you open to you'll find the experience, wisdom and inspiration of the best writers in the world to motivate and energize the work you do.'' Paul J Krupin, author of Words People Love to Hear Lire plus…

By Ron Rozelle

Build a Believable World How essential is setting to a story? How much description is too much? In what ways do details and setting tie into plot and character development? How can you use setting and description to add depth to your story? You can find all the answers you need in Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting by author and instructor Ron Rozelle. This nuts-and-bolts guide - complete with practical exercises at the end of each chapter - gives you all the tips and techniques you need to: • Establish a realistic sense of time and place • Use description and setting to drive your story • Craft effective description and setting for different genres • Skillfully master showing vs. telling With dozens of excerpts from some of today's most popular writers, Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting gives you all the information you need to create a sharp and believable world of people, places, events, and actions. Lire plus…

By Nancy Kress

The indispensable Write Great Fiction series continues with an in-depth look at three of the most important tools in the writer's craft: character, emotion and viewpoint. With the tips and techniques in this book, readers will learn how to: -Create compelling characters that readers believe in -Write scenes that deliver an unforgettable emotional impact -Distinguish among the many different kinds of viewpoint, and choose the one which is right for their story Each chapter is filled with examples drawn from the work of successful writers and action-and- results exercises that help readers take their lessons to the keyboard. Lire plus…

James Scott Bell

Ramp up the tension and keep your readers hooked! Inside you'll find everything you need to know to spice up your story, move your plot forward, and keep your readers turning pages. Expert thriller author and writing instructor James Scott Bell shows you how to craft scenes, create characters, and develop storylines that harness conflict and suspense to carry your story from the first word to the last. Learn from examples of successful novels and movies as you transform your work from ho-hum to high-tension. * Pack the beginning, middle, and end of your book with the right amount of conflict. * Tap into the suspenseful power of each character's inner conflict. * Build conflict into your story's point of view. * Balance subplots, flashbacks, and backstory to keep your story moving forward. * Maximize the tension in your characters' dialogue. * Amp up the suspense when you revise. __Conflict & Suspense__ offers proven techniques that help you craft fiction your readers won't be able to put down. Lire plus…

Angela Ackerman; Becca Puglisi; Sharon Knauer

One of the biggest problem areas for writers is conveying a character's emotions to the reader in a unique, compelling way. This book comes to the rescue by highlighting 75 emotions and listing the possible body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses for each. Written in an easy-to-navigate list format, readers can draw inspiration from character cues that range in intensity to match any emotional moment. The Emotion Thesaurus also tackles common emotion-related writing problems and provides methods to overcome them. This writing tool encourages writers to show, not tell emotion and is a creative brainstorming resource for any fiction project Lire plus…

James Scott Bell

**A powerful secret and a fresh approach to writing bestselling fiction!** What's the best way to write a "next level" novel? Some writers start at the beginning and let the story unfold without a plan. They are called "pantsers," because they write by the "seat of the pants." Other writers plan and outline and know the ending before they start. These are the "plotters." The two sides never seem to agree with each other on the best approach. But what if it's not the beginning or the end that is the key to a successful book? What if, amazing as it may seem, the place to begin writing your novel is in the very middle of the story? According to #1 bestselling writing teacher James Scott Bell, that's exactly where you'll find your story's heart and heat. Bell's "Mirror Moment" is the secret, and its power is available to any writer, at any stage of the writing process. Bringing together years of craft study and personal discovery, Bell presents a truly unique approach to writing a novel, one that will stand the test of time and serve you all your writing life. "I need three things before I tackle a new novel: Diet Coke, a laptop, and my dog-eared copies of James Scott Bell's books on writing craft!" - Kami Garcia, __#1 New York Times__ & International Bestselling author Lire plus…

Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi

Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. But the task has become easier thanks to __The Negative Trait Thesaurus.__ Through its flaw-centric exploration of character arc, motivation, emotional wounds, and basic needs, writers will learn which flaws make the most sense for their heroes, villains, and other members of the story's cast. Inside __The Negative Trait Thesaurus__ you'll find: \* A vast collection of flaws to explore when building a character's personality. Each entry includes possible causes, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and related emotions \* Real examples from literature, film, or television to show how each flaw can create life challenges and relational friction \* Advice on building layered and memorable characters from the ground up \* An in-depth look at backstory, emotional wounds, and how pain warps a character's view of himself and his world, influencing behavior and decision making \* A flaw-centric exploration of character arc, relationships, motivation, and basic needs\* Tips on how to best show a character's flaws to readers while avoiding common pitfalls\* Downloadable tools to aid writers in character creation Written in list format and fully indexed, this brainstorming resource is perfect for creating deep, flawed characters that readers will relate to. __The Negative Trait Thesaurus__ sheds light on your character's dark side. Lire plus…

Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi

It's a writer's job to create compelling characters who can withstand life's fallout without giving up. But building authentic, memorable heroes is no easy task. To forge realistic characters, we must hobble them with flaws that set them back while giving them positive attributes to help them achieve their goals. So how do writers choose the right blend of strengths for their characters--attributes that will render them admirable and worth rooting for--without making it too easy for them to succeed?
 Character creation can be hard, but it's about to get a lot easier. **Inside __The Positive Trait Thesaurus__, you'll find:** \* A large selection of attributes to choose from when building a personality profile. Each entry lists possible causes for why a trait might emerge, along with associated attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions \* Real character examples from literature, film, or television to show how an attribute drives actions and decisions, influences goals, and steers relationships \* Advice on using positive traits to immediately hook readers while avoiding common personality pitfalls \* Insight on human needs and morality, and how each determines the strengths that emerge in heroes and villains alike \* Information on the **key role****positive attributes play** within the character arc, and how they're vital to overcoming fatal flaws and achieving success \* Downloadable tools for organizing a character's attributes and providing a deeper understanding of... Lire plus…

James Scott Bell

**There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel __fast__. . .** You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down. On the other hand, if your dialogue is crisp and full of tension it __immediately__ grabs the reader. And if that reader is an agent or editor, sharp dialogue will give them instant assurance that you know what you're doing as a writer. Writing a bestseller or hot screenplay is no easy task, but dazzling dialogue is an absolute essential if you want to get there. The best part is, the skills of the dialogue craft are easy to understand and put into practice. #1 bestselling writing coach James Scott Bell has put together and expanded upon the dialogue lectures from his popular writing seminars. In __How to Write Dazzling Dialogue__ you'll learn: * What fictional dialogue is ... and isn't * The 11 secrets of crafting memorable dialogue * The 5 essential tasks of dialogue * 5 ways to improve your dialogue ear * 4 can't-miss methods to increase conflict and tension in any dialogue exchange * The top 10 dialogue issues, and how to resolve them You'll also see dazzling dialogue in action with examples from hit novels and screenplays. Don't sabotage your chances of selling your work to readers or publishers because the dialogue is unexceptional. Dazzle them with what the characters say. __How to Write Dazzling Dialogue__ will... Lire plus…

K.m. Weiland

**Position yourself to live an inspired life and send the dreaded writer’s block packing.** Inspiration is a slippery thing at the best of times. But as a writer, you can’t afford to wait around on Madam Muse’s goodwill. In this encouraging e-book, award-winning author K.M. Weiland shows you how to nurture creativity and put it at __your__ summons, rather than the other way around. After reading this book, you will be able to: * Build a lifestyle that encourages inspiration * Say goodbye to destructive guilt over “wasting” time on creative endeavors * Discover why inspiration isn’t so much a feeling as an act of will * Understand what to do when your best-laid writing plans go awry * Use your non-writing time to boost your creative energy * Apply specific tips to prevent and combat writer’s block * Instill habits for improving your efficiency and commitment as an author **Nurture a lifestyle of creativity that will keep your fingers flying over the keyboard!** Lire plus…

K. M. Weiland

Acclaim for Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success “Not into outlining? Then someone did not demonstrate it for you the way Weiland has in her book. If you can make a quick trip grocery list, you can outline your next manuscript to benefit your process, using Weiland’s guide.”—Leslie Hultgren “...this is one of the few writing craft books I have read start to finish, was easy to apply to my writing immediately, and helped me follow through on my first draft.”—F. Colley “Ms. Weiland presents a wonderful roadmap for writing while still encouraging you to take those sidetrips that will make your story better. I feel like I can walk the ‘high wire’ of my imagination because I have the safety net of my outline below it all.”—D. Hargan About the Book Let outlines help you write a better book! Writers often look upon outlines with fear and trembling. But when properly understood and correctly wielded, the outline is one of the most powerful weapons in a writer’s arsenal. Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success will: Help you choose the right type of outline for you Guide you in brainstorming plot ideas Aid you in discovering your characters Show you how to structure your scenes Explain how to format your finished outline Instruct you in how to use your outline Reveal the benefits: Ensures cohesion and balance Prevents dead-end ideas Provides foreshadowing Offers assurance and motivation Dispel misconceptions: Requires formal... Lire plus…

Weiland, K.m.

Learn How to Make Your First Draft Easy! Award-winning author K.M. Weiland’s previous book, the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, showed writers how to embrace outlines in a way that makes the writing process fun, inspiring, and easy. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use! Building upon the principles you’ve already learned, the Outlining Your Novel Workbook presents a guided approach to getting the bones of your story down on paper, identifying plot holes, and brainstorming exciting new possibilities. Containing hundreds of incisive questions and imagination-revving exercises, this valuable resource will show you how to: Create your own personalized outlining process Brainstorm premise and plot ideas Discover your characters Choose and create the right settings Organize your scenes And so much more! This accessible and streamlined workbook will empower you to create a powerful outline—and an outstanding novel. Start writing your best book today! writing, how to write, outlining, novel writing, writing guide, outline, gifts for writers, author, fiction, novels, writer, story, k.m. weiland, book, books нонфикшн,Creative Writing Lire plus…

K. M. Weiland

Discover the Proven Blueprint for Creating Stories That Sell! Award-winning author K.M. Weiland’s previous book, the award-winning Structuring Your Novel, showed writers how to create stories with strong and compelling plot structure. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use! Building upon the principles you’ve already learned, the Structuring Your Novel Workbook presents a guided approach to writing solid first drafts, identifying and fixing plot problems, and writing consistently good stories. Containing hundreds of incisive questions and imagination-revving exercises, this valuable resource will show you how to: Implement a strong three-act structure Time your acts and your plot points Unleash your unique and personal vision for your story Identify common structural weaknesses and flip them around into stunning strengths Eliminate saggy middles by discovering your story’s “centerpiece” And so much more! This accessible and streamlined workbook will empower you to create a powerful structure—and an outstanding novel. Start writing your best book today! Lire plus…