Download or read book Write out of Order Mastering Nonlinear Fiction Writing Without Losing the Plot written by Laura Kortum and published by 21st Century Author Publishing. This book was released on 2023-05-31 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Having trouble finishing your book? Maybe you're stuck in the so-called saggy middle and have no way to reach the climax. Perhaps you have the perfect story idea, but you're frozen at the prospect of writing that all-important opening sentence. It's time to mix things up and write out of order to get your creative juices flowing again. This guide will unlock the full potential of your storytelling by teaching you the techniques of non-linear fiction writing. With clear explanations and practical pointers and tools, this book will help you rethink your front-to-back writing process and: - Finish more books - Achieve flow - Overcome writer's block - Avoid common non-linear writing pitfalls - Make writing fun again! Ready to begin?

Download or read book Save the Cat Writes a Novel written by Jessica Brody and published by Ten Speed Press. This book was released on 2018-10-09 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first novel-writing guide from the best-selling Save the Cat! story-structure series, which reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success. Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story--from the opening image to the finale--this book lays out the Ten Story Genres (Monster in the House; Whydunit; Dude with a Problem) alongside quirky, original insights (Save the Cat; Shard of Glass) to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate--and a novel that will sell.

Download or read book How to Write Stories with a Twist written by Jane Bettany and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How to Write Stories With a Twist will help you understand and master the techniques of writing twist plots for short stories and novels. Packed with advice, tips, writing prompts, exercises and story examples, this book explains the mechanics of twist plots and shows you how to create twist stories of your own. Tales with a twist are fun to produce and because they are so popular with readers, there are plenty of markets for this type of fiction, which makes it a lucrative form of writing. In this book you will discover the six main types of twist: the Unreliable Narrator, Reversal of Identity, Reversal of Motive, Reversal of Perception, Reversal of Achievement, and Reversal of Fortune. Using story examples, including two classics of short twist fiction, you will learn how to analyse stories using a framework that can be used to develop your own twist plots. With chapters on twist ideas, building and outlining a story, sowing clues, using the art of misdirection, editing, proofreading and submitting your manuscript, How to Write Stories With a Twist includes everything you need to get started as a writer of twist fiction. Jane Bettany is a freelance writer, publisher and creative writing teacher with more than twenty years experience of writing fiction. Her stories and non-fiction articles have appeared in women's magazines, literary magazines, newspapers and online. She has an MA in Creative Writing and is a qualified teacher.

Download or read book Mastering the Art of Short Story Writing From Scratch to Success written by Saurabh Singh Chauhan and published by Saurabh Singh Chauhan. This book was released on 2021-07-15 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mastering the Art of Short Story Writing: From Scratch to Success Welcome, fellow storytellers, to the enchanting world of short story writing! Whether you're a seasoned writer seeking to hone your skills or a passionate beginner eager to weave your first tale, this book is your compass to navigate the seas of short fiction. In these pages, we'll embark on a journey together, exploring the boundless creativity and captivating possibilities that short stories offer. The Magic of Short Fiction: Have you ever marveled at the power of a concise story to transport you to far-off lands, evoke emotions, and leave an indelible mark on your heart? Short stories hold the enchantment of brevity, distilling profound themes and compelling characters into a brief but impactful narrative. With every word, the writer crafts a world that readers can immerse themselves in, a world that lingers in their minds long after the final page. Discovering the Gems Within: At the heart of this journey lies the pursuit of understanding the essential elements that make short stories shine. We will delve deep into character building, transforming our protagonists into living, breathing companions, while also crafting antagonists that challenge their very existence. The art of setting creation will breathe life into the backdrop of our tales, enticing readers to venture alongside our characters through lush landscapes and enigmatic cityscapes. Plotting the Course: A captivating plot is the heartbeat of any short story. Together, we'll unravel the mysteries of various plot structures, from the classic linear arc to the enthralling non-linear paths that beckon readers to piece together the puzzle. As we explore the intricacies of tension and conflict, we'll unleash the force that keeps readers glued to the pages, desperate to uncover how the tale unfolds. Unleashing Your Voice: Each writer possesses a unique voice waiting to be unleashed upon the world. We'll embark on a quest to find and nurture your distinctive style, one that will set your stories apart and resonate with readers. Along the way, we'll learn the art of "show, don't tell," a magical technique that allows readers to experience the story through vivid imagery and emotions. Themes that Resonate: Beyond the surface of plot and characters lie the themes that breathe life into our stories. We'll dive into the hidden depths of themes, exploring how they give meaning and purpose to our narratives. With emotional depth and resonance, we'll evoke connections with readers, leaving them pondering the profound questions our tales pose. A Journey of Beginnings and Endings: Capturing your reader's attention from the very first line is an art that we'll master together. We'll unravel the secrets of crafting engaging openings that hook readers, compelling them to embark on this adventure with us. And when it comes to parting ways, we'll explore the myriad ways to leave a lasting impression, be it through satisfying resolutions or unexpected twists. The Dance of Dialogue and Pacing: A symphony of dialogue and pacing will add rhythm and movement to our stories. We'll learn the nuances of writing authentic conversations that breathe life into our characters and advance the plot effortlessly. By skillfully balancing action and description, we'll create a dance that keeps readers enthralled from the first beat to the last. The Timeless Art of Flashbacks and Backstory: Mastering the delicate art of flashbacks and backstory can enrich our narratives, adding layers of depth to our characters and their motivations. We'll discover how to weave these elements seamlessly, ensuring they enhance the story rather than distract from it. Polishing Your Gems: No gem is complete without a brilliant polish. We'll uncover the secrets of editing and revision, transforming our raw drafts into polished masterpieces. Embracing constructive criticism and seeking feedback will be the whetstones that sharpen our skills, allowing us to grow as writers. Navigating the Seas of Publishing: With our radiant gems ready for the world, we'll set sail into the seas of publishing. Whether you choose the traditional path or the exciting realm of self-publishing, we'll guide you through the process, helping you navigate the many opportunities available to short story writers. Conclusion: As we come to the end of our journey, take a moment to savor how far you've come. Embrace your identity as a short story writer, for within you lies the power to captivate hearts and minds with your words. The world eagerly awaits the treasures you will create. In this book, we shall embark on a quest to transform your storytelling prowess from scratch to success, exploring the enchantment of short stories and equipping you with the knowledge and tools to create literary gems that touch souls and ignite imaginations. Let the adventure begin!

Download or read book Mastering Suspense Structure and Plot written by Jane K. Cleland and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-04-28 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enthrall Your Readers! Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers--but it isn't just for thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is your hands-on guide to weaving suspense into your narrative. Award-winning author Jane K. Cleland teaches you how to navigate genre conventions, write for your audience, and build gripping tension to craft an irresistible page-turner. Inside, Cleland will show you how to: • Implement thirteen no-fail techniques to construct an effective plot and structure for your story • Use Cleland's Plotting Road Map to add elements of suspense like twists, reversals, and moments of danger • Write subplots with purpose • Improve your descriptions, character development, sentence structure, and more Packed with case studies, exercises, and dozens of examples from best-selling authors, Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is the key to writing suspenseful, engaging stories that leave your readers wanting more. ------ "Indispensable! For newbie authors and veterans alike, this terrific how-to is your new go-to. Don't write your book without it--it's a treasure." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author

Download or read book The Nutshell Technique written by Jill Chamberlain and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2016-03-01 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Veteran script consultant Jill Chamberlain discovered in her work that an astounding 99 percent of first-time screenwriters don’t know how to tell a story. These writers may know how to format a script, write snappy dialogue, and set a scene. They may have interesting characters and perhaps some clever plot devices. But, invariably, while they may have the kernel of a good idea for a screenplay, they fail to tell a story. What the 99 percent do instead is present a situation. In order to explain the difference, Chamberlain created the Nutshell Technique, a method whereby writers identify eight dynamic, interconnected elements that are required to successfully tell a story. Now, for the first time, Chamberlain presents her unique method in book form with The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting. Using easy-to-follow diagrams (“nutshells”), she thoroughly explains how the Nutshell Technique can make or break a film script. Chamberlain takes readers step-by-step through thirty classic and contemporary movies, showing how such dissimilar screenplays as Casablanca, Chinatown, Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Silver Linings Playbook, and Argo all have the same system working behind the scenes, and she teaches readers exactly how to apply these principles to their own screenwriting. Learn the Nutshell Technique, and you’ll discover how to turn a mere situation into a truly compelling screenplay story.

Download or read book House of Leaves written by Mark Z. Danielewski and published by Pantheon. This book was released on 2000-03-07 with total page 738 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A novelistic mosaic that simultaneously reads like a thriller and like a strange, dreamlike excursion into the subconscious.” —The New York Times Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet. No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command. Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth -- musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies -- the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children. Now this astonishing novel is made available in book form, complete with the original colored words, vertical footnotes, and second and third appendices. The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story -- of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams.

Download or read book Story Engineering written by Larry Brooks and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-01-27 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What makes a good story or a screenplay great? The vast majority of writers begin the storytelling process with only a partial understanding where to begin. Some labor their entire lives without ever learning that successful stories are as dependent upon good engineering as they are artistry. But the truth is, unless you are master of the form, function and criteria of successful storytelling, sitting down and pounding out a first draft without planning is an ineffective way to begin. Story Engineering starts with the criteria and the architecture of storytelling, the engineering and design of a story--and uses it as the basis for narrative. The greatest potential of any story is found in the way six specific aspects of storytelling combine and empower each other on the page. When rendered artfully, they become a sum in excess of their parts. You'll learn to wrap your head around the big pictures of storytelling at a professional level through a new approach that shows how to combine these six core competencies which include: • Four elemental competencies of concept, character, theme, and story structure (plot) • Two executional competencies of scene construction and writing voice The true magic of storytelling happens when these six core competencies work together in perfect harmony. And the best part? Anyone can do it!

Download or read book Rise of the Machines written by Kristen Lamb and published by Green E Books. This book was released on 2013-09-24 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get the book that has best-selling authors buzzing over the new age of publishing! ********* Here we are-the future is now. The machines have taken over. Everything is computerized. People no longer talk, they text. What number do we have to press to get a flesh and blood HUMAN? It's easy to feel like we're losing our humanity when surrounded by computers, cell phones, and text messaging, but here's the good news: The same machines that seem to be stealing our humanity also have the power to restore it. Yes, you read correctly. The more we embrace technology, the more distinctly human we can become. The new author in today's publishing world is a cyborg of sorts-part human, part machine. The machine part allows us to compose series of words, copy them, email them, and then send them across the globe with a push of a button. We can research faster and more accurately than ever before. We can communicate with people all over the planet real-time and virtually for free. The new power technology has given writers has made us, in effect, superhuman. Branding has broken free of marketing's shackles and merged with personal identity. If we want to thrive in our new environment, we need to adapt, to apply technology as an extension of our humanness. This is not a book to teach you 1,000 ways to blast people with advertising. The WANA Way is different than anything you've likely encountered. It is constructed using the timelessness of art, blended with the strength of human relationships. Platforms are more than a zillion ways to try to part readers from money; they are living works of art and meshed with the soul of the writer-artist. The machines are rising, but humans were here first. ******* WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: "For writers, the purchase price of Kristen Lamb's Rise of the Machines should easily become the best investment you'll ever make for your writing career. In Kristen's brilliant and easy-to-grasp book, not only will you learn how to become a successful marketer of your work-whether it's published by a legacy press or self-published-and achieve significant and ever-increasing sales of your work, but you'll learn how to without spending hours and hours each week to do so. Rise of the Machines is the standard-the cutting edge." -- Les Edgerton, award-winning author of HOOKED and FINDING YOUR VOICE "In Rise of the Machines, Kristen Lamb has provided an invaluable compass for navigating the uncharted waters of 21st century publishing. I pity the writer working today who doesn't take advantage of the wealth of valuable insights and breakthrough methods contained in these pages." -David Corbett, award-winning author of THE ART OF CHARACTER

Download or read book Writing Blockbuster Plots written by Martha Alderson and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-03-31 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plotting a story filled with memorable, engaging scenes from beginning to end can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Having the right plan - and the tools to execute it - can make all the difference. Writing Blockbuster Plots pulls back the curtain on story structure with step-by-step strategies and visuals that turn plotting and scene writing into a no-stress endeavor. In this completely revised and updated edition, celebrated writing instructor and plot consultant Martha Alderson helps you navigate the intricacies of story with the help of her exclusive Plot Planner and Scene Tracker tools. Using Alderson’s effective, accessible techniques, you'll be able to: • PLOT your story from beginning to end with a focus on dramatic action, the emotional development of your characters, and thematic significance. • ENSURE that each scene contributes meaningfully to the narrative by tracking the seven essential elements of scene. • LINK scenes by cause and effect to create a tight, seamless narrative. • INJECT tension and conflict to keep readers glued to the page. • TARGET weak areas in your story and learn how to fix them. Filled with examples from both classic and contemporary novels, as well as illustrations of the Plot Planner and Scene Tracker in action, Writing Blockbuster Plots strips the confusion out of the plotting process, enabling you to write a story that deserves a standing ovation.

Download or read book Life Is in the Transitions written by Bruce Feiler and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-07-14 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times bestseller! A pioneering and timely study of how to navigate life's biggest transitions with meaning, purpose, and skill Bruce Feiler, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Secrets of Happy Families and Council of Dads, has long explored the stories that give our lives meaning. Galvanized by a personal crisis, he spent the last few years crisscrossing the country, collecting hundreds of life stories in all fifty states from Americans who’d been through major life changes—from losing jobs to losing loved ones; from changing careers to changing relationships; from getting sober to getting healthy to simply looking for a fresh start. He then spent a year coding these stories, identifying patterns and takeaways that can help all of us survive and thrive in times of change. What Feiler discovered was a world in which transitions are becoming more plentiful and mastering the skills to manage them is more urgent for all of us. The idea that we’ll have one job, one relationship, one source of happiness is hopelessly outdated. We all feel unnerved by this upheaval. We’re concerned that our lives are not what we expected, that we’ve veered off course, living life out of order. But we’re not alone. Life Is in the Transitions introduces the fresh, illuminating vision of the nonlinear life, in which each of us faces dozens of disruptors. One in ten of those becomes what Feiler calls a lifequake, a massive change that leads to a life transition. The average length of these transitions is five years. The upshot: We all spend half our lives in this unsettled state. You or someone you know is going through one now. The most exciting thing Feiler identified is a powerful new tool kit for navigating these pivotal times. Drawing on his extraordinary trove of insights, he lays out specific strategies each of us can use to reimagine and rebuild our lives, often stronger than before. From a master storyteller with an essential message, Life Is in the Transitions can move readers of any age to think deeply about times of change and how to transform them into periods of creativity and growth.

Download or read book In the Woods written by Tana French and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2007 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twenty years after witnessing the violent disappearances of two companions from their small Dublin suburb, detective Rob Ryan investigates a chillingly similar murder that takes place in the same wooded area, a case that forces him to piece together his traumatic memories.

Download or read book Flaubert s Parrot written by Julian Barnes and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2011-06-15 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE • From the internationally bestselling author of The Sense of an Ending comes a literary detective story of a retired doctor obsessed with the 19th century French author Flaubert—and with tracking down the stuffed parrot that once inspired him. • “A high literary entertainment carried off with great brio.” —The New York Times Book Review Julian Barnes playfully combines a detective story with a character study of its detective, embedded in a brilliant riff on literary genius. A compelling weave of fiction and imaginatively ordered fact, Flaubert's Parrot is by turns moving and entertaining, witty and scholarly, and a tour de force of seductive originality.

Download or read book Breaking the Sequence written by Ellen G. Friedman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2014-07-14 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These nineteen essays introduce the rich and until now largely unexplored tradition of women's experimental fiction in the twentieth century. The writers discussed here range from Gertrude Stein to Christine Brooke-Rose and include, among others, Virginia Woolf, Jean Rhys, Jane Bowles, Marguerite Young, Eva Figes, Joyce Carol Oates, and Marguerite Duras. "Friedman and Fuchs demonstrate the breadth of their research, first in their introduction to the volume, in which they outline the history of the reception of women's experimental fiction, and analyze and categorize the work not only of the writers to whom essays are devoted but of a number of others, too; and second in an extensive and wonderfully useful bibliography."--Emma Kafalenos, The International Fiction Review "After an introduction that is practically itself a monograph, eighteen essayists (too many of them distinguished to allow an equitable sampling) take up three generations of post-modernists."--American Literature "The editors see this volume as part of the continuing feminist project of the `recovery and foregrounding of women writers.' Friedman and Fuchs's substantive introduction excellently synthesizes the issues presented in the rest of the volume."--Patrick D. Murphy, Studies in the Humanities Originally published in 1989. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Download or read book Stories of Your Life and Others written by Ted Chiang and published by Knopf. This book was released on 2010-10-26 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the author of Exhalation, an award-winning short story collection that blends "absorbing storytelling with meditations on the universe, being, time and space ... raises questions about the nature of reality and what it is to be human" (The New York Times). Stories of Your Life and Others delivers dual delights of the very, very strange and the heartbreakingly familiar, often presenting characters who must confront sudden change—the inevitable rise of automatons or the appearance of aliens—with some sense of normalcy. With sharp intelligence and humor, Chiang examines what it means to be alive in a world marked by uncertainty, but also by beauty and wonder. An award-winning collection from one of today's most lauded writers, Stories of Your Life and Others is a contemporary classic. Includes “Story of Your Life”—the basis for the major motion picture Arrival

Download or read book The Thirteenth Tale written by Diane Setterfield and published by Anchor Canada. This book was released on 2009-03-16 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A #1 New York Times bestseller, The Thirteenth Tale is part contemporary, part historical with mysterious threads about family secrets and the magic of books and storytelling weaving the two together. All children mythologize their birth . . . So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist. The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish histories for herself. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary past. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman who is struck by a very curious parallel between Winter's life and her own. As Vida exposes the history she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness, of a remote estate, feral children, a governess, a ghost, and a devastating fire. In this love letter to reading, Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday world.

Download or read book The Book of R written by Tilman M. Davies and published by No Starch Press. This book was released on 2016-07-16 with total page 833 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book of R is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to R, the world’s most popular programming language for statistical analysis. Even if you have no programming experience and little more than a grounding in the basics of mathematics, you’ll find everything you need to begin using R effectively for statistical analysis. You’ll start with the basics, like how to handle data and write simple programs, before moving on to more advanced topics, like producing statistical summaries of your data and performing statistical tests and modeling. You’ll even learn how to create impressive data visualizations with R’s basic graphics tools and contributed packages, like ggplot2 and ggvis, as well as interactive 3D visualizations using the rgl package. Dozens of hands-on exercises (with downloadable solutions) take you from theory to practice, as you learn: –The fundamentals of programming in R, including how to write data frames, create functions, and use variables, statements, and loops –Statistical concepts like exploratory data analysis, probabilities, hypothesis tests, and regression modeling, and how to execute them in R –How to access R’s thousands of functions, libraries, and data sets –How to draw valid and useful conclusions from your data –How to create publication-quality graphics of your results Combining detailed explanations with real-world examples and exercises, this book will provide you with a solid understanding of both statistics and the depth of R’s functionality. Make The Book of R your doorway into the growing world of data analysis.