Download or read book Layer Your Novel written by C. S. Lakin and published by . This book was released on 2017-09-06 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Layer your novel to success with this innovative, simple technique! Writing a terrific novel is a complex endeavor. And while there are hundreds of books, podcasts, and blog posts that teach aspiring authors how to structure scenes and plot out a solid story, none implement the most intuitive and effective method for success. What is that method? Layering. Novels are made up of dozens of scenes, and regardless of genre, time-tested structure dictates what key scenes are needed and where. Most writers are familiar with some of those scenes: the Inciting Incident, the Midpoint, and the Climax, to name a few. But novelists need more than a few landmarks to find their way across the tricky terrain of novel plotting. They need a surefire method to organizing all their scenes. In Layer Your Novel, you'll be introduced to an innovative, intuitive method for arranging your scenes and crafting a beautifully structured story. First, you construct the ten most important scenes as a foundation. From there, you choose from one of three methods to craft a second layer of scenes: the action-reaction layer, the subplot layer, or the romance layer. Once your second layer is integrated, next comes the third layer: the processing scenes that the glue your plot together. In Layer Your Novel, you'll learn: What the 5 major turning points are and where they're placed in your novel How to know exactly where to start your story and how to set up your premise What the ten key scenes are that serve as the framework for your novel What pinch points are and why you need them How to craft those essential twists and where they're placed in your story for greatest impact Why your protagonist's goal is the key to great storytelling How to come up with a meaningful subplot that will showcase your story's themes How a romance novel is structured and how to plot out the romance story line How to analyze best sellers in your genre to identify and learn from the layers evident in their plots How to apply this layering method to novellas Special bonus analyses! In Layer Your Novel, you'll dig into deconstructions of best-selling novels across genres to see how successful authors have their key scenes in all the right places, which gives credence to this practical layering method. In contrast, examples of best sellers are dissected to show the structural flaws due to the lack of the needed foundational framework that this layering method advocates. Don't guess what scenes you need in your novel. Don't guess where your scenes go. Guessing usually leads to novel failure. With the method you'll learn in Layer Your Novel, you'll guess no more. You can write terrific novels, every time, if you layer your novel following this blueprint!
Download or read book Shoot Your Novel written by C. S. Lakin and published by . This book was released on 2014-10-02 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Want to write a visually powerful novel? Shoot Your Novel takes an in-depth look at cinematic technique for fiction writers. No other writing craft book teaches you the secret of how to "show, don't tell." Best-selling authors of every genre know the secret to hooking readers--by showing, not telling, their story. But writers are not taught how to "show" scenes in a cinematic way. Without a clear, concise, and precise method for constructing dynamic scenes, a writer will likely end up with a flat, lifeless novel.Filmmakers, screenwriters, and movie directors utilize cinematic technique to create visual masterpieces, and novelists can too--by adapting their methods in their fiction writing. By "shooting" your novel, you can supercharge your story!Inside, you'll learn: * The real secret to "show, don't tell" and how it's all about "the moment" * More than a dozen "camera shots" novelists can borrow from screenwriters and directors to create powerful, active scenes * Instruction on how to piece camera shots together to create cinematic scene segments * Examples from novels and screenplays showcasing each facet of cinematic technique * How to devise a thematic image system of key shots, motifs, and images * Ways to use colors, shapes, sounds, and angles for purposeful subliminal effect Shooting your novel with a filmmaker's eye will transform your good novel into a great one and will change forever the way you approach constructing your scenes. No other book gives you such deep, thorough instruction in cinematic technique for fiction writing. Here's what some best writing instructors and best-selling authors have to say about this essential writing craft book: "With such an extensive amount of experience in the screenwriting and filmmaking process, it comes as no surprise that C. S .Lakin writes with a trustworthy authority and wealth of insight when it comes to the craft of building dynamic scenes within novels.
Download or read book DIY MFA written by Gabriela Pereira and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-07-08 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get the Knowledge Without the College! You are a writer. You dream of sharing your words with the world, and you're willing to put in the hard work to achieve success. You may have even considered earning your MFA, but for whatever reason--tuition costs, the time commitment, or other responsibilities--you've never been able to do it. Or maybe you've been looking for a self-guided approach so you don't have to go back to school. This book is for you. DIY MFA is the do-it-yourself alternative to a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. By combining the three main components of a traditional MFA--writing, reading, and community--it teaches you how to craft compelling stories, engage your readers, and publish your work. Inside you'll learn how to: • Set customized goals for writing and learning. • Generate ideas on demand. • Outline your book from beginning to end. • Breathe life into your characters. • Master point of view, voice, dialogue, and more. • Read with a "writer's eye" to emulate the techniques of others. • Network like a pro, get the most out of writing workshops, and submit your work successfully. Writing belongs to everyone--not only those who earn a degree. With DIY MFA, you can take charge of your writing, produce high-quality work, get published, and build a writing career.
Download or read book The Occupation Thesaurus A Writer s Guide to Jobs Vocations and Careers written by Becca Puglisi and published by JADD Publishing. This book was released on 2020-06-19 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compelling fiction starts with characters who have well-crafted layers that make them memorable, relatable, and fascinating. But trying to convey those layers often results in bulky descriptions that cause readers to skim. Occupations, though, can cover a lot of characterization ground, revealing personality traits, abilities, passions, and motivations. Dig deeper, and a career can hint at past trauma, fears, and even the character’s efforts to run from—or make up for—the past. Select a job that packs a powerful punch. Inside The Occupation Thesaurus, you’ll find: * Informative profiles on popular and unusual jobs to help you write them with authority * Believable conflict scenarios for each occupation, giving you unlimited possibilities for adding tension at the story and scene level * Advice for twisting the stereotypes often associated with these professions * Instruction on how to use jobs to characterize, support story structure, reinforce theme, and more * An in-depth study on how emotional wounds and basic human needs may influence a character’s choice of occupation * A brainstorming tool to organize the various aspects of your character’s personality so you can come up with the best careers for them Choose a profession for your character that brings more to the table than just a paycheck. With over 120 entries in a user-friendly format, The Occupation Thesaurus is an entire job fair for writers.
Download or read book The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction written by C S Lakin and published by Ubiquitous Press. This book was released on 2015-02-19 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction takes the mystery out of building a solid story and shows you how to go from idea to complete novel in practical, easy-to-understand steps. Build smart! Over and over, struggling writers make the same fatal mistakes in their manuscripts. Even writers who have studied all the best writing craft books and taken workshops and followed writers' blogs still don't get the structure. Truth is, a lot of writers believe they can write a novel without taking time to learn the nuts and bolts of novel construction. Just as with building a house, writers need to adeptly wield the proper tools and materials, and follow structurally sound rules if they hope to "build a novel." Build strong! Smart writers will take the time to learn how to structure strong pillars that will hold up their novels. This new comprehensive writing craft book clearly lays out just how to build each essential pillar so it can carry the weight of your story. Without such foundational support, collapse is inevitable. There are 12 key pillars of novel construction, and if any of these pillars is weak, made of faulty materials, it will compromise the integrity of your novel. Build a novel that will stand up to scrutiny and thrill readers! Inside, you'll learn: what the four primary support pillars are, and why and how you need to build those first, before tackling any other components in your novel. how to determine if an idea has the potential to become a riveting concept with a kicker, and how to transform that idea into a stunning concept. what high stakes is really all about and how to ensure your novel is exploding with them. the secret to creating a riveting protagonist, and the two goals he needs to be pursuing. what tension really is and how to ramp it up in your novel. the key to portraying evocative settings and how to come up with them. 7 important tips to creating believable dialog. what voice is, and how it differs from writing style. ways to brainstorm ideas for plot, themes, motifs, setting, and rich characters through asking a series of questions that will take you deep below the surface of your story. what the difference is between theme and motif, and why both are essential. Ideas and instructions on how to mind map your characters, plot, settings, themes-all the important elements of your story-and integrate them into your 12 pillars. In addition, you'll get 12 comprehensive "inspection checklists," each with 12 sets of deep, thought-provoking questions meant to ensure your pillars are truly strong enough to hold the weight of your story. You need to pass every inspection! Don't waste time trying to guess at novel structure. By using this concise, detailed blueprint, you can be sure you'll end up with a terrific novel-every time! The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction is part of The Writer's Toolbox Series of writing craft books for novelists. Be sure to get all of the books so you'll have your toolbox filled to the brim with the tools you need to write novels that readers will rave about!
Download or read book Writing the Heart of Your Story written by C.S. Lakin and published by . This book was released on 2014-06-26 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the secret of how to write the heart of your story! This writing skills book, full of fiction writing technique, is like no other. Some novelists write with the goal of becoming a best seller, hoping for wealth and fame. Some just want to write novels that earn them a steady income so they can feed their families and pay their bills. Some write to express their creativity and don't care if anyone ever reads their books. Then there are the other writers. They want to write an unforgettable novel-the kind of book that gets called a classic, that endures the ravages of time, that stays long in readers' hearts and changes their lives. These writers want to know the secret of how to reach the heart of their readers. If you are one of those writers, Writing the Heart of Your Story is the book you've been waiting for. Inside, you'll learn: what the most important key elements are that must be in the very first scene of your novel-and some in the first paragraph. how to tap into the heart of your story, characters, setting, plot, and themes by employing specific writing exercises. ways to brainstorm ideas for plot, themes, motifs, setting, and rich characters through asking a series of questions that will take you deeper below the surface of your story. what the most important question is that must be asked in the opening scene in order to write an unforgettable novel. what three things each character must be asked for them to become truly believable and compelling. the secrets to structuring powerful scenes by focusing on the "high moment." Don't just write a good novel. Write a great one-by mining the heart of your story! Here's what the best writing instructors and bloggers have to say about this essential writing craft book: "A fresh and motivating take on conventional wisdom, but with unconventional heart. This is highly accessible teaching that transcends 'how to' and goes deep into 'why to' in a way that will force you to choose between reading it again and jumping on your own project. Bravo." -Larry Brooks, best-selling author of Story Engineering and Story Physics "As authors, our job is to make people feel, and to do this we need to connect with our own deepest selves in the hope that we can meet the reader where they are. This book will teach you how to delve into your own heart in order to impact those who read your words." -Joanna Penn, author of From Idea to Book "A veritable compendium of sound writing advice and technique. Written in a style that is both accessible and fun, Lakin's book will be a welcome companion on your writing journey." -James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Conflict and Suspense and Plot and Structure "I read dozens of writing craft books every year. All too many of them are ho-hum, been-there-done-that. This one is absotively posolutely not. Lakin offers a refreshingly structured-and yet freeing-approach to not just creating a solidly entertaining story but to crafting a tale of emotional resonance and resilience. Her useful writing exercises and spot-on story sense offer epiphany after epiphany. This is one I will read and reread." -K. M. Weiland, author of Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel "C. S. Lakin once again shares her generous heart and knowledge and experience with writers in this inspiring and inspired Writing the Heart of Your Story. Ready to take your writing to the next level? Lakin offers practical exercises to help you bring heart to your own stories." -Martha Alderson, author of The Plot Whisperer series of writing books
Download or read book White Tiger on Snow Mountain written by David Gordon and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2014 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Noveller. A collection of thirteen short stories which explores themes of art, the supernatural, madness, and the extremes of sexuality
Download or read book The Anatomy of Story written by John Truby and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. This book was released on 2008-10-14 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach for how to build an effective, multifaceted narrative. Truby's method for constructing a story is at once insightful and practical, focusing on the hero's moral and emotional growth. As a result, writers will dig deep within and explore their own values and worldviews in order to create an effective story. Writers will come away with an extremely precise set of tools to work with—specific, useful techniques to make the audience care about their characters, and that make their characters grow in meaningful ways. They will construct a surprising plot that is unique to their particular concept, and they will learn how to express a moral vision that can genuinely move an audience. The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable—and essential—to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.
Download or read book The Age of Miracles written by Karen Thompson Walker and published by Random House. This book was released on 2012-06-26 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY People ∙ O: The Oprah Magazine ∙ Financial Times ∙ Kansas City Star ∙ BookPage ∙ Kirkus Reviews ∙ Publishers Weekly ∙ Booklist NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A stunner.”—Justin Cronin “It’s never the disasters you see coming that finally come to pass—it’s the ones you don’t expect at all,” says Julia, in this spellbinding novel of catastrophe and survival by a superb new writer. Luminous, suspenseful, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles tells the haunting and beautiful story of Julia and her family as they struggle to live in a time of extraordinary change. On an ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia awakes to discover that something has happened to the rotation of the earth. The days and nights are growing longer and longer; gravity is affected; the birds, the tides, human behavior, and cosmic rhythms are thrown into disarray. In a world that seems filled with danger and loss, Julia also must face surprising developments in herself, and in her personal world—divisions widening between her parents, strange behavior by her friends, the pain and vulnerability of first love, a growing sense of isolation, and a surprising, rebellious new strength. With crystalline prose and the indelible magic of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker gives us a breathtaking portrait of people finding ways to go on in an ever-evolving world. “Gripping drama . . . flawlessly written; it could be the most assured debut by an American writer since Jennifer Egan’s Emerald City.”—The Denver Post “Pure magnificence.”—Nathan Englander “Provides solace with its wisdom, compassion, and elegance.”—Curtis Sittenfeld “Riveting, heartbreaking, profoundly moving.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more.
Download or read book Across the Great Barrier written by Patricia C. Wrede and published by Scholastic Inc.. This book was released on 2011 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an alternate frontier America, Eff must travel beyond the Great Barrier and come to terms with her magic abilities--and those of her twin brother--to stop the newest threat encroaching on the settlers.
Download or read book King Lear written by Jeffrey Kahan and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2008-04-18 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Is King Lear an autonomous text, or a rewrite of the earlier and anonymous play King Leir? Should we refer to Shakespeare’s original quarto when discussing the play, the revised folio text, or the popular composite version, stitched together by Alexander Pope in 1725? What of its stage variations? When turning from page to stage, the critical view on King Lear is skewed by the fact that for almost half of the four hundred years the play has been performed, audiences preferred Naham Tate's optimistic adaptation, in which Lear and Cordelia live happily ever after. When discussing King Lear, the question of what comprises ‘the play’ is both complex and fragmentary. These issues of identity and authenticity across time and across mediums are outlined, debated, and considered critically by the contributors to this volume. Using a variety of approaches, from postcolonialism and New Historicism to psychoanalysis and gender studies, the leading international contributors to King Lear: New Critical Essays offer major new interpretations on the conception and writing, editing, and cultural productions of King Lear. This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive anthology of textual scholarship, performance research, and critical writing on one of Shakespeare's most important and perplexing tragedies. Contributors Include: R.A. Foakes, Richard Knowles, Tom Clayton, Cynthia Clegg, Edward L. Rocklin, Christy Desmet, Paul Cantor, Robert V. Young, Stanley Stewart and Jean R. Brink
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 Dungeon Crawler Carl written by Matt Dinniman and published by Penguin Group. This book was released on 2024-08-27 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition. You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what. Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show. Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not. Includes part one of the exclusive bonus story “Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.”
Download or read book Angelic Layer Volume 1 written by Clamp and published by TokyoPop. This book was released on 2002-06-25 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Misaki tries to win the game of Angelic Layer by relying on an angel and a crazy scientist.
Download or read book Bet Me written by Jennifer Crusie and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2008-12-30 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agreeing not to pursue a relationship after one date, unlikely lovers Min Dobbs and Cal Morrisey are thrown together again in the wake of such factors as a jealous ex-boyfriend, a determined psychologist, and a bizarrely intelligent cat.
Download or read book Say What written by C. S. Lakin and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-19 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Finally! A grammar guide specifically designed for fiction writers! Introducing the second edition, with more than fifty new entries! WRITING CORRECTLY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HARD Great writers write well. Grammatical errors mark a manuscript as unprofessional and the author as sloppy or an amateur. But you don't have to memorize the myriad of grammar, punctuation, and usage rules to have a well-written book. If you're a novelist or write creative nonfiction, this handy guide is essential-giving you the most common and applicable rules and tips to make your book shine-minus the pain! Inside you'll find Short, concise, and often humorous explanations of important grammar, punctuation, and word usage rules as featured on the award-winning blog Live Write Thrive. Bonus fiction-writing tips to help you tighten your prose and say what you mean in fewer, more appropriate words. Easy-to-navigate sections and a comprehensive index so you can find the answer to your grammar question right away. Whether you're a novice or experienced writer, you'll benefit from these clear and helpful explanations of grammar and usage based on The Chicago Manual of Style-the US book publishing industry's authoritative reference guide. You no longer need to search the web or thumb through a stack of grammar books to find simple answers to your grammar questions. With Say What? at your fingertips, you'll spend less time fretting over grammar and more time writing. And you'll become a better writer in the process! Here's what writing instructors say about this handy grammar book: "Good, concise and easily accessible reference books on grammar and usage is hard to find. I mean, are hard to find. This is one of them." -James Scott Bell, bestselling novelist, writing coach, and author of Revision and Self-Editing for Publication "This handy, user-friendly reference book, presented with style and humor, is a must for any writer serious about honing their craft and garnering respect for their works. An essential resource, the e-book will save you time with all its quick links to the short, snappy topics, and the print version is small enough to stay within reach beside your computer, so I highly recommend getting both. Respected editor and writer Susanne Lakin succeeds in making a dry topic interesting and meaningful! And using this book will also help you reduce your editing costs." -Jodie Renner, editor and author of Style That Sizzles "As a self-professed grammar nerd, let me just say this: The world needs more grammar nerds. Editor Lakin is doing her part to make this happen with her pithy, fun, and supremely useful guide to the everyday writing mistakes most of us don't even realize we're making. Her book is conversational and approachable enough to make for enjoyable reading. But its true value is in its 'lookupability.' This is the perfect guide to keep on your desk, next to your computer, for those moments when you're just not sure which word is right." -K. M. Weiland, author of Structuring Your Novel and Outlining Your Novel
Download or read book Viva La Madness written by J. J. Connolly and published by Prelude Books. This book was released on 2011-09-21 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hiding out in the Carribean until the heat dies down from his last job, X is thinking it’s time to ditch the resort life and calls up his old friend Morty to plot his return to London. But he’s hardly stepped off the plane when his associates, Sonny King and Roy ‘Twitchy’ Burns, get on the wrong side of a feuding Venezuelan drug cartel on the hunt for a sensitive package. Suddenly he’s thrown into a stand-off between rival mobs and with so many players in the game it’s tough going making out who wants to cut him a deal and who’s trying to kill him. Darkly comic, fast-paced and full of twists Viva la Madness is packed with sex, scams, drugs and enough dirty money to fill a few offshore bank accounts.
