NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is "a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer’s world and its treacherous swamps" (Los Angeles Times). “Superb writing advice…. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.” —The New York Times Book ReviewFor a quarter century, more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title:“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’” Read more

Twentieth Anniversary Edition with Contributions from Joe Hill and Owen King ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S TOP 100 NONFICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told. The twentieth-anniversary audio edition includes Owen King reading his essay, “Recording Audiobooks for My Dad, Stephen King,” and a recorded conversation with Joe Hill and Stephen King. Read more

“Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow is one of the best books on writing I’ve ever read. It’s also the funniest by a country mile.” ―Richard Russo, author of the North Bath trilogyThe long-awaited craft book from Steve Almond, based on three decades of writing, failing, and trying again.In Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow, Steve Almond shares the insights gleaned from three decades as a beloved teacher and mentor, and a considerably less-beloved literary rabble rouser. His tone is irreverent. His ideas are iconoclastic. And his approach is stubbornly, radically, empathic. The goal is to explode the well-meaning but misguided myths that hold us back from writing our deepest and most honest work, to awaken the joys of storytelling while also confronting how grueling the process can be. Truth features chapters on plot, character, and chronology, but travels far beyond the earnest aims of most creative writing books, with essays about humor, sex, obsession, and writer’s block, as well as prompts to generate new work and a rollicking Frequently Asked Questions section. You’ll never think about writing the same way again. Read more

On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does in the age of e-mail and the Internet. Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, On Writing Well offers you fundamental priciples as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers. Read more

The bestselling Emotion Thesaurus, often hailed as “the gold standard for writers” and credited with transforming how writers craft emotion, has now been expanded to include 55 new entries! One of the biggest struggles for writers is how to convey emotion to readers in a unique and compelling way. When showing our characters’ feelings, we often use the first idea that comes to mind, and they end up smiling, nodding, and frowning too much. If you need inspiration for creating characters’ emotional responses that are personalized and evocative, this ultimate show-don’t-tell guide for emotion can help. It includes:Body language cues, thoughts, and visceral responses for 130 emotions that cover a range of intensity from mild to severe, providing innumerable options for individualizing a character’s reactionsA breakdown of the biggest emotion-related writing problems and how to overcome themAdvice on what should be done beforedrafting to make sure your characters’ emotions will be realistic and consistent Instruction for how to show hidden feelings and emotional subtext through dialogue and nonverbal cuesAnd much more!The Emotion Thesaurus, in its easy-to-navigate list format, will inspire you to create stronger, fresher character expressions and engage readers from your first page to your last. Read more

A USA TODAY Bestseller A Washington Post Bestseller Inspired by Jami Attenberg’s wildly popular literary movement #1000WordsofSummer, this writer’s guide features encouraging essays on creativity, productivity, and writing from acclaimed authors including Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Meg Wolitzer, and Carmen Maria Machado. In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgment, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it. 1000 Words is the book-length extension of this movement. It is about becoming—and staying—motivated, discovering yourself and your creative desires, and approaching your craft from a new direction. It features advice from more than fifty well-known writers, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and stars of the literary world. Framing these letters are words of wisdom and encouragement, plus specific strategies, from Attenberg on how to carve out a creative path for yourself all year round. Paired with vibrant word art illustrations, 1000 Words is an accessible and motivational craft book that allows you to open any page and get a quick and fulfilling hit of inspiration. Featuring Roxane Gay, Bryan Washington, Susan Orlean, Maris Kreizman, Sara Novic, Rumaan Alam, Lauren Oyler, Emma Straub, Christopher Gonzales, Benjamin Percy, Mira Jacob, Laura van den Berg, Carmen Maria Machado, Courtney Sullivan, Rebecca Carroll, Ada Limon, R.O. Kwon, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Elissa Washuta, Alexander Chee, Maggie Shipstead, Deesha Philyaw, Jasmine Guillory, Kristen Arnett, Attica Locke, Megan Abbott, Min Jin Lee, Lauren Groff, Andrew Sean Greer, Camille Dungy, Megan Giddings, Isaac Fitsgerald, Hannah Tinti, Michael H. Weber, Celeste Ng, Elizabeth McCracken, Will Leitch, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Morgan Parker, Kiese Laymon, Melissa Febos, Alissa Nutting, Liz Moore, Laila Lalami, Megan Mayhew Berman, Rebecca Makkai, Meg Wolitzer, Mychal Denzel Smith, Josh Gondelman, and Dantiel W. Moniz. Read more

The all-time best-selling writer's handbook turns thirty.With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer's craft: on writing from "first thoughts" (keep your hand moving, don't cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don't listen to it)—even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short, easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author's witty approach ("Writing Is Not a McDonald's Hamburger," "Man Eats Car," "Be an Animal"), will inspire anyone who writes—or who longs to. Read more

The compelling, groundbreaking guide to creative writing that reveals how the brain responds to storytelling, based on the wildly popular creative writing class. Stories shape who we are. They drive us to act out our dreams and ambitions and mold our beliefs. Storytelling is an essential part of what makes us human. So, how do master storytellers compel us? In The Science of Storytelling, award-winning writer and acclaimed teacher of creative writing Will Storr applies dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to our myths and archetypes to show how we can write better stories, revealing, among other things, how storytellers—and also our brains—create worlds by being attuned to moments of unexpected change. Will Storr’s superbly chosen examples range from Harry Potter to Jane Austen to Alice Walker, Greek drama to Russian novels to Native American folk tales, King Lear to Breaking Bad to children’s stories. With sections such as “The Dramatic Question,” “Creating a World,” and “Plot, Endings, and Meaning,” as well as a practical, step-by-step appendix dedicated to “The Sacred Flaw Approach,” The Science of Storytelling reveals just what makes stories work, placing it alongside such creative writing classics as John Yorke’s Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey into Story and Lajos Egri’s The Art of Dramatic Writing. Enlightening and empowering, The Science of Storytelling is destined to become an invaluable resource for writers of all stripes, whether novelist, screenwriter, playwright, children’s writer, or writer of creative or traditional nonfiction.“If you want to write a novel or a script, read this book. It is clear, compelling, and tightly shaped.” ―Sunday Times (London) Read more

Readers connect to characters with depth, ones who have experienced life's ups and downs. To deliver key players that are both realistic and compelling, writers must know them intimately-not only who they are in the present story, but also what made them that way. Of all the formative experiences in a character's past, none are more destructive than emotional wounds. The aftershocks of trauma can change who they are, alter what they believe, and sabotage their ability to achieve meaningful goals, all of which will affect the trajectory of your story.Identifying the backstory wound is crucial to understanding how it will shape your character's behavior, and The Emotional Wound Thesaurus can help. Inside, you'll find:A database of traumatic situations common to the human experienceAn in-depth study on a wound's impact, including the fears, lies, personality shifts, and dysfunctional behaviors that can arise from different painful eventsAn extensive analysis of character arc and how the wound and any resulting unmet needs fit into itTechniques on how to show the past experience to readers in a way that is both engaging and revelatory while avoiding the pitfalls of info dumps and tellingA showcase of popular characters and how their traumatic experiences reshaped them, leading to very specific story goalsA Backstory Wound Profile tool that will enable you to document your characters' negative past experiences and the aftereffects Root your characters in reality by giving them an authentic wound that causes difficulties and prompts them to strive for inner growth to overcome it. With its easy-to-read format and over 100 entries packed with information, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus is a crash course in psychology for creating characters that feel incredibly real to readers. Read more

Become a master of unforgettable worlds. For novelists, game developers, producers, script writers, gamers, and even history buffs. In this second installment of Series Bibles for Writers, discover the intricate world of your stories. Whether you're writing fantasy, science fiction, alternate reality, dystopian, time travel, historical, or even contemporary, understanding the world your characters live in is vital to giving readers an immersive experience.Contents include in-depth prompts for: Geography & Weather Time & Physics Resources & Economy History Government & Politics Family Structure Diversity Labor & Industry Social Expectations Religion Language & Communication Technology Education Health Food & Culinary Culture Appearance, Clothing, & Hygiene Structures & Architecture Arts & Entertainment and Magic System.After each section of prompts, space is included to keep your notes, drawings, brainstormings, political maps, battle maps, uniforms, blueprints, slang terms, lines of succession, tech specs, religious symbols, and any other extra info you want to be able to remember for later. Think of this as a guided notebook--part of your own "series bible"-- that won't let you forget any detail. Even better, you can quickly search through it as you're writing! Please note: this is not a textbook. This is an organized space for you to create, and it is comprehensive enough to handle whatever creativity you throw at it. No more sticky notes on the wall and thoughts scribbled out on lost envelopes. Free up your mind to write amazing fiction, and let these workbooks keep track of all the details that make your characters and worlds compelling.About the creator: T.M. Holladay writes YA fantasy. She’s also a perfectionist. When her story worlds became too complicated for the sticky notes on her wall, she knew something had to be done, and she wasn’t the only writer out there with that problem.The “Series Bibles for Writers” workbooks are the product of a massive effort to cover every possible detail in a flexible, adaptable form. Her labor of love has quickly become a new favorite among creators. For more Series Bibles for Writers, look for "The Only Character Workbook You'll Ever Need," and "The Only Fantasy Workbook You'll Ever Need." Read more

Have you always wanted to write a children’s book, but thought you couldn’t? Or maybe it’s already written, but you don’t know where to go from here?Are you looking for a blueprint that can guide you from story idea all the way to published book, without feeling lost and overwhelmed – even if you don’t have much time?In How To Self-Publish A Children's Book, Y. Eevi Jones outlines the precise path to fulfilling your dream of becoming a published children’s book author. You will find everything you need to know to write, illustrate, publish, and market your paperback and ebook. Plus, you will find:Templates and Swipe Files of emails to hire Editors and Illustrators, plus how to ask Influencers for reviews you can feature on your cover.A Hand-Selected List of highly qualified Editors, Illustrators, Book Formatters, and Marketing Strategists you can hire, without it costing you a fortune.Lists of Blogs, Book Festivals, Awards, and Groups specifically for marketing children’s books.BONUS: valuable Insider Tips from bestselling children’s book authors. What do they wish they’d known before they worked on their first children’s book?How To Self-Publish A Children's Book will help you write a magical story tailored to specific age groups.How To Self-Publish A Children's Book will empower you to bring your characters to life.How To Self-Publish A Children's Book will turn you into a published children’s book author.Take the first step. And this book will show you the rest.To learn more and to watch the book's trailer, visit www.eevijones.com. Read more

Transform your story with a character your readers will remember long after they’ve turned the last pageWhen you think of unforgettable characters from books you’ve read, who comes to mind?James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O’Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes?These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction.They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination.But what exactly is it about them that keeps readers through generations so invested in them?Despite their vast differences in age, gender, nationality, occupation, and personality, each of them has a special quality that makes us want to know them more.Whether it’s James Bond’s suave demeanor, Scarlett O’Hara’s haughty vulnerability, or Atticus Finch’s righteousness, we’re hooked.Do you want to know how you too can create your own unforgettable characters that your readers will be dying to read about?Yes, it’s rare to write such timeless characters – even some bestselling authors don’t have widely recognizable protagonists.However, it’s entirely possible to write characters that resonate strongly with your readers – and get them hooked on your story – no matter how new you are to the game.Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine and keep their audience engrossed.And with this guide, you’ll find out exactly what they are.In The Secrets to Creating Character Arcs, here is just a fraction of what you will discover:How your characters can make or break your story – and what you can do to make your characters more compelling10 simple tricks to add more excitement to your plot without veering away from your main storyHow to take advantage of plot and structure to help develop your protagonist’s journeyThe worst thing you can do for your character that will immediately make them unappealing and uninterestingHow to make your readers relate to – and root for – an unlikable characterA fun yet insightful exercise in character building that can help you make sure all your characters have their own unique individual personalities2 letters that will speed up your writing process without sacrificing qualityAnd much more.Writing your first story (or your latest one) can be intimidating. The stakes seem to be higher when writing down words rather than just saying them out loud.But remember that you’re allowed to make mistakes, change things up, delete, and add to your story however many times you need to.Plus, with the techniques from this guide at your disposal, you can approach your writing with more confidence.Sometimes, all you need to do is get started… and the ideas will just keep flowing from there.If you want to take your stories to the next level, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now. Read more

Master the Art of Writing Enthralling Tales for the Youngest pre-and emerging readers! Fully updated and thoroughly revised, Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition is the go-to resource for writers crafting stories for children ages two to eight. You'll learn the unique set of skills it takes to bring your story to life by using tightly focused text and leaving room for the illustrator to be creative. Award-winning author Ann Whitford Paul helps you develop the skills you need by walking you through techniques and exercises specifically for picture book writers. You'll find:   • Instruction on generating ideas, creating characters, point-of-view, beginnings and endings, plotting, word count, rhyme, and more   • Unique methods for using poetic techniques to enrich your writing   • Hands-on revision exercises (get out your scissors, tape, and highlighters) to help identify problems and improve your picture book manuscripts   • Updated tips for researching the changing picture book market, approaching publishers, working with an agent, and developing a platform   • All new quizzes and examples from picture books throughout   • New chapters cover issues such as page turns, agents, and self-publishingWhether you're just starting out as a picture book writer or have tried unsuccessfully to get your work published, Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition is just what you need to craft picture books that will appeal to young children and parents, and agents and editors. Read more

An ingeniously constructed teaching memoir from the author of the bestselling On Writing Well -- "You learn without knowing it." (Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes)Written with elegance, warmth, and humor, this highly original "teaching memoir" by William Zinsser--renowned bestselling author of On Writing Well gives you the tools to organize and recover your past, and the confidence to believe in your life narrative. His method is to take you on a memoir of his own: 13 chapters in which he recalls dramatic, amusing, and often surprising moments in his long and varied life as a writer, editor, teacher, and traveler. Along the way, Zinsser pauses to explain the technical decisions he made as he wrote about his life. They are the same decisions you'll have to make as you write about your own life: matters of selection, condensation, focus, attitude, voice, and tone. Read more

What makes a romance novel a romance? How do you write a kissing book? Writing a well-structured romance isn’t the same as writing any other genre—something the popular novel and screenwriting guides don’t address. The romance arc is made up of its own story beats, and the external plot and theme need to be braided to the romance arc—not the other way around. Told in conversational (and often irreverent) prose, Romancing the Beat can be read like you are sitting down to coffee with romance editor and author Gwen Hayes while she explains story structure. The way she does with her clients. Some of whom are regular inhabitants of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Romancing the Beat is a recipe, not a rigid system. The beats don’t care if you plot or outline before you write, or if you pants your way through the drafts and do a “beat check” when you’re revising. Pantsers and plotters are both welcome. So sit down, grab a cuppa, and let’s talk about kissing books. Read more

Become a master of captivating fantasy. This third installment of Series Bibles for Writers contains everything you need to flesh out your world's magic system and fantastical elements. For novelists, game developers, graphic novelists, and film writers, this workbook will ensure that every aspect of fantasy in your project is accounted for.Contents include in-depth, customizable prompts for:How your magic system works; its limits, its sources, how it can change, and what that means for the world and culture you've created.20 profiles for races, types, or species of inhabitants20 magical animal/creature profiles and sketch pages20 magical item profiles and sketch pages20 magically significant place profiles and sketch pages20 magical food, elixir, or potion profiles and sketch pagesand more!Think of this as a guided notebook--part of your own "series bible"-- that won't let you forget any detail. Even better, you can quickly search through all of these details as you're writing! This workbook is comprehensive enough to handle whatever spellbinding creativity you throw at it. Take a dive into your new and improved magical series bible, one that will guide you into creating your own gripping, otherworldly fantasy.Please note: this is not a textbook. This is a guided space for you to create outstanding characters. No more sticky notes on the wall and thoughts scribbled out on lost envelopes. Free up your mind to write amazing fiction, and let these workbooks keep track of all the details that make your characters and worlds compelling.About the creator: T.M. Holladay writes YA fantasy. She’s also a perfectionist. When her story worlds became too complicated for the sticky notes on her wall, she knew something had to be done, and she wasn’t the only writer out there with that problem.The “Series Bibles for Writers” workbooks are the product of a massive effort to cover every possible detail in a flexible, adaptable form. Her labor of love has quickly become a new favorite among creators. For more Series Bibles for Writers, look for "The Only World Building Workbook You'll Ever Need," and "The Only Character Workbook You'll Ever Need." Read more

The long-awaited guide to writing long-form nonfiction by the legendary author and teacherDraft No. 4 is a master class on the writer’s craft. In a series of playful, expertly wrought essays, John McPhee shares insights he has gathered over his career and has refined while teaching at Princeton University, where he has nurtured some of the most esteemed writers of recent decades. McPhee offers definitive guidance in the decisions regarding arrangement, diction, and tone that shape nonfiction pieces, and he presents extracts from his work, subjecting them to wry scrutiny. In one essay, he considers the delicate art of getting sources to tell you what they might not otherwise reveal. In another, he discusses how to use flashback to place a bear encounter in a travel narrative while observing that “readers are not supposed to notice the structure. It is meant to be about as visible as someone’s bones.” The result is a vivid depiction of the writing process, from reporting to drafting to revising―and revising, and revising.Draft No. 4 is enriched by multiple diagrams and by personal anecdotes and charming reflections on the life of a writer. McPhee describes his enduring relationships with The New Yorker and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and recalls his early years at Time magazine. Throughout, Draft No. 4 is enlivened by his keen sense of writing as a way of being in the world. Read more

THE ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR SELLING YOUR BOOK   If you want to publish a book, you must present it to agents and publishers with a knock-your-socks-off proposal. Whether you're seeking a traditional press to publish your self-published book or trying to win over an agent for your graphic novel, memoir, or nonfiction title, you need an irresistible proposal. The better your proposal, the better the editor, publisher, and deal you will get. Nailing your proposal requires an understanding of how publishers work and how to brand yourself, build a platform, and structure your book. You'll learn it all in this breezy top-to-bottom revision of the classic 100,000-copy best-seller. Inside How to Write a Book Proposal 5th Edition, you will find:   • Examples of successful proposals that earned six-figure deals   • Guidance from agents, publishers, and writers   • Ways to customize your proposal   • Strategies for proposals in the Digital Age   • Effective structures for narrative writers   • A list of the "Top Ten Proposal Killers" This sassy, thorough guide from industry professionals Jody Rein and Michael Larsen will become your go-to for advice about publishing. Read more

Transform your story with a character your readers will remember long after they’ve turned the last pageWhen you think of unforgettable characters from books you’ve read, who comes to mind?James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O’Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes?These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction.They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination.But what exactly is it about them that keeps readers through generations so invested in them?Despite their vast differences in age, gender, nationality, occupation, and personality, each of them has a special quality that makes us want to know them more.Whether it’s James Bond’s suave demeanor, Scarlett O’Hara’s haughty vulnerability, or Atticus Finch’s righteousness, we’re hooked.Do you want to know how you too can create your own unforgettable characters that your readers will be dying to read about?Yes, it’s rare to write such timeless characters – even some bestselling authors don’t have widely recognizable protagonists.However, it’s entirely possible to write characters that resonate strongly with your readers – and get them hooked on your story – no matter how new you are to the game.Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine and keep their audience engrossed.And with this guide, you’ll find out exactly what they are.In The Secrets to Creating Character Arcs, here is just a fraction of what you will discover:How your characters can make or break your story – and what you can do to make your characters more compelling10 simple tricks to add more excitement to your plot without veering away from your main storyHow to take advantage of plot and structure to help develop your protagonist’s journeyThe worst thing you can do for your character that will immediately make them unappealing and uninterestingHow to make your readers relate to – and root for – an unlikable characterA fun yet insightful exercise in character building that can help you make sure all your characters have their own unique individual personalities2 letters that will speed up your writing process without sacrificing qualityAnd much more.Writing your first story (or your latest one) can be intimidating. The stakes seem to be higher when writing down words rather than just saying them out loud.But remember that you’re allowed to make mistakes, change things up, delete, and add to your story however many times you need to.Plus, with the techniques from this guide at your disposal, you can approach your writing with more confidence.Sometimes, all you need to do is get started… and the ideas will just keep flowing from there.If you want to take your stories to the next level, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now. Read more

None