185 practical techniques for improving your story or novel

    Full of helpful lists, plot maps, character Q&As, field trips, writing exercises, inspiring quotes, and plenty of space to write and outline, Ready, Set, Novel! provides ample inspiration and guidance to first-time novelists and more seasoned scribes alike.

    Your great-grandmother would be amazed to learn that toilet training has become one of Mom's greatest sources of anxiety and frustration during her child's early years. To Great-Grandma, it was no worse than teaching her child to use a spoon. Rosemond does not write from the perspective of a psychologist, but with the common sense and authority derived from 30 years of counseling parents, and from his two children and seven grandchildren, some of whom he helped toilet train. He advises an old-fashioned approach to toilet training that would have earned Grandma's stamp of approval. This book is helpful, revealing, and funny. Best of all, the method works! Thousands of parents have used it to discover how easy toilet training can be. With his trademark parents-take-control style, Rosemond covers everything from the basic how-to and troubleshooting issues to successful testimonies and proper encouragement. His straightforward and no-nonsense advice utilizes simple steps with proven results. No arguing, bribing, or cajoling necessary. It helps parents avoid common toilet-training mistakes, and leads the way to a diaper-free household.

    It is the road on which nearly everyone who wants to write—and many of the people who do write—get lost.”So writes Ann Patchett in "The Getaway Car", a wry, wisdom-packed memoir of her life as a writer. Here, for the first time, one of America’s most celebrated authors ("State of Wonder", "Bel Canto", "Truth and Beauty"), talks at length about her literary career—the highs and the lows—and shares advice on the craft and art of writing. In this fascinating look at the development of a novelist, we meet Patchett’s mentors (Allan Gurganas, Grace Paley, Russell Banks), see where she made wrong turns (poetry), and learn how she gets the pages written (an unromantic process of pure hard work). Woven through engaging anecdotes from Patchett’s life are lessons about writing that offer an inside peek into the storytelling process and provide a blueprint for anyone wanting to give writing a serious try. The bestselling author gives pointers on everything from finding ideas to constructing a plot to combating writer’s block. More than that, she conveys the joys and rewards of a life spent reading and writing.

    "You need tools, not rules." His book distills decades of experience into 50 tools that will help any writer become more fluent and effective. WRITING TOOLS covers everything from the most basic ("Tool 5: Watch those adverbs") to the more complex ("Tool 34: Turn your notebook into a camera") and provides more than 200 examples from literature and journalism to illustrate the concepts. For students, aspiring novelists, and writers of memos, e-mails, PowerPoint presentations, and love letters, here are 50 indispensable, memorable, and usable tools. "Pull out a favorite novel or short story, and read it with the guidance of Clark's ideas. . . . Readers will find new worlds in familiar places. And writers will be inspired to pick up their pens." -Boston Globe"For all the aspiring writers out there-whether you're writing a novel or a technical report-a respected scholar pulls back the curtain on the art." -Atlanta Journal-Constitution"This is a useful tool for writers at all levels of experience, and it's entertainingly written, with plenty of helpful examples." -Booklist

    Stay Tuned is Jenniffer"s story of a father and daughter's journey from materialistic journalists to spiritually attuned spiritual beings--a journey that continues even after his death.During his illness, while Tim turns to alternative treatments like chi gong and reiki sessions, Jenniffer reads Neale Donald Walsch, starts a spiritual diet plan and uses the law of attraction to find free parking spaces. The book takes you on a witty, irreverent trip through popular spiritual beliefs and insights of masters and celebrities, including Don Miguel Ruiz, James Van Praagh and Russell Crowe, as this intelligent, award-winning broadcaster transforms from "cynical daughter" to "spiritual woman."

    How to plan, create and edit work that will sell. How to write a book that you'll be proud of- and which might yet launch you on a new career.Crammed with examples (positive and negative) from successful authors, this essential guide is for writers of every genre: fiction and narrative non-fiction, literary and commercial, adults and children. This guide tells you how to: - Understand your market - Plan your novel or memoir - Develop strong, empathetic characters - Structure and maintain a compelling plot - Ensure that your prose style is strong enough to carry your story - Polish your work until it shines

    A bestseller through six editions, Writing Fiction by novelists Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French explores the elements of fiction, providing practical writing techniques and concrete examples. Written in a tone that is personal and non-prescriptive, the text encourages students to develop proficiency through each step of the writing process, offering an abundance of exercises designed to spur writing and creativity. The text also integrates diverse, contemporary short stories in every chapter in the belief that the reading of inspiring fiction goes hand-in-hand with the writing of fresh and exciting stories.

    Karen Wiesner focuses on how to turn an idea, outline, or early draft into a rich, textured story by layering different elements to create a cohesive, seamless novel.

    It takes Bass Reeves from about 60 up until his death in 1910, at the age of 73, He is buried in Muskogee, Oklahoma. During his 32 years as a US Marshal he captured over 3000 lawbreakers. His length of service and his bravery is unmatched by any man, in the history of Indian Territory. The trilogy describes action packed, fast moving encounters with the lawless of the most dangerous land in the history of the U.S. and they are based on true facts. His relationship with Judge Parker"The Hanging Judge" was legendary. The two teamed to enforce the law and make it possible for Oklahoma to become a state. Their dedication to the law is unmatched anywhere in history. They not only were a team in law enforcement, they were friends. Bass traveled over 800 miles in a month's time capturing and transporting the lawbreakers of the time to Federal Court. He took no quarter. He was fair and honest, a master of disguise, and a highly intelligent man, which enabled him to bring in some of the most feared badmen of the times. His association with Bud Ledbetter, Sam Sixkiller, Heck Thomas, Belle Starr and the many other notables of the time are covered in this book. If you love westerns, history and Oklahoma this book is a must read.

    You will learn the psychological reasons why we humans have anxiety and why we create mental fear when communicating with others. Shyness, awkwardness, lack of conversational skills, and the inability to speak eloquently may cause self-doubt – thus crippling oneself. After understanding those causes we will practice simple skill-building exercises that will develop your confidence. These simple steps will guide you in any social situation when speaking to a stranger, your boss, the opposite sex, or to anyone! This book details techniques and strategies that can be implemented in various situations - from casual person-to-person interactions transitioning to professional public speaking events. In addition, the entire book is laid out in a way that builds upon what you read and allows you to focus on the most important social skills – allowing you to slowly develop in a way that will not be intimidating. Keep an open mind and you’ll learn the necessary skills to improve your personal and professional life. Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn... Building Confidence Using Psychology Removing Doubt, Anxiety and Redirecting Your Power Removing Roadblocks from Your Life To Move Forward Powerful Social Skills of Top Performers and How To Learn Them Now Real Life Uses for these Techniques Much, much more! Download your copy today! This Kindle ebook is also registered in Kindle MatchBook. If you buy a new print edition of this book (or purchased one in the past), for a LIMITED TIME you can buy the Kindle Edition for FREE. Print edition purchase must be sold by Amazon. Take action today and download this book now! See you on the path of a better you...

    It can only help you write better genre stories. What's to lose?” Vanessa Gebbie, award-wining author and editor of “Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story" Writing Genre Fiction: Creating Imaginary Worlds - The 12 Rules is a guide for writers and readers of sci fi and fantasy that explains the 12 unwritten rules for creating believable imaginary worlds. Flout these rules and a good story idea can be destroyed losing the reader along the way. The conventions, tricks and the trips are explained and lots of examples given so authors, whether writing flash fiction or a full length novel, don’t strain their reader’s patience, sympathy and credibility. Written also to entertain readers of genre fiction - sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror - the book is useful for beginning writers, established authors, writing groups and creative writing courses in schools and universities as a quick and fun 101 on creating imaginary worlds in books and film. About the Author Charles Christian is a barrister and Reuters correspondent turned award-winning technology journalist, newsletter editor, blogger, publisher and science fiction author. His dystopian sci-fi and urban fantasy stories are Gothic tales for the 21st century – with a sense of humour and a topical twist. His collection of science fiction and urban fantasy short stories, This is the Quickest Way Down, was listed for three national and international book awards. Set mostly in the present day, the eleven stories give everyday existence a gentle nudge into the realms of the weird, the supernatural, the horrific and the surreal. He has also recently published Secret Cargo, a sci fi/steampunk story, Tomorrow's Ghosts and Rip and Burn. Charles lives in Norfolk with his wife, Jane, three dogs and two horses.

    The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!"Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft—everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style—as well as the inside story of Bradbury's own remarkable career as a prolific author of novels, stories, poems, films, and plays.Zen in the Art of Writing is more than just a how-to manual for the would-be writer: it is a celebration of the act of writing itself that will delight, impassion, and inspire the writer in you. Bradbury encourages us to follow the unique path of our instincts and enthusiasms to the place where our inner genius dwells, and he shows that success as a writer depends on how well you know one subject: your own life.

    I was there too, but now I have quit my day job and make a living selling fiction. Both my initial success and the sustainability of my book sales have come from Facebook ads. In this book, you'll learn how to find the cost per click and sales volumes you'll need to hit to know if an ad is profitable. You'll learn how to target your ads and how to tweak them for maximum returns by age, gender, region. You'll see how to write plot-based ads, character based ads, pure marketing ads, the whole bit. Stop losing money every time you run and ad and instead turn them into book-selling machines.

    Each writer begins with a favorite passage from a novel, a song, a poem—something that gets them started and keeps them going with the creative work they love. From there, incredible lessons and stories of life-changing encounters with art emerge, like how sneaking books into his job as a night security guard helped Khaled Hosseini learn that nothing he creates will ever be truly finished. Or how a college reading assignment taught Junot Díaz that great art can be a healing conversation, and an unexpected poet led Elizabeth Gilbert to embrace an unyielding optimism, even in the face of darkness. LIGHT THE DARK collects the best of The Atlantic‘s much-acclaimed “By Heart” series edited by Joe Fassler and adds brand new pieces, each one paired with a striking illustration. Here is a guide to creative living and writing in the vein of Daily Rituals, Bird by Bird, and Big Magic for anyone who wants to learn how great writers find inspiration—and how to find some of your own.CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Elizabeth Gilbert, Junot Díaz, Marilynne Robinson, Jonathan Lethem, Michael Chabon, Aimee Bender, Mary Gaitskill, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Roxane Gay, Angela Flournoy, Jonathan Franzen, Yiyun Li, Leslie Jamison, Claire Messud, Edwidge Danticat, David Mitchell, Khaled Hosseini, Ayana Mathis, Kathryn Harrison, Azar Nafisi, Hanya Yanagihara, Jane Smiley, Nell Zink, Emma Donoghue, Jeff Tweedy, Eileen Myles, Maggie Shipstead, Sherman Alexie, Andre Dubus III, Billy Collins, Lev Grossman, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Charles Simic, Jim Shepard, T.C. Boyle, Tom Perrotta, Viet Than Nguyen, William Gibson, Mark Haddon, Ethan Canin, Jessie Ball, Jim Crace, and Walter Mosley.“As [these authors] reveal what inspires them, they, in turn, inspire the reader, all while celebrating the beauty and purpose of art.” –Booklist