Books on how to tell a story.

[barrett1987]

I'm halfway through Save the Cat! (Rec from I,Brian) and its extremely good.

I was wondering if anyone's got any more recs on this sort of thing. I'm working through my story and finding that i go back and add things based on whats needed to make the story well rounded.

For example. The hero needs to show doubt during the second act. Its in every movie pretty much but in mine i'd forgotten this. So now i've sprinkled some doubt and hey presto the conflict and tension has risen based on a few lines here and there.

Very cool.


Any other recs?

 

[Abernovo]

I think (I could be wrong) there are a few threads around Aspiring Writers on this subject.

One is here.

Hope that helps and best of luck. However, I think the best way to improve the writing is to write, get feedback, then write some more. I'm not a great believer in formulae for this kind of stuff. Plus, this site covers many of the same things - especially in Aspiring Writers.

 

[barrett1987]

thank you

 

[Abernovo]

You're welcome. I'm sure there will be others with some good suggestions, though.

 

[tinkerdan]

I'm not sure that this one is the same as those but I'd strongly recommend Renni Browne and Dave King's Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

It contains both good and bad examples and explanations of what makes them which.

It also has exercises and in the answers it contains this:

Actually, "answers' is a misnomer, since literature is not so much correct (or incorrect) as it is effective (or ineffective). You will have edited the exercises we've given you differently and in some cases more effectively than we have. Still, you might find it helpful to see what we've come up with.[\QUOTE]

I think that this expresses their entire tone throughout.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Storyteller Tools is good for use of conflict within an individual scene:
Storyteller Tools: Outline from vision to finished novel without losing the magic eBook: M Harold Page: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Save the Cat is good for structuring conflict through an entire story:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00340ESIS/?tag=brite-21

The Writer's Journey is good for referencing the common structures of the heroic myth:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/193290736X/?tag=brite-21

 

[AnyaKimlin]

BBC Two - How to Write

This has one day left on iplayer but it is often back on. In between time there are clips. I think it is the best writing programme I have ever watched.