Story Engineering

[Ihe]

Hi all, I want to buy "Story Engineering" by Larry Brooks for a friend (she already has Wonderbook, btw), and was wondering if anyone's come across it and if there's a better option out there.

 

[Vaz]

I've never read Story Engineering (sorry!) But two books that I enjoyed as much as Wonderbook were:

Elements of Fiction Writing - Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V Swain


v

 

[Cathbad]

I read two "how-to" writing books.

And swore I'd never read another.

 

[Ihe]

. She's starting to write, and her birthday's up, what can I say. And she REALLY liked Wonderbook.

 

[zmunkz]

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V Swain

I'll second that. I'm generally not much for how-to-write books (I think most lessons are best learned by just writing, and reading time is best spent reading in your genre) but this one should be a prerequisite to the whole enterprise.

Then, of course, there are always YouTube videos ;-)

 

[Vaz]

The illustrations in Wonderbook are worth the entry fee alone.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Hi all, I want to buy "Story Engineering" by Larry Brooks for a friend (she already has Wonderbook, btw), and was wondering if anyone's come across it and if there's a better option out there.

The two books I always recommend to writers are:

1. Wonderbook, which is so comprehensive, dealing with both introductory and advanced writing tools.
2. Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, as that focuses on emotional development arcs essential for proper character development.

I have a lot of others, but the above 2 contain almost everything any writer needs to know.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

The only writing book I've ever been able to stomach was On Writing by King.

 

[Ursa major]

The only writing book I've ever been able to stomach

So one to 'read, mark, learn and inwardly digest', eh...?

(I endorse your endorsement, by the way.)

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

The best writing book I ever read was this: How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them--A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide eBook: Howard Mittelmark, Sandra Newman: Amazon.co.uk: Books

 

[ratsy]

I have Story Engineering after I'd heard a couple SF authors mention how great it is. Havent made it to it yet, but do hope to.

 

[Nick B]

The only writing book I've ever been able to stomach was On Writing by King.

Same. And only because it was partly anecdotal biography. Also - Mr King.

 

[Phyrebrat]

What I found as a newbie writer (in 2011, when I joined) was that after a while any book I read was just largely repeating what I'd read in other books.

On Writing helped because it shows clearly that no matter how much technique you learn, you have to write about yourself, what you know. That could be space opera to horror, poetry to lit fic. Your creed, ethics, experiences and values are what you're really writing about, dressed up in your genre.

My wip isn't really about a haunted house but my values and opinions on racism, appropriation and organised religion, which come from my experiences as a specialist teacher working with challenging behaviour in inner city London schools!!! But I love supernatural horror so that's how it's expressed. Furthermore as a depressive, my outlook can often be very dark but it has given me (I believe) a sensitivity to the bitternesses and sweetnesses of life.

Anxiety, depression and PTSD have made me the creator that I am.

Chrons has made me the technician I am (strive for).

So, I'd personally read a how-to book, maybe two, but moreover participate in our monthly writing challenges, and frequent the crits forum.

pH

 

[The Judge]

I can't help with the question, as I've only got two how-to books, Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts (recommended by HareBrain) and Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, so I'm not even able to say where they would come in any list of Best How-Tos (though they are both good).

Anyhow, I think this is a Writing Resource matter rather than GWD, so I'll move it over.

 

[tinkerdan]

Since there are so many books like this from so many authors; whenever I am tempted to bite I first take a nibble of their actual work. That said I suggest that you sample The Seventh Thunder for some idea as to his level of writing skill and whether the style suits you. Most of his others are billed as erotic thrillers and they don't do much to endear him as a choice from which to learn when there are so many other options out there.

However you should judge for yourself.