Writing: The Craft of Story

Dig into the craft of writing a compelling story, with practical how-to advice and before-and-after writing samples.

Introduction

• Crafting stories
• What you should know

1. What Is a Story?

• Explanation: What is a story?
• Example: What is a story?
• Story check: What is a story?

2. Hooking Your Reader

• Explanation: Hooking your reader
• Example: Hooking your reader
• Story check: Hooking your reader

3. All Stories Make a Point

• Explanation: All stories make a point
• Example: All stories make a point
• Story check: All stories make a point

4. Feeling What the Protagonist Feels

• Explanation: Feeling what the protagonist feels
• Example: Feeling what the protagonist feels
• Story check: Feeling what the protagonist feels

5. All Protagonists Have a Goal

• Explanation: All protagonists have a goal
• Example: All protagonists have a goal
• Story check: All protagonists have a goal

6. Uncovering Your Protagonist's Inner Issue

• Explanation: Uncovering your protagonist's inner issue
• Example: Uncovering your protagonist's inner issue
• Story check: Uncovering your protagonist's inner issue

7. Being Specific Rather Than Vague

• Explanation: Be specific rather than vague
• Example: Be specific rather than vague
• Story check: Be specific rather than vague

8. Suspense and Conflict

• Explanation: Suspense and conflict
• Example: Suspense and conflict
• Story check: Suspense and conflict

9. Cause and Effect

• Explanation: Cause and effect
• Example: Cause and effect
• Story check: Cause and effect

10. What Can Go Wrong, Must

• Explanation: What can go wrong, must
• Example: What can go wrong, must
• Story check: What can go wrong, must

11. Setups, Payoffs, and the Clues in Between

• Explanation: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between
• Example: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between
• Story check: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between

12. Flashbacks, Subplots, and Foreshadowing

• Explanation: Flashbacks, subplots, and foreshadowing
• Example: Flashbacks, subplots, and foreshadowing
• Story check: Flashbacks, subplots, and foreshadowing