The World's Best Book Summaries
When’s the best time to have a difficult talk with someone? How do you have uncomfortable conversations that you’re afraid to initiate? Tough conversations are never easy to have, but sometimes they’re necessary for relationships. Not Nice by Aziz Gazipura has great advice for people afraid to say the wrong thing in these necessary talks. Take a look at how to have uncomfortable conversations no one wants to have.
Is a story outline the right strategy for you? What tactic makes it easier for you to “kill your darlings” when it’s time? What trait might you need to overcome to complete the last step in the writing process? We’ve drawn on the advice of several storytelling experts to distill the story-writing process into six steps. You’ll get advice on how to find story ideas, get into the right mindset, write a first draft, take a break, revise your story, and share your finished story with others. Keep reading to learn the steps in writing a story with insights from
How is it possible that people can relate to a fish named Nemo? Why is Annie Wilkes (the kidnapper in Stephen King’s Misery) so terrifying? You’re not one-dimensional, nor is anyone else. Real people are complex, and fictional characters must reflect that complexity if they’re going to be true to life and relatable. We’ve put together some insights into complex characters from Stephen King, Robert McKee, Lisa Cron, and Thomas C. Foster. Keep reading to learn how to write complex characters that will help bring your story to life.
If you have a beginning, a middle, and an end, do you have a story? Is that all there is to story structure? Story-writing experts generally agree that effective stories loosely follow the same pattern. This is called story structure, and most everyone knows that the basic story structure is beginning-middle-end. But, it’s not quite that simple. Read more to get advice from Rob Biesenbach and Robert McKee on how to leverage the basic story structure for the greatest impact.
What are the best Not Nice quotes? Do you do everything people ask you to do? Being nice isn’t necessarily a bad quality to have. But Not Nice by Aziz Gazipura says that society’s fixation on niceness has changed why people are nice in the first place. Below are the best Not Nice quotes that represent Gazipura’s arguments.
What difference can symbolism make in a story? When and how is it appropriate and functional? Each story should have a protagonist with a goal, obstacles to the protagonist’s goal, and a theme. But, above and beyond those basic elements, you should infuse complexity into a story to make it more compelling and interesting. Symbolism is one way to do this. Keep reading to get advice from Stephen King and Thomas C. Foster on how and when to use symbolism in a story.
Do you ever read books you wish you’d written? Do you want to see your own book on the bookstore and library shelves? We’ve collected and distilled fiction-writing advice from successful authors and storytelling experts, including Stephen King, Robert McKee, and Lisa Cron. We’ve highlighted common ideas shared by many of these diverse experts as well as areas in which they disagree about this highly personal art form. Read more to learn how to write a fiction book.
What does it mean to infuse your stories with your unique voice? How authentic should it be? You’re unique, so your voice as a storyteller is unique. No one else can provide the same blend of experience, personality, and style. Your unique voice is a powerful way to connect with your audience and set your work apart from the crowd. Keep reading to learn how to use your voice in a story and let your audience in on you as a person.
How do you choose a topic for a speech? When public speaking, what topics are most powerful? When you think about how to choose a topic for a speech, you should consider two things: what topics you’re passionate about and what topics you’re knowledgeable about. If you choose the right topic, you’ll be motivated and capable of delivering a powerful speech. Read this article to learn about these two factors and how they impact the quality of your speech.
What’s the best way to write a powerful speech? Can you learn how to write a prepared speech with impact? To learn how to write a prepared speech that makes a lasting impression, you’ll need to consider strategies related to the following: your overall message, three or fewer key ideas to include, your opening, simplicity, engagement, and your closing. If you can do all these things well, you’ll have a very powerful speech. Read on for more about speech-writing strategies for impactful public speaking.