Storytelling Fiction

A creative writer's shelf should hold at least three essential books: a dictionary, a style guide, and Writing Fiction. Janet Burroway's best-selling classic is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and for more than three decades, it has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn the craft.

America's most hilarious sportsman returns with this collection of insights about youth, the great outdoors, and the philosophy of fileting fish. When best-selling author Patrick McManus looks at a subject, you're sure to come away with an outrageously new perspective.

Dear writers, it’s been a light year since ChatGPT introduced artificial intelligence into the world of writing. And oh, what a year it has been. By now, you’ve probably tried using AI to brainstorm premises, write marketing copy, develop characters, and build worlds. * * * Do you wish to do more? • Are you curious about what you can do beyond using ChatGPT? • Ready to learn how to customize AI to your own writing? • Wondering how to keep up with the pace of AI? Fear not. I’m Rachelle Ayala, a USA Today Bestselling author and AI trailblazer. I’m here to equip you with the ...

This ultimate guide for fiction writers demystifies the eight essential elements that every great narrative needs: concept, character, worldbuilding, theme, plot, structure, scenes, and pacing. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to supercharge your skills, this book is packed with practical insights, clear examples, and actionable tips. Each chapter breaks down the storytelling journey into easy-to-follow steps, empowering writers to craft unforgettable narratives.

Exploring the parallels between video games and the world’s most exciting, innovative spaces, this sequel to the groundbreaking Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds explains how the same techniques that pull players into games for hours at a time can be employed to draw participants into immersive experiences. Join Margaret Kerrison as she guides our next generation of immersive storytellers on a deep dive into the creative possibilities of this new realm of storytelling.

Make sure the kids aren’t around! Just because you’re a grown-up doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the art of the children’s bedtime story. Nick Offerman presents this collection of 12 short stories written in the style of a classic kids' tale, but with a decidedly dark and adult approach. What really happened after Snow White died, from the perspective of the one medically trained dwarf? A naive wizard professor reports back from the trenches of an underprivileged school of magic. And much more!

Before they were the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden lived with their parents on Fair Meadow Farm. Although times are hard, the Aldens are happy—“the best family of all,” Mama likes to say. One day, a blizzard hits the countryside, and a traveling family needs shelter. The Aldens take them in, and the strangers soon become friends. But things never stay the same at the farm, and the spring and summer bring events that will forever change their lives.

Crafting Immersive Fiction: A Comprehensive Guide is the ultimate resource for writers eager to create stories that captivate from start to finish. Whether you're a new writer or a seasoned author, this guide offers the tools you need to craft unforgettable fiction. What’s Inside: Core Elements of Storytelling: Develop complex characters, authentic voices, and engaging arcs. Understand plot structure, from exposition to resolution, and how to balance themes and subtext to deepen your narrative. Building Conflict and Stakes: Master the art of tension, conflict, and pacing to keep readers ...

Southern Patchwork Stories that don’t just whisper the past—they sing it. Tucked away in the bottom corner of McNairy County, Tennessee, Sweetgum Ridge is a town that time didn’t quite forget it just paused a little longer here. The porch swings creak with memory. The graveyard hums after midnight. And the stories… well, they ain’t always written down, but they’re always remembered. In this collection of Southern short stories, Nathan Harrison brings to life the grit and grace of small-town living. You’ll meet the troublemakers and the tender hearts, the quiet heroes and the ...

All children mythologize their birth... So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's beloved collection of stories, long famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale. The enigmatic Winter has always kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she summons a biographer to tell the truth about her extraordinary life: Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain.

Embark on an interstellar adventure like never before with "Unlocking RPG Design," the ultimate guide to creating and mastering the art of science fiction tabletop role-playing games! This exciting and comprehensive eBook will take you on a journey through time and space, equipping you with the tools and strategies to bring your RPG dreams to life. In "Unlocking RPG Design," you'll explore a wide variety of topics, spanning from finding your niche among sci-fi aficionados to crafting diverse and captivating species and cultures that populate your universe. Delve into the art of world-...

If you've ever laughed your way through David Sedaris's cheerfully misanthropic stories, you might think you know what you're getting with Calypso. You'd be wrong. When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And it's as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it's impossible to take a vacation from yourself. With Calypso, Sedaris sets his formidable powers of observation - and dark humor - toward middle age and mortality.

For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to listen without laughing.

The Boxcar Children: Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. Can they find a home where they can stay together as a family? Surprise Island: The Aldens spend the summer on their own private island. There they meet a new friend with an amazing secret! The Yellow House Mystery: Years ago, a man vanished from the yellow house on Surprise Island. Why? The Aldens have found a clue to the mystery!

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. Can they find a home where they can stay together as a family?

Bestselling advice columnist Vandy Guru built her career teaching others how to live honestly and courageously, but after the loss of her husband, Vandy’s public veneer can barely conceal her grief. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears and her estranged childhood best friend Rani returns, stirring up long-buried secrets, Vandy’s carefully crafted life feels at risk.

The hardest yet most essential element of writing great fiction is character—specifically, creating a central hero who is relatable, compelling, and worth the audience's precious time. In this entertaining and practical guide, popular blogger, writing coach and screenwriter Matt Bird breaks down what makes characters embraceable and unforgettable, and presents insider tips and tricks for writers of all levels and genres.

Do you carry a story inside you—one that stirs beneath the surface, whispering to be told? Are you a story catcher, inspired to gather and tell the stories of this time? Or perhaps you are a story carrier—one who tends to and keeps old stories alive so they may breathe among us once more. If so, you already know that storytelling is more than just words. It’s a vessel for profound alchemy and transformation. With Sacred Storytelling, you’ll be taken on an immersive journey with master storyteller Leah Lamb into the art of conscious storytelling as a living, ancient practice.

This volume includes: The Animal Shelter Mystery, The Old Motel Mystery, and The Mystery of the Hidden Painting. In The Mystery of the Hidden Painting, the Aldens find a mysterious painting hidden in the attic. The children learn that it is a portrait of their grandmother, whom they never knew, wearing the necklace Grandfather gave her when they were married. The necklace disappeared on their first anniversary - and was never found. Can the Boxcar Children track down a necklace missing for so many years?

Take a tour through the horror paperback novels of two iconic decades...if you dare. Hear shocking plot summaries that invoke devil worship, satanic children, and haunted real estate! Horror author and vintage paperback book collector Grady Hendrix offers killer commentary and witty insight on these trashy thrillers that tried so hard to be the next Exorcist or Rosemary's Baby. Complete with story summaries and artist and author profiles, this unforgettable volume dishes on familiar authors like V. C. Andrews and R. L. Stine, plus many more.