-
Fiction Writing Demystified
- Techniques That Will Make You a More Successful Writer
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Thibeault
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Categories: Education & Learning, Words, Language & Grammar
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Premium Plus
$14.95 a month
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Write Your Novel from the Middle
- A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between
- By: James Scott Bell
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
what if it's not the beginning or the end that is the key to a successful book? What if, amazing as it may seem, the place to begin writing your novel is in the very middle of the story? According to writing teacher James Scott Bell, that's exactly where you'll find your story's heart and heat. Bell's "Mirror Moment" is the secret, and its power is available to any writer, at any stage of the writing process...Bell presents a truly unique approach to writing a novel, one that will stand the test of time and serve you all your writing life.
-
-
Bell's excellent advice, less well conveyed
- By Jennifer on 09-14-20
By: James Scott Bell
-
The Emotional Craft of Fiction
- How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface
- By: Donald Maass
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader's experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters' struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you. That's where The Emotional Craft of Fiction comes in. Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers.
-
-
Read this if you're a writer
- By Reed Ramlow on 08-08-20
By: Donald Maass
-
How to Write Best-Selling Fiction
- By: James Scott Bell, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most people think the way to write a best seller is to have a lot of talent and even more luck. As you will learn, there is a recipe for success, and luck may be the least important ingredient in creating a best seller. No one has cracked the code better than James Scott Bell. A best-selling author himself, and the author of the number-one best seller for writers, Plot & Structure, Mr. Bell has been teaching the principles of best-selling fiction for over 20 years, principles that apply to any genre or style.
-
-
I'm a writer and this course is to blame.
- By accentrique on 07-22-19
By: James Scott Bell, and others
-
2K to 10K
- Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love
- By: Rachel Aaron
- Narrated by: Arial Burnz
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Expanding on the author's highly successful process for doubling daily word counts, this audiobook - a combination of reworked blog posts and new material - offers practical writing advice for anyone who's ever longed to increase their daily writing output.
-
-
Could You Be Writing Faster?
- By Stephen Ray on 02-07-16
By: Rachel Aaron
-
Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
- By: James Hynes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Hynes
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft.
-
-
Theory AND Practice
- By Madeleine on 11-19-15
By: James Hynes, and others
-
Murder Your Darlings
- And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With so many excellent writing guides lining bookstore shelves, it can be hard to know where to look for the best advice. Should you go with Natalie Goldberg or Anne Lamott? Maybe William Zinsser or Stephen King would be more appropriate. Then again, what about the classics - Strunk and White, or even Aristotle himself? In Murder Your Darlings, Roy Peter Clark, who has been a beloved and revered writing teacher to children and Pulitzer Prize winners alike for more than 30 years, has compiled a remarkable collection of more than 100 of the best writing tips.
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
Write Your Novel from the Middle
- A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between
- By: James Scott Bell
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
what if it's not the beginning or the end that is the key to a successful book? What if, amazing as it may seem, the place to begin writing your novel is in the very middle of the story? According to writing teacher James Scott Bell, that's exactly where you'll find your story's heart and heat. Bell's "Mirror Moment" is the secret, and its power is available to any writer, at any stage of the writing process...Bell presents a truly unique approach to writing a novel, one that will stand the test of time and serve you all your writing life.
-
-
Bell's excellent advice, less well conveyed
- By Jennifer on 09-14-20
By: James Scott Bell
-
The Emotional Craft of Fiction
- How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface
- By: Donald Maass
- Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader's experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters' struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you. That's where The Emotional Craft of Fiction comes in. Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers.
-
-
Read this if you're a writer
- By Reed Ramlow on 08-08-20
By: Donald Maass
-
How to Write Best-Selling Fiction
- By: James Scott Bell, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most people think the way to write a best seller is to have a lot of talent and even more luck. As you will learn, there is a recipe for success, and luck may be the least important ingredient in creating a best seller. No one has cracked the code better than James Scott Bell. A best-selling author himself, and the author of the number-one best seller for writers, Plot & Structure, Mr. Bell has been teaching the principles of best-selling fiction for over 20 years, principles that apply to any genre or style.
-
-
I'm a writer and this course is to blame.
- By accentrique on 07-22-19
By: James Scott Bell, and others
-
2K to 10K
- Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love
- By: Rachel Aaron
- Narrated by: Arial Burnz
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Expanding on the author's highly successful process for doubling daily word counts, this audiobook - a combination of reworked blog posts and new material - offers practical writing advice for anyone who's ever longed to increase their daily writing output.
-
-
Could You Be Writing Faster?
- By Stephen Ray on 02-07-16
By: Rachel Aaron
-
Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
- By: James Hynes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Hynes
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft.
-
-
Theory AND Practice
- By Madeleine on 11-19-15
By: James Hynes, and others
-
Murder Your Darlings
- And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With so many excellent writing guides lining bookstore shelves, it can be hard to know where to look for the best advice. Should you go with Natalie Goldberg or Anne Lamott? Maybe William Zinsser or Stephen King would be more appropriate. Then again, what about the classics - Strunk and White, or even Aristotle himself? In Murder Your Darlings, Roy Peter Clark, who has been a beloved and revered writing teacher to children and Pulitzer Prize winners alike for more than 30 years, has compiled a remarkable collection of more than 100 of the best writing tips.
By: Roy Peter Clark
-
Write Away
- One Novelist's Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life
- By: Elizabeth George
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling author Elizabeth George has spent years teaching writing, and in Write Away, she shares her knowledge of the creative process. George combines clear, intelligent, and functional advice on fiction writing with anecdotes from her own life, the story of her journey to publication, and inside information on how she meticulously researches and writes her novels.
-
-
too much just reading books
- By Holly on 11-22-20
By: Elizabeth George
-
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
- The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
- By: Jessica Brody
- Narrated by: Jessica Brody
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story - from the opening image to the finale - this audiobook lays out the 10 story genres ("Monster in the House"; "Whydunit"; "Dude with a Problem") alongside quirky, original insights ("Save the Cat"; "Shard of Glass") to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate - and a novel that will sell.
-
-
Tip for finding the PDF!!!
- By SB on 02-26-19
By: Jessica Brody
-
Fool Proof Outline: A No-Nonsense System for Productive Brainstorming, Outlining, & Drafting Novels
- Fool Proof Writer, Book 1
- By: Christopher Downing
- Narrated by: Nathan Agin
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Build an outstanding outline every time! Fool Proof Outline can help anyone quickly go from idea to first draft. Fool Proof Outline is filled with just the right amount of brainstorming prompts, both challenging you to engage readers emotionally and propelling your novel toward completion. Character, plot, and scene questionnaires are also included to keep you focused one step at a time.
-
-
good content if you can look past painful narrator
- By Sergio M. Bustamante on 09-19-19
-
5 Secrets of Story Structure: How to Write a Novel That Stands Out
- Helping Writers Become Authors, Book 6
- By: K.M. Weiland
- Narrated by: Sonja Field
- Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’ve read or listened to all the books on story structure and concluded there has to be more to it than just three acts and a couple of plot points, then you’re absolutely right! It’s time to notch up your writing education from “basic” to “black belt”. Internationally published author K.M. Weiland shares five “secret” techniques of advanced story structure.
-
-
A good starter for inexperienced writers
- By Amber on 11-12-19
By: K.M. Weiland
-
The Secrets of Story
- Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers
- By: Matt Bird
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Secrets of Story is a revolutionary and comprehensive writing guide for the 21st century, focused on clever ways to get an audience to fully identify with an all-too-human hero. Authors will learn to how to cut through pop culture noise and win over a jaded modern audience by rediscovering the heart of writing: shaping stories that ring true to our shared understanding of human nature.
-
-
Career Changing
- By Frances on 04-19-18
By: Matt Bird
-
Structuring Your Novel
- Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story
- By: K. M. Weiland
- Narrated by: Sonja Field
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why do some stories work and others don't? The answer is structure. In this IPPY and NIEA Award-winning guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will discover the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will help you to not only perfectly time your story's major events, but will also provide you with an unerring standard to use in evaluating your novel's pacing and progression.
-
-
An Outstanding Resource for Writers
- By Richard Phillips (Bestselling Author of The Rho Agenda) on 02-01-15
By: K. M. Weiland
-
Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel
- Expanded and Updated!
- By: Lawrence Block
- Narrated by: Mike Dennis
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unlike many advice-givers, Block doesn't tell you what book to write, or the one and only way to write it. He holds that every novel is different, and so is every novelist; his aim is to give you the tools to enable you to find your own way.
-
-
from writer to author...
- By peachfront on 08-19-19
By: Lawrence Block
-
Writing the Blockbuster Novel
- By: Albert Zuckerman
- Narrated by: Michael Russotto
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every novelist dreams of it - writing the book that rockets to the top of the best-seller lists. Now, they can see how it's done, up close, in an audiobook by an agent who has sold manuscripts that turned into hits. Here Albert Zuckerman covers the essential elements of the blockbuster novel and shows writers how to put them to work in their books. Zuckerman covers the subject thoroughly, from creating outlines and building larger than life characters to injecting suspense and more.
-
-
Good but unnecessarily toooooo long
- By Carlottia on 07-13-15
By: Albert Zuckerman
-
The Last Fifty Pages
- The Art and Craft of Unforgettable Endings
- By: James Scott Bell
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What are the secrets for writing a great ending for your novel? How do you leave readers so satisfied that they'll want another book by you, right now? What tools and techniques can shape your last 50 pages into a powerful, unforgettable experience? Listen to this audiobook, and you will come away with a thorough knowledge of why great endings work and how to create them for every novel you write.
-
-
Deep Dive into Ending a Novel
- By Mike on 05-09-20
By: James Scott Bell
-
Be a Writing Machine: Write Faster and Smarter, Beat Writer's Block, and Be Prolific
- By: M.L. Ronn
- Narrated by: John Freyer
- Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Writing fast is the most important skill you can develop as a writer. While it seems hard to hit high word counts, the secrets are easier than you think. In this writer's guide, prolific author M. L. Ronn pulls back the curtain on the process that he uses to write six to eight novels a year. He has kept this pace while juggling responsibilities as a husband, father, manager at a Fortune 100 company, and a law school student. The result is a catalog of over 40 books and counting.
-
-
Different but useful advice!
- By Aubrey on 05-07-19
By: M.L. Ronn
-
Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
- By: Angus Fletcher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Angus Fletcher
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
-
-
it's great
- By Kindle Customer on 02-11-18
By: Angus Fletcher, and others
-
How Great Science Fiction Works
- By: Gary K. Wolfe, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary K. Wolfe
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robots, spaceships, futuristic megacities, planets orbiting distant stars. These icons of science fiction are now in our daily news. Science fiction, once maligned as mere pulp, has motivated cutting-edge scientific research, inspired new technologies, and changed how we view everyday life - and its themes and questions permeate popular culture. Take an unparalleled look at the influence, history, and greatest works of science fiction with illuminating insights and fascinating facts about this wide-ranging genre.
-
-
Deserves a Hugo of Its Own
- By Carol on 02-01-16
By: Gary K. Wolfe, and others
Publisher's Summary
At last, a how-to book that explains the nuts-and-bolts of writing solid, entertaining, commercial fiction, written by someone who's been there. Practical, filled with examples and no-nonsense, take-'em-to-the-bank nuggets, Fiction Writing Demystified shows how the imperatives of effective storytelling translate readily to narrative fiction, genre or literary, screenwriting, even to nonfiction, poetry, sermons, or business documents - techniques that will make anyone's writing come alive!
Tom Sawyer knows about successful creative writing - and how to teach the subject, from UCLA to Writers University to the Maui Writers Conference.
Emmy and Edgar-nominated, Showrunner/Head Writer ofthe classic TV series, Murder, She Wrote, he authored the best-selling thrillers The Sixteenth Man, and No Place to Run. He is co-lyricist/co-author of JACK, the opera about JFK that has been performed to acclaim in the U.S. and Europe.
Critic Reviews
More from the same
Author
What listeners say about Fiction Writing Demystified
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- amity_chief
- 08-22-14
Great book - don't pay attention to weird reviews
I felt the need to review this book for two reasons. First, it is a helpful book filled with amusing and insightful hints on how to improve your storytelling. Especially for an amateur fiction writer like myself, I found it highly accessible and informative. More importantly, though, I wanted to respond to one of the other reviews on this site that claims the audiobook is unlistenable because the narrator pauses occasionally to read author names of referenced works. I felt this was worth addressing because I almost didn't purchase the book after reading that review. After having listened to the book, however, I am puzzled by that reviewer's complaints. The listing of author names is only a tiny, tiny fraction of the entire text, yet the reviewer would lead you to believe that you are listening to book a full of writing credits. I find it very odd that it would be the salient point taken from listening to this book. Further, I would suggest that if the reviewer doesn't have enough reverance to listen to a few names of people who have written the best examples of fiction (examples that often perfectly illustrate the author's points), then they should probably re-think why they purchased the book in the first place. Either way, once you read the book, you will likely agree with me that those comments are misplaced and just...strange.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- T. Bennett
- 09-17-15
Hands Down The Best writing book out there
I've spent thousands of $$$ on creative writing courses, seminars and books. This has everything in it, It covers outlines, plot, characters and dialogue. It covers scenes and how to write them.
Why is this book so good? Because the author has spent his life teaching writers how to write, and being paid when he succeeds. He's been a producer on murder she wrote and other shows. If you want to write a novel or screenplay read this first.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael
- 08-11-13
Fantastic Stuff
A god send if you are looking on how rather than why, or what. This book will help you cut the crap and get on with the business. You still need talent but this book will give the right direction to making it happen.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Judith E. Prueitt
- 05-13-16
Excellent Read
one of the best nuts and bolts books on the craft of writing in any genera. This is the 3rd listening, and each time I have gotten incredible insight into my own way of story telling.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- avoidthelloyd
- 12-26-13
Unsystematic information...
This book has the authors opinion on do's and don'ts of general writing (techniques). There is little about getting started and NO STEP BY STEP instructions, which is what I hoped for. You won't learn anything about writing software, publishing, or much about editing. Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT of good information in here, but its not very user friendly (at least in audio format) I would hope the paper copy would contain outlines that summarize the contents into a usable form. There is good information about belittling your reader, story pace and self editing. The author is a screen writer by profession, so expect a lot of his examples and references to be TV and movies. It is kind of funny how often Sawyer says, "This is a cardinal no-no..." and then immediately gives an example of an exception he likes really well. You can easily listen at 1.5x speed. The narration was good. I like 'The Successful Novelist by David Morrell' better. Hope this helps. Later.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tara
- 04-30-13
Helpful information
There is a lot of useful information in this book. I ended up buying the kindle edition as well.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Penny Greenestone
- 11-19-12
Entertaining and Helpful!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes! Writers will enjoy this book - and benefit from all the good tips on creating characters, writing dialogue, developing a plot and most of all - entertaining their readers.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Listening to this book is like having Tom Sawyer teach an entire course in fiction writing - with many hilarious stories from his own experiences in TV writing as well as many real examples of how to be an excellent writer.
What does Jeffrey Thibeault bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Jeffrey does a great job of narrating this book - very breezy and lively style - a pleasure to listen to him.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
This book made me rush back to my computer and try to finish my screenplay using some of the good ideas I had just heard.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- A. Yoshida
- 09-19-13
Good guide for novice fiction writers
The author's background is in television, so the techniques and examples relate more to screenwriting rather than fiction writing in general. I liked that the author gave plenty of good examples (and some bad) of popular television series that demonstrate techniques in developing plot, characters, dialogue, and suspense. This book is an excellent guide for anyone who hasn't been exposed to basic techniques of fiction writing.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jan Bonthuys
- 03-01-19
Well worth it
I can never get enough of listening to someone who is good at his/her art/profession. This is one of those opportunities.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Josiah
- 08-10-18
I can’t wait to mark up my first draft with revisions!
Looking for a practical and effective overview on great storytelling? Here it is! I can’t wait to implement the techniques discussed.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mandieh
- 10-09-17
One of the most informative books on writing.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Absolutely loved this book! As a new writer it is imperitive to keep being encouraged by other writers and learn from them. This book does it all and more! I picked up so many tips and insights into the craft of writing. I know I have thoroughly enjoyed a book when I don't want it to end!! I rarely re-read books but I know that this brilliant book will be my go to when I need advice as I tackle my first novel.