Pity the Reader
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4 out of 5 stars
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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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great info! Could have used a sound editor.
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If This Isn't Nice, What Is?
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Master storyteller and satirist Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. For each occasion, Vonnegut’s words were unfailingly unique, insightful, and witty, and they stayed with audience members long after graduation. As edited by Dan Wakefield, this book reads like a narrative in the unique voice that made Vonnegut a hero to readers and listeners of all ages. At times hilarious, razor-sharp, freewheeling, and deeply serious, these reflections are ideal for anyone undergoing what Vonnegut would call their "long-delayed puberty ceremony".
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This IS nice
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Ernest Hemingway on Writing
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An assemblage of reflections on the nature of writing and the writer from one the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Throughout Hemingway’s career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing - that it takes off “whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk’s feathers if you show it or talk about it”.
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Consider This
- Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different
- By: Chuck Palahniuk
- Narrated by: Chuck Palahniuk, Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 91
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 86
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Story5 out of 5 stars 85
In this spellbinding blend of memoir and insight, best-selling author Chuck Palahniuk shares stories and generous advice on what makes writing powerful and what makes for powerful writing. With advice grounded in years of careful study and a keenly observed life, Palahniuk combines practical advice and concrete examples from beloved classics, his own books, and a "kitchen-table MFA" culled from an evolving circle of beloved authors and artists, with anecdotes, postcards from the road, and much more.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Story Grid
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- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 16
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 15
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The Story Grid is a tool developed by editor Shawn Coyne to analyze stories and provide helpful editorial comments. It's like a CT Scan that takes a photo of the global story and tells the editor or writer what is working, what is not, and what must be done to make what works better and fix what's not. The Story Grid breaks down the component parts of stories to identify the problems. And finding the problems in a story is almost as difficult as the writing of the story itself (maybe even more difficult).
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3 out of 5 stars
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good story, but audiobook needs an editor
- By Jeroen de Jong on 12-17-19
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Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition
- A Guide to Narrative Craft
- By: Janet Burroway, Elizabeth Stuckey-French, Ned Stuckey-French
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Story5 out of 5 stars 12
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.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great content!
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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
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 62
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 62
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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great info! Could have used a sound editor.
- By L. Cullen on 09-17-19
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If This Isn't Nice, What Is?
- Advice for the Young
- By: Kurt Vonnegut
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins, Scott Brick
- Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 665
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 582
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 586
Master storyteller and satirist Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. For each occasion, Vonnegut’s words were unfailingly unique, insightful, and witty, and they stayed with audience members long after graduation. As edited by Dan Wakefield, this book reads like a narrative in the unique voice that made Vonnegut a hero to readers and listeners of all ages. At times hilarious, razor-sharp, freewheeling, and deeply serious, these reflections are ideal for anyone undergoing what Vonnegut would call their "long-delayed puberty ceremony".
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5 out of 5 stars
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This IS nice
- By nina on 03-23-14
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Ernest Hemingway on Writing
- By: Larry W. Phillips - editor
- Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
- Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
An assemblage of reflections on the nature of writing and the writer from one the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Throughout Hemingway’s career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing - that it takes off “whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk’s feathers if you show it or talk about it”.
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Zen in the Art of Writing
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 137
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 132
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 131
"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft - everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Evocative fuel for any Muse!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-22-18
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Murder Your Darlings
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- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 3
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
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.
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Stein on Writing
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,217
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 810
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 779
Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether newcomers or accomplished professionals. As Sol Stein, renowned editor, author, and instructor, explains, "This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions, how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place."
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent advice and examples for better writing.
- By Jane on 06-22-12
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How to Write Dazzling Dialogue
- The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript
- By: James Scott Bell
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- Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 44
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 36
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There is one sure-fire way of improving your novel fast...You may know the fundamentals of how to write fiction. You may be more than competent in plot, structure and characters. But if your dialogue is dull it will drag the whole story down...Don't sabotage your chances of selling your work to readers or publishers because the dialogue is unexceptional. Dazzle them with what the characters say. How to Write Dazzling Dialogue will give you the tools to do it.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Format and examples were extremely helpful.
- By Kathy Jackson on 02-05-20
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Bluebeard
- The Autobiography of Rabo Karabekian (1916-1988)
- By: Kurt Vonnegut
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 464
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 427
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 424
Meet Rabo Karabekian, a moderately successful surrealist painter who we meet late in life and see struggling (like all of Vonnegut's key characters) with the dregs of unresolved pain and the consequences of brutality. Loosely based on the legend of Bluebeard (best realized in Bela Bartok's one-act opera), the novel follows Karabekian through the last events in his life that is heavy with women, painting, artistic ambition, artistic fraudulence, and as of yet unknown consequence.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Kurt Vonnegut explores the arts
- By Darwin8u on 12-28-17
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Self-Discipline for Writers: Writing Is Hard, but You Too Can Write and Publish Books Regularly
- By: Martin Meadows
- Narrated by: John Gagnepain
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 41
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 41
Do you know that it’s almost impossible to find a successful writer who has published only one book? Virtually every widely acclaimed author has an extensive catalog of books. To join the elite ranks of those who write consistently, you need to learn how to stay prolific over the long term. And for that, the number one ingredient is self-discipline.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Writing Is Difficult But Rewarding!
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The Secrets of Story
- Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers
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- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 559
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 501
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 490
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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I want this guy to be my editor
- By Charley Dunn on 01-09-17
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On Writing
- A Memoir of the Craft
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Stephen King
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 10,551
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 8,733
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8,665
The prolific, perennially best selling author recounts his early life and writing struggles, gives advice on the crucial aspects of the writing art, and talks about his much-publicized, near-fatal accident.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Who needs a print edition when King reads King?
- By Cather on 11-18-05
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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
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
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Story5 out of 5 stars 12
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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent
- By Kevin Potter on 12-31-19
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David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words
- By: David Foster Wallace
- Narrated by: David Foster Wallace
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 238
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 213
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 210
Collected here for the first time are the stories and speeches of David Foster Wallace as read by the author himself. Over the course of his career, David Foster Wallace recorded a variety of his work in diverse circumstances - from studio recordings to live performances - that are finally compiled in this unique collection.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Absolute must for any DFW fan
- By Nik L on 11-25-15
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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
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 181
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 166
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Story5 out of 5 stars 160
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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding, practical advice for writers
- By Roy M. on 05-01-19
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A Man Without a Country
- By: Kurt Vonnegut
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 451
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 181
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Story4 out of 5 stars 178
One of the greatest minds in American writing, Kurt Vonnegut shares his often hilarious and always insightful reflections on America, art, politics and life in general. No matter the subject, Vonnegut will have you considering perspectives you may never have regarded. On the creative process: "If you want to really hurt your parents...the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding."
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3 out of 5 stars
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Good but uneven collection of essays
- By J. S. Koehler on 01-28-06
Publisher's Summary
The art and craft of writing by one of the few grandmasters of American literature, a bonanza for writers and listeners written by Kurt Vonnegut's former student.
Here is an entirely new side of Kurt Vonnegut, Vonnegut as a teacher of writing. Of course he's given us glimpses before, with aphorisms and short essays and articles and in his speeches. But never before has an entire book been devoted to Kurt Vonnegut the teacher. Here is pretty much everything Vonnegut ever said or wrote having to do with the writing art and craft, altogether a healing, a nourishing expedition. McConnell has outfitted us for the journey, and in these 37 chapters covers the waterfront of how one American writer brought himself to the pinnacle of the writing art, and we can all benefit as a result.
Kurt Vonnegut was one of the few grandmasters of American literature, whose novels continue to influence new generations about the ways in which our imaginations can help us to live. Few aspects of his contribution have not been plumbed - 14 novels, collections of his speeches, his essays, his letters, his plays - so this fresh view of him, written by a former student, is a bonanza for writers and listeners and Vonnegut fans everywhere.
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Grant Swalwell
- 01-06-20
Unlistenable
Narrarator sounds utterly insufferable. Couldn't even get through the intro. It's like they went to The New Yorker or a Cape Cod country club and asked for the most pompous person there.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael F.
- 02-15-20
The best book for the most people’s benefit. According to my assessment.
The greatest book on the craft for the greatest number of people of all trades. The representative of the writing trade instructs all the trades by describing the method of creation itself. Suzanne McConnell dances her melodies with Kurts melodies like two jazz master buddies riffing with a band.
Suzanne perspective as an editor, writer, and coconspirator with ‘Kurt’ .
Thank You Suzanne for bringing all of Kurt and students’ of Kurt’s knowledge and humorous wit, wisdom, knowledge, & harmony to life in this book.
Funny Welcoming Joyful Encouraging as hell, like having a friend in the car with you exploring the intelligent creator in every one of us.
Anyway I really like this book ok?
And if you even scarcely like Vonnegut’s books you will notice how good it feels to dig into the mud with this book.
MFW
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jez
- 02-13-20
Terrible narration
I couldn’t get past the first chapter because of the computer generated narration. I did persevere through the introduction and about 15 minutes of the first chapter—but no. The book may be good but narration staccato in its style and therefore hard to warm to. I do love Vonnegut so may look to buy the paperback if possible so that I can actually enjoy it. Only gave a 3 for story because I hadn’t finished the book. As I say the book may be fantastic, and I think the content gives me that impression, but narration spoils it.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 01-30-20
Pity the listener. And pity Vonnegut.
Suzanne McConnell's content comes across as little more than a desire for merit by proxy. Her waffle gets in the way of what could have been a wonderful compilation of his advice.
This was made worse by the narration. Karen White's croaky, bemused and ironic narration makes every sentence sound the same. Six hours in and six hours to go, and I've suffered through hearing the author's "italics my own" for the - no exageration - hundreth time. The first forty times she said this were like a hard poke in the arm, the second forty were like a slap on the face and the last twenty have felt like punch in the throat. I'm giving up before I get hurt.
We can't hear italics fools. Kindly modify the written text for a spoken recitation or don't bother