[KMU]∎ Download Gratis Story Trumps Structure How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules eBook Steven James Donald Maass

Story Trumps Structure How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules eBook Steven James Donald Maass

Download As PDF : Story Trumps Structure How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules eBook Steven James Donald Maass

Story Trumps Structure How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules eBook Steven James Donald Maass

I’m currently writing my tenth novel, and have read several dozen writing books, most of which were helpful. Some were excellent. I understand the concepts of plot, three-act structure, archetypes, motifs, symbolism, etc. But those are analytical terms, useful for studying a work of fiction AFTER it’s been written. The author recommends that you break the rules espoused in many of these books. Not ALL the rules. Just some of the “most important” ones.

For example (I’m paraphrasing):

OUTLINE RULE: You must create a detailed outline before you begin to write, otherwise you’ll end up wasting time and throwing away a lot of pages.
TRUTH: You’ll waste time writing the outline, and then waste more time rewriting the outline when your characters want to take the story in directions you couldn’t have anticipated.

THREE-ACT RULE: Your story must have three acts with specific plot points.
TRUTH: If you force your characters to stay within rigid boundaries, you may well end up with a cookie-cutter story that lacks momentum.

HOOK RULE: You must “hook” readers by blowing them away with your first sentence/paragraph/page or you will lose them.
TRUTH: You do need to “hook” readers early on—that much is true. However, if your first chapter explodes with over-the-top excitement, Chapter 2 may seem like a dud in comparison, and you’ll likely lose readers by Chapter 3. Instead, the tension must continually build from the first sentence to the climax.

THEME RULE: You must determine the theme of your story before you start writing. What’s it about? What’s the point you’re trying to make?
TRUTH: If your story can be boiled down to one or two sentences, why write the book?

Like a good novel, the value of this book cannot be condensed into a few paragraphs. I urge you to read every page and let it soak in, and then follow the author’s advice and create your story organically. Then you can analyze the structure if you like—after it’s written.


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Story Trumps Structure How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules eBook Steven James Donald Maass Reviews

At long last after reading a shelf full of how to books, i found this it is the finest; it covers the so-- long neglected element of a novel -- the story. Other books treated , and over treated, the elements such as character, plotting, dialogue, etc. Fine, but they missed what this book covers . They neglected the most important element. They snub the story.,
Mr. James is a fine writer, as I've discovered in reading two of his books--- the knight and the bishop. He demonstrates that what he teaches, he uses, and very well.
A big plus with story trumps structure is the tone he uses. He comes across as warm, friendly, but intelligent.
My collection of how to books on writing must be over a hundred dollars, yet this latest is the crowning jewel,
I've read a lot of books on writing recently, and grown frustrated trying to follow all the rules AT AN EXACT PERCENTAGE POINT YOU MUST ... EVERY SCENE MUST ... YOUR CHARACTERS MUST NOT ... All the joy went out of writing as I struggled to banish my instinct and follow a tight regimen. That might work perfectly well for some authors, but it only served to confuse me and turn writing into a grueling task. One of my friends highly recommended this book. She promised it wasn't filled with a complicated formula and strict rules and she was right! This is a book for those who want to hone their natural instincts and get the book written FIRST, then go back and tweak it in ways that make sense. I highlighted a lot of points and I'm planning to read through those again and again, until they are firmly fixed in my mind. This is the last book I will buy on writing - I've found my guide. Best of all, since reading it, I have rediscovered my love of writing. Thank you Steven James!
I have read many resources on the craft of writing. From these I have gleaned, and I’m sure missed much valuable information. However, I do not believe I have read anything as valuable to the development of a quality story as the book Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. I’ve read several of this author’s novels and love his engaging and suspenseful writing. This book brings an under-the-hood look at his thought process while creating those enthralling stories.

So much has been written about plotting, outlining, creating backstory, point of view (POV), grammatical good and bad, and on and on it goes. As its title suggests, this isn’t that book. Instead, Story Trumps Structure is a guide to really thinking through your story. How do you escalate tension? How do you create it in the first place? And, why do you need it? It guides you to think through your plot twists, overall and in each scene. There are many other valuable story considerations presented, such as cause-effect, story progression, and the value of organic writing, just to name a few.

The book also examines character development. This is the best, if not only, book I’ve read on character status, and the value varying status between characters. There are other character considerations, which I have observed in other resources, such as quirks, transformation, uniqueness, and attitude. But, even in these more common considerations, his approach is fresh and effective. I also really enjoyed his discussion of character intention.

I read this book, as I often do, between the first draft of my next novel and the rewrite process. I believe Steven’s insights will prove invaluable in taking my own writing to the next level. I only wish I had read this book before writing my first novel. Yes, I have much to learn about my craft, as I believe we all do.

This book will remain on my writing desk for years to come and I give it a “14 dog-eared pages” rating!
I’m currently writing my tenth novel, and have read several dozen writing books, most of which were helpful. Some were excellent. I understand the concepts of plot, three-act structure, archetypes, motifs, symbolism, etc. But those are analytical terms, useful for studying a work of fiction AFTER it’s been written. The author recommends that you break the rules espoused in many of these books. Not ALL the rules. Just some of the “most important” ones.

For example (I’m paraphrasing)

OUTLINE RULE You must create a detailed outline before you begin to write, otherwise you’ll end up wasting time and throwing away a lot of pages.
TRUTH You’ll waste time writing the outline, and then waste more time rewriting the outline when your characters want to take the story in directions you couldn’t have anticipated.

THREE-ACT RULE Your story must have three acts with specific plot points.
TRUTH If you force your characters to stay within rigid boundaries, you may well end up with a cookie-cutter story that lacks momentum.

HOOK RULE You must “hook” readers by blowing them away with your first sentence/paragraph/page or you will lose them.
TRUTH You do need to “hook” readers early on—that much is true. However, if your first chapter explodes with over-the-top excitement, Chapter 2 may seem like a dud in comparison, and you’ll likely lose readers by Chapter 3. Instead, the tension must continually build from the first sentence to the climax.

THEME RULE You must determine the theme of your story before you start writing. What’s it about? What’s the point you’re trying to make?
TRUTH If your story can be boiled down to one or two sentences, why write the book?

Like a good novel, the value of this book cannot be condensed into a few paragraphs. I urge you to read every page and let it soak in, and then follow the author’s advice and create your story organically. Then you can analyze the structure if you like—after it’s written.