Who doesn’t love a good story? It has been said that within each of us are endless tales to tell, and many of us are eager to let those stories out into the world. Whether the pen touches the paper or the fingers press the computer keys, there’s something vividly romantic about the act of writing stories. But how, exactly, does one start a fiction piece? Do you just sit there and type while the muses whisper sweet nothings in your ear? Author Lauren Bingham is here to provide tips on how to write fiction for folks who are timid, terrified, or somewhere in between.

In Dialogue, Robert McKee offers in-depth analysis for how characters speak on the screen, on the stage, and on the page in believable and engaging ways. From Macbeth to Breaking Bad, McKee deconstructs key scenes to illustrate the strategies and techniques of dialogue. Dialogue applies a framework of incisive thinking to instruct the prospective writer on how to craft artful, impactful speech.

Does your mind blank in conversation and create awkward silence? Do you run out of things to say and struggle to keep dialogue flowing? (A) Conversation isn't scripted, (B) it's 100% unpredictable, and (C) it can be terrifying at times. How do you prepare for such a thing? By learning how to apply improv comedy techniques to roll with any punch and improve your conversations and social interactions.

Public speaking is the art of using spoken words to convey information or a message to an audience. Public speaking is part of public relations and business communication, attaching one's ideas or thoughts for others to understand. It can be anything from a meeting presentation to a press conference speech. This audiobook is a great guide that will help you to overcome your fear of public speaking and open up to the world. The audiobook will help you how to speak better in public and in front of groups, how to apply the principles of persuasion, how to deal with criticism and audience.

Networking events suck, but they can suck less. What to say and when to say to be likable, connect, and make a memorable impression. Actionable and applicable verbal maneuvers for just about every phase of conversation. From hello to goodbye, with strangers or old friends, you'll learn how to simply go deeper. No more: Interview mode, awkward silence, or struggling to hold people’s attention. Better Small Talk is a unique listen. Imagine the following situation: You've just put on your name tag, and you're approached by a stranger.

Are you stuck trying to write a novel? This audiobook goes straight to the point, putting theory in plain language, adding examples from blockbuster stories, and finishing each section with exercises designed to help you work with your characters to write a novel that excites you and your readers.

How many times have you gone through something and said “I could write a book about this!”? Now is the time to stop doubting and start planning! Just as every great meal starts with a recipe, every epic novel starts with an epic outline. But is an outline really necessary? Can’t you just wing it? Isn’t all that time on an outline better spent on actually writing? And doesn’t an outline just pour water on that spark of creativity? That’s what you may have heard…until now! Writing is like The Hare and the Tortoise. Slow and steady will always beat quick and careless.

In Sometimes the Magic Works, New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks shares his secrets for creating unusual, memorable fiction. Spanning topics from the importance of daydreaming to the necessity of writing an outline, from the fine art of showing instead of merely telling to creating believable characters who make readers care what happens to them, Brooks draws upon his own experiences, hard lessons learned, and delightful discoveries made.

Have you started a novel, only to get part way into the manuscript and find yourself stuck? Or do you have an idea for a novel, but aren't sure where to begin? Have you completed a first draft, but feel it doesn't quite have the luster of professional writing?

This audiobook will help you develop effective communication skills you can use in all aspects of your daily life: at home with your family, at work, with friends, and in every situation requiring interaction with other people. You will learn how to communicate lovingly and respectfully. You will develop self-confidence and influence. Above all, you will learn why just being an effective listener can instantly elevate your ability to communicate well.

Whether you simply want to jot down family folklore to share with future generations or wish to try your hand at writing a best-selling novel, Just Write! provides gentle yet realistic guidance for those who want to write their first book. With her humorous—yet realistic—explanations of the writing process, Lauren Bingham is here to help you make your first book become a reality. You’ll receive the encouragement you’ve been craving, as well as the empathy a new writer needs.

"Writing is structure,” William Goldman said, but too often aspiring writers plunge into their work without grasping this fundamental principle. Story structure is one of the most important concepts for a writer to understand - and ironically, one of the least frequently taught. In this book, New York Times best-selling author William Bernhardt explains the elements that make stories work, using examples spanning from Gilgamesh to The Hunger Games.

A Short Course In Creative Writing encompasses all the aspects that need to be considered when writing a creative writing piece. The lessons were originally written for regular evening classes; however, even though the students had hand-outs, they requested a digital book to reference with everything that they were taught.

When you think of unforgettable characters from books you’ve read, who comes to mind? James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O’Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes? These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction. They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination. But what exactly is it about them that keeps generations so invested in them? Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine. With this guide, you’ll find out exactly what they are.

Whether you are a novice writer or a veteran who has already had your work published, rejection is often a frustrating reality. Literary agents and editors receive and reject hundreds of manuscripts each month. While it's the job of these publishing professionals to be discriminating, it's the job of the writer to produce a manuscript that immediately stands out among the vast competition. And those outstanding qualities, says New York literary agent Noah Lukeman, have to be apparent from the first five pages.