&“So often people ask me if there&’s a book on story I can recommend. This is the one. I can&’t recommend it highly enough.&”––Alexa Junge, writer/producer, Friends, Sex and the City, The West Wing A master class of 27 lessons, drawn from 27 diverse narratives, for novelists, storytellers, filmmakers, graphic designers, and more. Author Daniel Joshua Rubin unlocks the secrets of what makes a story work, and then shows how to understand and use these principles in your own writing. The result is &“an invaluable resource&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), offering priceless advice like escalate risk, with an example from Pulp Fiction. Write characters to the top of their intelligence, from the Eminem song &“Stan.&” Earn transformations, from Alison Bechdel&’s Fun Home. Attack your theme, from The Brothers Karamazov. Insightful, encouraging, filled with attitude, and, as Booklist puts it, &“perfect for any writer looking to ensure their stories operate and resonate at the top of their potential,&” this book gives contemporary storytellers of all kinds a lifeline of inspiration and relatable instruction. &“[The] new bible of lessons and practices for creators.&”––Library Journal &“Not a &‘how-to,&’ thank God, but a &‘here&’s why.&’ Writers of all levels of experience will benefit from reading––and then rereading––this elegant exploration of the principles of storytelling.&”––Traci Letts, Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright &“A godsend for storytellers in all media. It will help you decide what to write and then show you, step by step, how to tackle virtually any problem you face.&”––Anna D. Shapiro, Tony Award-winning director, August: Osage County
