Story Structure: The Key to Successful Fiction (Red Sneaker Writers Book Series 1)

I've wanted to write fiction for the longest and its felt like I've been journeying through the woods in the middle of the night. Thankfully William Bernhardt wrote this series! I feel.well on my way to getting started ! Can't wait to read the rest !

This book is the bee's knees, and I went and bought "perfecting plot" as soon as I'd finished reading it. Of course, a good writer should get started with his writing once he's done reading this book, but I'm a procrastinator, and I'd like to improve both my plot and my structure before getting (re-)started on my current ms.First, the good:- The book is affordable, as are the other ones in this series.- The book is short, which means you can read it in half a day, do the exercises and then get to work.However, short does not mean "lacking information" it means "to the point". I've read too many short-ish books which felt incomplete, and this isn't one of them. I would definitely recommend it over the other 500pg tomes I've wasted my time on.Next, the excellent:- This book has made story structure quite clear in my mind. I think my books will greatly improve in the future thanks to this book. That's really the one thing that matters, and I don't agree with other reviewers who say the information provided is basic. I'd recommend this book to a beginning writer (duh) but also to someone more intermediate who has trouble with middles, or story smoothness and other things like that.Now, the bad:- Different people get different mileage out of different things. So I can't guarantee that this book is the one that'll set that light bulb off in your head.- I'm waiting for the next book to come out. Something on pacing, maybe? Something specifically about mysteries, and structure as it applies to whodunnits? I thought about not writing this review, because I'm a selfish person and don't like announcing when I've found something good. However, I'd like to tell the writer to write another book in this series, hence this review.If reading this review, my advice is: stop wasting your time and buy this book. It's a good one.Edit to add: In the last few days I've gone ahead and read just about all the books on plot/structure that I could get my grubby little hands on. This one stands head and shoulders above the rest. At least for me. It contains advice that's easy for me to apply and actually get my book structured right. YMMV, but if you're only going to buy one book on plot/structure, this is the one I recommend. (Yes, it doesn't contain information about pinch plots, but you can google that if you want. I write whodunnits, so pinch points aren't that relevant for me, but this book is.)

I'm a writer (C.H. Scarlett). I've been published by small pubs, but after getting my Rights back, I decided to go the "Indie" route-- where those books were concerned. For the past few years, I've been drifting. Writing, but drifting. I don't want to be with small pubs anymore. I want to go the next level. I want an agent. I want a traditional publisher. I want to quit my fulltime job and write fulltime. I've bought books on writing in the past, how to get published, blah, blah, blah. I walked away feeling as though I wasted my money. Whatever those books said, I already knew. So what am I doing wrong? Am I not cut out for this? By the time I finish a novel, I have piles of note books and binders, filled with hand written notes, plots, character -- whatevers. It takes me a long time to write a book while it takes other authors, a month or so. I was really starting to think I wasn't cut out for this. How can I be, if it takes this much work? This much time?Then I got this book. It jerked me right back to the basics. It used words I havent seen since I was in school-- protagonists, antagonists, acts, scenes and more. It was right to the point, instead of jerking me around page after page. And it talked about the hard work-- the work I have been doing-- which made me feel like I wasn't such an alien within a world of other faster Authors after all. However, it did give me a more simplified way of doing things. (I will be using those index cards, William Bernhardt!!!!)This book gives everything that it promises. And all the other writing books, written by William, are on my wish list. I havent made a living out of this yet -- even though I have years and years of trying under my belt-- but I am going into my next novel with this book on my mind.I already feel like I am more organized, and the path to that unwritten last page is so much more clear. I recommend this book to everyone wanting to write or trying to take their career to the next level. Who knows, maybe this is the year I catch me an Agent.

From concept to completion of a 95k word first draft in only 6 and 1/2 months utilizing The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. I also just completed one of William bernhardt's small group writers retreats and let me tell you, every construct that had been formed in my mind that "I can't be a writer and do what my favorite authors do," have been destroyed. Because I now know I can and nothing's going to stop me. No matter what stage of your writing career you are in, these books will help you succeed and grow.

This is one of a series of books on the development basic writing skills for the budding novelist. I’ve already read a considerable number of books on this subject and scanned through many more. These books stand out not just for the focus and clarity of the writing, but also the author’s very evident commitment to help people become better writers. So many of the books that I’ve seen are merely thinly disguised ego trips by the author, designed to impress the reader with their literary erudition. This author’s approach is quite different.His objective is to give the beginning writer a set of practical tools which they can put to work immediately, and just start writing. The use of each tool is covered in a separate book. At a later stage, a writer may go on to transcend these basic tools and concepts - but the most important thing is to start writing stuff which is not complete rubbish at the outset because of basic failings. These books have allowed me to make that start and not groan out loud as I read my latest creation. I’m sure I’ve seen a quote somewhere that you learn about writing by writing. So I still have a lot of writing ahead of me!

It is not common sense what you can find in this book.Even if you are a writer you may not know enough and then your story... sucks.I am happy I had a chance to read this book. It has opened my eyes to some things, that for many writers seem o obvious.If you do not know HOW to construct a good story-then you should get this book.If you know unconsciously but not consciously- then get this book.For me it was an educational pleasure!

This book teaches you the fundamental structure of novels really well. Some concepts like character turning points could have been more elaborately discussed.

Linguagem simples e objetiva...uma maravilha de se ler. Já estou comprando outro da coleção! Certamente minhas historias serão redigidas daqui para frente.

Helpful for a novice writer.