14 Books like Character

The Secrets of Character

by Matt Bird • 2022

Plot draws them in. Hero keeps them there. A character-first toolkit for the opening ten.

4.10

278

🎭 Character Development ✍️ Fiction Writing 📄 First Pages

The Secrets of Character 96%

Plot draws them in. Hero keeps them there. A character-first toolkit for the opening ten.

by Matt Bird 2022

4.10

278 ratings

🎭 Character Development ✍️ Fiction Writing 📄 First Pages

Into the Woods

by John Yorke • 2013

Every story hides a fractal skeleton. From Greek tragedy to prestige TV, the bones are identical.

4.18

5k+

🔨 Dramatic Structure 🎬 Screenwriting Craft 📖 Narrative Theory

Into the Woods 96%

Every story hides a fractal skeleton. From Greek tragedy to prestige TV, the bones are identical.

by John Yorke 2013

4.18

5k+ ratings

🔨 Dramatic Structure 🎬 Screenwriting Craft 📖 Narrative Theory

Memo from the Story Department

by Christopher Vogler • 2011

How myths, archetypes, and vaudeville timing built the architecture of every great screenplay.

4.16

171

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🌀 Mythic Structure

Memo from the Story Department 96%

How myths, archetypes, and vaudeville timing built the architecture of every great screenplay.

by Christopher Vogler 2011

4.16

171 ratings

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🌀 Mythic Structure

The Story Solution

by Eric Edson • 2012

The 23-step structural blueprint that turns a screenplay into an emotional ride.

4.32

222

📜 Screenwriting 📐 Story Structure 🔄 Character Arcs

The Story Solution 95%

The 23-step structural blueprint that turns a screenplay into an emotional ride.

by Eric Edson 2012

4.32

222 ratings

📜 Screenwriting 📐 Story Structure 🔄 Character Arcs

Dynamic Characters

by Nancy Kress • 1998

Before you outline another scene, ask what your character fears. The answer is your plot.

4.09

562

🖊️ Fiction Writing 🎭 Character Development 👁️ Show Don'T Tell

Dynamic Characters 95%

Before you outline another scene, ask what your character fears. The answer is your plot.

by Nancy Kress 1998

4.09

562 ratings

🖊️ Fiction Writing 🎭 Character Development 👁️ Show Don'T Tell

Super Structure

by James Scott Bell • 2015

Your story's midpoint holds the key. A flexible framework of beats for outliners and pantsers alike.

4.40

942

✍️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🥁 Story Beats

Super Structure 95%

Your story's midpoint holds the key. A flexible framework of beats for outliners and pantsers alike.

by James Scott Bell 2015

4.40

942 ratings

✍️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🥁 Story Beats

Invisible Ink

by Brian McDonald • 2010

Forget formulas: the deep craft of story is a hidden framework of theme, pain, and dramatic irony.

4.38

2k+

🏗️ Story Structure 🧭 Theme As Foundation 🦋 Character Transformation

Invisible Ink 95%

Forget formulas: the deep craft of story is a hidden framework of theme, pain, and dramatic irony.

by Brian McDonald 2010

4.38

2k+ ratings

🏗️ Story Structure 🧭 Theme As Foundation 🦋 Character Transformation

Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters

by Michael Tierno • 2002

The screenwriting manual hiding inside a 2,300-year-old Greek text, decoded for your next draft.

3.84

639

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🏛️ Classical Poetics

Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters Summary

Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters 95%

The screenwriting manual hiding inside a 2,300-year-old Greek text, decoded for your next draft.

by Michael Tierno 2002

3.84

639 ratings

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🏛️ Classical Poetics

The Anatomy of Genres

by John Truby • 2022

Genres are philosophies disguised as story types. Crack the beats and you crack writing and life.

4.21

607

🏗️ Story Structure 📚 Genre Theory 🎬 Screenwriting

The Anatomy of Genres 95%

Genres are philosophies disguised as story types. Crack the beats and you crack writing and life.

by John Truby 2022

4.21

607 ratings

🏗️ Story Structure 📚 Genre Theory 🎬 Screenwriting

Writing for Emotional Impact

by Karl Iglesias • 2005

Only ink on the page. Emotional techniques for making a script reader feel what movie would.

4.27

710

🎬 Screenwriting Craft ❤️ Emotional Storytelling 📖 Reader Engagement

Writing for Emotional Impact 95%

Only ink on the page. Emotional techniques for making a script reader feel what movie would.

by Karl Iglesias 2005

4.27

710 ratings

🎬 Screenwriting Craft ❤️ Emotional Storytelling 📖 Reader Engagement

Action

by Robert McKee • 2022

Excitement on page and screen has rules. The villain’s scheme, not the spectacle, is its engine.

4.29

126

🎬 Modern Screenwriting 🏗️ Narrative Structure ⚙️ Genre Mechanics

Action 95%

Excitement on page and screen has rules. The villain’s scheme, not the spectacle, is its engine.

by Robert McKee 2022

4.29

126 ratings

🎬 Modern Screenwriting 🏗️ Narrative Structure ⚙️ Genre Mechanics

Story Genius

by Lisa Cron • 2016

Your reader's brain is wired for story. The neuroscience for building a novel that actually grips.

4.19

7k+

📖 Novel Writing ✍️ Writing Craft 🧠 Cognitive Science Of Story

Story Genius 95%

Your reader's brain is wired for story. The neuroscience for building a novel that actually grips.

by Lisa Cron 2016

4.19

7k+ ratings

📖 Novel Writing ✍️ Writing Craft 🧠 Cognitive Science Of Story

Screenwriting Is Filmmaking

by Brian Dunnigan • 2020

Write screenplays that think like a camera: the craft of making films from the page up.

3.33

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 👁️ Visual Storytelling 🏗️ Story Structure

Screenwriting Is Filmmaking 95%

Write screenplays that think like a camera: the craft of making films from the page up.

by Brian Dunnigan 2020

3.33

3 ratings

🎬 Screenwriting Craft 👁️ Visual Storytelling 🏗️ Story Structure

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

by Jessica Brody • 2018

A screenwriter's 15-beat method, adapted for novels: how to map a flawed hero's full transformation.

4.49

14k+

🧱 Story Structure 🗺️ Novel Plotting 🥁 Beat Sheets

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel 95%

A screenwriter's 15-beat method, adapted for novels: how to map a flawed hero's full transformation.

by Jessica Brody 2018

4.49

14k+ ratings

🧱 Story Structure 🗺️ Novel Plotting 🥁 Beat Sheets

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