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SoBrief
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The Facts
by Philip Roth • 1988
A master of fiction tries to write the straight truth about his life, and discovers why he cannot.
3.70
1k+
The Facts Summary
The Facts 90%
A master of fiction tries to write the straight truth about his life, and discovers why he cannot.
by Philip Roth 1988
3.70
1k+ ratings
On Writing
by Ernest Hemingway • 1984
Write true, cut hard, and the reader will feel what you never said.
4.02
5k+
On Writing Summary
On Writing 89%
Write true, cut hard, and the reader will feel what you never said.
by Ernest Hemingway 1984
4.02
5k+ ratings
Aspects of the Novel
by E.M. Forster • 1927
A novelist dismantles fiction into its working parts: story, plot, and the characters who breathe.
3.80
5k+
Aspects of the Novel Summary
Aspects of the Novel 89%
A novelist dismantles fiction into its working parts: story, plot, and the characters who breathe.
by E.M. Forster 1927
3.80
5k+ ratings
Draft No. 4
by John McPhee • 2013
How a New Yorker writer earns every sentence: drafts, checking, silence, and a dictionary.
4.09
4k+
Draft No. 4 Summary
Draft No. 4 89%
How a New Yorker writer earns every sentence: drafts, checking, silence, and a dictionary.
by John McPhee 2013
4.09
4k+ ratings
Consider This
by Chuck Palahniuk • 2020
Most writing advice avoids the craft that actually builds authority, tension, and voice.
4.37
6k+
Consider This Summary
Consider This 89%
Most writing advice avoids the craft that actually builds authority, tension, and voice.
by Chuck Palahniuk 2020
4.37
6k+ ratings
The Lonely Voice
by Frank O'Connor • 1961
The short story speaks for the outsider the novel was never built to see.
3.89
246
The Lonely Voice Summary
The Lonely Voice 89%
The short story speaks for the outsider the novel was never built to see.
by Frank O'Connor 1961
3.89
246 ratings
Good Prose
by Tracy Kidder • 2013
Everything a Pulitzer winner and his editor know about writing nonfiction that people finish.
3.92
1k+
Good Prose Summary
Good Prose 89%
Everything a Pulitzer winner and his editor know about writing nonfiction that people finish.
by Tracy Kidder 2013
3.92
1k+ ratings
Q's Legacy
by Helene Hanff • 1985
A professor's lectures led to a London bookshop, twenty years of letters, and accidental fame.
4.05
2k+
Q's Legacy Summary
Q's Legacy 89%
A professor's lectures led to a London bookshop, twenty years of letters, and accidental fame.
by Helene Hanff 1985
4.05
2k+ ratings
Nonconformity
by Nelson Algren • 1996
Real writing means siding with the damned, risking obsession, and refusing to comfort.
4.07
268
Nonconformity Summary
Nonconformity 89%
Real writing means siding with the damned, risking obsession, and refusing to comfort.
by Nelson Algren 1996
4.07
268 ratings
About Writing
by Samuel R. Delany • 2006
The sentence, not the world, is science fiction's true unit of meaning. A master explains why.
4.26
459
About Writing Summary
About Writing 89%
The sentence, not the world, is science fiction's true unit of meaning. A master explains why.
by Samuel R. Delany 2006
4.26
459 ratings
Seldom Disappointed
by Tony Hillerman • 2001
Wounded infantryman, journalist, 45-year-old professor: the unlikely path to the Navajo mysteries.
4.01
794
Seldom Disappointed Summary
Seldom Disappointed 89%
Wounded infantryman, journalist, 45-year-old professor: the unlikely path to the Navajo mysteries.
by Tony Hillerman 2001
4.01
794 ratings
Telling True Stories
by Mark Kramer • 2007
Finding true stories, reporting from the inside, and building scenes that read like novels.
4.08
1k+
Telling True Stories Summary
Telling True Stories 89%
Finding true stories, reporting from the inside, and building scenes that read like novels.
by Mark Kramer 2007
4.08
1k+ ratings
Bird by Bird
by Anne Lamott • 1994
How to trap the stories inside you, one small, terrible draft at a time.
4.24
112k+
Bird by Bird Summary
Bird by Bird 89%
How to trap the stories inside you, one small, terrible draft at a time.
by Anne Lamott 1994
4.24
112k+ ratings
Several Short Sentences About Writing
by Verlyn Klinkenborg • 2012
Writing isn't about flow or formulas; it's about one clear sentence, then another.
4.13
4k+
Several Short Sentences About Writing Summary
Several Short Sentences About Writing 89%
Writing isn't about flow or formulas; it's about one clear sentence, then another.
by Verlyn Klinkenborg 2012
4.13
4k+ ratings
Outline
by Rachel Cusk • 2014
In Athens to teach writing, she listens to every story but tells none of her own.
3.67
72k+
Outline Summary
Outline 89%
In Athens to teach writing, she listens to every story but tells none of her own.
by Rachel Cusk 2014
3.67
72k+ ratings
Novelist as a Vocation
by Haruki Murakami • 2015
Originality is subtraction: how writing badly in English gave a Japanese novelist his voice.
3.89
19k+
Novelist as a Vocation Summary
Novelist as a Vocation 89%
Originality is subtraction: how writing badly in English gave a Japanese novelist his voice.
by Haruki Murakami 2015
3.89
19k+ ratings
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
by Nancy Kress • 2005
Viewpoint controls what your readers know, who they root for, and what the story finally means.
4.05
2k+
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint Summary
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint 89%
Viewpoint controls what your readers know, who they root for, and what the story finally means.
by Nancy Kress 2005
4.05
2k+ ratings
This Year You Write Your Novel
by Walter Mosley • 2007
Your unconscious writes the story. Give it ninety minutes a day and stop censoring.
3.81
2k+
This Year You Write Your Novel Summary
This Year You Write Your Novel 89%
Your unconscious writes the story. Give it ninety minutes a day and stop censoring.
by Walter Mosley 2007
3.81
2k+ ratings
The Art and Craft of Storytelling
by Nancy Lamb • 2008
Fiction's core toolkit: structure that moves, characters who breathe, and revision that polishes.
4.06
204
The Art and Craft of Storytelling Summary
The Art and Craft of Storytelling 89%
Fiction's core toolkit: structure that moves, characters who breathe, and revision that polishes.
by Nancy Lamb 2008
4.06
204 ratings
Wordcraft
by Jack R. Hart • 2021
Writing isn't magic. A step-by-step method for clear, powerful prose, from idea to final polish.
4.13
107
Wordcraft Summary
Wordcraft 89%
Writing isn't magic. A step-by-step method for clear, powerful prose, from idea to final polish.
by Jack R. Hart 2021
4.13
107 ratings
Why Write?
by Mark Edmundson • 2016
Writing is the art of becoming nobody's fool, especially your own.
3.65
222
Why Write? Summary
Why Write? 89%
Writing is the art of becoming nobody's fool, especially your own.
by Mark Edmundson 2016
3.65
222 ratings
The Art of Intimacy
by Stacey D'Erasmo • 2013
Fiction's real intimacy lives in the subjunctive, the white space, and the shared glance.
3.93
248
The Art of Intimacy Summary
The Art of Intimacy 89%
Fiction's real intimacy lives in the subjunctive, the white space, and the shared glance.
by Stacey D'Erasmo 2013
3.93
248 ratings
Steering The Craft
by Ursula K. Le Guin • 1998
Hear your prose, fix your grammar, and cut what drags: a master novelist's craft manual.
4.24
6k+
Steering The Craft Summary
Steering The Craft 89%
Hear your prose, fix your grammar, and cut what drags: a master novelist's craft manual.
by Ursula K. Le Guin 1998
4.24
6k+ ratings
The Art of Subtext
by Charles Baxter • 2007
What a character won't say, can't hear, and can't admit: the hidden engine of unforgettable fiction.
4.02
1k+
The Art of Subtext Summary
The Art of Subtext 88%
What a character won't say, can't hear, and can't admit: the hidden engine of unforgettable fiction.
by Charles Baxter 2007
4.02
1k+ ratings
A Writer's Diary
by Virginia Woolf • 1953
Virginia Woolf's diary: 23 years of teaching herself to write the novels that changed fiction.
4.17
7k+
A Writer's Diary Summary
A Writer's Diary 88%
Virginia Woolf's diary: 23 years of teaching herself to write the novels that changed fiction.
by Virginia Woolf 1953
4.17
7k+ ratings
Story Engineering
by Larry Brooks • 2011
Six storytelling skills and a four-part map that transform an idea into a novel that works.
4.10
3k+
Story Engineering Summary
Story Engineering 88%
Six storytelling skills and a four-part map that transform an idea into a novel that works.
by Larry Brooks 2011
4.10
3k+ ratings
How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II
by James N. Frey • 1994
Most novelists fail at the premise, not the prose. The craft rules for getting it right.
4.07
720
How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II Summary
How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II 88%
Most novelists fail at the premise, not the prose. The craft rules for getting it right.
by James N. Frey 1994
4.07
720 ratings
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
by George Saunders • 2021
Seven Russian classics, read one line at a time, reveal the hidden machinery of great fiction.
4.53
26k+
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain Summary
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain 88%
Seven Russian classics, read one line at a time, reveal the hidden machinery of great fiction.
by George Saunders 2021
4.53
26k+ ratings
On Writing Well
by William Zinsser • 1976
Your personality is the only writing tool: how to strip away everything that buries it.
4.23
31k+
On Writing Well Summary
On Writing Well 88%
Your personality is the only writing tool: how to strip away everything that buries it.
by William Zinsser 1976
4.23
31k+ ratings
Immediate Fiction
by Jerry Cleaver • 2002
A no-jargon writing method that centers on conflict and emotion, and how to finish the stuck draft.
4.14
755
Immediate Fiction Summary
Immediate Fiction 88%
A no-jargon writing method that centers on conflict and emotion, and how to finish the stuck draft.
by Jerry Cleaver 2002
4.14
755 ratings
You Are a Writer
by Jeff Goins • 2012
Before craft comes identity: a playbook for platform, audience, and the persistence to get read.
3.80
4k+
You Are a Writer Summary
You Are a Writer 88%
Before craft comes identity: a playbook for platform, audience, and the persistence to get read.
by Jeff Goins 2012
3.80
4k+ ratings
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer
by J. Michael Straczynski • 2021
Writer's block is a myth. Revise like a surgeon, diversify across media, and outlast the industry.
4.44
439
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer Summary
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer 88%
Writer's block is a myth. Revise like a surgeon, diversify across media, and outlast the industry.
by J. Michael Straczynski 2021
4.44
439 ratings
The Art of Fiction
by John Gardner • 1984
Master the craft that makes readers forget the page and live inside your story.
3.99
6k+
The Art of Fiction Summary
The Art of Fiction 88%
Master the craft that makes readers forget the page and live inside your story.
by John Gardner 1984
3.99
6k+ ratings
Refuse to Be Done
by Matt Bell • 2022
Finish your novel in three drafts: a rough discovery, a full rewrite, and a layered polish.
4.43
2k+
Refuse to Be Done Summary
Refuse to Be Done 88%
Finish your novel in three drafts: a rough discovery, a full rewrite, and a layered polish.
by Matt Bell 2022
4.43
2k+ ratings
The Writing Life
by Annie Dillard • 1989
The work leads, the writer follows, and most of what you write must be destroyed.
3.98
18k+
The Writing Life Summary
The Writing Life 88%
The work leads, the writer follows, and most of what you write must be destroyed.
by Annie Dillard 1989
3.98
18k+ ratings
How to Grow a Novel
by Sol Stein • 1999
The editor's craft playbook: what makes readers abandon a novel, and how to keep them turning pages.
4.06
845
How to Grow a Novel Summary
How to Grow a Novel 88%
The editor's craft playbook: what makes readers abandon a novel, and how to keep them turning pages.
by Sol Stein 1999
4.06
845 ratings
The Anatomy of Story
by John Truby • 2007
The organic alternative to formula: how character, plot, and theme grow from a single premise's DNA.
4.25
7k+
The Anatomy of Story Summary
The Anatomy of Story 88%
The organic alternative to formula: how character, plot, and theme grow from a single premise's DNA.
by John Truby 2007
4.25
7k+ ratings
Água Viva
by Clarice Lispector • 2012
A painter writes, chasing the instant that is always now and already gone.
4.25
26k+
Água Viva Summary
Água Viva 88%
A painter writes, chasing the instant that is always now and already gone.
by Clarice Lispector 2012
4.25
26k+ ratings
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
Super Structure Summary
Super Structure 88%
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
Damn Fine Story
by Chuck Wendig • 2017
Storytelling starts when a character's world breaks. The tools for what comes next.
4.36
1k+
Damn Fine Story Summary
Damn Fine Story 88%
Storytelling starts when a character's world breaks. The tools for what comes next.
by Chuck Wendig 2017
4.36
1k+ ratings
Dialogue
by Gloria Kempton • 2004
Stilted dialogue comes from writing it, not channeling it. Make characters speak for themselves.
3.97
1k+
Dialogue Summary
Dialogue 88%
Stilted dialogue comes from writing it, not channeling it. Make characters speak for themselves.
by Gloria Kempton 2004
3.97
1k+ ratings
How Fiction Works
by James Wood • 2008
How do novels create the illusion of a thinking mind? A master critic explains the techniques.
3.99
8k+
How Fiction Works Summary
How Fiction Works 88%
How do novels create the illusion of a thinking mind? A master critic explains the techniques.
by James Wood 2008
3.99
8k+ ratings
5,000 Words Per Hour
by Chris Fox • 2015
The average writer produces 500 words an hour. Here's how to hit ten times that.
4.19
3k+
5,000 Words Per Hour Summary
5,000 Words Per Hour 88%
The average writer produces 500 words an hour. Here's how to hit ten times that.
by Chris Fox 2015
4.19
3k+ ratings
Writing the Memoir
by Judith Barrington • 1996
The memoirist's craft: picking your thread, finding your voice, and shaping the truth into story.
4.04
715
Writing the Memoir Summary
Writing the Memoir 88%
The memoirist's craft: picking your thread, finding your voice, and shaping the truth into story.
by Judith Barrington 1996
4.04
715 ratings
If You Want to Write
by Brenda Ueland • 2012
Writing is not a gift for the few. It is a birthright you talked yourself out of.
4.12
9k+
If You Want to Write Summary
If You Want to Write 88%
Writing is not a gift for the few. It is a birthright you talked yourself out of.
by Brenda Ueland 2012
4.12
9k+ ratings
The Art of X-Ray Reading
by Roy Peter Clark • 2016
How to read a novel and come away with a toolbox, not just a story.
4.04
1k+
The Art of X-Ray Reading Summary
The Art of X-Ray Reading 88%
How to read a novel and come away with a toolbox, not just a story.
by Roy Peter Clark 2016
4.04
1k+ ratings
How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career
by James Scott Bell • 2016
One moment, properly placed, can make a short story unforgettable and launch a career.
3.87
743
How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career Summary
How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career 88%
One moment, properly placed, can make a short story unforgettable and launch a career.
by James Scott Bell 2016
3.87
743 ratings
Storycraft
by Jack R. Hart • 2011
Journalists can deploy every fiction technique except making things up. A veteran editor shows how.
4.25
1k+
Storycraft Summary
Storycraft 88%
Journalists can deploy every fiction technique except making things up. A veteran editor shows how.
by Jack R. Hart 2011
4.25
1k+ ratings
Storyteller
by Kate Wilhelm • 2005
Twenty-seven years of Clarion distilled: character drives story, and every word must earn its place.
3.93
350
Storyteller Summary
Storyteller 88%
Twenty-seven years of Clarion distilled: character drives story, and every word must earn its place.
by Kate Wilhelm 2005
3.93
350 ratings
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+
Story Genius Summary
Story Genius 88%
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
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