Story Engineering: Mastering the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing

Written by Larry Brooks

Narrated by Chris Sorensen

The vast majority of writers begin the storytelling process with only a partial understanding of where to begin. Some labor their entire lives without ever learning that successful stories are as dependent upon good engineering as they are artistry. But the truth is, unless you are master of the form, function, and criteria of successful storytelling, sitting down and pounding out a first draft without planning is an ineffective way to begin.

Story Engineering starts with the criteria and the architecture of storytelling, the engineering and design of a story-and uses it as the basis for narrative. The greatest potential of any story is found in the way six specific aspects of storytelling combine and empower each other on the page. When rendered artfully, they become a sum in excess of their parts.

You'll learn to wrap your head around the big pictures of storytelling at a professional level through a new approach that shows how to combine these six core competencies, which include four elemental competencies of concept, character, theme, and story structure (plot) and two executional competencies of scene construction and writing voice. The true magic of storytelling happens when these six core competencies work together in perfect harmony. And the best part? Anyone can do it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Sep 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705253724

Larry Brooks

Larry Brooks is the author of six critically praised novels, including USA Today bestseller Darkness Bound, the Publishers Weekly “Best Books of 2004” novel Bait and Switch, and the critically praised Deadly Faux, as well as the bestselling writing books Story Engineering: Mastering the Six Core Competencies of Successful Writing and Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling. Brooks teaches at writers’ conferences nationally and internationally, and is the creator of Storyfix.com, named three years running to the Writers Digest “101 Best Websites for Writers” list. He lives in Arizona.

Reviews for Story Engineering

[cat-in-the-bag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a clear and detailed book for beginners. I'm only giving it 4 stars because there's some filler in the book, especially at the start. However, if you can endure the author's bragging about the Six Core Competences every now and then, the book is definitely worth reading.

[mars gars · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

so so so bad. all filler. nothing of value. terrible