Story Engineering


Book Description

What makes a good story or a screenplay great? The vast majority of writers begin the storytelling process with only a partial understanding 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) • 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!




The Skin Horse


Book Description

When his owner grows too old to play with him any more, the Skin Horse is given to a children's hospital where a sick boy comes to love him.




Pivot


Book Description

“Looking to make a career change? Pivot is a book you will turn to again and again.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive If you've got the perfect job or business, congratulations. But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right one, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it's the only move that matters. What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake's solution: it's about small steps, not big leaps—and the answer is already right under your feet. This book will teach you how to pivot from a base of your existing strengths. Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups. Jenny Blake—a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker—shows how pivoting can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives, whether within their role, organization or business, or setting their sights on bigger shifts. When you pivot, you double down on your existing strengths and interests to move in a new, related direction, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. It empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career. Much like the lean business principles that took Silicon Valley by storm, pivoting is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position. No matter your age, industry, or bank account balance, Jenny's advice will help you move forward strategically. Her Pivot Method will teach you how to: · Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two. · Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis paralysis or compare and despair. Explore options by leveraging the network and experience you already have. · Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off so you don't need to have the entire answer up front. · Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction. Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have more frequent career conversations with their teams to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization. No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let's get better at it.




If You Want to Write


Book Description

Brenda Ueland was a journalist, editor, freelance writer, and teacher of writing. In If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit she shares her philosophies on writing and life in general. Ueland firmly believed that anyone can write, that everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say. In this book she explains how find that spark that will make you a great writer. Carl Sandburg called this book the best book ever written about how to write. Join the millions of others who've found inspiration and unlocked their own talent.




Silent River


Book Description




How to Write a Story


Book Description

How to Write a Story is packed full of amazing activities to get your creative juices flowing! Have fun with wow words, awesome adventures and epic endings! From coming up with crazy character names, creating the perfect plot and acting out your characters, How to Write a Story will have you writing exciting page turning stories that your friends and family won't be able to put down! Full of useful tips and inspiring ideas, How to Write a Story is jam packed full of story starters, plot changers, useful words and much much more!




How to be Brilliant at Writing Stories


Book Description

These worksheets focus on the process of writing - from the initial idea gathering to redrafting and the final product. The activities recognize that a sense of audience and a sense of purpose are crucial, and allow children to feel ownership of their stories and to understand that not all stories need to be published. The activities include: getting ideas; making notes; making a plot table; planning the beginning, middle and end; making up characters; using a dictionary and thesaurus; using speech marks; different kinds of story.




100 Days of Sunlight


Book Description

When 16-year-old poetry blogger Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident and loses her eyesight for 100 days, she feels like her whole world has been turned upside-down. Terrified that her vision might never return, Tessa feels like she has nothing left to be happy about. But when her grandparents place an ad in the local newspaper looking for a typist to help Tessa continue writing and blogging, an unlikely answer knocks at their door: Weston Ludovico, a boy her age with bright eyes, an optimistic smile...and no legs. Knowing how angry and afraid Tessa is feeling, Weston thinks he can help her. But he has one condition -- no one can tell Tessa about his disability. And because she can't see him, she treats him with contempt: screaming at him to get out of her house and never come back. But for Weston, it's the most amazing feeling: to be treated like a normal person, not just a sob story. So he comes back. Again and again and again. Tessa spurns Weston's "obnoxious optimism", convinced that he has no idea what she's going through. But Weston knows exactly how she feels and reaches into her darkness to show her that there is more than one way to experience the world. As Tessa grows closer to Weston, she finds it harder and harder to imagine life without him -- and Weston can't imagine life without her. But he still hasn't told her the truth, and when Tessa's sight returns he'll have to make the hardest decision of his life: vanish from Tessa's world...or overcome his fear of being seen. 100 Days of Sunlight is a poignant and heartfelt novel by author Abbie Emmons. If you like sweet contemporary romance and strong family themes then you'll love this touching story of hope, healing, and getting back up when life knocks you down.




How to be Brilliant at Making Books


Book Description

The making of books provides motivation and a purpose for writing. How to be Brilliant at Making Books gives children a greater appreciation and awareness of audience and helps them to develop their own critical evaluation skills. The 40 photocopiable worksheets in this book encourage a wide range of skills allowing children to compose, create, publish and respond to print. The technological side of book production involves lots of problem solving and engages children in gathering information, prioritizing, negotiating, decision-making and evaluating. The activities include: selecting an idea for a book; choosing a good title; creating an index; choosing and designing illustrations; producing preliminary pages; different types of books, e.g. pop-ups, books with windows, concertinas, pocket books, big books and diaries.




1001 Brilliant Writing Ideas


Book Description

How often do you hear your pupils cry 'what can I write about?' 1001 Brilliant Writing Ideas offers teachers endless ideas and inventive suggestions, opening up new opportunities for creative writing lessons. With over 1000 different ‘story-starters’ across a vast range of genres and narrative styles, this versatile book provides food for thought for pupils of a wide range of ages and abilities. This highly practical and richly illustrated photocopiable resource Addresses the ‘blank mind’ dilemma, offering pupils a plethora of story-writing ideas and suggestions Enables teachers to inspire pupils who struggle with creative writing Provides prompts to set ideas into motion, whilst leaving plenty of scope for original and creative thought Challenges pupils, encouraging them to use higher level thinking skills Offers mix and match stimulus pieces which can be used independently or put together to give pupils more or less support as required Any teacher whose inventiveness is flagging, and whose pupils are running out of ideas, will find this an essential classroom resource.