Let’s Talk Story
Here’s my library of free resources on what a story really is, and how to write one.
Featured Resources
The Creative Penn Podcast
Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Write a Riveting Novel with Lisa Cron
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Writer Unboxed
The Shocking Truth About Info Dumps
Here’s the shocking thing, given the way writers are often told to think of backstory (that it slows the novel down; or worse, stops it altogether)…
The Writer
The Genius Behind Story Genius: Ten Writing Insights from Brain Science Guru Lisa Cron
Writer Unboxed
Why It’s Crucial to “Write Ugly”
When it comes to writing, you may have done everything you’ve been taught to do with utter perfection, and precisely because of that, it turns out you’ve written something that is flat, boring and uninvolving.
Browse by Topic
Select Interviews & Appearances
Busting the Biggest Writing Myths
Writer Unboxed:
▶ Why It’s Crucial to “Write Ugly”
▶ Unmasking the Muse
▶ Forget Theme! Instead Ask: “And so, what’s my point?”
▶ How to Listen to a Famous Author Talk About Writing
▶ Where Real Drama Comes From
▶ What “Let It Go” Really Means
▶ Writers: Beware of Good Books Unless . . .
▶ What Both Pantsing and Plotting Miss: The Real Story
▶ Why The Hero’s Journey is a Tourist Trap
▶ There Is No Safe Place
▶ It’s Hard to Own What You Believe
▶ A Modest Proposal to Pantsers: Don’t!
Writers in the Storm:
▶ What Does Likeable Really Mean?
▶ Story Genius for Pantsers
Writing Forward:
▶ The Myth of All You Can Eat Sensory Details
Compose Journal:
▶ Why Good Writers Sometimes Give Bad Advice
What are the biggest mistakes writers make?
Do you really know what a story is?
TEDx:
▶ Wired for Story
Writers Helping Writers:
▶ How Your Character’s Misbelief Drives the Plot
Quick and Dirty Tips (Grammar Girl):
▶ The Rules of Story
Writer Unboxed:
▶ 9 Tips For Writing a Really Good Shitty First Draft
What’s backstory and how can you use it to propel the story forward?
Writer Unboxed:
▶ The Shocking Truth About Info Dumps
▶ Does Your Protagonist Have Amnesia?
▶ What We’ve Been Taught About Backstory And Why It’s Wrong
Writers in the Storm:
▶ Story Genius on Backstory
How to Hack Your Reader’s Brain
Fiction University (Janice Hardy):
▶ Channeling The Reader’s Brain: What We Expect of Every Story
Writer Unboxed:
▶ Why Writers Are So Powerful
▶ 5 Reasons Why Readers Love Your Story
▶ What Grabs Readers: The Inside Story
How to Use Brain Science to Write a Riveting Novel
Writer Unboxed:
▶ Six Ways to Make Sure Your Reader’s Brain Syncs With Your Protagonist’s Brain
▶ Why We Are Wired For Story
Write to Done:
▶ How to Hook a Reader (with 7 Scientific Secrets)
Podcast: The Creative Penn:
▶ Story Genius
Using story to engage, persuade, and inspire in business and in life
Business / Persuasion / Marketing
Persuasion By The Pint:
▶ How to Use Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence
Business of Story:
▶ Episode 10, Your Audience is Wired for Story
The original crossover appearance, aimed squarely at business communicators and marketers.
Unmistakable Creative:
▶ How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life
Entrepreneurship and personal growth audience
Alain Guillot Show:
▶ Episode 273, How to Tell a Story as if Your Life Depends on It
Personal finance and entrepreneurship audience
The Agency Review:
▶ In-Depth Interview
on story, persuasion, politics, and marketing — specifically aimed at PR and communications professionals
Communications / Social Impact / Nonprofit
Mission Forward:
▶ Wired for Story with Lisa Cron
Hosted by Carrie Fox, CEO of a social impact communications firm, aimed at nonprofit and cause communicators
Singularity Weblog:
▶ Lisa Cron on Story or Die: Question the Story
Technology, AI, and the future of humanity audience
Workplace Learning / Talent Development
Beltway Broadcast:
▶ Association for Talent Development Metro DC Chapter
Specifically about applying story to workplace training and learning
Leadership / Creativity
Jennifer Louden Show:
▶ Episode 12, Using Story to Elevate Your Creativity and Change the World
Leadership and creativity audience
Would you like to work together?
Read the Books
“Lisa Cron has studied the science and architecture of powerful stories for decades. In Story or Die, she translates her knowledge into a compelling storytelling guide for anyone with an idea to spread or a cause to advance. If you want to change how others see the world, then this book will show you how.”