Posted by The Two Pillars of Storytelling
A great novel is honed, not hatched.
There are two pillars to effective storytelling: immersion and emotional draw. Immersion is what transports readers into your story world. Emotional draw is what keeps them there.
This book will take you deep into the craft workshop of the Darling Axe’s two senior editors. Michelle and David’s core editorial philosophy is simple: every element of a story must serve the reader’s experience.
About the author
Michelle Barker is an award-winning author and a senior editor with The Darling Axe. Her most recent novel, My Long List of Impossible Things (2020, Annick Press) is a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection. The House of One Thousand Eyes (2018, Annick Press) won numerous awards, including the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. She is also the author of A Year of Borrowed Men, finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Her poetry, short fiction and non-fiction have been published in literary reviews around the world. Michelle lives in Vancouver, Canada, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. Find her at MichelleBarker.ca
About the author
David Griffin Brown is an award-winning short fiction writer with over twenty years’ experience as an editor. He founded DarlingAxe.com in 2018, which has grown into a collective of industry experts, dev editors, line editors, proofreaders, and beta readers, with specialists across all genres. He holds a BA in anthropology and an MFA in creative writing. David lives in Victoria, Canada, on the traditional territory of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. Find him on Twitter/X under the handles @SeptimusBrown and @DarlingAxe.
First Pillar topics include:
the writer’s maxim of “show, don’t tell”
intersections of voice and POV
head hopping
setting
world building across genres
crafting a strong hook
backstory
immersive description
body language
dialogue
filter words or filter verbs
pacing at the level of scene and chapter
Second Pillar topics include:
intersections of plot and character
the protagonist’s narrative goal
the psychology of characterization
plot complexity or secondary plotlines
the art of narrative structure and the power of plot points
the hero’s journey and three-act structure
the connection between inciting incident and climax
causality in fiction
symbolism
theme
crafting the perfect ending
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“I highly recommend it for writers of all skill levels.”
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“Michelle Barker and David Griffin Brown have crafted a literary gem that deserves a permanent spot on every writer’s bookshelf.”
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“This book is a treasure trove for both aspiring writers and seasoned authors, offering profound insights into the art of creating immersive and emotionally resonant narratives.”
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“If you aspire to craft stories that captivate and resonate, this book is an indispensable companion.”
ISBN – 9781738076604
9 x 6– 180 pages – $19.95
Shipping $6.99 (SHIPS WITHIN CANADA ONLY)
GST $1.35
Total $28.29
