How NOT to Write a Story: An Interview with Lisa Cron

EPISODE 229I

Today's guest is story coach Lisa Cron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius, returning to the show to talk about editing your first draft and why NaNoWriMo is not the best way to write your story.

Lisa is known for approaching story through brain science, helping writers craft stories that will impact readers. Her new book comes out in March, Story or Die: Why Story Is the Only Way to Engage, Persuade, and Inspire — and How to Use Brain Science to Create One That Will.

Lisa explains what story is not — it's not about beautiful writing, and it's not just a plot, a series of things that happen. And it's certainly not about a word count goal. But when people are taught that this is how you write a book, that explains why more than 9 out of 10 books are started but never finished, and more than 9 out of 10 finished books don't get picked up by publishers.

Listeners will be encouraged not to give up, to understand how they can write a great book by thinking about story differently. This applies to novelists, of course, but it also applies to anyone trying to share information in a way that convinces others to change their minds or act on what they learn. A fascinating interview that will help and encourage writers of every kind!

You can learn more about Lisa and how to work with her at her website, http://wiredforstory.com/, and her books are available everywhere.