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The Story Book - a writers' guide to story development, principles, problem resolution and marketing
 
 
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The Story Book - a writers' guide to story development, principles, problem resolution and marketing [Kindle Edition]

David Baboulene (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
Print List Price: £9.99
Kindle Purchase Price: £2.06
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Product Description

Review

Fantastic. A bible for writers. --Bookshelf

A wonderful combination of technical knowledge combined with the recognition that story must come from the heart of the individual. --Lorraine Faulkner - Story Seminar Delegate

A fresh, crisp and incredibly user-friendly method for anyone in the business of story and script development - highly recommended. --Marion Pilowsky - Film Producer - Sleuth

Product Description

`Fantastic. A bible for writers.` Bookshelf

Author, scriptwriter, story consultant and Ph.D scholar of story theory, David Baboulene, helps you to understand what makes stories that grip. With invaluable new thinking on subtext plus insights on story success from:

Bob Gale: Legendary Hollywood scriptwriter and producer of the Back to the Future trilogy.

Lee Child: 16 million Jack Reacher novels sold in 43 countries and 29 languages.

Willy Russell: celebrated playwright and film maker of classics such as Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita, Blood Brothers...

John Sullivan: television comedy writing legend - Only Fools and Horses, Citizen Smith, Just Good Friends...

Simply a must-read for anyone wanting to understand how to turn ideas into stories that sell.
See all Product Description

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 960 KB
  • Print Length: 310 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Dreamengine Media Ltd; First Edition edition (1 Dec 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004G093BM
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #33,475 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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4.8 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As McKee's Story but more accessible 6 April 2011
By A. J. Silvers
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sub-titling this book "A Writer's Guide" is spot on and, being a writer, a creative writing degree graduate and an avid reader, I think it is this and so much more. For many Mckee's "Story" has been the bible for screenwriters and those interested in crafting a compelling story, though like many 'bibles' it can be heavy going at times. Having read through Baboulene's book twice in as many weeks I found that 'The Story Book' is far more accessible with lessons, tips and ideas that are instantly applicable to the journeyman writer.

Baboulene quickly covers the essential ground but then digs into the nuances that I feel allow you to really tell (and sell) a story: driving narrative with subtext and the power of privilege. His innovative use of a well known film throughout the book gives an interesting structure and a great frame of reference to the ideas, techniques and narrative theories put forward. Personally I think it is this coupling of narrative idea with an established and very successful film that gives the book it's edge. Theory observed in action is so much easier to understand, especially when dealing with the subtleties and slipperiness of language.

This is a book about crafting the tale, about fleshing out character based narrative to the point where the story is compelling, absorbing and ultimately very satisfying. From the lessons learned in these pages my redrafts have liberated my characters to the point where their stories now leap from the page to page and scene to scene. I strongly recommend this to anyone working on their story craft in general or a current screenplay or novel.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Approach to Writing 1 April 2011
By Calypso
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been on many creative writing courses and read several good texts on the subject. This book is outstanding. It is written in engaging style with real depth of story analysis. I particularly liked the practical examples throughout the book drawing the key points from literature and film. If you feel uncertain as to how to develop your story to its best potential the answers are here.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended. Excellent study of every aspect of storytelling. 13 Oct 2011
By Jay
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this on kindle and have to say it is one of the best books ever written on the subject. Ever. And I have read quite a few. I mean forget the reasonable price, this would still be worth buying if it cost £15.99. The author is not just a knowledgable writer but an effective teacher. The way subjects are broken down and explained really opens your eyes to all kinds of hidden depths involved in crafting a work of fiction.

Inside you will find a deep understanding of many different aspects of story building, with the kind of insight and analysis that a psychologist would bring to the subject. However, the book is not difficult reading. There are basic premises that are analyzed in great detail and complex thoroughness, and then very difficult aspects of storytelling that the author translates into easy, manageable concepts that will improve the way you both write fiction and understand it.

For anyone looking to learn the art of storytelling this book cannot afford to be missed. And for the ridiculously fair price - it's a brainy no-brainer.....Buy it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, someone with the right approach to a hard topic. 2 Oct 2011
By C. NEWPORT
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having started several projects but literally lost the plot in every case I realised that I lacked the skills (craft if you prefer) to keep a story on track. Some bits worked and others didn't and I couldn't see what the difference was. I lacked the skill of story telling and went in search of a guru.

This was the fourth book I'd read on the subject and I was beginning to feel like, maybe, I just wasn't cut out for this story telling lark. This book changed all that. David uses one consistent and well known example (Back to the Future) throughout the book. In my opinion this gives it an edge over Robert McKee's "Story" which uses many different examples, many of which were unfamiliar to me.

The book is really easy to grasp with very clear examples, including a few diagrams and pictures to illustrate the more complex concepts. It starts at the basics of how and why stories appeal to humans and makes a compelling argument for the fact that story is a vital mechanism in the emergence of human society. This may seem abstruse, even irrelevant but it's not. It is widely agreed that phonetic written languages developed independently in Mesopotamia (3200 BCE) and Mesoamerica (600 BCE) which makes a strong argument that story telling to pass information (and emotion) and make plans for future activity was an evolutionary imperative. But I digress.

Step-by-step David walks you through the structure of story. Critically though he is very clear that structure should be used more as a diagnostic tool than a means of "producing" the story. He covers the usual subjects of scenes, sequences, acts, inciting incidents and turning points.... Read more ›
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars This changes everything 3 Sep 2011
By Izzy Garland
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This honestly has had a big impact on my own writing. I have all kinds of higher education qualifications as a writer, but no course I've ever taken has ever gone into the philosophy of WHY we write, what we aim to achieve, and what people expect when they read. I read an article by David Baboulene in Writing Magazine which was very enlightening and referred to this book. So I just had to get the book... both the Kindle version AND the printed version. My whole approach has been re-set. Thank you David, if you ever read this review.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I wish I'd had this to read years ago. I'm already recommending this to other people. Now to put it into practice!
Published 8 days ago by Graham Brand
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book for Writers
Very interesting for budding writers to get a grasp of the techniques necessary for film and television script writing because it is a different world to novels
Published 3 months ago by L. Stribling
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
I found the product to be exactly as described and am very pleased with it - I would recommend you to my friends
Published 3 months ago by MR HORACE DAVENPORT
4.0 out of 5 stars Escape from literary jail
I have a lot of books on Creative Writing, mostly on Kindle. Really Kindle doesn't work for instructional books. I should have got a paper copy of this book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Icki Iqbal
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant tool for writers.
Thankfully, this book doesn't try to tell you how to write a bestseller or give you shortcuts that will enable you to write a script or manuscript in ten days. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Anne Oliver
5.0 out of 5 stars Hands down, the most practical book on writing I've ever read.
I've read a few - from Stephen King to free kindle downloads; I've read blog posts by successful writers and checked out documentaries on other successful writers. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Girl Geek Writer
4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but e-book needs more attention
As writing books go, there's nothing here that is earth-shattering or new but it is fairly extensive. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars Out of the tunnel.
I'm through the fog. All those years, and other books, trying to find the 'formula', and 'Eureka!', here it is. Read more
Published 13 months ago by R. Cornell
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear headed and insightful
This is probably the most useful "How to Write" book in my collection. The author's assertions that the real story is in the subtext (i.e. Read more
Published 14 months ago by P. E. Jacobs
5.0 out of 5 stars pure gold
perfect mix of theory and practical advice interwoven with insightful reference to successful writers and their work. Read more
Published 17 months ago by captain hadd0ck
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Popular Highlights

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Stories resonate with us when, either directly or through metaphor, they deal with a common conflict we all face – a conflict between id and super-ego. A good story embodies this conflict and shines a light on the route forwards for us in the real world. &quote;
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There are no less than ten types of knowledge gap, created through questions, dialogue, action, promise, subplot, subterfuge, implication and suggestion, misinterpretation, subconscious aims and through metaphor. &quote;
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what factors are present in every ‘good’ story, a measurable character progression up the hierarchy towards fulfilment would be a common factor. &quote;
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