Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence

Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets--and it's a game-changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper.
     The vast majority of writing advice focuses on "writing well" as if it were the same as telling a great story. This is exactly where many aspiring writers fail--they strive for beautiful metaphors, authentic dialogue, and interesting characters, losing sight of the one thing that every engaging story must do: ignite the brain's hardwired desire to learn what happens next. When writers tap into the evolutionary purpose of story and electrify our curiosity, it triggers a delicious dopamine rush that tells us to pay attention. Without it, even the most perfect prose won't hold anyone's interest.
     Backed by recent breakthroughs in neuroscience as well as examples from novels, screenplays, and short stories, Wired for Story offers a revolutionary look at story as the brain experiences it. Each chapter zeroes in on an aspect of the brain, its corresponding revelation about story, and the way to apply it to your storytelling right now.

• Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
• The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface
• The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
• Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
• The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller
• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
• Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story
• Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing
• Writing the Breakout Novel: Insider Advice for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level
• The Science of Storytelling