Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow
A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow
Buy for $20.00
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Steve Almond
-
By:
-
Steve Almond
About this listen
The long-awaited craft book from Steve Almond, based on three decades of writing, failing, and trying again.
In Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow, Steve Almond shares the insights gleaned from three decades as a beloved teacher and mentor, and a considerably less-beloved literary rabble rouser. His tone is irreverent. His ideas are iconoclastic. And his approach is stubbornly, radically, empathic. The goal is to explode the well-meaning but misguided myths that hold us back from writing our deepest and most honest work, to awaken the joys of storytelling while also confronting how grueling the process can be. Truth features chapters on plot, character, and chronology, but travels far beyond the earnest aims of most creative writing books, with essays about humor, sex, obsession, and writer’s block, as well as prompts to generate new work and a rollicking Frequently Asked Questions section. You’ll never think about writing the same way again.
©2024 Steve Almond (P)2024 ZandoListeners also enjoyed...
-
Novelist as a Vocation
- By: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel - translator, Ted Goossen - translator
- Narrated by: Kotaro Watanabe
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 157
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 121
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 119
In this engaging book, the internationally best-selling author and famously private writer Haruki Murakami shares with listeners his thoughts on the role of the novel in our society; his own origins as a writer; and his musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire other writers, artists, and musicians.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Love Murakami - Struggled with this Narrator
- By Harry Bartle on 11-30-22
By: Haruki Murakami, and others
-
Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- By: Matt Bell
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
many great tips
- By lauren on 06-30-24
By: Matt Bell
-
Writing for Emotional Impact
- Advanced Dramatic Techniques to Attract, Engage, and Fascinate the Reader from Beginning to End
- By: Karl Iglesias
- Narrated by: Karl Iglesias
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 130
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
There are three kinds of feelings when reading a story: boredom, interest, and wow! To become a successful writer, you must create the wow feeling on as many pages as possible, and this requires writing that engages the reader emotionally. In his best-selling book, screenwriter Karl Iglesias explored the working habits of A-list Hollywood scribes. Now, he breaks new ground by focusing on the psychology of the reader.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best audiobook by far for writing screenplays
- By FilmmakerSuperNova on 07-04-20
By: Karl Iglesias
-
From Where You Dream
- The Process of Writing Fiction
- By: Robert Olen Butler, Janet Burroway - editor, Janet Burroway - introduction
- Narrated by: Robert Olen Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Robert Olen Butler, author of Perfume River, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, and A Small Hotel, teaches graduate fiction at Florida State University—his version of literary boot camp. In From Where You Dream, Butler reimagines the process of writing as emotional rather than intellectual and tells writers how to achieve the dream space necessary for composing honest, inspired fiction.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Bullseye for Writers (& Other Short Stories)
- By Doug on 06-19-23
By: Robert Olen Butler, and others
-
The Art of Dramatic Writing
- Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives
- By: Lajos Egri
- Narrated by: Troy W. Hudson
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 3
Practical and instructive, Egri provides a framework for writers to analyze and enhance their work. Numerous examples from classical and contemporary literature illustrate his principles, making the book a theoretical guide and hands-on manual for improving storytelling skills. "The Art of Dramatic Writing" has left a lasting impact, influencing generations of writers and remaining a staple in creative writing programs. Its enduring relevance lies in its timeless principles, applicable across genres and mediums.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant and essential for understanding literature.
- By Dr. Erik von Wodtke on 09-11-24
By: Lajos Egri
-
1000 Words
- A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round
- By: Jami Attenberg
- Narrated by: Jami Attenberg, Kamali Minter, Joy Osmanski, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgement, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing book on craft!!!
- By Inna on 02-29-24
By: Jami Attenberg
-
Novelist as a Vocation
- By: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel - translator, Ted Goossen - translator
- Narrated by: Kotaro Watanabe
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 157
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 121
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 119
In this engaging book, the internationally best-selling author and famously private writer Haruki Murakami shares with listeners his thoughts on the role of the novel in our society; his own origins as a writer; and his musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire other writers, artists, and musicians.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Love Murakami - Struggled with this Narrator
- By Harry Bartle on 11-30-22
By: Haruki Murakami, and others
-
Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- By: Matt Bell
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
many great tips
- By lauren on 06-30-24
By: Matt Bell
-
Writing for Emotional Impact
- Advanced Dramatic Techniques to Attract, Engage, and Fascinate the Reader from Beginning to End
- By: Karl Iglesias
- Narrated by: Karl Iglesias
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 130
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 129
There are three kinds of feelings when reading a story: boredom, interest, and wow! To become a successful writer, you must create the wow feeling on as many pages as possible, and this requires writing that engages the reader emotionally. In his best-selling book, screenwriter Karl Iglesias explored the working habits of A-list Hollywood scribes. Now, he breaks new ground by focusing on the psychology of the reader.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best audiobook by far for writing screenplays
- By FilmmakerSuperNova on 07-04-20
By: Karl Iglesias
-
From Where You Dream
- The Process of Writing Fiction
- By: Robert Olen Butler, Janet Burroway - editor, Janet Burroway - introduction
- Narrated by: Robert Olen Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Robert Olen Butler, author of Perfume River, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, and A Small Hotel, teaches graduate fiction at Florida State University—his version of literary boot camp. In From Where You Dream, Butler reimagines the process of writing as emotional rather than intellectual and tells writers how to achieve the dream space necessary for composing honest, inspired fiction.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Bullseye for Writers (& Other Short Stories)
- By Doug on 06-19-23
By: Robert Olen Butler, and others
-
The Art of Dramatic Writing
- Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives
- By: Lajos Egri
- Narrated by: Troy W. Hudson
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 3
Practical and instructive, Egri provides a framework for writers to analyze and enhance their work. Numerous examples from classical and contemporary literature illustrate his principles, making the book a theoretical guide and hands-on manual for improving storytelling skills. "The Art of Dramatic Writing" has left a lasting impact, influencing generations of writers and remaining a staple in creative writing programs. Its enduring relevance lies in its timeless principles, applicable across genres and mediums.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brilliant and essential for understanding literature.
- By Dr. Erik von Wodtke on 09-11-24
By: Lajos Egri
-
1000 Words
- A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round
- By: Jami Attenberg
- Narrated by: Jami Attenberg, Kamali Minter, Joy Osmanski, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgement, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing book on craft!!!
- By Inna on 02-29-24
By: Jami Attenberg
-
Writing on Empty
- A Guide to Finding Your Voice
- By: Natalie Goldberg
- Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 10
Natalie Goldberg has been writing for the past fifty years. But at the beginning of the pandemic, she suddenly wasn’t able to write anymore. Her imaginative wellspring had dried up, and she was forced to ask herself: what do I do when what has always worked for me doesn’t work anymore? In this beautifully written, inspiring personal account, Natalie shares her harrowing journey out of creative paralysis and back onto the page.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A zen -tour de force!
- By Innocent Bystander on 07-24-24
By: Natalie Goldberg
-
How to Write Like a Writer
- A Sharp and Subversive Guide to Ignoring Inhibitions, Inviting Inspiration, and Finding Your True Voice
- By: Thomas C. Foster
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
The New York Times bestselling author of the beloved classic How to Read Literature Like a Professor teaches you how to write everything from a report for your community association to a meaningful memoir in this masterful and engaging guide.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
One of the best writing books I have read
- By TJ Schreiber on 09-19-22
By: Thomas C. Foster
-
Craft in the Real World
- Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping
- By: Matthew Salesses
- Narrated by: Matthew Salesses
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 36
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 35
The traditional writing workshop was established with white male writers in mind; what we call craft is informed by their cultural values. In this bold and original examination of elements of writing - including plot, character, conflict, structure, and believability - and aspects of workshop - including the silenced writer and the imagined reader - Matthew Salesses asks questions to invigorate these familiar concepts. He upends Western notions of how a story must progress.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Utterly Useless
- By Courtney Withers on 09-23-23
By: Matthew Salesses
-
Hell Yeah or No
- What’s Worth Doing
- By: Derek Sivers
- Narrated by: Derek Sivers, Naina Kader
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 111
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 95
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 95
Overwhelmed? If you feel anything less than “hell yeah!” about something, say no. We say yes too often. By saying no to almost everything, you leave space and time in your life to throw yourself completely into the few things that matter most.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
AUDIO BOOK BUYER BEWARE!
- By The Intellectual Capitalist® on 04-14-24
By: Derek Sivers
-
The Art of Brevity
- Crafting the Very Short Story
- By: Grant Faulkner, Megan Giddings - foreword
- Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story3 out of 5 stars 2
With increased compression, every word, every sentence matters more. A writer must learn how to form narratives around caesuras and crevices instead of strings of connections, to move a story through the symbolic weight of images, to master the power of suggestion. With elegant prose, deep readings of other writers, and scaffolded writing exercises, The Art of Brevity takes the listener on a lyrical exploration of compact storytelling, guiding listeners to heighten their awareness of not only what appears on the page but also what doesn't.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not what I was expecting
- By MAG on 04-17-24
By: Grant Faulkner, and others
-
Draft No. 4
- On the Writing Process
- By: John McPhee
- Narrated by: John McPhee
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 248
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 208
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 209
Draft No. 4 is an elucidation of the writer's craft by a master practitioner. In a series of playful but expertly wrought essays, John McPhee shares insights he's gathered over his career and refined during his long-running course at Princeton University, where he has launched some of the most esteemed writers of several generations. McPhee offers a definitive guide to the crucial decisions regarding structure, diction, and tone that shape nonfiction pieces and presents extracts from some of his best-loved work, subjecting them to wry scrutiny.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
McPhee is the Craft
- By Darwin8u on 09-19-17
By: John McPhee
-
What About the Baby?
- Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction
- By: Alice McDermott
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 7
What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction gathers the best-selling novelist Alice McDermott’s pithiest wisdom about her chosen art, acquired over a lifetime as an acclaimed writer and teacher of writing.
By: Alice McDermott
-
Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t
- And Other Tough-Love Truths to Make You a Better Writer
- By: Steven Pressfield
- Narrated by: Steven Pressfield
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 676
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 560
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 555
There's a mantra real writers know but wannabe writers don’t. And the secret phrase is this: "Nobody wants to read your shit." Recognizing this painful truth is the first step in the writer's transformation from amateur to professional.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
How to get over the mediocre part of yourself
- By RICHARD on 11-24-18
-
The Universe in Verse
- 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science & Poetry
- By: Maria Popova, Ofra Amit - illustrator
- Narrated by: Maria Popova, Lili Taylor
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
Poetry and science, as Popova writes in her introduction, "are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply." In 15 short essays on subjects ranging from the mystery of dark matter and the infinity of pi to the resilience of trees and the intelligence of octopuses, Popova tells the stories of scientific searching and discovery. These stories are interwoven with details from the very real and human lives of scientists—many of them women, many underrecognized—and poets inspired by the same questions and the beauty they reveal.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Big Bang of a tender book!
- By CVC on 11-22-24
By: Maria Popova, and others
-
Save the Cat!
- The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
- By: Blake Snyder
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,775
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,440
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,426
Here's what started the phenomenon: This book has been a best seller for over 15 years and has been used by screenwriters around the world! Blake Snyder tells all in this fast, funny, and candid look inside the movie business. Save the Cat is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Don't waste your time
- By Amazon Customer on 02-05-20
By: Blake Snyder
-
Creative Writing for Dummies, 2nd Edition
- By: Maggie Hamand PhD
- Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
- Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1
Ever dream of writing a book, article, poem, or play that means something to you—and maybe to someone else as well? Do you have an idea you're ready to get down on paper? In Creative Writing For Dummies, you'll learn how to unleash your creative side and become a confident and productive writer.
-
Writing Down the Bones
- By: Natalie Goldberg
- Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 739
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 581
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 572
Here is a new collector's edition of this modern classic as you have never heard it before, read by Natalie Goldberg herself and then infused with her most personal reflections about this "magic manual" for all writers. Try these ingenious, Zen-based exercises to expand your writing skills - or just for fun.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Substance
- By Krissy D. on 07-09-10
By: Natalie Goldberg
Related to this topic
-
How to Say It: Words That Make a Difference
- By: Allison Friederichs Atkison, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Allison Friederichs Atkison
- Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,529
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,307
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,287
Words. We use them all the time, every day, mostly without giving them much thought at all. We take for granted that they’re here at our disposal whenever we need them. But if you’ve ever wished you could communicate more effectively, words are the place to start. It’s incumbent upon you to choose the best words to accomplish your goals, because how you choose to communicate influences—well, everything! The power of communication shapes our professional goals, our relationships, and our lives—so the words we choose to use carry a great deal of power.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Meh. Glad I didn't pay for it.
- By Paula on 07-23-22
By: Allison Friederichs Atkison, and others
-
Why Memoir Matters: Learning from the Lives of Others
- By: Tahneer Oksman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tahneer Oksman
- Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
In the six lessons of Why Memoir Matters: Learning from the Lives of Others, associate professor and author Tahneer Oksman guides you through enduring categories and themes within the genre of memoir, exploring how these deeply personal stories work and why they are so impactful. The course also addresses the ethical responsibilities of the memoir writer, in terms of writing about personal life details and what it means to tell the truth as a writer while sharing personal memories, shocking events, and even family secrets.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic, Accessible Series
- By Amazon Customer on 12-11-24
By: Tahneer Oksman, and others
-
Manifest Now
- By: Idil Ahmed
- Narrated by: Idil Ahmed
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,519
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,124
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Manifest Now provides a step-by-step guide with tools, techniques, and proven strategies to raise your frequency and create the reality you want. This audiobook is designed to guide you through the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of manifesting and creating all that your heart desires. You'll learn how to start removing mental and emotional blocks so you can rediscover that manifesting is your natural birthright. You'll feel more confident, reconnected, and powerful as you listen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This is my first review of 2 years subscribed!
- By Rodrigo on 02-22-19
By: Idil Ahmed
-
How to Release Anxiety
- By: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 911
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 791
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 782
It’s not just you. Stress levels are at an all-time high—so much so that a recently convened panel of medical experts in the US has recommended that all adults under the age of 65 be screened for anxiety. In How to Release Anxiety, Gabby Bernstein offers simple, actionable steps for feeling better, living with more ease, and showing up for those around us. Gabby’s unusual advice: Rather than manage your anxiety, what if you befriended it? Gabby posits that what we befriend, we can ultimately be at ease with. So she invites us to get curious.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Not my thing, but one good point
- By Scott on 10-22-22
-
30 Covert Emotional Manipulation Tactics: How Manipulators Take Control in Personal Relationships
- By: Adelyn Birch
- Narrated by: Kitty Hendrix
- Length: 1 hr and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 559
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 474
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 467
Identifying covert emotional manipulation is tricky. You sense something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on the problem. This powerful book will reveal to you if manipulation is at play in your relationships. It will open your eyes. You will learn 30 tactics manipulators use to get what they want. You will also learn to spot the warning signs within yourself that expose covert manipulation is taking place, even if you can't identify the specific tactics being used.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This book can change your life!
- By Cat O. on 04-04-18
By: Adelyn Birch
-
Mind Mapping
- Improve Memory, Concentration, Communication, Organization, Creativity, and Time Management
- By: Kam Knight
- Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
- Length: 5 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 830
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 776
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 773
This is a comprehensive guide to learning about a wonderful technique called mind maps. Mind maps are an amazing organizational and creativity tool that can improve memory, concentration, communication, organization, creativity, and time management.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
make sure to practice
- By Meryem on 04-24-17
By: Kam Knight
-
How to Say It: Words That Make a Difference
- By: Allison Friederichs Atkison, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Allison Friederichs Atkison
- Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,529
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,307
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,287
Words. We use them all the time, every day, mostly without giving them much thought at all. We take for granted that they’re here at our disposal whenever we need them. But if you’ve ever wished you could communicate more effectively, words are the place to start. It’s incumbent upon you to choose the best words to accomplish your goals, because how you choose to communicate influences—well, everything! The power of communication shapes our professional goals, our relationships, and our lives—so the words we choose to use carry a great deal of power.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Meh. Glad I didn't pay for it.
- By Paula on 07-23-22
By: Allison Friederichs Atkison, and others
-
Why Memoir Matters: Learning from the Lives of Others
- By: Tahneer Oksman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tahneer Oksman
- Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6
In the six lessons of Why Memoir Matters: Learning from the Lives of Others, associate professor and author Tahneer Oksman guides you through enduring categories and themes within the genre of memoir, exploring how these deeply personal stories work and why they are so impactful. The course also addresses the ethical responsibilities of the memoir writer, in terms of writing about personal life details and what it means to tell the truth as a writer while sharing personal memories, shocking events, and even family secrets.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic, Accessible Series
- By Amazon Customer on 12-11-24
By: Tahneer Oksman, and others
-
Manifest Now
- By: Idil Ahmed
- Narrated by: Idil Ahmed
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,519
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,124
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Manifest Now provides a step-by-step guide with tools, techniques, and proven strategies to raise your frequency and create the reality you want. This audiobook is designed to guide you through the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of manifesting and creating all that your heart desires. You'll learn how to start removing mental and emotional blocks so you can rediscover that manifesting is your natural birthright. You'll feel more confident, reconnected, and powerful as you listen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This is my first review of 2 years subscribed!
- By Rodrigo on 02-22-19
By: Idil Ahmed
-
How to Release Anxiety
- By: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 911
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 791
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 782
It’s not just you. Stress levels are at an all-time high—so much so that a recently convened panel of medical experts in the US has recommended that all adults under the age of 65 be screened for anxiety. In How to Release Anxiety, Gabby Bernstein offers simple, actionable steps for feeling better, living with more ease, and showing up for those around us. Gabby’s unusual advice: Rather than manage your anxiety, what if you befriended it? Gabby posits that what we befriend, we can ultimately be at ease with. So she invites us to get curious.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Not my thing, but one good point
- By Scott on 10-22-22
-
30 Covert Emotional Manipulation Tactics: How Manipulators Take Control in Personal Relationships
- By: Adelyn Birch
- Narrated by: Kitty Hendrix
- Length: 1 hr and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 559
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 474
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 467
Identifying covert emotional manipulation is tricky. You sense something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on the problem. This powerful book will reveal to you if manipulation is at play in your relationships. It will open your eyes. You will learn 30 tactics manipulators use to get what they want. You will also learn to spot the warning signs within yourself that expose covert manipulation is taking place, even if you can't identify the specific tactics being used.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This book can change your life!
- By Cat O. on 04-04-18
By: Adelyn Birch
-
Mind Mapping
- Improve Memory, Concentration, Communication, Organization, Creativity, and Time Management
- By: Kam Knight
- Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
- Length: 5 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 830
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 776
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 773
This is a comprehensive guide to learning about a wonderful technique called mind maps. Mind maps are an amazing organizational and creativity tool that can improve memory, concentration, communication, organization, creativity, and time management.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
make sure to practice
- By Meryem on 04-24-17
By: Kam Knight
-
How to Write Best-Selling Fiction
- By: James Scott Bell, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James Scott Bell
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 839
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 696
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 683
Most people think the way to write a best seller is to have a lot of talent and even more luck. As you will learn, there is a recipe for success, and luck may be the least important ingredient in creating a best seller. No one has cracked the code better than James Scott Bell. A best-selling author himself, and the author of the number-one best seller for writers, Plot & Structure, Mr. Bell has been teaching the principles of best-selling fiction for over 20 years, principles that apply to any genre or style.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I'm a writer and this course is to blame.
- By accentrique on 07-22-19
By: James Scott Bell, and others
-
Dark Alliance
- The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion
- By: Gary Webb
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,176
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,037
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,046
In July 1995, San Jose Mercury-News reporter Gary Webb found the Big One - the blockbuster story every journalist secretly dreams about - without even looking for it. A simple phone call concerning an unexceptional pending drug trial turned into a massive conspiracy involving the Nicaraguan Contra rebels, L.A. and Bay Area crack cocaine dealers, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Bigger than You Thought
- By Susie on 04-28-14
By: Gary Webb
-
There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather
- A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)
- By: Linda Åkeson McGurk
- Narrated by: Ann Richardson
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 891
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 768
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 761
Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great concept, interesting writing.
- By Kate on 11-03-17
-
English Grammar Boot Camp
- By: Anne Curzan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Anne Curzan
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,602
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,408
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,385
Grammar! For many of us, the word triggers memories of finger-wagging schoolteachers, and of wrestling with the ambiguous and complicated rules of using formal language. But what is grammar? In fact, it's the integral basis of how we speak and write. As such, a refined awareness of grammar opens a world of possibilities for both your pleasure in the English language and your skill in using it, in both speech and the written word.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Spectacular
- By Quaker on 09-24-16
By: Anne Curzan, and others
-
Easy Spanish Step-by-Step
- By: Barbara Bregstein
- Narrated by: Rachel Story
- Length: 37 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 20
Easy Spanish Step-by-Step is designed in such a way that each section builds upon the last to help your brain progressively create lasting and meaningful connections to each new word and grammar concept. Simply by listening and speaking out loud with us, you will naturally progress, step-by-step, toward Spanish communication and fluency.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best so far . . .
- By Medusa in Akron on 07-20-21
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4,028
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,404
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 3,380
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Meander, Spiral, Explode
- Design and Pattern in Narrative
- By: Jane Alison
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 98
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 79
Meander, Spiral, Explode is a singular and brilliant elucidation of literary strategies that also brings high spirits and wit to its original conclusions. It is a liberating manifesto that says, Let's leave the outdated modes behind and, in thinking of new modes, bring feeling back to experimentation. It will appeal to serious readers and writers alike.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Maybe changed my writing life
- By Daniel A. Boyd on 12-27-20
By: Jane Alison
-
1000 Words
- A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round
- By: Jami Attenberg
- Narrated by: Jami Attenberg, Kamali Minter, Joy Osmanski, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgement, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing book on craft!!!
- By Inna on 02-29-24
By: Jami Attenberg
-
What About the Baby?
- Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction
- By: Alice McDermott
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 7
What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction gathers the best-selling novelist Alice McDermott’s pithiest wisdom about her chosen art, acquired over a lifetime as an acclaimed writer and teacher of writing.
By: Alice McDermott
-
All the Secrets of the World
- A Novel
- By: Steve Almond
- Narrated by: Roxanne Hernandez
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 58
It's 1981 in Sacramento, and thirteen-year-old Lorena Saenz has just been paired with Jenny Stallworth for the science fair. Lorena begins to spend time at the Stallworth residence and finds herself seduced, not just by Jenny but her parents: Rosemary, her mother, and Marcus, a scorpiologist who recognizes Lorena’s passion for learning. When Lorena’s troubled older brother, Tony, picks her up at the Stallworth mansion late one night, he and Marcus exchange tense words—an encounter that draws the Saenz family into the dark heart of America’s criminal justice system.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Story
- By Amy Tollner on 03-18-24
By: Steve Almond
-
Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- By: Matt Bell
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
many great tips
- By lauren on 06-30-24
By: Matt Bell
-
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels
- How to Write Kissing Books, Book 1
- By: Gwen Hayes
- Narrated by: Natalie Duke
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 309
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 270
What makes a romance novel a romance? Writing a well-structured romance isn't the same as writing any other genre - something the popular novel and screenwriting guides don't address. The romance arc is made up of its own story beats. Told in conversational (and often irreverent) prose, Romancing the Beat is like sitting down to coffee with romance editor and author Gwen Hayes while she explains story structure - the way she does with her clients, some of whom are regular inhabitants of the best-seller lists.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
short but full of great information
- By Voracious Reader on 06-24-17
By: Gwen Hayes
-
Meander, Spiral, Explode
- Design and Pattern in Narrative
- By: Jane Alison
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 98
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 79
Meander, Spiral, Explode is a singular and brilliant elucidation of literary strategies that also brings high spirits and wit to its original conclusions. It is a liberating manifesto that says, Let's leave the outdated modes behind and, in thinking of new modes, bring feeling back to experimentation. It will appeal to serious readers and writers alike.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Maybe changed my writing life
- By Daniel A. Boyd on 12-27-20
By: Jane Alison
-
1000 Words
- A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round
- By: Jami Attenberg
- Narrated by: Jami Attenberg, Kamali Minter, Joy Osmanski, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgement, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing book on craft!!!
- By Inna on 02-29-24
By: Jami Attenberg
-
What About the Baby?
- Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction
- By: Alice McDermott
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 7
What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction gathers the best-selling novelist Alice McDermott’s pithiest wisdom about her chosen art, acquired over a lifetime as an acclaimed writer and teacher of writing.
By: Alice McDermott
-
All the Secrets of the World
- A Novel
- By: Steve Almond
- Narrated by: Roxanne Hernandez
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 58
It's 1981 in Sacramento, and thirteen-year-old Lorena Saenz has just been paired with Jenny Stallworth for the science fair. Lorena begins to spend time at the Stallworth residence and finds herself seduced, not just by Jenny but her parents: Rosemary, her mother, and Marcus, a scorpiologist who recognizes Lorena’s passion for learning. When Lorena’s troubled older brother, Tony, picks her up at the Stallworth mansion late one night, he and Marcus exchange tense words—an encounter that draws the Saenz family into the dark heart of America’s criminal justice system.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Story
- By Amy Tollner on 03-18-24
By: Steve Almond
-
Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- By: Matt Bell
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
many great tips
- By lauren on 06-30-24
By: Matt Bell
-
Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels
- How to Write Kissing Books, Book 1
- By: Gwen Hayes
- Narrated by: Natalie Duke
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 309
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 270
What makes a romance novel a romance? Writing a well-structured romance isn't the same as writing any other genre - something the popular novel and screenwriting guides don't address. The romance arc is made up of its own story beats. Told in conversational (and often irreverent) prose, Romancing the Beat is like sitting down to coffee with romance editor and author Gwen Hayes while she explains story structure - the way she does with her clients, some of whom are regular inhabitants of the best-seller lists.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
short but full of great information
- By Voracious Reader on 06-24-17
By: Gwen Hayes
-
Get Signed
- Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author
- By: Lucinda Halpern
- Narrated by: Lucinda Halpern
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 13
Packed with interviews from best-selling authors, leading book editors from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and more, Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need right now to get noticed and become a published author.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An elegant guide written by one of the industry’s top agents
- By BE on 12-03-24
By: Lucinda Halpern
-
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
- In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
- By: George Saunders
- Narrated by: George Saunders, Phylicia Rashad, Nick Offerman, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 649
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 506
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 498
For the last 20 years, George Saunders has been teaching a class on the Russian short story to his MFA students at Syracuse University. In A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, he shares a version of that class with us, offering some of what he and his students have discovered together over the years. Paired with iconic short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, the seven essays in this book are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works and why it’s more relevant than ever in these turbulent times.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An innovative and fresh listening experience
- By Scott Garrioch on 01-14-21
By: George Saunders
-
Bird by Bird
- Some Instructions on Writing and Life
- By: Anne Lamott
- Narrated by: Anne Lamott
- Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 275
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 234
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 234
For a quarter century, more than a million readers and listeners—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Why oh why did she narrate this?!
- By Amor Fati on 01-02-23
By: Anne Lamott
-
Creating Character Arcs
- The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development
- By: K.M. Weiland
- Narrated by: Sonja Field
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 981
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 810
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 793
Have you written a story with an exciting concept and interesting characters - but it just isn't grabbing the attention of readers or agents? It's time to look deeper into the story beats that create realistic and compelling character arcs. Internationally published, award-winning novelist K.M. Weiland shares her acclaimed method for achieving memorable and moving character arcs in every book you write.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Why We Read (Listen To) These Books
- By C. Deputy on 06-07-18
By: K.M. Weiland
-
The Friend
- A Novel
- By: Sigrid Nunez
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,121
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 994
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 994
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master, and by the threat of eviction: Dogs are prohibited in her apartment building. While others worry that grief has made her a victim of magical thinking, the woman refuses to be separated from the dog except for brief periods of time.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Dreadful and misleading...
- By Gail on 11-18-18
By: Sigrid Nunez
-
The Science of Storytelling
- By: Will Storr
- Narrated by: James Clamp
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 541
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 433
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 434
How do master storytellers compel us? There have been many attempts to understand what makes a good story, but few have used a scientific approach. In The Science of Storytelling, Will Storr applies dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to our myths and archetypes to show how we can tell better stories, revealing, among other things, how storytellers - and also our brains - create worlds by being attuned to moments of unexpected change.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A great portal into human psychology
- By Stephanie Romer on 02-13-21
By: Will Storr
What listeners say about Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Keith A Hailey
- 10-10-24
Magnificent
My new favorite book on the craft and writing life. I’ll be coming back to this often.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chad
- 08-30-24
Great essays. Great insight. Several unique lenses. Thanks.
Great essays. Great insight. Several unique lenses like the sex chapter. Thanks. Good narration as well.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!