I’ve read a number of books on writing fiction but “27 Essential Principles of Story,” by Daniel Rubin is the first book that I’ve read that takes you into the heart of how to tell a good story. Each section -- plot, character, and setting – takes you into the actual process for developing each. Using examples from a variety of media, Rubin draws on his impressive experience to illustrate the teaching points and the mini-exams solidify what you’ve learned. I will keep this book handy to revisit and reinforce the skills I’ve learned.

I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

This was a very, very interesting read, and definitely useful. I guess most of all I enjoyed the mini exams, because they made the book more interactive, not just read read read, but actually read think read think read think.

I really feel like this book made me a better writer, my stories stronger, my prose more effective, and so forth. I loved how well the examples were analyzed and not just... thrown in there, like in some other books that try to achieve the same end.

I will definitely return to this book later on, just to refresh things, to gain a deeper understanding of some concepts. Some things just can't be deeply understood with one read-through. All in all, I would say that this book requires rereads, not because it's a hard read, but because there's just so much stuff that... well... cannot be deeply understood the first time it's read.

Un manuale semplice e divertente che riassume i materiali che fondano una storia, rendendo semplice e agile individuarli, capirli, utilizzarli, sia per scrivere che per analizzare una lettura.

A fantastic resource!! I loved the lessons and how they incorporated so many examples from current culture. I have to get a copy for my Library's writing group!! I, personally, learned so much from this book.

“27 Essential Principles of Story: Master the Secrets of Great Storytelling, from Shakespeare to South Park” is a very interesting book for people who wish to better understand the art of storytelling.
 
It is in fact a real textbook, with 300 pages of theory coupled with many concrete examples, exercises and tips. Structured in 3 main parts covering plot, character, and setting, the book contains all the basic principles of storytelling and manages to convey a lot of information without any unnecessary jargon. Each principle can indeed be summarized by a short, easy-to-understand-to-memorize phrase such as “Drop the hammer” or “Explore all endings”.
 
Thanks to his multifaceted experience in TV, the theatre and online advertising, Daniel Joshua Rubin offers many examples of storytelling which go beyond classical literature. His 27 Essential Principles of Story can apply to script writing as well as to writing novels or short stories. This is really a strength of the book. Not only are the case studies drawn from a wide array of different stories, but each example is developed in great detail to explore different dimensions of the Principle being addressed in each of the chapters.
 
This is ideal to help readers put concepts into practice. However, those looking for a basic introduction to storytelling may find these detailed examples a bit long and complex to master. Be prepared to invest some time and effort in the book if you really want to reap the benefits of DJR’s method!

Great writing style imparts what could be a very long tedious read. With enlarged print on my digital edition, and a consistent organizational style, all writers will want to keep this book handy as they create the plot and characters in the next best seller. Each chapter follows the same format with both films and books used to provide the example of concepts. Each chapter also concludes with a nonthreatening “Mini Exam” and “Continuing Education”. Favorites were “Ask Dramatic Questions”-- there are three types (!!) and “Peeling the Onion” which basically is a psychological test for your characters. Thanks to Workman and Netgalley for this digital ARC.

This is hands down the best writing reference I have ever read! The 27 essential principles are presented in a clear, concise and conversational style. But perhaps, more importantly, the examples and homework provided hit the lessons home, increasing your writing skills. Five stars!

Unfortunately I could not review this book due to the file format is was provided in; please consider using a standard file format to garner reviews.

I'm an aspiring writer, but somehow I always find that my writing falls flat at some point. How ironic, right, when I review so many books and seem to know what makes a good story? Therefore (see what I did there? Something I learned out of this book!) I try to make my writing better by practising, and learn from many sources. One of the sources I have definately learned from a lot is '27 Essential Principles of Story.' It has helped me exactly with what my problem is while writing: what makes a good story better, and what helps you to keep momentum in what you write? It probably (not sure, since of course it takes time to experience that) makes for a great resource too at times when your writing stagnates. In addition, something the writer might not have had as an intention, I think it helped me as a reviewer too, giving me more tangible ideas why I actually like how a book is written, or cannot get through despite thinking I would love it when reading the blurb.

Overall this has been a very interesting and unique book and I would definitely recommend it to people who haven't read many books about creative writing yet. For me there were just too many things I knew about already in there and I couldn't really connect with the system of it. I still think it was a refreshing idea for all these creative writing books out there that are way too similar. Sadly it just didn't work for me, but these things are always very subjective.

This was a quick and really helpful read! I was able to get through it in one sitting, though you can definitely spread each principle out over time if you're looking for a deep study on the elements of story. Thorough and helpful–I'd recommend this for those who study literature or (even more helpful) aspiring writers looking to improve their plot/story structure.

An excellent guide to specific elements of story craft which is perfect for anyone attempting to self-edit their novel.
The case studies and worked examples in each chapter are followed by clear step by step instructions on how any fiction writer can develop their story craft.
I particularly enjoyed chapters 6 and 7 which helped me to develop more engaging plot-lines with emotional heart. In addition, Part Two has excellent exercises and case studies on character development.
Highly recommended.

Please can you make this available in kindle format so I can read and review it. Many thanks for your help.

It was interesting but hard to read. I am usually used to epub format and I have received ARC in pdf. Stories are necessary to build civilization and I will recommend this book to anyone who is willing to write his own.