“A hands-on, practical, and effective manual for anyone building a powerful story. In an age of AI cookie cutters, Abbie’s approach gives you the power to make your story fully human.”

—Seth Godin, New York Times bestselling author of The Practice and The Dip

“Understanding why stories move us is one of the most powerful things a writer can learn. Make Your Story Matter brings the psychology and heart of storytelling to life in a way that will transform how you think about your characters and your craft. Abbie Emmons has built something special here—the kind of book that doesn’t just teach craft, it reignites the reason you started writing in the first place.”

—Jessica Brody, author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and founder of Writing Mastery Academy

“Abbie Emmons’s Make Your Story Matter is a generous gift to aspiring authors. Emmons has thoroughly deconstructed the elements of an effective story—particularly the complex interplay between internal conflict (character) and external conflict (plot)—and rebuilt it from the ground up as a working tool kit, a guide as accessible as it is thorough. Had Make Your Story Matter been available when I was writing my debut, I suspect I would have saved some time and heartache!”

—Virginia Hume, USA Today bestselling author of Haven Point

“Unlike many books in this genre that feel formulaic or dry, this one is refreshing in its presentation, practical in its guidance, and creative in its approach. It is well-written, deeply encouraging, immediately applicable, and genuinely empowering. Writing a book can feel overwhelming, but Abbie breaks the process into a clear, accessible structure that invites writers forward with confidence. I believe Make Your Story Matter will become a trusted resource—one writers will return to again and again.”

—Susanne Reed, PhD, educator at the University of Arizona