In Dialogue, Robert McKee offers in-depth analysis for how characters speak on the screen, on the stage, and on the page in believable and engaging ways....

Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life—including astronauts, hairdressers, rock stars, a retired pickpocket, high school students, and Nobel Prize winners—to develop true personal stories....

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy best seller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work....

An essential volume for generations of writers young and old, Bird by Bird is a modern classic. This 25th anniversary edition will continue to spark creative minds for years to come....

The author of the widely praised Wordslut analyzes the social science of cult influence: how cultish groups from Jonestown and Scientology to SoulCycle and social media gurus use language as the ultimate form of power....

Difficult Conversations teaches you how to handle even the toughest conversations more effectively and with less anxiety, based on 15 years of work at Harvard Negotiation Project and consultations with thousands of people....

A master class in the art of persuasion, as taught by professors ranging from Bart Simpson to Winston Churchill, newly revised and updated....

Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas....

Now public speaking coach and best-selling author Carmine Gallo explores what makes a great presentation by examining the widely acclaimed TED Talks....

In this groundbreaking synthesis of mindfulness, somatics, and nonviolent communication, Oren Jay Sofer offers simple yet powerful practices to develop healthy, effective, and satisfying ways of communicating....

Robert Cialdini shines a light on effective persuasion and reveals that the secret doesn't lie in the message itself but in the key moment before that message is delivered....

Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing....

There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn't so mysterious and was actually achievable for anyone who wants to experience more magic and creativity in their life? Listen to find out more....

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....

Three former CIA officers - among the world’s foremost authorities on recognizing deceptive behavior - share their proven techniques for uncovering a lie.....

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....

Since taking over TED in the early 2000s, Chris Anderson has shown how carefully crafted short talks can be the key to unlocking empathy....

Sam Harris - neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author - has been exploring some of the most important questions about the human mind, society, and current events on his podcast, Making Sense....

This is an unconventional guide to the English language drawn from the cross-country adventures of an itinerant grammarian....

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....

Public speaking, as Carnegie saw it, is a vital skill that can be attained through basic and repeated steps....

The Elements of Style has long been a valued and beloved resource for all writers....

This is a book for everyone who writes or approves copy: copywriters, multichannel marketers, creative directors, freelance writers, marketing managers...even small business owners and information marketers....

Mehdi Hasan believes that anyone can win an argument. As a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spies, and celebrities from across the world, Hasan will reveal his tricks of the trade....

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....

Would you be surprised if we told you that everything you need to know about por and para is already available on the internet and written into book after book? So, why do you still not know how to use por and para accurately? Because up until now no one has given you an easy to remember, no-nonsense system that's simplicity itself. Pooling together their cumulative 30 years of teaching experience, Gordon and Cynthia Smith-Durán, co-owners of LightSpeed Spanish, have developed just that system.

As a teacher of voice and speech for the theatre, I have worked with students and actors in a variety of institutional and professional settings. One of the chief aims of my teaching—as it was in my own training—is to enable students to discover or free their "natural voices". The rationale of this approach is that everyone has his or her own natural voice, that the natural voice provides liberation from the detrimental effects of society on our psychology, and that finding one's natural voice is better not only for communication as an actor, but for life as an individual.

From the Corner of Bad and Ass is a collection of Carrie Schiffler’s memories about growing up in welfare housing to absentee and alcoholic parents. Throughout these heart-wrenching and often-hilarious stories, we cheer her on as she fights to survive domestic violence, sexual abuse, and cycles of poverty and addiction ... all before her 18th birthday. Prepare to laugh at her attempts to earn the attention she craves and prepare to cry over the inappropriate attention she receives.

With today’s print-on-demand, eBook, and internet technologies, you can write a book, publish it, and reach a worldwide audience at no upfront cost. Need a Job? Publish a Book! exposes trade secrets the big publishing houses use to create mega-best sellers for a tiny group of authors. You have something to say, so say it with style, all with free software. So why not create a book you are proud to sell?

From academic writing to personal and public discourse, the need for good arguments and better ways of arguing is greater than ever before. This timely audio edition of A Rulebook for Arguments sharpens an already-classic text, adding updated examples and a new chapter on public debates that provides rules for the etiquette and ethics of sound public dialogue as well as clear and sound thinking in general.

Charlemagne is reported to have said that “to speak another language is to possess another soul”. The Art of Learning a Foreign Language consists of all the things I wish I knew at various stages of my language learning journey during the last 15 years—as a hobbyist, student, academic, and professional linguist. This book is designed to help the learner avoid many pitfalls and seize opportunities, with lessons on choosing a target language, travel, accent, immersion, technology, learning approaches, and the lifestyle habits of professional linguists.

In Listening Well, Heather will explore her extraordinary talents as a listener—a skill she employed when she first met Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was this ability that led Lale to entrust Heather with his story, which she told in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Now Heather shares the story behind her inspirational writing journey and the defining experiences of her life, including her profound friendship with Lale, and explores how she learned to really listen to the stories people told her—skills she believes we can all learn.

Think Fast!! is a guide to learning impromptu speaking skills and improving concentration levels. This is a beginner-friendly book to turn thoughts into ideas and ideas into words. Think fast and adjust to any situation. You will learn the benefits of learning impromptu speaking, how to focus better, the power of daily one percent improvements, frameworks on how to practice impromptu speaking, how to monitor your progress, challenges to expect when speaking off the cuff, ways to use impromptu speaking to create compelling content, and how to link the mind, breath, and body.

Compelling characters are what keeps readers turning pages and buying books—from fantasies to mysteries to the great literary novel. But how to do you create characters that feel three-dimensional and real on the page? Counsellor and author Eileen Cook shares common psychological techniques to help you build your characters and take your story to the next level. This book covers understanding your character's backstory and how it impacts their choices in your book by doing a structured counselling interview, personality structure, and the Stages of Change.

A series of shorts sports stories through the eyes of an announcer who witnessed it. Sharing sports tales, announcing bloopers, and things you rarely see at sporting events. At the same time, sharing advice to those interested in getting into announcing.

Writing a novel will change your life. The process of getting to that point will light a spark in your creative soul and help you discover unexpected aspects of yourself. It will be one of the things you are most proud of in your life. This audiobook will help you get there. This book will help you write your first novel, or improve your creative process, so you can write more books and reach more readers. It covers mindset, ideas and research, aspects of craft, how to write a first draft, and work through an editing process to a finished book.

A master class of 27 lessons, drawn from 27 diverse narratives, for novelists, storytellers, filmmakers, graphic designers, and more. Author Daniel Joshua Rubin unlocks the secrets of what makes a story work, and then shows how to understand and use these principles in your own writing. The result is “an invaluable resource” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), offering priceless advice like escalate risk, with an example from Pulp Fiction.

Improving your vocabulary is crucial to your GRE Score. 1000+ GRE Words: Must Know Words for Vocabulary Building (Volume 1) is the only resource that you will need to learn new words and expand your vocabulary while preparing for the highly competitive exam. This guide will equip you efficiently to ace your exam and help you in building a larger vocabulary.

This third edition of the bestselling textbook has been fully revised, continuing to provide a concise introduction to the key concepts of semiotics in accessible and jargon-free language. 

When Ellen Jovin first walked outside her apartment and set up a table with a sign reading “Grammar Table”, it took about 30 seconds to get her first visitor. Everyone had a question. Grammar Table was such a hit—attracting the attention of the New York Times, NPR, and CBS National News—that Ellen soon hit the road, traveling across the US to answer questions from students, retired editors, bickering couples, and anyone else who uses words in this world. In Rebel with a Clause, she tackles what is most on people’s minds, grammatically speaking.