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Storytelling: How To Write Stories That Will Grab And Hold Your Audience

At a Glance

  • 4-week online course on storytelling for any genre of writing
  • Teaches techniques for turning your idea into a gripping tale
  • Helps you acquire an effective storytelling mindset

As writers, we want our audience to stay with us all the way to The End. Fiction or fact, fantasy or biography, no matter how lofty or lowdown, our first requirement is to recognize that we must entertain. And to do that, we must learn how to hook our audience, and then compel them to stay with us. We must never bore them!

In Storytelling: How To Write Stories That Will Grab And Hold Your Audience, successful screenwriter, novelist, playwright Tom Sawyer will teach you his practical, take-it-to-the-bank approach that applies to any kind of writing - film, TV, stage, novels – in any genre - from narrative fiction to memoir, history, biography, etc. - as he guides you through the process and shows you techniques for turning your idea into a workable, gripping tale. And along the way, you’ll acquire a mindset that'll make you a truly effective storyteller.

Here’s a general breakdown of subjects covered in this course:

Week 1: The Writer's Mindset

  • The Story Idea
  • Write to the Money
  • Where's the Heat?

Week 2: Creating Vivid, Engaging Characters

  • Find the Facets
  • Goals
  • Character Bios

Week 3: The Process - Taking your Story to the Next Level

  • Structure
  • Scenes
  • Construction

Week 4: Writing Unique Dialogue

  • Memorable Dialogue
  • Energy and Urgency

Some comments from among Tom’s many enthusiastic students:

My learning curve has been extraordinary. I have used every suggestion you've made and they have been insightful and practical and pushed me to discover things I NEVER would have arrived at on my own. - Manuela Alberti

I must thank you again for your help - my full-length screenplay project was crystallized and focused into a far more refined story. - Mark (in Australia)

Storytelling with Thomas B. Sawyer is a wonderful course. Mr. Sawyer helped me find the writer inside that I always knew was there! Bravo and thanks! - Nancy Taylor

I have gotten more out of the course than I ever thought possible. All of the comments/suggestions you've made have been so helpful, that I don't think I could have progressed without them. Thanks so much. - JPL

I can't thank you enough for your straight-up constructive criticism. This is exactly what I was hoping to get from the course - paired with your book and your lessons I've gotten way more than my money's worth. - Andy Wehrle

I am proud of my progress. I hope you are too. I love the way you have gently pushed the hell out of me. - J.R.Grey

Your critique of my first exercise was totally exciting. You rewrote my logline and I could SEE. My goodness, you made my story idea so great I wanted to read it. I've taken many courses in the past online and otherwise. This is the first one that showed me all there is to writing. Tom, you are the best instructor. You make me want to Write Better. Thanks and thanks. - Barb Johnson

Product Details

Return Policy

Your satisfaction is our top priority. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please return the item(s) for an exchange or refund within 30 days from the purchase date, unless otherwise noted on the product page.

Ship the item(s) to The Writers Store via a traceable and insured method. You will be responsible for return shipping fees.

Please include a completed Return Form with your shipment. Refunds take up to one week to process once we have received the item(s).

Software returns must be deactivated and uninstalled from your computer before a refund may be issued. Please contact the software manufacturer if you need assistance uninstalling or deactivating your software.

The following items are not returnable: Hollywood Creative Directories, DVDs (opened), and Gift Certificates.

Meet the Author: Thomas Sawyer

Emmy & Edgar-nominated, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, was Head Writer-Showrunner of classic TV series, Murder, She Wrote. He’s written 9 network TV pilots, 100 episodes, wrote-directed the cult film comedy, Gosh, Alice Goodbody, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Co-lyricist-librettist of JACK, an opera about JFK, author of bestseller No Place to Run, and Fiction Writing Demystified.