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    How to Write Stories that Sell: Write Faster Series, #3
    How to Write Stories that Sell: Write Faster Series, #3
    How to Write Stories that Sell: Write Faster Series, #3
    Ebook96 pages1 hour

    How to Write Stories that Sell: Write Faster Series, #3

    By Lynda McDaniel

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    About this ebook

    Are you looking for a sure-fire way to:
    *Grab your readers' attention?
    *Make your messages more memorable?
    *Achieve extraordinary results?

     

    How to Write Stories that Sell shows you how! It's filled with practical tips and tools to help you add engaging stories to your books, blogs, articles—whatever you want to write.

     

    Why tell stories? They get results.

     

    "Let me tell you a story." That's how Steve Jobs often started his presentations. He understood the power of story and used that promise to grab attention—even before he told the first story!

     

    Whether you're writing about growing a business, managing a department, improving customer service, or crafting engaging fiction, stories engage your readers. And stories are more memorable, so your readers will remember your message—and you. The days of dry corporatespeak, legalese, and overly academic prose are over. "Just the facts ma'am" writing on pages of dense text won't grab the attention of today's busy readers. Most of us suffer from a chronic condition called TMI—too much information—which causes us to skip and skim. Stories deliver a much-needed antidote.

     

    How to Write Stories that Sell shows you how to:
    1. Hook your readers with stories
    2. Activate memories and trigger emotions—where we buy and buy in
    3. Choose stories that engage the head and the heart
    4. Break stories into stages for greater impact
    5. Create a story inventory

     

    The Write Faster Series also includes Words at Work and How Not to Sound Stupid When You Write.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLynda McDaniel Books
    Release dateApr 2, 2019
    ISBN9781393057598
    How to Write Stories that Sell: Write Faster Series, #3

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      Book preview

      How to Write Stories that Sell - Lynda McDaniel

      PRAISE FOR THE WRITE FASTER SERIES

      Winner of National Best Books Award in Writing & Publishing — Words at Work

      "CATCH THE SPIRIT IN THIS BOOK and follow the suggestions. I guarantee your writing will improve, and you’ll be a happier communicator." —Thomas Moore, best-selling author of Care of the Soul

      "PROVIDES A WEALTH OF ADVICE—including specific exercises—to prompt business writers to write well. Unlike most business-writing courses and books that are dry and dull, McDaniel’s work is a breezy, well-written how-to guide, nicely held together with stories of her experiences. The book’s readability is proof positive that the author’s counsel is sound. A timely manual that business people at any level will find useful." —Kirkus Discoveries Review

      "GOOD WRITING SKILLS ARE A SOLID PREDICTOR OF CAREER SUCCESS and in this excellent and engaging reference McDaniel’s mantra is ‘You CAN improve your writing.’ If you want or need to become a better writer, you need this book. Words at Work will help you banish your fears of writing while providing you with all the tools you’ll need to confidently tackle any writing task you’re called on to handle." —Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer series

      "WORDS AT WORK IS FABULOUS, FABULOUS, FABULOUS. I’m going to recommend it in my graduate-writing courses. It’s so readable, and the style is lively and thoughtful. —Dr. Irene Willis, educator, author, poet

      "MCDANIEL, IN THE TRADITION OF STRUNK AND WHITE, has created a guide perfectly suited to the contemporary workplace. … this solid little book packs a punch—with powerful reminders for the pros while giving fearful writers a coach, cheerleader, and role model. McDaniel shares proven practices learned the hard way. This deceptively simple and engaging guide for workplace writers is highly recommended." —ForeWord Reviews

      "WHAT’S WONDERFUL ABOUT WORDS AT WORK is how grounded in real-life experience it is. No hocus-pocus or hokum. It’s a valuable resource for those who want to improve their business and professional writing. And it was a nice refresher for me too! (I’m a professional writer/editor.)" —Anne Simpkinson, www.Guideposts.com

      "RESEARCH TELLS US THAT THE NUMBER ONE SKILL to succeed in the work world is the ability to communicate. Lynda McDaniel shows us how to become a stronger business writer. Her book is one of the best resources I’ve found anywhere. Thank you, Lynda! —Randy Siegel, The Career Engineer" Build Your Influence.com

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      Copyright © 2019 by Lynda McDaniel

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

      Lynda McDaniel Books

      Eureka, CA 95501

      www.LyndaMcDanielBooks.com

      Dedicated to all writers longing to tell their stories.

      Contents

      Introduction

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Dear Readers ...

      Excerpts from ...

      Lynda McDaniel Books

      Introduction

      Let me tell you a story. That’s how Steve Jobs often started his presentations. He understood the power of story and used that promise to grab attention—even before he told the first story!

      You know the power of stories too. Remember how you loved stories all those years ago when you gathered round a campfire or sat cross-legged during story hour at the library? You were spellbound. Stories have that power over us—then and now. That’s what makes them such a powerful tool for engaging your readers at work. Too often nonfiction writers miss out on this valuable way to grab attention and make information more memorable. Besides, as I often say, why should fiction writers have all the fun?

      Speaking of fiction writers, this book is for you too. I refer to office settings and emails for my nonfiction audience, but everything in this book applies to fiction writing as well. Storytelling follows the same rules whether the stories are true or imagined.

      Stories versus information

      I think the reason writers don’t take advantage of the power of stories is they think storytelling is too difficult. Telling stories well is only something Uncle Vern can do after dinner—or a few cocktails. But I’m going to show you how easy—and fun—storytelling is.

      Another issue: At work, people cling to the idea that only a formal style can make them sound professional. They prefer a straightforward prose, perhaps because they’re more familiar with that style. But ask yourself this question: Does that approach grab their readers? It may be their preferred style, but their task as writers is not only to express themselves—but to also engage their readers. And today’s readers, especially those weaned on Sesame Street, aren’t excited about reading dry materials, no matter how professional.

      When I get the opportunity to talk further with some of these writers, they admit that they aren’t comfortable with the idea of writing stories. Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. That’s a valid reason, and that’s what this book is all about. It will help you relax and feel confident as you develop your storytelling skills so you can get the results you want from all your writing projects—fiction and nonfiction.

      The bottom line: The days of dry corporate-speak, legalese, and overly academic prose are behind us, primarily because a just the facts ma’am approach presented in pages of dense text won’t grab the attention of today’s busy readers. Most of us suffer from a chronic condition called TMI—too much information—and stories offer a much-needed antidote. Not only do stories provide valuable facts, but they can also:

      Illuminate and illustrate ideas and facts, systems and methods.

      Apply information—taking it from the general to the specific.

      Guide your readers to an exciting conclusion that compels them to take action.

      Teach us things about ourselves—even through fictional

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