Warren - The Story Equation

Praise for The Story Equation

The Story Equation is pure genius. Randy Ingermanson, author of Writing Fiction for Dummies

In simple yet powerful terms, Susan May Warren lays down the essential crafting elements that make for a gripping tale. This is the stuff we all need to first learn and then constantly keep in mind as we dive into the process of laying the story we see in our minds down on the page. A great benefit to all writers of fiction." Ted Dekker, New York Times best-selling author

There have been only two must-have craft books on my shelf for years. Now there is a third. If you write fiction, Susan May Warrens The Story Equation is a book you need to buy. And devour. I could talk in detail about the books insight, its power to transform your writing, its brilliance, but suffice it to say I predict this will become a classic in the library of how to write bestselling stories. James L. Rubart, best-selling author of The Long Journey to Jake Palmer

Susan May Warren loves to help novelists outrageously succeed. She does this in a practical way through her insightful book, The Story Equation. I felt like Id been taken by the hand and mentored by a masterful storyteller! Mary DeMuth, author of six novels including, The Muir House

Susan May Warren is a terrific teacher and enabler of fiction writers. I wholeheartedly agree with the approach of starting from the character journey and wrapping the plot around it. I think the SEQ can really help lots of authors. Jeff Gerke, national writing instructor and Writers Digest author of The Irresistible Novel

The Story Equation

Susan May Warren

Minneapolis, Minnesota

learnhowtowriteanovel.com

The Story Equation: How to Plot and Write a Brilliant Story with One Powerful Question

Copyright 2016 by Susan May Warren. Manufactured in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by My Book Therapy, a division of Susan May Warren Fiction, LLC, 20 Wild Plum Dr., Grand Marais, MN 55604. (218) 370-8395. First Edition.

Visit our Web site at www.mybooktherapy.com for information on more resources for writers.

To receive instruction on writing, or further help with writing projects via My Book Therapy's boutique fiction editing services, contact info@mybooktherapy.com

Dedication:

For your Glory, Lord...

To everyone who ever attended one of my classes, encouraged me and wanted more from their writing, this is for you.

Acknowledgements

To Rachel, my story therapist, my teaching partner and the person who said, "Hey, what you teach sounds sort of like an equation."

You are brilliant.

To David, my amazing assistant for helping me sort out how to write this book, for his thoughtful questions and helping me each week teach these concepts to writers. I would be adrift without you.

To Beth Vogt, for your friendship and for applying your amazing editing skills to this book. I shudder to think what it would have looked like without you!

To the My Book Therapy Voices for their encouragement and questions that make me into a better writer and teacher.

Finally, to Andrew and my family.

Thank you for feeding me and keeping me sane. I love you guys.

Foreword

Ive been writing partners with Susan May Warren, affectionately called Susie May, for more than a decade.

Her passion for writing and story is eclipsed only by her passion for teaching and mentoring.

In 2005, outside a Nashville coffee house, we brainstormed our current books. We found an instant connection and camaraderie. We laughed while challenging each others story points and from that moment on, we grew in friendship and craft.

Over the years, Susie molded everything she learned into acronyms, how-to steps, and what to dos. I watched her heart to teach and mentor explode. Out of that came the multifaceted and brilliant My Book Therapy.

The book you hold in your hands, The Story Equation , is the result of ten plus years of writing, teaching, and rewriting, long phone conversations on how to tell a better story.

The methods and techniques youll learn in the book are proven. Susie uses them. I use them. Award-winning authors trained through My Book Therapy use them.

Heres the thing, the SEQ is designed to work with your process. Its not a step-by-step guide like firing up your new computer, but a tool box you can use to build your best possible story.

The SEQ works for pantsers, plotters, and everyone in between.

Read this book over and over. Use it as a guide for each story youll start. The techniques will become second nature to you. This will be one of the best writing books youve ever purchased.

Now, read. Then go write something brilliant.

Rachel Hauck
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author

It all adds up to Powerful Story

H ow can you take your writing to the next level? How do you add those rich layers and create constant tension that have your readers turning pages late at night and losing sleep? Whether youre published, seeking publication, or bravely navigating the new world of indie publishing, you need the Story Equation.

Ask yourself one powerful question and find the elements that add up to a compelling story. Fascinating characters, their internal and external journeys, story and scene tension, a riveting romance, and even the perfect ending are all connected components of bestsellers. The Story Equation is something every writernovice or advanced, outliner or organiccan use.

Using this powerful technique that has helped me create nearly fifty books, many of which have landed on the bestseller list and won RITA, Carol, or Christy awards, I will ask the one question that leads to the Story Equation, and then show you how to utilize it for the best story youve ever written.

You will discover:

• The amazing trick to creating unforgettable, compelling characters that epic movies use!
• How to create riveting tension to keep the story driving from chapter to chapter
• The easy solution to plotting the middle of your novel
• The one element every story needs to keep a reader up all night
• How to craft an ending that makes your reader say to their friends, Oh, you have to read this book!

Introduction

The Job of the Author

I ts all about story. No, wait. Its all about characters. Or what about the plot?

These comments are constantly batted around at writers conferences, in libraries, over mocha-lattes, and in book clubs. What makes a novel powerful, something you want to pass along?

All of the above. Because theme, plot, and characters all conspire to create the one thing a reader needs in order to enjoyand pass alonga story.

The emotional connection.
Wouldnt it be nice if you could plot your entire story and create an emotional connection with your reader by asking one question?