A hands-on craft guide that turns rough first drafts into confident, finished stories through practical, example-led editing techniques for writers ready to do the work and sharpen their craft.
If you want to transform raw ideas into effective storytelling, too many writing books tell you what to fix in a draft, but not why those fixes matter.
Tell Me (How to Write) A Story is a practical guide for writers who want to turn rough first drafts into confident, compelling stories. Because a good idea is not the same as a finished chapter. To get there, you need tailored practice, patience, and clearer editing decisions.
Using real examples from beginner writers, you'll learn how to tighten paragraphs, strengthen dialogue, control pacing, and choose the right narrative approach for each moment in your story.
Structured in three progressive editing stages, this book builds on your existing work so you can improve at your own pace. Instead of vague advice, you'll learn clear, usable techniques for identifying your specific weaknesses, and how to edit with precision and purpose.
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Practical, encouraging, and built on real examples rather than abstract rules, this is a craft guide for anyone who has found writing books long on diagnosis and short on the why. Readers who value the hands-on editing focus of Renni Browne and Dave King's Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, or the warm, do-the-work spirit of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, will feel right at home, as will fans of classic craft writers like David Lodge and Arthur Plotnik.
"Runyon has produced an excellent guide to the writers art. The book provides practical examples of how to make your writing clearer and stronger. It covers plotting, use and abuse of words, common traps to avoid, and some very well chosen practical exercises. You'll learn through doing." — Kevin Elliott, author of Lightmaker
"An essential guide for anyone who wants to be a good writer." — D.K. Cassidy, author of Spilt Milk