19 Books like Telling True Stories

Draft No. 4

by John McPhee • 2013

How a New Yorker writer earns every sentence: drafts, checking, silence, and a dictionary.

4.09

4k+

📝 Narrative Nonfiction ✍️ The Revision Process 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🎙️ Interview Techniques 💎 Prose Style

Draft No. 4 96%

How a New Yorker writer earns every sentence: drafts, checking, silence, and a dictionary.

by John McPhee 2013

4.09

4k+ ratings

📝 Narrative Nonfiction ✍️ The Revision Process 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🎙️ Interview Techniques 💎 Prose Style

Good Prose

by Tracy Kidder • 2013

Everything a Pulitzer winner and his editor know about writing nonfiction that people finish.

3.92

1k+

📖 Narrative Nonfiction ✍️ Writing Craft 🖋️ Prose Style ✂️ Revision And Editing ⚖️ Truth In Nonfiction

Good Prose 95%

Everything a Pulitzer winner and his editor know about writing nonfiction that people finish.

by Tracy Kidder 2013

3.92

1k+ ratings

📖 Narrative Nonfiction ✍️ Writing Craft 🖋️ Prose Style ✂️ Revision And Editing ⚖️ Truth In Nonfiction

Thinking Like Your Editor

by Susan Rabiner • 2002

Trade editors don't acquire books; they acquire audiences. Your proposal has to prove you have one.

4.10

506

🗒️ Book Proposals 🏢 Trade Publishing 📖 Narrative Nonfiction 🧩 Narrative Structure ✂️ Editorial Process

Thinking Like Your Editor 94%

Trade editors don't acquire books; they acquire audiences. Your proposal has to prove you have one.

by Susan Rabiner 2002

4.10

506 ratings

🗒️ Book Proposals 🏢 Trade Publishing 📖 Narrative Nonfiction 🧩 Narrative Structure ✂️ Editorial Process

Murder Your Darlings

by Roy Peter Clark • 2020

Voice, craft, and discipline: the writer's toolkit, handed down from Aristotle to Zinsser.

4.02

644

✍️ Writing Craft 📝 Rhetoric And Style 📖 Narrative Craft ⏰ Writing Routine 🏛️ Classical Rhetoric

Murder Your Darlings 93%

Voice, craft, and discipline: the writer's toolkit, handed down from Aristotle to Zinsser.

by Roy Peter Clark 2020

4.02

644 ratings

✍️ Writing Craft 📝 Rhetoric And Style 📖 Narrative Craft ⏰ Writing Routine 🏛️ Classical Rhetoric

How to Write Short

by Roy Peter Clark • 2013

Tiny texts, big impact: the craft moves that make short sentences stick harder than long ones.

3.77

1k+

📝 Short Form Writing ✍️ Writing Craft 🗣️ Rhetorical Techniques 👁️ Reading As A Writer 📰 Journalism Craft

How to Write Short 93%

Tiny texts, big impact: the craft moves that make short sentences stick harder than long ones.

by Roy Peter Clark 2013

3.77

1k+ ratings

📝 Short Form Writing ✍️ Writing Craft 🗣️ Rhetorical Techniques 👁️ Reading As A Writer 📰 Journalism Craft

How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career

by James Scott Bell • 2016

One moment, properly placed, can make a short story unforgettable and launch a career.

3.87

743

📖 Short Fiction 🏗️ Narrative Structure 💓 Emotional Resonance 👁️ Point Of View 📈 Publishing Strategy

How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career Summary

How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career 93%

One moment, properly placed, can make a short story unforgettable and launch a career.

by James Scott Bell 2016

3.87

743 ratings

📖 Short Fiction 🏗️ Narrative Structure 💓 Emotional Resonance 👁️ Point Of View 📈 Publishing Strategy

The Art of Subtext

by Charles Baxter • 2007

What a character won't say, can't hear, and can't admit: the hidden engine of unforgettable fiction.

4.02

1k+

📖 Narrative Craft ✍️ Writers On Writing 🎨 Fiction Aesthetics 🔍 Close Reading 👤 Character Depth

The Art of Subtext 93%

What a character won't say, can't hear, and can't admit: the hidden engine of unforgettable fiction.

by Charles Baxter 2007

4.02

1k+ ratings

📖 Narrative Craft ✍️ Writers On Writing 🎨 Fiction Aesthetics 🔍 Close Reading 👤 Character Depth

Damn Fine Story

by Chuck Wendig • 2017

Storytelling starts when a character's world breaks. The tools for what comes next.

4.36

1k+

📝 Storytelling Craft ✍️ Fiction Writing 👤 Character Craft 🏗️ Plot Structure ⚡ Narrative Tension

Damn Fine Story 93%

Storytelling starts when a character's world breaks. The tools for what comes next.

by Chuck Wendig 2017

4.36

1k+ ratings

📝 Storytelling Craft ✍️ Fiction Writing 👤 Character Craft 🏗️ Plot Structure ⚡ Narrative Tension

Writing the Breakout Novel

by Donald Maass • 2001

An agent's craft manual for fiction that breaks out: not talent, but specific, learnable choices.

4.08

4k+

🖋️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🎭 Character Development ⚡ Narrative Tension 🎯 Story Stakes

Writing the Breakout Novel 93%

An agent's craft manual for fiction that breaks out: not talent, but specific, learnable choices.

by Donald Maass 2001

4.08

4k+ ratings

🖋️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Story Structure 🎭 Character Development ⚡ Narrative Tension 🎯 Story Stakes

The Breakout Novelist

by Donald Maass • 2010

Thousands of manuscripts. A handful break out. The specific craft moves that make the difference.

4.32

404

✍️ Fiction Craft 📚 Commercial Fiction 🎯 Story Stakes ⚡ Scene Tension 🎙️ Narrative Voice

The Breakout Novelist 93%

Thousands of manuscripts. A handful break out. The specific craft moves that make the difference.

by Donald Maass 2010

4.32

404 ratings

✍️ Fiction Craft 📚 Commercial Fiction 🎯 Story Stakes ⚡ Scene Tension 🎙️ Narrative Voice

Super Structure

by James Scott Bell • 2015

Your story's midpoint holds the key. A flexible framework of beats for outliners and pantsers alike.

4.40

942

✍️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🥁 Story Beats 🎭 Three-Act Structure 💕 Character Empathy

Super Structure 92%

Your story's midpoint holds the key. A flexible framework of beats for outliners and pantsers alike.

by James Scott Bell 2015

4.40

942 ratings

✍️ Fiction Craft 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🥁 Story Beats 🎭 Three-Act Structure 💕 Character Empathy

Just Write

by James Scott Bell • 2016

How a working novelist structures story, builds character, and treats writing like a profession.

4.29

546

📖 Fiction Writing 🏗️ Story Structure 🎭 Character Development ⏱️ Writers' Productivity 🛡️ Creative Discipline

Just Write 92%

How a working novelist structures story, builds character, and treats writing like a profession.

by James Scott Bell 2016

4.29

546 ratings

📖 Fiction Writing 🏗️ Story Structure 🎭 Character Development ⏱️ Writers' Productivity 🛡️ Creative Discipline

Writing the Memoir

by Judith Barrington • 1996

The memoirist's craft: picking your thread, finding your voice, and shaping the truth into story.

4.04

715

🖋️ Memoir Writing 📝 Creative Nonfiction 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🎤 Finding Your Voice 💎 Truth In Memoir

Writing the Memoir 92%

The memoirist's craft: picking your thread, finding your voice, and shaping the truth into story.

by Judith Barrington 1996

4.04

715 ratings

🖋️ Memoir Writing 📝 Creative Nonfiction 🏗️ Narrative Structure 🎤 Finding Your Voice 💎 Truth In Memoir

Always Take Notes

by Simon Akam • 2023

Two hundred writers on the money, the rejection, and what it actually takes to publish.

3.56

140

📝 Writing Advice 📚 Publishing Industry 🎨 Creative Process ✂️ Revision And Editing 🛡️ Creative Resilience

Always Take Notes 92%

Two hundred writers on the money, the rejection, and what it actually takes to publish.

by Simon Akam 2023

3.56

140 ratings

📝 Writing Advice 📚 Publishing Industry 🎨 Creative Process ✂️ Revision And Editing 🛡️ Creative Resilience

How to Write a Damn Good Novel

by James N. Frey • 1987

Step-by-step dramatic craft for building a novel from premise to final draft. No muse required.

3.87

3k+

🖋️ Fiction Writing 📚 Novel Craft 🎭 Dramatic Structure 👤 Character Development 📈 Plotting And Pacing

How to Write a Damn Good Novel 92%

Step-by-step dramatic craft for building a novel from premise to final draft. No muse required.

by James N. Frey 1987

3.87

3k+ ratings

🖋️ Fiction Writing 📚 Novel Craft 🎭 Dramatic Structure 👤 Character Development 📈 Plotting And Pacing

Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot

by Jane K. Cleland • 2016

A plotting grid that plants a jolt every 70 pages: the method for stories that grip.

4.05

547

🖋️ Fiction Writing 🧩 Story Structure ⏳ Suspense Writing 🔄 Plotting Techniques 🎭 Narrative Tension

Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot Summary

Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot 92%

A plotting grid that plants a jolt every 70 pages: the method for stories that grip.

by Jane K. Cleland 2016

4.05

547 ratings

🖋️ Fiction Writing 🧩 Story Structure ⏳ Suspense Writing 🔄 Plotting Techniques 🎭 Narrative Tension

Consider This

by Chuck Palahniuk • 2020

Most writing advice avoids the craft that actually builds authority, tension, and voice.

4.37

6k+

🖋️ Writing Craft 📖 Craft Memoir ✂️ Literary Minimalism 💔 Therapeutic Writing 🎤 Narrative Voice

Consider This 92%

Most writing advice avoids the craft that actually builds authority, tension, and voice.

by Chuck Palahniuk 2020

4.37

6k+ ratings

🖋️ Writing Craft 📖 Craft Memoir ✂️ Literary Minimalism 💔 Therapeutic Writing 🎤 Narrative Voice

Write a Must-Read

by A.J. Harper • 2022

The method for writing a nonfiction book readers finish, act on, and can't stop recommending.

4.51

128

✍️ Nonfiction Writing Guides 🎯 Reader-Centered Writing 🦋 Transformational Nonfiction 💼 Author Entrepreneurship 🧠 Author Mindset

Write a Must-Read 92%

The method for writing a nonfiction book readers finish, act on, and can't stop recommending.

by A.J. Harper 2022

4.51

128 ratings

✍️ Nonfiction Writing Guides 🎯 Reader-Centered Writing 🦋 Transformational Nonfiction 💼 Author Entrepreneurship 🧠 Author Mindset

The Art of Fiction

by John Gardner • 1984

Master the craft that makes readers forget the page and live inside your story.

3.99

6k+

🖊️ Fiction Craft ✍️ Prose Style 📖 Narrative Technique 🏗️ Plot Structure 🎭 Character Development

The Art of Fiction 92%

Master the craft that makes readers forget the page and live inside your story.

by John Gardner 1984

3.99

6k+ ratings

🖊️ Fiction Craft ✍️ Prose Style 📖 Narrative Technique 🏗️ Plot Structure 🎭 Character Development

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M