Books: Wired for Story

Wired for Story
My Verdict: Don't Bother

If you want to read about scientific "proof" that just relates common writer advice, then this book is for you. Otherwise, skip it.

Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron attempts to give scientific reasons why you should follow particular story advice. All of the story advice I've heard before, and agreed with, so the scientific proof is unnecessary.

If you do pick up the book, try to:

• Skim through the chapter for the bold print: MYTH vs. REALITY (usually one or two in each chapter). If it makes sense to you, skip ahead to the next bold print.
• Read the checkpoint list at the end of each chapter. If something in one of those doesn't make sense, go back and read through the chapter. These lists could be helpful for reviewing your novel.

Homework: make a list of all the things you should check your novel for during revisions.

(Examples:

• Weather consistency [doesn't change from winter to summer accidentally],
• side characters don't change names or features [do you have too many side characters when one could do the work of all],
• too much/little dialogue in a chapter,
• too much/little scenery [blank room syndrome], etc.)

 Rating Scale: Keep on Desk, Own It, Read It, Skim It, Don’t Bother