The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters (Kiingo Storytelling) Paperback – September 20, 2020

The Kiingo Creative Instagram page has been extremely helpful to me during the writing process so I was excited to see that Ross Hartman had written a book. And I was not disappointed! We've all heard standard writing advice many times but "The Structure of Story" takes it to a whole new level. It provides you with an arsenal of writing tools and dives deep into why those tools work. It goes below the surface and shows you exactly how to apply these principles to your work. For writers who want to master the storytelling craft and create an emotional impact with their stories this is a must."The Structure of Story" doesn't just help with the writing process, it helps you grow as a writer, by allowing you to understand your story. It focuses on the emotional component of story-telling, something often overlooked by most books on writing. Yet it also applies a practical lens, giving you the tools to create a story that is lasting and impactful. No matter where you are in the writing process this book is sure to help"The Structure of Story" covers everything. This was as informative as a textbook-in fact I had to take notes, I found it so valuable-however unlike a textbook this was so easy to read. It's filled with examples from well known books or movies which made it very accessible and solidified the conceptions. This isn't just a one time read, I know I will be going back when I need help with a particular story element. It is organized in the perfect way to make it a great reference for this. This book will never stop helping your writing skills. You definitely need this on your shelf!

Honestly, I wish I had this book years ago, my writing and storytelling would be leaps ahead already. Since I got this book, my personal writing projects are seeing dramatic improvement and I am having more breakthroughs and working through problem spots with greater ease. If you are interested in screenwriting or storytelling at any level—beginner, intermediate, expert—this is an incredible resource you'll absolutely want in your library. It's thick at over 400 pages. It's a wealth of information taught in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, along with examples so you can see the application. The examples from movies and books are not obscure, they're movies and stories you've actually seen or read before. What I love most about the book that Ross Hartmann has written is that he teaches the principles of storytelling and structure in "microlearning" blocks that are easy to digest, with most subsections averaging one page. I'm insanely busy (aren't we all), and this book makes it easy to pop it open and learn something in 5 minutes if that's all the time I have, or go longer. Because of the smaller microlearning sections, you're not committed to a full hour of reading. In one page of reading, you'll understand the principle and how to apply it to your own work. The way Ross teaches in this book is clear and concise—he gets to the heart of the message quickly without unnecessary fluff. For the price and what you get (amount, quality, ease of understanding) this book is a must-buy. You'll be making breakthroughs in no time with your writing and your storytelling will dramatically improve. It makes an incredible reference to return to as well, with all topics easy to find in the index. Bonus points: The author is very accessible and helpful on social media at Kiingo Creative.

The book came a little dirty on the outside as if used, however the pages were in good shape so I chose not to return. The information in the book is great it really walks you through technique of writing on different genres.

Clearly explains the various elements of story structure. It helped me elevate my plot, but more importantly, it gave me a framework for approaching story design.

'm a story nerd, love everything to do with structure and writing; I have read countless of books on the subject. This is now the new star in my long collection. I bought the hard cover because I had a feeling this would be a book that I'd come back to again and again. I was right. Ross Hartmann says in his introduction "This book strives to present a comprehensive storytelling toolbox that offers practical, well-defined tools to be used when—and only when—they serve the story". He's nailed it. With meticulous approach he's divided the book into sections, starting with the foundations, before moving on to framework etc. There's good balance between theoretical analysis and practical examples. This is not a book with a formula to follow; this is a book that explains story, components that make it work, tools you can use. Hartmann has done his research and thought deeply about story. I highly recommend The Structure of Story for any serious writer who wants to continue to develop their craft.

The Structure of Story is one of the most thorough and accessible writing books I've read so far, speaking as both a hobbyist and an undergrad writing major. Ross explains a detailed selection of writing tools to construct a wide variety of stories, with plenty of examples. The book itself is easy to follow, easy to read, and fun to understand. The Structure of Story emphasizes that there is no one right or wrong way to tell a story, instead focuses on what techniques are and are not effective for telling the story YOU want to tell. With coverage on everything from character motivations, setting ideas, plot complexities, and different genres, there's something in here for everyone. Absolutely worth every cent!