The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story - Super Structure

Of all the writers who write books for writers, James Scott Bell is up there in the Top 5. He's clear, concise and consistent. He delivers on exactly what he says, all in an easy-to-read style and actually provides solid, helpful and relevant advice for other writers. I have several of his books and this one is as good as all the others. In a market that is cluttered with How To books for writers, give most of them a miss and take this experienced writer's advice - it will be well worth it!

Another great source of writing wisdom from the masterful Mr. Bell.

This book has the added benefit of motivating you to apply these techniques to your own story.

I liked very much the checklist of reminders. Great idea!

I highly recommend this short book. James Scott Bell is one of the best writing teachers I know. His books on the craft of writing are all stellar. This one is no exception. His techniques work well if you're a plotter -- and just as well if you're a pantser. "Super Structure" shows you how to work with the big beats and the intermediate ones to construct a powerful and emotionally satisfying story. You will never go wrong reading Mr. Bell's advice.

I like Jim's clear and concise writing style. Stuff is repeated and pulled from his other books, but I enjoyed the review and emphasis on the 14 points. Good checklist. Keep your writing tutorial books flowing.

James Scott Bell is the best teacher around when it comes to writing. Any craft book he writes will take your writing to the next level - it has mine. From brand new writer to seasoned, multi-published, you'll learn from JSB. And this new book is no different! Thanks, James Scott Bell. Keep bringing us new ones!

James Scott Bell has simplified the writing process for me! Writing without structure would be like baking a cake without a pan to
contain it. The pan doesn't keep you from being creative with your ingredients any more than structure thwarts your creativity. No plain vanilla
cake or plot here. All the ingredients you need for an awesome story.

Story building intuitively works for some, yet Jim has analyzed and identified the key elements that allow a writer's story to rivet their readers. We still have to write well and fill in the blanks with great characters, exciting plots and emotionally compelling moments. I enjoy how he's taken the mystery out of the structure, which helps me focus on writing the best story I am able to. His craft books educate and this one is great.

Through clear examples and plain-language explanations, James Scott Bell details how to organize and brainstorm stronger, deeply-moving stories. Highly recommended reading for storytellers, both outliners and pantsers.

I love reading excellent how-to books about my craft. Super Structure helps me put a check on my own writing to make sure I'm doing it right, and I've been writing for 30 years. One can never stop learning, and Bell always has something to teach. This is one of his best.

Whenever I am about to begin a writing project, I like to read about the craft of writing beforehand to brush up and prepare my creative mind (I tend to cycle from visual art to writing throughout the year). This book was a quick read; brief and to the point, which I greatly appreciated. I have a few other structure books in my library, but they are quite a bit longer than I'm in the mood for. I want to get to work! There are plenty of great tips, and I found this to be a lovely guide. I'm sure I will reference it frequently in the future.

Mr. Bell's "Super Structure" is short and sweet and I would give it 4.5 Stars. I've read Mr. Bell's other books on the craft of writing (all of which I highly recommend), but none of his earlier books on structure and plotting put it all together in such an excellent package. "Super Structure" is chalk full of great advice for both the aspiring and accomplished writer. All I have a quibble with is the length of the book (I wanted to hear more!). But the book's succinctness shouldn't be an impediment to anyone getting the great "pearls" Mr. Bell always comes up with. Mr. Bell will make an "Plotter" out of me yet!

I could not follow any other book outline/structure formula. Was just overwhelmed and lost. This is so easy to follow and understand. I am so happy I found it because I was beginning to think my writing was a lost cause. Without knowing, I first read another book by the author, Writing from the Middle, which is also an excellent writing guide.

After attending the Writers' Digest Novel Writers' Conference 2016 in LA as a first-time attendee and budding writer and taking 2 JSB sessions, I had to buy his instructional books! This manual is cogent, entertaining and unputdownable. I read it in one sitting this morning after buying the kindle version. Highly, highly recommended.

Clear, easy to read, and thorough. I bought it to help me avoid endless rewrites of my new manuscript. I used the pantser approach with my first manuscript, and knew I wanted to outline, work out all the important and secondary points before writing another first draft. This book is the perfect tool. It also helped me to go over my finished (finally) manuscript to make sure I'm really finished.

James Scott Bell packed Super Structure: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story, with usable, easy to follow story-telling ingredients that are often overlooked. I recommend writers, new and seasoned, add this book to the library and keep it close by or a click away.

Loved, Loved, Loved this book. I read Nine Day Novel by Steve Winsor and this book back to back. The two together gave me great hope for the future. The signposts make so much sense and the examples of those signposts hit home. BUY THIS BOOK.

This book has transformed how I feel about writing my story now ... I read this book and I was on fire. James Scott Bell is the best teacher of how to structure a story ... so clear and insightful. I'm going to sit down tomorrow and write my novel ...oops, structure it first - super structure!

The structure dealt with in this book is fine, but I found the authors tone annoying and condescending. Too many paragraphs starting with 'Now, I know you pantsers will be..." yeah I don't think you do know me, mate. The references used throughout were also a bit of a mixed bag. Apart from a lasting impression that James Scott Bell really, really digs The Hunger Games, I didn't get as much out of this as I thought I would. Is more useful as a reference that you skim through, than a book you can read to really learn about structure and how to apply it for maximum effect.

After reading so many craft books on plotting with complicated and tedious methods of developing a plot, I was so excited to get this book.I have tried for years to "get" the structure of a novel, and this book nicely lays out 14 signposts of plot that have made my book's plot come alive and away I go. They make so much sense and I'm excited to get writing. I finally get how to plot with a working structure. This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!