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From evoking a scene to charting a plot to revising your drafts, Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques offers a master class in storytelling. Taught by award-winning novelist James Hynes, a former visiting professor at the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop, these 24 insightful lectures show you the ins and outs of the fiction writer's craft.

Here is a new collector's edition of this modern classic as you have never heard it before, read by Natalie Goldberg herself and then infused with her most personal reflections about this "magic manual" for all writers. Try these ingenious, Zen-based exercises to expand your writing skills - or just for fun.

What is the role of the writer? Prophet? High priest of art? Court jester? Or witness to the real world? Looking back on her own childhood and writing career, Margaret Atwood examines the metaphors which writers of fiction and poetry have used to explain - or excuse! - their activities, looking at what costumes they have assumed, what roles they have chosen to play. In her final chapter she takes up the challenge of the title: if a writer is to be seen as "gifted", who is doing the giving and what are the terms of the gift?

Through their many best-selling books, Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron have done nothing less than deepen the way millions of us experience the art and practice of writing and creativity. Now, with The Writing Life, Cameron and Goldberg join forces for the first time in this revealing dialogue that speaks to our common search for an everyday spirituality.

With color, irony, and sensitivity, Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Dillard illuminates the dedication, absurdity, and daring that is the writer’s life. As it probes and exposes, examines and analyzes, The Writing Life offers deeper insight into one of the most mysterious of professions.

The small mountain town of Pineville had my heart from the moment I stepped in it. Maybe Benjamin Mercedy did too. Too bad he’s way out of my league. When things escalate to an unsafe situation at home, I have no choice but to ask the town MMA fighter to teach me self-defense. When we’re together on that mat, there’s a whole lot more spark and bang than I thought. And if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Benjamin Mercedy is hiding some ghosts in his gloves. Ghosts I’m ready to help tame.

Books & Writing episodes of the popular The Creative Process podcast. To listen to ALL arts & creativity episodes of “The Creative Process · Arts, Culture & Society”, you’ll find our main podcast on Apple: tinyurl.com/thecreativepod, Spotify: tinyurl.com/thecreativespotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Exploring the fascinating minds of creative people. Conversations with writers, artists & creative thinkers across the Arts & STEM. We discuss their life, work & artistic practice. Winners of Pulitzer, Oscar, Emmy, Tony, leaders & public figures share real experiences & offer ...

When Council Member hopeful Ronald Torkelson attacks Isadora and all Watchers, she decides it's time to take a stand. Unfortunately, not everything is what it seems with Ronald, she finds herself in over her head. Meanwhile, Maximillion struggles to find convincing proof against Ronald, nor any hint as to who he is behind the mask. When Isadora is taken hostage, he has to rely on those he loves to help him find his wife. Sanna is more than ready to have her own space, but she didn't realize that home building had so many options—and required so much currency!

Maximillion Sinclair is certain of exactly one thing: he wants to tell Isadora how much she means to him. Execution is not as simple as desire. Can he overcome the battles in his own mind to convey his deepest adoration? War between witches and dragons appears inevitable—unless Sanna can get rid of an infamous and sneaky black market witch named Casandra. When Casandra elevates her efforts against dragons to endanger one Sanna loves, all the safety she's created begins to crumble. Taxes, Wildrose, and Maximillion keep Isadora racing from one thing to the next. Everything is fine.

Maximillion Sinclair isn't pleased about the threat burned into sand dunes along the Borderlands, but he's even less pleased with who wrote them. When a nemesis from years ago threatens the Central Network again, he's ready to keep his beloved home from utter destruction. Isadora is prepared to have a child. Anytime now would be great, in fact. From midwives to crib placement, she's ready to go. Until life sends a twist her way she didn't expect. Meanwhile, Sanna is blissfully happy taking care of a new baby dragon.

Max doesn't see wraiths . . . but he does. After a near-death experience with the plague, memories of Max's mere and pere haunt him. He can't sleep, can't rest. When his aunt Serafina dies, he must come face-to-face with the truth—and the family—he's been avoiding for years. Meanwhile in Letum Wood, the sisterwitches are struggling. After Mam's death years before, tension has driven them apart. Only hard work, sacrifice, and vulnerable determination can pull them back together. Unfortunately, Sanna's worst nightmare comes to pass. Poachers from the Southern Network have taken Luteis.

Isadora Spence knows one thing for certain: she loves Maximillion Sinclair. When Max sweeps her to Wildrose Manor as his wife, she quickly realizes that not all is as it seems. She's forced to ask the most frightening question of all: Is love enough? When Isadora requests three months to decide whether to stay handfasted, Max immediately agrees. He adores Isadora, but saying the words isn't easy. His admittance would require something he's not ready to give. If he doesn't tell her that he loves her, will Isadora stay?

After years of struggle and heartbreak, Isadora Sinclair straps firm walls around her heart. She can endure no more. When a mystery illness falls on the Central Network, she stops using the paths and falls to work. Ambassador Maximillion has his hands full. Not only are witches dying left and right, but Network leaders are hiding in fear. Saving the Central Network is up to him, a Potionmaker named Toni, and his adopted son Ean. Can he keep himself healthy to save his witches?

Charlie has always brought magic and mayhem to Maximillion's life, but when Torr is taken captive by a rival Western Network tribes, things are about to get even more exciting for the two beloved brothers. Meanwhile, the long-lost sea dragon Mushi whisks Sanna to the Eastern Network, embroiling her in the war between sea dragons and mermaids. Can Sanna assist the sea dragon's survival? Or will her interference create more problems? When Isadora receives The Complete History of Watcher and Defender magic, she can't wait to sit down and read.

Sanna Spence can cast spells, chop vegetables, and manage herself, thank you very much. Well, for the most part. After months of magical training and practice, she thinks she's ready to live on her own as a blind witch in Letum Wood. When she realizes she's not there yet, it's time to do something big. Live in the Network. With her mentor Gilbert at her side, what could go wrong? Her sister, Isadora Sinclair, is determined to find a job. How hard could it be? Seamstress, baker, librarian. There has to be something in the Central Network she can do.

Isadora has harbored a secret dream for years: she longs to work for the education office. Finally, her wish has manifested. Sort of. Intrigue at the castle sets Isadora and her Watcher magic on an expected path. Sanna's new friend, Damien, isn't what she expected. When they're forced to work together to save the forest and mountain dragons from starvation, Sanna has her own lessons to learn about what she really wants. Max is growing older, but that doesn't mean he's ready to retire. Right? He needs a break, not to forsake his career. Then again, maybe the High Priestess is right.

Creative flow has blessed me with 39 novels that have collectively sold over 5 million copies, in sixteen languages, in under eight years, earning me over $10 million and over fifty spots on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and foreign bestselling lists. All of my dreams came true because I learned to write amazing fiction. I wrote this book for the old me—the girl who had big dreams, but no real idea how to write the books she’d need to make those big dreams come true. I wanted to make it easier for her to get to where I am now by sharing what I learned along the way.

If there's one thing that could draw Sanna into the dangerous dark heart of Letum Wood, a dragon is that thing. Sanna and her dragons take their lives into their hands and trail a mystery into the deepest recesses of the forest. What they find is not what any of them expected. Greater explorations require Sanna to part from her favorite beasts and head into the unknown alone. Meanwhile, Almorran magic presents to Isadora in a rather unexpected form, requiring Caroline, Baylee, Isadora, and the magical detection team to join together and discover what to expect next.

I didn’t ask for my life to be uprooted, but won’t sit by while my creepy ex-boss destroys everything—himself included. Except . . . there’s only one person that can help me disappear for a while, and I’m pretty sure he groans every time he sees me calling. Being Mark Bailey’s accountant isn’t easy. When Mark helps me escape into his mountain world for a while, the very last thing I expect is to fall hard. Now ghosts from my past are following and I’m not sure there’s a happy-ever-after waiting at the end of this nightmare.

Bianca Monroe should be celebrating—she’s just handfasted the love of her life, Merrick. But fate has other plans. A summons from High Priestess Alina pulls Bianca to the Southern Network, where magicless witches are vanishing without a trace. To accept Alina’s plea for help means defying the Central Network Council. To refuse could cost innocent lives.