Wired for Story

The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence

By: Lisa Cron

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

This guide reveals how writers can utilize cognitive storytelling strategies to craft stories that ignite readers’ brains and captivate them through each plot element.

Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets—and it’s a game-changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper.

The vast majority of writing advice focuses on “writing well” as if it were the same as telling a great story. This is exactly where many aspiring writers fail—they strive for beautiful metaphors, authentic dialogue, and interesting characters, losing sight of the one thing that every engaging story must do: ignite the brain’s hardwired desire to learn what happens next. When writers tap into the evolutionary purpose of story and electrify our curiosity, it triggers a delicious dopamine rush that tells us to pay attention. Without it, even the most perfect prose won’t hold anyone’s interest.

Backed by recent breakthroughs in neuroscience as well as examples from novels, screenplays, and short stories, Wired for Story offers a revolutionary look at story as the brain experiences it. Each chapter zeroes in on an aspect of the brain, its corresponding revelation about story, and the way to apply it to your storytelling right now.

Critic reviews

“We all love a good story but most of us struggle to write them. Lisa Cron enlightens us as to how to get the job done in a savvy and engaging way.”
—Michael Gazzaniga, neuroscientist and director of the SAGE Center for the Study of Mind, University of California, Santa Barbara

“Story guru Lisa Cron unlocked my last novel for me over lunch, but if you can’t have her by your side when you’re wrestling your manuscript, the next best thing is this smart, funny, genius book about the myths, realities, and brass tacks of story. Packed with innovative tips and techniques, it's as essential to any writer as a laptop, and much more fun.”
—Caroline Leavitt, author of New York Times best seller Pictures of You

“Wired for Story reveals that stories are not only a metaphor for human striving and survival, but they are also the means by which the brain ensures that we survive. Lisa Cron translates the latest neuroscience into a master guidebook for how to write engaging, meaningful, and moving stories.”
—Elizabeth Lyon, author of Manuscript Makeover

“As a story consultant for business executives as well as artists, I am always searching for ways to convey the skill set involved in constructing a story. Wired for Story presents basic principles for harnessing the natural power of the brain to recognize and create stories in a way that is inspiring and entirely helpful.”
—Murray Nossel, PhD, founder of Narativ Inc.

“Remember when Luke has to drop the bomb into the small vent on the Death Star? The story writer faces a similar challenge of penetrating the brain of the reader. This book gives the blueprints.”
—David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine and author of Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

Outstanding

Enough said. Absolutely excellent. I’ve read and listened to many books on writing. This is a jewel. Don’t pass it up.

Excellent presentation on cognitive story telling

I recently listened to Brittany Pressley narrate Wired for Story. Along with doing an excellent job of conveying Lisa Cron’s cognitive storytelling information, her narration skills proved to be very engaging.

Wired for Story is a unique text on storytelling. While most of the books I’ve listened to or read related to writing fiction, this is the first that tied that endeavor to brain science. Not only does Lisa Cron provide a considerable amount of what might be technical information, she includes examples and provides the basic techniques in a way that is easily approachable to a novice writer who isn’t an expert on brain science.

After listening to the audiobook, I realized I need to purchase a copy of the kindle book so I can annotate it for easy reference.

Great info for writers and creatives

I’ve read so many books on the craft of writing, and I studied it in college. It’s hard to find ones that aren’t redundant or a regurgitation of the countless others that came before it, but this accomplishes that. I’ll be buying this in hard copy to keep on hand to re-read in the future.

Yes! This is a Game Changer

The book is an excellent guide on “everything” to do with writing. Although the focus is on literary fiction I wish I would’ve read it before writing my master thesis- I know I could’ve saved myself a lot of criticism and ordered rewriting. This book is a must for ANYONE he needs their readers to keep reading.

Important things to remember when writing

Solid work on how to make things make sense for the reader. How to keep them interested and reading.
Well done.