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Captivate Your Readers: An Editor's Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction Paperback – February 24, 2015

by Jodie Renner (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 95 ratings
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Are you looking for techniques to really bring your fiction to life for the readers, so they feel they’re right there, on the edge of their seats, struggling with the hero or heroine? Staying up late at night, worrying, glued to the pages? This award-winning editor's guide to writing compelling fiction provides specific advice, with examples, for captivating readers and immersing them in your story world. It’s all about providing a direct connection from the characters to the readers through techniques such as deep point of view, showing instead of telling, avoiding author intrusions, and basically letting the characters tell the story. Today’s readers want to put aside their cares and chores and lose themselves in an absorbing story. This book shows you how to provide the emotional involvement and immediacy readers crave in fiction. You’ll find techniques for making sure your characters come to life and your readers feel directly connected to them, without the author’s hand appearing as an intermediary. And like Jodie Renner's other writing guides, which are all designed for busy writers, the format of this one is reader-friendly, with text broken up by subheadings, examples, and lists.
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  1. Print length
    230 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 24, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.52 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0993700411
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0993700415
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cobalt Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 230 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0993700411
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0993700415
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.68 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.52 x 9 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #6,899,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

About the author

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Jodie Renner

Jodie Renner

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Before retiring recently due to chronic fatigue syndrome and shutting down her website, Jodie Renner was a sought-after freelance fiction editor and respected nonfiction writer.

Jodie's latest book, LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE WITH LIMITED ENERGY -- Successfully Manage ME/ CFS, Long COVID, and Other Chronic Fatigue Conditions, was released on July 28, 2023.

Jodie Renner is also the award-winning author of three Editor's Guides to Writing Compelling Fiction, WRITING A KILLER THRILLER, FIRE UP YOUR FICTION, and CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS; as well as two QUICK CLICKS e-resources for writers and editors, SPELLING LIST and WORD USAGE.

She has also organized and edited two anthologies for charity, VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS - Stories & Poems about Life in BC's Interior, and CHILDHOOD REGAINED - Stories of Hope for Asian Child Workers.

FIRE UP YOUR FICTION offers concrete tips to tighten your prose and take your writing skills up several levels and has won three awards (two silver medals - Readers' Favorite Awards, FAPA President's Book Awards - and an Honorable Mention in Writer's Digest E-Book Awards).

CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS is all about engaging readers, bonding them with your protagonist, and drawing them into your story world through techniques like deep point of view, showing instead of telling, avoiding author intrusions, writing dialogue that zings, and generally letting the characters tell the story. It has won a silver medal in the FAPA Book Awards and is a finalist in two other book awards.

WRITING A KILLER THRILLER, her most popular book, provides concrete tips for adding tension, suspense, and intrigue to any novel.

Also check out Jodie's handy, time-saving, clickable e-resources, QUICK CLICKS: WORD USAGE - PRECISE WORD CHOICES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, and QUICK CLICKS: SPELLING - COMMONLY MISSPELLED WORDS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, both of which you can also read on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Jodie has also organized and edited two anthologies, both for charity: VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS - STORIES & POEMS ABOUT LIFE IN BC'S INTERIOR, with all net proceeds to Doctors Without Borders Canada; and CHILDHOOD REGAINED - Stories of Hope for Asian Child Workers.

Visit www.JodieRenner.com.

Jodie is also a well-known blogger, and her craft-of-writing articles and other resources for writers appear on various blogs, as well as her own blog, Resources for Writers, at https://jodierennerediting.blogspot.com/ .

Jodie has also judged novels and short stories for various organizations, including several times for Writer's Digest. She has also presented workshops at writers' conferences and to writers'

As a freelance fiction manuscript editor, Jodie specialized in thrillers, romantic suspense, mysteries, and other fast-paced, suspenseful fiction.

When she's not editing, writing, or reading novels or books on writing compelling fiction, Jodie loves to pursue her three other passions, dancing, photography and traveling. She has traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East, and continues to sneak away whenever she gets the chance.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
95 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides excellent information, with one noting it's thorough and filled with practical examples. Moreover, the writing style is clear and reader-friendly, making it a must-read for writers.

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19 customers mention "Information quality"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great reference that provides excellent examples and is filled with good advice.

"The book content was amazing! Easy to read and informative. That being said, right away the pages began to fall out...." Read more

"As a first-time novel writer, I found Captivate Your Readers very useful with loads of good information that I'll be returning to again and again" Read more

"...direction, and this book, more than any that I've read so far, gives the most insight on how to really write from the heart of your character, so..." Read more

"...Her writing style is clear and to the point. I have read many books on writing but there were few which were as enjoyable to read...." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a must-read for writers and reader-friendly, with one customer noting its clear writing style.

"The book content was amazing! Easy to read and informative. That being said, right away the pages began to fall out...." Read more

"...to really write from the heart of your character, so that the reader will relate and become invested in your manuscript...." Read more

"This is the best book for writers that I have found. I can say that I learned something from almost every page in the book...." Read more

"...Not only does it work reading from start to end, it provides you with an excellent reference tool to refresh your memory on topics as desired...." Read more

Enhance Your Knowledge of Writing Fiction and Captivate Your Readers!
5 out of 5 stars
Enhance Your Knowledge of Writing Fiction and Captivate Your Readers!
CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS will help any fiction writer improve their writing techniques. In this third book in her series of guides to writing compelling fiction, Renner focuses on putting life into stories by bringing the characters to life and capturing the readers’ attention and compelling them to keep reading. Writers will find this book to be user-friendly, providing advice with examples on how to engage the readers emotionally and keep them reading. Renner gives guidance on how to create a direct connection between the characters and the readers. Renner’s guide helps writers understand the importance of telling the story from the character’s point of view to connect to the readers. CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS, An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction gives the writer examples of techniques of character development to bring the story to life and involve the readers in the process. Using the guide’s table of contents, writers will easily find examples of techniques of character development and ways to write compelling fiction that will captivate the readers. CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS is a must-have guide for writers and earns a 5 star ranking.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jan White
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for writers who want to develop deep POV
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I don't have anything eloquent to add to the already stellar reviews on this book because I agree with each of them. But to me personally, the most important thing I took away was Jodie's layman explanation on how to 'show.' Over and over I heard the words 'show don't tell' but then no one would give an example, a literal example, on how to do that. It was the most frustrating concept until I read this book. Jodie takes a step-by-step approach explaining everything from doing away with the 'she saw, he heard' writing, to actually giving written examples on how to bring a scene to life by getting deeper into your character's head. I am one of those people who needs a little 'push' in the right direction, and this book, more than any that I've read so far, gives the most insight on how to really write from the heart of your character, so that the reader will relate and become invested in your manuscript. Big kudos, Jodie Renner, for doing such an amazing job.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • RS
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Clear Winner
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is the best book for writers that I have found. I can say that I learned something from almost every page in the book. Her writing style is clear and to the point. I have read many books on writing but there were few which were as enjoyable to read. Ms. Renner described everything in such a way that concepts and ideas resonated with me. Even her examples from other authors were used to drive home the points she was trying to make. The parts of the book that I found interesting were her bullet sections on 33 tips to creating a short story worthy of contests, her 15 questions to ask your beta readers, and her 12 steps from your story idea to publishing. I bought the Kindle version and I am buying the paperback as well. First time I've ever purchased both.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J. Fuhrman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great craft reference full of clear examples
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What I love most about this book is its easy-to-search structure. A lot of craft books take much longer to explain the things Renner does. Chapters are short but packed with information. Every chapter (in the kindle version) has a link that takes you back to the table of contents, allow you to explore the book in a non linear fashion. Not only does it work reading from start to end, it provides you with an excellent reference tool to refresh your memory on topics as desired.

    The book covers much of what I haven't read already in other craft books, but she does bring a unique perspective to these topics as well as provide excellent examples that hammer in the ideas. Definitely worth the money.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Elizabeth Poole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Home Run
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I have Jodie Renner's other two craft books, and I love them both. When offered a chance to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I signed up right away. I also purchased a copy for my writing friend as a gift.

    She covers several points writers need to know about, including characters and show don't tell with fresh new insights, but the section in the second half of the book was truly remarkable. She talks about how to use your word choice, sensory details, and decision making to capture your reader's attention from start to finish. Most of these things are subtle, pernicious things you wouldn't think about as a writer, but someone with Renner's editorial eagle eye will spot and flag. I also enjoyed the three appendices she included in the back.

    Buy this book and follow her guidelines, and it will be like hiring her for a developmental edit, only at a fraction of the cost.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jim Everhart
    5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Advice from a Real Pro
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many books on writing. But this book was outstanding. While I had read or heard some of these rules before, the author's descriptions were simple and concrete. And the examples she provided made the point crystal clear. I heartily recommend this book to anyone writing a novel.
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  • Rick Pullen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything in One Book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I thought I'd read it all until I read Jodie's latest. This packs everything you need to know (no kidding) about fiction writing---especially writing thrillers---into a single book. It examines writers' most frequent mistakes and shows vivid examples on how to fix them. It identifies all of the practical problems writers face. If you're frustrated in the middle of a manuscript and looking for guidance, read this book. It addresses virtually ever craft issue thriller writers endure. Best writing book for the money I've ever read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • willyou watchme
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book for writers.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Inspiring, motivational, helpful. I've read almost every book available on fiction writing. Jodie Renner's books, starting with Captivate Your Readers, are some of the best out there. Jodie gives great advice and in much more detail than usual. Voice, deep point of view, emotional power--these are some of the topics you'll find in Jodie's books.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Stephen McDaniel
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not 'captivated' by this one.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Not a bad guide, but it does not provide anything not found in a dozen other how-to books on writing. Some of it is a bit absurdist/prescriptive. 'Don't create boring characters!' 'Don't write badly!' All good advice, but it concentrates on what many writers do wrong, rather than how to do it right. And, like many of these writing instruction manuals, much of the information is very formulaic. 'Create well rounded characters!' Why? There are hundreds of very interesting characters in fiction that we love, and few of them are well rounded. Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Ishmael and Ahab. Poirot, Marple, etc, etc. So I can't really recommend this book. If you're a novice at writing fiction, there are better guides out there.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Barbara M. Webb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Writers! a Fabulous Hand book. From an Experienced Editor
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    If I could give 10 stars for this book I would!
    Although I was an English teacher for many years and had a degree in English, that did not prepare me for writing books.
    I self-published 2 books recently. Both were nonfiction. Then I started writing my first novel. That was a completely different writing challenge. The writer needs to engage the reader emotionally, and Jodie Renner show show to do this.
    Each chapter can be read as a one off with link back to the beginning of the book.
    Her help lies in the richness of her experience as an editor who has participated in eg Readers' Digest writing contests as well as free- lanced as well.
    She uses examples of prose from published books (disguised of course) to make her points. For example the famous enough adage, "Show - Don't Tell" appears a lot in books giving advice to authors. Her explanations are the best I have read.
    The crucial importance of the first chapter of a novel is brilliantly handled, from the point of view of editors as well as readers. It helped me sculpt my thoughts in a more refined way, and chunks of information were removed to be used in later chapters in a more organic way.
    I have bought her other books as a result.
    Can't speak too highly of her book.
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  • Doris C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent advice for fiction writers
    Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The deeper I go into my writing project, the more often I turn to this guide, which gives excellent advice on everything you need to write a great story. The book also presents typical challenges encountered by writers and offers effective tips on how to resolve them. I highly recommend Jodie Renner's book.
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  • Richard Ballina
    5.0 out of 5 stars an impressive writing guide
    Reviewed in Australia on April 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Full of useful advice on all aspects of planning, writing and revising your novel from an experienced book editor. Plus comprehensive checklists at the end to help you apply key points.
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  • Ann Marie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2020
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    A really useful book, laid out clearly and with lots of helpful advice. Highly recommended.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Let the Character tell the story ...
    Reviewed in Australia on December 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Full development of the what to find the how and then the why - a keeper.
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