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Damon Suede

Verbalize: bring stories to life & life to stories (Live Wire Writer Guides) Paperback – March 12, 2018

by Damon Suede (Author)

89 ratings

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Enhance your purchase

Fascinating fiction starts with characters who make readers care. This Live Wire Writer Guide presents a simple, effective technique to sharpen your hook, charge your scenes, and amplify your voice whether you're a beginner or an expert.

Most writing manuals skirt craft questions with gimmicks and quick fixes rather than plugging directly into your story's power source. Energize your fiction and boost your career with

a new characterization method that jumpstarts drafting, crafting, revision, and pitching.
skill-builders to intensify language, stakes, and emotion for your readers.
battle-tested solutions for common traps, crutches, and habits.
a dynamic story-planning strategy effective for plotters and pantsers.
ample examples and exercises to help you upgrade fiction in any genre.

Blast past overused tics and types with storycraft that busts your ruts and awes your audience. Whether you like to wing it or bring it, Verbalize offers a fresh set of user-friendly, language-based tools to populate your pages and lay the foundations of unforgettable genre fiction.

Print length

366 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Evil MasterMind, LLC
Publication date

March 12, 2018
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.76 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

1945043032
ISBN-13

978-1945043031
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Verbalize by Damon Suede is what every Author/Writer needs regardless of genre to create magic. This e-book is easy to read, portable, and packed with writing goodness. Damon has provided Authors with a detailed, informative manual to go forth and write the book they were born to create. Even seasoned writers will want to read this book... Verbalize is a Masterclass written with humor, tons of examples and exercises to tackle a book regardless of genre. Nestled within each section are exercises that will allow you to use your work-in-progress. It's a win-win. Not to mention the added convenience of having Damon's expertise at your fingertips to access anytime, anywhere while making notes, highlighting the important bits and flipping with the easy to locate pages. Perfection." Rae at Books I Love a Latte
"For people in search of writing craft/process books, Damon Suede's Verbalize is the real deal. Highly recommend. Pretty sure I would have saved myself weeks of painful revisions on a couple of books if I had had access to this method earlier...Wildly helpful." Cat Sebastian, author of historical romance
"It's rare to find a book on writing that so thoroughly entertains as it educates. My new favorite reference. Halfway through it I wanted to dive back into my story idea, excited, inspired and re-energized. I think that pretty much says it all." R.G. Alexander, New York Times bestselling romance author

About the Author

Damon has earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director... but writing has ever been his bread and butter. Though new to romance fiction, Damon has been a full-time writer for print, stage, and screen for over two decades. He has won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Evil MasterMind, LLC; Illustrated edition (March 12, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1945043032
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1945043031
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.76 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #212,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #344 in Authorship Reference
- #790 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)

Customer Reviews:
89 ratings

About the author

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Damon Suede

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Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. He has lived all over and along the way, he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director... but writing has ever been his bread and butter. He has been happily partnered for over a decade with the most loving, handsome, shrewd, hilarious, noble man to walk this planet.

Beyond romance fiction, Damon has been a full-time writer for print, stage, and screen for almost three decades, which is both more and less glamorous than you might imagine. He's won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year..

Damon would love to hear from you.... Get in touch with him at DamonSuede.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		4%
3 star		8%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Jon Svenson

Could have been so much better

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

I came across Damon Suede in an interview on the Creative Penn YouTube channel. I found his interview to be dynamic and extremely helpful, the takeaway being to build your characters using active verbs, instead of the usual approach which is to write out long descriptions of hair color, eye color, backstory, likes, dislikes, etc. Damon made a good point during the interview that very little, if any, of his information is ever used during your first draft.

I immediately took hold of this idea, and can vouch that is a superior approach to the older methods. I also bought the book, hoping to get more insight into Damon's ideas and thought processes.

The book is a challenging read, for a couple of reasons. It's not a word salad, but it seems like it is at times. The book goes off in hundreds of tangents, and you have to wade through these to find the nuggets of practical information that will impact your writing. The book is simply too long for the information it tries to convey, and can be confusing as a reader when you're about to start a new manuscript and want the key information, and only the key information.

Honestly, I recommend the interview instead of the book. You'll get the information in forty minutes that will take hours and hours here.

Overall, I would only recommend this book to writers who take a one or two month break between books so you have time to read this. I don't have that option, so it didn't work for me unfortunately. I still think the concept is good, but the execution is lacking.

3/5 *

33 people found this helpful

Helpful

SKP

it is more like a college course

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

This isn't just a book, it is more like a college course. Both the novice and the professional writer would be educated and or provoked; you will find highlights or highlight every page. I bought a book, but I am getting an education—I only wish this book was an online class. I feel like I got too much for my money, like going to the register to pay for an expensive item and the clerk tells you it is a give away and you are the lucky recipient. In this book Verbalize, Damon Suede gives away years of experience,professional knowledge, and obviously a love for writing.
P.S. I have never written a review before— I was provoked out of gratitude for this effort to help us and make us all better.

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

MCalmes

How To Build A Better Writer

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

What's great about this book is that if you want a masterclass in craft, if you need to build from the ground up and learn how to construct your best work; this is the one for you. But if you need help with something RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND it's also the right book for you. You can read from start to finish or go directly to the chapter, (with helpful exercises), that will get you back on the right path with plot or character or pacing. Lots of books "tell" you how to fix something but don't "show" you. This does both. It also reads more like a conversation than a textbook so I was hooked from the start. Simply put, an amazing resource that every writer needs.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Emily S

Best writing how-to in over a decade

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

The best book on writing I have read since Bird by Bird! More than a manual, Verbalize is a brilliant, fun, funny treatise on genre fiction and how to write it and think about it, using scores of great examples. I read the book in one sitting but then went back in subsequent days and did the exercises. I will never think of verbs in the same way again! Additionally, Suede will help you clarify character and action and will make your work cook. A great addition for any reference library.

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

AK Kirk

Fantastic, in-depth, riveting, eye-opening

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is by far the most eye-opening craft book I've ever read. For years I've struggled with taking projects all the way to their conclusions. At some point, the stories go off the rails and I become lost as to how to move forward because my characters don't "feel" right. After reading this book, I can now see it's their core ACTION (which affects every action they take on their journey) that wasn't quite right. Properly verbalizing all of your characters actions from start to finish brings clarity and consistency to a story while also providing instant conflict. Knowing these character actions also kinda just writes your plot. Amazing. Putting Damon's exercises into action, I am already seeing true clarity on how to fix character issues, which solves plot issues, which make me more confident with writing forward to The End.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Susan S.

For mid level writers

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Some music evokes sadness or lightheartedness. Some foods remind us past events like garlic knots remind me of Italian restaurants. Some perfumers can discern scents for which I have no words. Well trained dogs try to communicate their understanding of scents to us but they have no words. In writing this is called connotation. Most writers understand the difference between pilfer and steal and try to make their writing more precise and understandable to the reader.
This author's concepts are excellent. The wisps of memory resonating in us when we observe a creative work transform ordinary art into great art. However, the author's attempt to explains to us what he recognizes about writing is not communicated well. He bludgeons his readers. This book needs a rewrite and tighter editing. He is not eloquent. He assumes we do not understand his concepts and argues his points. He writes like he is trying to dominate a conversation. We get it. Unfortunately, this audience cannot communicate back to him.
This is a tirade, a monologue. I appreciate his point that characters must do something to someone or something. In a novel characters cannot just philosophize. Verbs count. Actions count.
I felt cheated when I tried to read the exercises at the end of each chapter. In the paperback version the exercises are printed in a faint gray type. It is hard to read in the daylight and impossible to read with evening lighting. I suggest a new printing and tighter editing as improvements.
I think his ranting style would be better suited to a classroom than a craft book. It's ironic that an author writing about his craft cannot write well.

13 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Shishya

pretentious and overbearing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

I don’t know why this book has so many 5 stars. I read almost 40% and all the author does is waffle on and on.

In one chapter he is talking about how great he is, in the next he is teaching us what adverbs are. Seriously , if I’m reading a book on writing I know what adverbs are.

I’m almost half way thru the book , I still have no idea what it’s about or what the author is trying to teach.

Very rarely do I ask for a refund , but this book certainly deserves one.

Terrible. Avoid at all costs

Andy Hill

Verbalize is simply brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is simply brilliant! It guides the new author rather than leading or constraining. It includes many useful exercises and dozens of examples from the classics to Harry Potter. Damon Suede talks with the reader rather than talking at them. It may sound strange but it would not be an exaggeration to say that I could not put it down, it grasped my attention from the first page. I am already redrafting my first ever manuscript based upon what I have learnt from Verbalize. In case anyone is wondering, This is a personal review. I paid full price for the book and I have had no contact with the author, publisher or Amazon etc - I just loved the book.

One person found this helpful

Lovesreading

Absolutely brilliant, full of vitality and ideas.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book is brilliant for ramping up your ideas and action, whether plotting or in the writing process. Useful for new or experienced writers. It feels like the author is with you, talking you through, but is rich in content and really provoked lots of ideas and inspiration. Bought it after Joanna Penn's podcast and am glad I did. Alsp bought Activate on Kindle, well used already.

Daniel Butcher

Great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great book

Amazon Customer

An artistic bent to move the writer to the intent of the character ...

Reviewed in Australia on March 29, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is one of the few times I've read a non-fiction book and heard the author as he speaks (as evidenced by video!), and yes, it's the same stylistic patterns and flavour. Stylistically, it's manic chatter that's compelling, enlightening, interesting, with clear insights and a few subtle moments - not too many - with a clear goal in mind. I think that says it all, doesn't it?

Oh, the book - excellent, missing one thing in the 20% of stuff at the end of the book, but we might, just might, forgive this if the book that does contain it comes out soon.
And yes, I'm reading it a second time and taking just as many notes as the first time, but different locations (is that because now I understand the context with more clarity?).
Thanks, Damon, and well done.

One person found this helpful

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