What makes a story memorable? What keeps readers turning the pages? Lisa Cron explains her tips for writing a story that readers love. This is a pre-recorded intro as I am currently traveling in Israel. If you want to see the photos, pop over to Facebook.com/JFPennAuthor This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. Lisa Cron is a story coach and the bestselling author of Wired for Story and now her new book Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages that Go Nowhere) You can listen above or on iTunes or Stitcher or watch the video here, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below. * How Lisa's new book, Story Genius, follows along from Wired for Story with more practical application for writers. * Lisa's definition of story and why she would remove The Hero's Journey from that equation. * What prescriptive writing is and how to deal with character growth in a series of books. * Why story is about what is under the surface of what we experience every day. * How books that are poorly written can sell so well. * What politicians and advertisers know about the human condition that writers need to pay attention to. * How Lisa disagrees with Anne Lamott's description of first drafts. You can find Lisa at www.WiredForStory.com and on twitter @lisacron Transcription of interview with Lisa Cron Joanna: Hi everyone, I'm Joanna Penn from TheCreativePenn.com. And today, I'm here with Lisa Cron. Hi, Lisa. Lisa: Hi, Joanna. It's so great to be here. I can't begin to tell you. It's just so strange, I'm so far away and yet it feels like we're in the same room. Joanna: I know, it's very cool. Just in case people don't know you, here's a little introduction. Lisa is a story coach and the bestselling author of “Wired For Story,” and now her new book, “Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining And Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere).” That's a hell of a subtitle, Lisa. Lisa: It sure is. Oh, man, it really is. It's like, can you say it without running out of breath? I think. Joanna: It's pretty hard but we're gonna get into the book in a minute, but you were first on the show in 2012, and I can't believe it's four years later. Lisa: I know. Joanna: It's crazy. So give us a bit of an update. What have you been up to? What do you do as your day job? Why this book now? Lisa: Okay. That's a great question. I appreciate it. From then to now.