'One of those "I wish I'd known that years ago" books.'

I had occasion recently to revisit the Amazon page for my book How Stories Really Work, published ten years ago now. I was pleasanly surprised by the number of rave reviews - even the 'one star' review is a five star review in disguise!

Here's a selection:

I first discovered Grant Hudson when I read a blog post he wrote and was impressed enough to investigate his books. They were new and lacked reviews. They were also expensive. But the premise of "How Stories Really Work" was singularly unique and made bold claims. I looked at a digital preview and quickly realized that I was reading a writing book unlike any I had ever seen. And I've read quite a few! What Mr. Hudson offers is fundamentally a different way of seeing. He strips bare classic novels and blockbuster movies to expose the nuts and bolts driving the machine and explains in detail how and why it works. - Andy Poole

Loved the book. Have used the principles in many a story. It all makes so much sense. If you want help in drawing readers in - this is the book to get. - Mia Brown

This is a book every author should own. Grant P. Hudson does an outstanding job explaining story structure and the mechanics involved in creating a story or novel that readers will love. His examples are explained in an engaging manner so this book doesn't seem like reading a text book. I have already implemented many of his ideas in building a novel. This book contains great advice and I highly recommend it to all authors. - Dawn Taylor

After reading this book, I'll never look at stories the same way. This step-by-step how-to book is full of wisdom about how classic stories are structured. You will see how to apply these principles to your own stories and novels, converting them to page-turners. - Dr. Trekker

I have had nearly 100 short stories published and thought I knew about writing. This book taught me new ways to look at my own writing as well as other writing. Grant Hudson doesn't recycle old ways to look at the writing process, he invents new ways for a writer to examine almost every aspect of writing fiction, and provides a new vocabulary for how to do it. Very highly recommended for anyone who writes or wants to write fiction. - Steve Carr

I love the way Grant has approached the whole subject in this excellent book, in a very different and almost "obvious" way compared to other books that attempt to teach the craft of writing. As a writer myself I now see in a different light what I am writing. Where was this book 35 years ago when I first started writing? One of those "I wish I'd known that years ago" books. - Jack W. Frost

An amazing book. Fascinating application of physics theory to the art of fiction writing. Presents new ways of understanding how stories work. I now look for "vacuums" everywhere. Excellent case studies covering all genres. Thought-provoking and inspiring. I highly recommend this book to all readers and writers of fiction. - Giuseppina Leyland, B Social Work, Grad Dip Writing, MA Creative Writing

An essential purchase for anyone wishing to not only improve their writing but understand the art of story telling. You will never read a book the same way again. Nor watch a film or play without seeing the theory, that Grant so eloquently describes. Brilliant, worth every penny. - David Spillane

I wish I had found this book sooner. It was fascinating and insightful. I am now very annoying when watching films as I apply the techniques learned in this book, and quickly guess the twists! Very helpful in planning and forming ideas and I use this technique when writing stories. - Amazon Customer

Grant Hudson does not merely set out rules and instructions, as many other ‘how to’ books for writers do. He drills down to the basics of how the art of storytelling actually works. His take on how writers can make their storytelling more effective is truly unique. -Amazon customer

Mr Hudson has written a book that all fiction writers should read. He has a very interesting distillation of what makes good fiction work, which at the very LEAST gives the writer another serious filter to run their work through. I not only read it, I took notes!

The book tells you right away what the full idea is and then goes deeper with examinations of different parts of fiction and analysis of those parts at work in classic fiction. Modern fiction and film are examined as well—but the classics are where the book’s heart lies.

I am deliberately NOT telling you what the idea is—though I could give you a good idea in the same amount of text that I am writing here. I will say this: when you are writing and have reached some proficiency, you may reach a point where you feel that you still need to improve. This book may help. This book gives the accomplished writer new context—simple yet elemental, and you won’t have heard it before.

I remember one example of context as a means of improvement that I heard about 30 years ago—three examples—the first I don’t remember at all. The second had something to do with gripping with your thighs when sitting on a saddle, and the third one I actually remember. It had to do with golf swings. We can all do a fairly good approximation of a golf swing right this second, but what if you wanted to improve? This advice said to swing the club as if you were swinging a wet length of rope. I don’t play golf, but I can see how that would be helpful to those who do. It gives you the context to improve, and that is what Mr. Hudson has done here for fiction writers. I, for one, am going to start using the advice Mr. Hudson offers. Like I said, at the very least, the book offers a useful filter for all writers to run their work through. It works as a total philosophy of how to create fiction as well, but I don’t see any reason to abandon any other structure concepts you may have adopted. You may in time, but for now, but for now, just read this book through and think of Mr. Hudson’s story-crafting philosophy as an extremely useful filter. AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR WORK! - Rik Ty

I finished this book over two nights and had an epiphany. Such common sense and thought provoking ideas. This should be a mandatory text book for any serious writer. I'm excited to inject more purpose to my writing. This book will become a constant reference book for me now. Highly recommend it. - Amazon customer

A wonderful book, not only for writers, but for anyone who loves stories. Grant P. Hudson explains in an easy to follow and enjoyable manner how stories really work and why they work. Looking at a wide range of examples, ranging from Tolkien over Star Wars to the TV show Friends, he shows us the basic principles, which work within every story. After reading this book, you will most likely view characters, plots, stories and much of the writing advice, you might have heard before, in a completely new light. Furthermore, the author provides advice on developing your own stories, improving your existing fiction and a self-assessment questionnaire to analyze your current writing. Having finished reading this book, I am now eager to write and read even more. I am very happy I bought ‘How Stories Really Work’ and wouldn't want to miss it on my virtual bookshelf. It’s a favorite! - Amazon customer

For more, get How Stories Really Work -and my course, Become a Professional Author.