Your Story Matters

by Nikesh Shukla

Why do stories matter? I tell stories to make sense of the world as I see it. The world I have lived and experienced, read about and heard about, and what I want it to be. I tell stories to make sense of myself.

Nikesh Shukla, author, writing mentor and bestselling editor of The Good Immigrant, knows better than most the power that every unique voice has to create change. Whether it's a novel, personal essay, non-fiction work or short story – or even just the formless desire to write something – Your Story Matters will hone your skill and help you along the way.

This book includes exercises and prompts that will develop your idea, no matter what genre you're writing in. It is practical, to the point and focused on letting you figure out what you want to write, how you want to write and why this is the best use of your voice. Accessible and thought-provoking, Your Story Matters will inspire you to keep thinking about writing, even when you don't have the time to put pen to paper.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Self Help

320 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2022

Reviews

[Jen Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful writing craft book written in short segments with tons of writing prompts

[Michelle McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is written in a relatable and accessible way and is packed with advice, tips and practical exercises. What I liked best were the questions that Nikesh poses. They are interspersed throughout the book, prompting you to stop and reflect on certain aspects of your writing project and really flesh it out and connect with it. I would definitely recommend this book to fiction writers. It might be less useful for non-fiction writers though.

[Katherine Stansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books about writing that I've read, and I say that as both a writer myself and a teacher of writing. It's full of practical advice and activities, and explores some of the most important aspects of long form fiction (which are also really hard to conceptualise!) in what felt to me to be fresh and meaningful ways, e.g. plot, story, theme. The sections which explore character are also brilliant and made me think about those who people stories from new angles. Another aspect that feels fresh is the emphasis on thinking why - as individuals - we want to write a particular story, and why now, and ways to approach writing about things we might not have experienced - all very practical, very insightful. And as an added bonus, this book is very funny too!

[Laura Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very easy to read book which was written as if having a chat with a friend. It covers writing both fiction and non-fiction and includes many useful and in-depth writing exercises. It is full of actionable writing advice and is an honest and authentic account of life as a writer.

Part 1 is about finding your writing voice, part 2 is about planning your story, part 3 covers character creation, part 4 guides you in creating your setting and part 5 is all about editing. One thing I really liked about this book was that the author stresses how important it is to follow your natural writing instinct and not be a slave to the rules. It is important to be aware of the rules but not let them stifle your unique voice. This is really good advice that more books should cover.

I’ve read a lot of books on writing but this one comes at it from a different perspective. The author doesn’t just tell you how to do it. Instead, he guides us, asks us questions and encourages us to answer them. It is a ‘yes, writing is hard but we are in this together’ kind of book rather than a ‘these are the rules; now go off and do it’ instruction manual. I recommend this to anyone who is a writer and wants to read a book that will gently guide them towards writing their best novel/essay/piece of non fiction.

I have deducted a star for two reasons: first, because of the scattered passive-aggressive comments about racial issues that are not necessary nor appropriate in a book like this, and secondly, because in some places the narrative became cringingly over-familiar, such as when the author went on about what nicknames we could call him. While some people may like this, I felt it added nothing to the learning experience of the book and was, quite frankly, irritating.

Other than these minor annoyances, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free advance review copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Elea. Noor. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I desperately needed someone to tell me that my story mattered. That it is okay to write because you need it, to write for yourself, not to be published. It is okay to write a story that you like, the story you want to tell, and not the story that will sell.

The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because I felt like the emphasis was more on the characters than anything else. Characters are not the most important part of a story for me, I do not think they need to be that detailed in your head to exist. Or maybe I am just lazy.

This book made me want to write. It taught me important things. You have to put your blood on the page, and that is exactly what I want to do. This book has made it easier for me to just write and not go back to the precedent paragraph. Just write, editing comes later.

This was a very heartwarming read, full of hope. I took notes of a lot of advice in order to try them and maybe incorporate them in my routine. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in writing a story that comes from the heart. To anyone who is looking for preparation work rather than 'technical grammar construction' work.

Thank you, Nikesh Shukla,
A reader and a writer.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a brilliant book. Nikes Shula writes in the same way that he speaks approaching the challenges of writing in a friendly, personal, and honest way. The focus is on writing your story as opposed to getting published which I think is really important. I have been on writing courses run by literary agencies and it’s really hard to get away from what they’re looking for in a writer and a story, which is not conducive to getting down to writing. The exercises in this book are helpful and relevant in helping “warm up” in the same way that an athlete would. If you’re a writer, you may be familiar with the sense that you need to be doing the writing of your masterpiece in waiting, but really, all writing leads somewhere and these exercises are very useful on the journey to getting there. I will need to go back to some of the exercises as was keen to read through the book, but this is exactly what the book is for – it’s by no means a rigid handbook of doing things “the right way” but offers prompts to help you find your own way.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book thinking it was more in the personal development genre, and I guess, in essence, it was. What I got was a funny and fresh deep dive into the creative writing process for the love of writing and the writer. Nikesh guides you through writing in a practical, accessible way whether your an experienced writer looking to brush up on different techniques or you haven't written before. I listened to it on audio which had the added benefit of Nakesh's engaging voice character. I also listened to it without the intention of writing but I soaked up the lessons and suggestions that are still relevant to creative story telling, practices or anyone wanting to to be prompted to look at the world from a different, deeper perspective. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and thought it was really helpful and I loved Nikesh Shukla's voice, really friendly and encouraging. I often say I'll come back to creative writing guides but I've already done a couple of the early exercises in this one so I'll definitely keep using it. Some of the ways to get ideas and fully think out your story are really helpful and feel do-able and not obscure.
This will go really well with Cathy Rentzenbrink's Write it All Down and Written by Bec Evans and Chris Smith.

[Nastasya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really inspiring and helpful book guiding writers to begin with intent. There are lots of writing prompts, and I also particularly liked the questions for exploring character and setting. Nikesh Shukla is a wonderful writer who has a friendly, accessible style and I think because he makes a reader feel safe and valued, we learn more.

[Jessica Moreton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give to me during my freshers week at university, and definitely contains advice and information that I will be taking with me into my degree! Accessible, humorous and an overall great read!

Definitely recommend to those who are looking for a crafts book for their writing as it even offered pointers that I hadn’t yet considered in my own work.

[Katharine Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has an incredibly nurturing feel and is packed with wisdom, insight and motivation for writers. I read Nikesh Shukla's brilliant 'writing tips' emails, and enjoyed Your Story Matters just as much.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting points to consider, though perhaps it won't suit the genre I write in.

[L.C. Wolff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging, inspiring and by far the best book I've found with creative writing prompts that are useful. A must read for everyone that wants to sharpen and deeper understand their craft.

[Alex Mormoris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook is also a lot of fun. Thank you Nikesh.

[Emily Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The advice was brilliant, and the writing exercises were thoughtful. Highly recommended for writers exploring their voice and figuring out the story they want to tell.

[Jovelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't really anything special, but it had some good advice.

[Kaino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pidin erityisesti kirjoitusharjoituksista.

[Ruby Roscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this by my uni and at first I thought I wouldn’t bother with it but I’m so glad I did. This book basically takes you through the whole process of writing, from the idea, to the first draft, editing and getting feedback. I’ve found it incredibly useful. Not only is it useful for my own writing and the writing for my assignments it’s also hilarious. Nikesh Shukla’s humour is amazing and it almost feels like your friend guiding you through your writing.

[Charleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a writer, I am always on the lookout for new writing craft books to sharpen my skills. This one caught my eye more than usual because of the title and description about how your story matters and your voice is important. I think, as writers, we all have the tendency to doubt our writing, doubt that anyone would ever want to read something we’ve poured our heart and soul to. After all, why does our voice matter in a world so big?

I found the things the author had to say fascinating. How we identify with stories because we see ourselves in them, how at critical times in our lives we turn to stories because we see ourselves in the characters. How stories have the power to change our lives, make us feel less alone. This couldn’t be more true. I loved reading about the authors’ input and the snippets of their own life they slotted into the book. It made me feel like I was sitting down with an old friend, listening to what they had to say.

There were so many tips and things to think about in this book, allowing me to explore and discover things about myself and my writing that I didn’t know before. There were plenty of exercises to help me along, to get me inspired and thinking about the stories I want to tell. I got so many ideas just reading this book and taking part in the prompts. Ideas for fresh stories, characters and situations. Ideas for books I’m working on. It was honestly a goldmine of the various things the author said that sparked my brain off into thinking and looking at things differently (which, as a writer, is so important and just what you need to get yourself out of a block).

This is a worthy book for any writer’s to be read list. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this book.