You The Story, Ruta Sepetys
You The Story, Ruta Sepetys
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You: The Story
A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Narrator: Ruta Sepetys

Unabridged: 4 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/16/2023


Synopsis

The nonfiction debut by #1 New York Times bestselling and Carnegie Medal-winning author Ruta Sepetys. Perfect for fans of Burn After Writing and Bird by Bird.

Life is story in motion. Each day, you add to your story, revise it, and view it from a different angle. You erase things. Tear pages out. And sometimes, in hindsight, wish you could put them back. A day is a story. A year is a story. A life is a story.
You are a story.

Ruta Sepetys is known for creating vivid characters and harrowing plots. After five award-winning works of historical fiction and countless hours of meticulous research, she can affirm that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your life experience.

You: The Story is a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page. Masterfully weaving in humorous and heartfelt stories from her own life that illustrate an aspect of the craft of writing (such as plot, character development, or dialogue), Sepetys then inspires readers with a series of writing prompts and exercises.

Perfect for fans of Burn After Writing and Bird by Bird, You: The Story awakens the emerging writer and reveals that with some reflection, curiosity, and courage, you have a story to tell.

About The Author

Ruta Sepetys is the internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Must Betray You and other historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her five novels have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes, and are included on more than sixty state award lists. Between Shades of Gray was adapted into the film Ashes in the Snow, and her other novels are currently in development for TV and film. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Sepetys is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on Twitter @RutaSepetys and Instagram @RutaSepetysAuthor.


Reviews

Goodreads review by jessica on October 27, 2023

i almost never read non-fiction and i have absolutely no interest in being a writer; so why, you may ask, did i read this? its because RS has written some of the most meaningful books and i know that any insight into how she has crafted such memorable and touching stories would make me appreciate the......more

Goodreads review by Lucy on May 21, 2023

This is a writer must read. So much rich advice in these pages that I can’t wait to apply to my process.......more

Goodreads review by L.C. on March 25, 2025

A great instructive and inspiring guide for storytellers that want direction to write their own stories. This publication is a HOW TO book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are w......more

Goodreads review by Kathreadsall on January 01, 2023

Thoughtful and thought provoking, this guide to writing will inspire your craft. I wanted to get back into writing, and I think this was the perfect book to give me the push I needed.......more

Goodreads review by R.F. Gammon on August 05, 2023

This was SO good and I strongly recommend if you’re a writer (or if you just want a better way of seeing the world around you). We’re all surrounded by stories and this was a wonderful reminder of that.......more


Quotes

★ "Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Part writing guide, part memoir, Sepetys’ fresh, fun handbook is all inspiration." Booklist, starred review

★ "With the same skill and craft that Sepetys employs to write relatable and moving invented characters, she paints a picture of her family, friends, and acquaintances, proving she is capable of more than enthralling fiction. . . . This is a must for any collection where young readers have an interest in storytelling, as well as generally a good pick for fans of the author." —School Library Journal, starred review

"This is an inspirational book that gives readers direction as they begin writing and will make them want to keep writing, and rewriting, their own stories."SLC

"Sepetys discusses the principles that underlie good fiction and recounts details from her own life to illustrate how personal anecdotes can fuel literary creativity. . . . Novice writers will appreciate a bounty of writing prompts."Publishers Weekly