Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence (39 page)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, first from story and then from neuroscience, it’s that every decision we make is based on everything that’s happened to us up to that moment. So it’s no surprise that this book owes its existence to many, many people who have graciously given me their encouragement, expertise, and support.

For one thing, I wouldn’t know nearly as much about story if not for a gifted group of friends, family, and colleagues: Jeannie Luciano, Paul F. Abrams, Mona Friedman, Judy Toby, Bill Contardi, Pamela Katz, Richard Walter, Amy Bedik, Sara Cron, Judy Nelson, Edith Barshov, Martha Thomas, LaDonna Mabry, Abra Bigham, Brett Hudson, Doug Michael, Vicky Choy, Iris Chayet, Marnie McLean, Angela Rinaldi, Frances Phipps, Mark Poucher, A. Karno, and Newman Wolf.

I’m grateful to Linda Venis, mastermind of the phenomenal UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, and her fabulous staff: Mae Respicio, Kathryn Flaherty, and Sara Bond to name a few. Teaching in the Writers’ Program allowed me to expand and refine my ideas, thanks to spot-on feedback from the most inspiring and talented students anywhere. Thanks especially to Michele Montgomery, who turned to me one night after class and said, “You’re always telling everyone they have time to write a book; why aren’t
you
writing one?” And to students Tommy Hawkins, Jill Beyer, and Sheel Kamal Seidler, whose wry, spirited questions always kept me on track.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to those who read the manuscript over the course of its many iterations and generously took the time to give me much-needed feedback. It has been improved immensely thanks to Lynda Weinman, Caroline Leavitt, Lisa Doctor, Rachel Kann, Colin Kindley, Carlyn Robertson, Michelle Fiordaliso, Charlie Peters, Randy Lavender, Jon Keeyes, Cherilyn Parsons, Dr. Ronald Doctor, Murray Nosel, Chris Nelson, Wendy Taylor, Robert Rotstein, Karen Karl, Robert Wolff, and Leigh Leveen.

Story has long been my profession, but I’ve come to neuroscience more recently. I was more than humbled that Michael Gazzaniga, cofounder of the field of cognitive neuroscience, took the time to read the manuscript and pronounce it fit. Thank you.

To the indefatigable, insightful, beautifully brutally honest freelance editor Jennie Nash: what would I have done without you? Undying thanks to my daughter Annie, who cheerfully read the manuscript countless times, always with the uncanny knack of finding obvious-when-pointed-out-but-otherwise-invisible logic glitches that no one else noticed, especially me. Many of my ideas were sharpened during conversations with my son Peter, whose love of story is as keen as mine. There is no one I’d rather talk story with, and no one I learn more from. Thanks to writers Jason Benlevi, for always believing in me, especially when I didn’t, and Thomas Koloniar, for invaluable lessons in grit, perseverance, and loyalty.

Words don’t do justice to how grateful I am to my supportive, savvy, brilliant agent, Laurie Abkemeier of DeFiore & Company. Somehow, she magically made the whole process stress-free. How often can you say that about anything? This book would be vastly different (read: not nearly as complete) if not for the shrewd wisdom of my whip-smart editor, Lisa Westmoreland. Thanks to her and the crackerjack team at Ten Speed Press, this book is infinitely better than it would otherwise have been.

Deepest heartfelt gratitude to my husband, Stuart Demar, who lovingly cooked every meal and did all the housework on top of his busy schedule, so I could keep writing into the wee hours. Only a true tough guy would do that. And finally, everlasting thanks to my lifelong best friend, Don Halpern, who makes everything possible. Damon never had a truer Pythias.

A graduate of UC Berkeley,
LISA CRON
spent a decade in publishing—first at W. W. Norton in New York, then at John Muir Publications in Santa Fe, New Mexico—before turning to television, where among other things she’s been supervising producer on shows for Court TV and Showtime. She’s been a story consultant for Warner Brothers and the William Morris Agency in New York City and for Village Roadshow, Icon, the Don Buchwald Agency, and others in Los Angeles. Lisa is featured in the book
Ask the Pros: Screenwriting
(Lone Eagle, 2004). Her personal essays have appeared on
Freshyarn.com
and the
Huffington Post
, and she has performed them at the 78th Street Playhouse in NYC, and in Los Angeles at Sit ’n Spin, Spark!, Word-A-Rama, Word Nerd, and Melt in Your Mouth (a monthly personal essay series she coproduced). For years she’s worked one-on-one with writers, producers, and agents developing book and movie projects. Lisa has also been a literary agent at the Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency. She is currently an instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. She lives in Santa Monica, California, with her husband, two scruffy but well-loved cats, and a mischievous dog. Visit
wiredforstory.com
.