"The need to tell stories" inspired author, director and entrepreneur Liz Dubelman to create something called Vidlits. What are VidLits? Think "movie trailer for books." They're creative, short animations of stories and book excerpts that you play on the web. Publishers have started using VidLits to showcase their authors. In the past year, Liz and her partner, award-winning sound designer Paca Thomas, have created entertaining online shows for Warner, Penguin, Harper Collins, Little, Brown & Company, Rodale and other major imprints. Liz tells us more about her unique kind of storytelling - and why she thinks they're important for books.

Dan Koeppel travels the world to write stories for National Geographic Adventure, Men's Journal, Backpacker, Popular Science and other major magazines. He's visited more than 40 countries, biked along the Silk Road in far-western China, birdwatched deep in the Amazon jungle and explored Paris to find the best croissants -- on rollerblades. But Dan says, "travel is just part of the stuff I'm doing."

In this installment of Bagel & Schmear -- my ongoing conversation about writing with playwright and ad creative exec Clark Morgan -- we discuss what the "controlling idea" means to your non-fiction writing. Whether putting together a business brief or best-seller, Clark says, "the controlling idea is your friend." [Editor]

VT: What is the controlling idea?

Clark: Everything you write needs to express one main thought, not twenty. When people finish reading what you've written, you want them to be able to easily say what it was about. You don't want, "Well, you got to read it." That's a bad answer.

VT: I just read this book called "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell.

Clark: Really? What's it about?

VT: Thinking. The kind of thinking that happens in the blink of an eye. Different facets of rapid cognition -- what goes on in our heads in two seconds, when are snap judgments good, when are they not. Is that what you mean?

"I really love essays," says Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum. Celebrated for her incisive and humorous views on culture, she's the author of a highly-regarded novel called "The Quality of Life Report" and has written for numerous magazines, including the New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Harpers and Travel & Leisure. She's also published a collection of personal essays in a book called "My Misspent Youth." We talked to Meghan about why she holds this literary form so dear.

When Jennifer Holm started writing books she didn't expect to be writing "kid lit." But nine books and Newbery Honor, Parents Choice Silver and Publisher's Weekly Best Book -- and more -- awards later, she's found her niche.

"I didn't write my first novel as a children's book. I just wrote it," Jennifer says. But her agent thought it would be great for younger readers. Jennifer was surprised. "I thought it was too racy -- there's some violence and death in it." She realized a lot had changed in children's literature since she was a kid. "I was kind of behind the times."

Let's get the first question out of the way: Yes, it's her real name.

Sparkle Hayter is a writer now finishing her sixth -- and final, she says -- installment of her popular "Robin Hudson" mystery novels. Originally from Canada, Sparkle now lives in Paris. She likes to write in cafes, just like Hemingway did. She also reported for the Toronto Star as a war correspondent. Just like Hemingway did. (She, in Afghanistan. He, of course, in Spain.) "People keep finding the parallels," she says. "But he was humorless and macho. That's a big difference."

Sparkle's latest novel is set in her new hometown. It's full of humor and Robin's cool not macho. Sparkle moved to Paris five years ago after living in New York City. It was more than just a change of scenery -- it changed the way she wrote. We caught up with her in Paris:

Your editor here. I want to tell you about my old pal Clark Morgan. He's a playwright with six productions under his cummerbund and, by sunlight, a top creative at ad giant Ogilvy. He's an amazing writer who once taught composition at a major U. When I wanted to improve my work I asked Clark for help. We started meeting at a local bagel shop and between bites and schmears he fine-tuned my stuff. My writing soared. The bagels weren't bad, either.

I asked Clark if I could tape our "bagel summits" for you, our fine subscribers. He graciously agreed. Here's the kick-off installment of an occasional series that will help you -- and me -- get better. Today we're talking about dialogue, listening and writing like you're shooting a movie.