Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9740 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
The second book in the Write Great Fiction series, Plot and Structure offers clear and concise information on creating a believable and engaging plot that readers can't resist. Written by award-winning thriller and suspense author James Scott Bell, this handy instruction guide provides: Easy-to-understand techniques on every aspect of plotting and structure, from brainstorming story ideas to building scenes, and from using subplots to crafting knock-out endings; Engaging exercises, perfect for writers at any level and at any stage in their novel; Practical and encouraging guidance from one of the most respected writers publishing today; Full of diagrams, plot brainstormers, and examples from popular novels, mastering plot and structure has never been so simple.

Customer Reviews

The Bible when it comes to plotting
I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a practical, hands-on, and downright USEFUL guide to learning about plot and structure. It's written by a professional and successful working author. I think this makes a huge difference.

Plot is what happens in your novel. Structure is WHEN (and to an extent WHY) things happen. We can all generate plots, but structure must be learned, in my opinion (unless you're a one-in-a-billion natural story teller). But that's no problem because structure is one of the few writers arts that can be codified. That's the achievement of this book---Bell has identified the timeless rules and comprehensively explains them. His rendition of the rules can be slightly idiosyncratic at times (in my opinion), but if keep your wits about you and follow the advice in this book then you will be able to generate a winning plot and structure. No question. Of course, that doesn't mean you will have a winning novel...

I studied this book like I studied books at school, and no doubt I'll read it again many times.

Like many guides, Plot & Structure makes the distinction between "literary" and "popular" plot types, and concentrates most definitely on "popular" (Bell is an American author and barely a page goes by when he doesn't mention Dean Kootnz). However, the author will occasionally reflect on the difference between the two types to illustrate a point.

Ultimately Bell's focus is on entertaining and delighting the reader, and what he describes is focussed very much on this end goal. If you have an objection to this (and I've met many who find it questionable, considering writing a pastime for their own pleasure), then this book will just be one irritation after another. But even so I'd advise you read it. Archetypes are archetypes. Structure is structure. It exists outside of genre. And a surprising amount of "literary" novels have structures that are fundamentally very similar to the latest Stephen King or Dean Koontz.

All in all, if you're aiming to write successful fiction and want a complete guide to structure, this book is highly recommended. If you buy no other book on writing then make it this one.

Great Plot
An easy-to-read book, and yet it contains countless ideas and suggestions for the writer - well worth buying!

Very good indeed
I teach novel writing. I found this to be a highly readable and exceedingly helpful book for those who want to take novel writing seriously. A few too many references to cinema plots, but essentially the best book I have read on the subject. Recommended