Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23108 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
This is one of my favourite writing guides, and the other is On Writing by Stephen King. Like that book, Plot & Structure is written by a professional and successful working author. I think this makes a huge difference. Many writing guides are written by individuals who haven't even been professionally published, so can only talk from observation, rather than actual experience.

Generally speaking, writing guides tend to fall into one of two camps: books full of vague aphorisms, or concise tomes full of actual concrete advice. This falls into the latter camp. I was really struggling with plot structure prior to reading this guide, but it gave me everything I need to know---a framework around which to hang my ideas (and a reminder that ideas are cheap and that I should generate as many as I can, rather than treating them like precious jewels). I studied it like I studied books at school, and you should too.

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), but this is no bad thing --- it's like learning scales before you can play complex pieces of music on the piano. Plot archetypes are successful and have stood the test of time for a reason.

Ultimately Bell's focus is on entertaining and delighting the reader. If you have an objection to this (and I've met many who find it questionable) then this book will just be one irritation after another, and should be avoided.

All in all, if you're aiming to write populist successful fiction and want a complete guide to plotting, 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