Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review




To write average prose, follow ten easy steps..., November 12, 2008
By Bardamu (San Francisco, CA USA)
Every so often I get insecure in my efforts to write a decent book, and I check out one of these craft books. Often they help, often not. This one falls in the latter category. It outlines the most common concepts of the most common fiction (the necessity of conflict, an objective for the main character, opposition thereto, the three act structure, etc.), and tells you how to fill in this cookie-cutter design and maybe tweak the shape so you come up with a new variation on the reindeer or the Christmas tree (or the thriller or the mystery or the romance). The section on plotting can be summarized as, "If you're going to plot, and you should, just think of anything that could happen, write it on a card, fill lots of cards, and then put the cards into a sequence that leads to someone getting shot and then someone else having to deal with it." I exaggerate, but only slightly. A good scene usually ends in some sort of drastic action, a gunshot being a good example. Passing reference is occasionally made to literary fiction as something that could involve more subtle developments, and everything else herein is only useful for the true novice or the genre writer. Which has it's purpose. The most basic basics must be learned. Maybe this is a good place to get them. If you do order this, even if you have never written before, you will smack your head a lot and go, Duh, that makes sense. Of course!... (BTW, I'm no literary snob and certainly not writing from any position of authority. The writer of this book had published some books. If you read this and follow his advice, you might too. They might even get published. They will not be that ultra-subtle stuff where nothing happens, and not very interestingly, for hundreds of pages and we are made to suffer the 'artists' pretension--and that's certainly a good thing. But to learn to write exciting, lively prose, this doesn't seem like the route.)



Excellent book on plot!, November 9, 2008
By Judy Migliori
I am savoring every word in this book. The exercises at the end of every chapter have helped me brainstorm deeper and more intense scenes for the book I have been attempting to write for years. I have many other books on plot and scene writing - this book has me writing more effectively than I have for a long time.



excellent, October 9, 2008
By shredmonger (usa)
invaluable advice for anyone whos considering writing. very impersonally written and easy to follow. i'm still reading it (about halfway through) and i consider it a must have for my writing research library.



Simple and clear, September 17, 2008
By Stephanie (Carson, CA United States)
This book is most effective when you do the corresponding exercises at the end of each chapter. Bell doesn't give you busy work. Each assignment helps you flesh out material that can be directly used in your novel. In other words, his chapters are insightful and helpful. I found his verbiage easy to understand. Whether you've taken writing classes in the past or not, this novel on plot and structure will give you a new way of looking at your stories. Filled with examples from other bestsellers, Bell makes it easy for readers to get a sense for what will help make their fiction stand apart from other bland novels on the shelf. I highly recommend this book. There's plenty of variety here to keep you interested and once you're done, you'll feel ready to get going on your next novel--I know I am!



Plot & Structure, September 15, 2008
By Martha Ramirez
James Scott Bell continues to make learning the craft interesting and worthwhile. A must have for all writers, new and old!
Revisions & Self -Editing is of the same quality. I find that even though I have read it I go back to them.

I only wish he would come out with more writing books!