Advanced Plotting [Paperback]

Chris Eboch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 2011

Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer: you’ve finished a few manuscripts, read books and articles on writing, taken some classes, attended conferences. But you still struggle with plot, or suspect that your plotting needs work. This book can help. The Plot Outline Exercise is designed to help a writer work with a completed manuscript to identify and fix plot weaknesses. It can also be used to help flesh out an outline. Additional articles address specific plot challenges, such as getting off to a fast start, propping up a sagging middle, building to a climax, and improving your pacing. Guest authors share advice from their own years of experience. Read the book straight through, study the index to find help with your current problem, or dip in and out randomly — however you use this book, you’ll find fascinating insights and detailed tips to help you build a stronger plot and become a better writer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Eboch is the author of 13 books for young people. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; and the Haunted series, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or check out her writing tips at http://chriseboch.blogspot.com/. Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Rattled launches her new romantic suspense series featuring treasure hunting adventures in the New Mexico wilderness. Read the first three chapters at www.krisbock.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 106 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (July 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1463739303
• ISBN-13: 978-1463739300
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,280,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > Writing Skills

More About the Author

Chris Eboch writes a variety of genres for children. She also writes for adults as Kris Bock (see below).

THE EYES OF PHARAOH, set in Egypt in 1177 BC, brings an ancient world to life. When Reya hints that Egypt is in danger from foreign nomads, Seshta and Horus don't take him seriously. How could anyone challenge Egypt? Then Reya disappears. To save their friend, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty, and start to suspect even The Eyes of Pharaoh, the powerful head of the secret police. Will Seshta and Horus escape the traps set for them, rescue Reya, and stop the plot against Egypt in time?

THE WELL OF SACRIFICE (Clarion Books, 1999) is a middle grade historical adventure set in ninth century Guatemala. Kirkus Reviews called The Well of Sacrifice, "[An] engrossing first novel.... Eboch crafts an exciting narrative with a richly textured depiction of ancient Mayan society.... The novel shines not only for a faithful recreation of an unfamiliar, ancient world, but also for the introduction of a brave, likable and determined heroine."

The HAUNTED series follows a brother and sister who travel with their parents' ghost hunter TV show. In each book, the TV show researches a new ghost at a new location. The kids try to help the ghosts, while keeping their activities secret from meddling grownups. The series, for ages 8-12, contains THE GHOST ON THE STAIRS, THE RIVERBOAT PHANTOM, and THE KNIGHT IN THE SHADOWS.

THE GHOST ON THE STAIRS is set at a Colorado hotel haunted by a ghost bride from the 1880s who is waiting for her missing husband to return. THE RIVERBOAT PHANTOM features a steamboat pilot still trying to prevent a long-ago disaster. In THE KNIGHT IN THE SHADOWS--winner of the 2010 New Mexico Book Awards in the category Juvenile Book--a Renaissance French squire protects a sword on display in the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.

JESSE OWENS: YOUNG RECORD BREAKER, for ages 8-12, is written under the name M. M. Eboch. This is an inspiring story, focused on Jesse's childhood. Through hard work and courage, African-American runner Jesse Owens overcame racism, poverty and poor health. He won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics, in Hitler's Germany, proving that Blacks could compete at the highest level.

Like JESSE OWENS, MILTON HERSHEY, YOUNG CHOCOLATIER, is part of Simon & Schuster's Childhood of Famous Americans series. It's an inspirational biography of chocolate king Milton Hershey. Plus, chocolate history!

Chris also writes for adults as Kris Bock.

Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Adventures

WHISPERS IN THE DARK: A young archaeologist seeking peace after an assault stumbles into danger as mysteries unfold among ancient Southwest ruins. Can she overcome the fears from her past, learn to fight back, and open herself to a new romance?

RATTLED: The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends--a heretic Spanish priest's gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But she's not the only one after the treasure. Just how far will Erin go to find the treasure and discover what she's really made of?

"The story has it all--action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship...."

"The action never stopped .... It was adventure and romance at its best."

"I couldn't put this book down. You'll love it."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginning writers unless your a literary prodigy, September 25, 2011

By 

D. Nelson "Humble Mystic" (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Advanced Plotting (Paperback)

Warning. This book is not for someone who wants to be a writer - someday. Save your money.

This 106 pg. book is unlike the other how-to books that promise to teach you everything you need to know about writing a good story. This book will help any intermediate or advanced writer who already has a short story, novel etc. in progress, so that they can immediately apply the author's principles of plotting to their story. The book includes comments and writing advice from 15 other established authors. I consider this a bonus.

If you're like me, this book will end up highlighted in your favorite colors, dog-eared and full of 3M post-it notes.

Buy this book now. In fact, buy two copies and give one to a writing friend. This is a NEW book. Published in 2011 by Pig River Press. This is the authors (Chris Eboch) 14th book. She has written this guide to advanced plotting from real world experience . . . not by condensing 20 other story structure books and a bunch of outdated magazine articles.

A few highlights of what she covers are listed here.

1. You need a good plot to begin building a strong foundation for your story. Sure, you also need a hook, an interesting setting, a believable theme, a strong theme, passion for writing and the genetic gene - all writers need to have. (The last part about the genetic gene, is my idea)

2. The Story Resolution: If your character succeeds at the end with his quest, you need a moment - where it appears the character will fail. (And vice versa as well)

3. Two of my favorite chapters are called: Plotting Like a Screenwriter and The Hollywood Touch. It shows you how the techniques - used to write a great movie - can be applied directly to writing your short story/novel. You will learn the magical connection between screenplays and novels, when you read the sections entitled: Open Big ---- Scene by Scene ---- Get To The Point ---- Finis.

4. And finally, Chris has written a wonderful chapter entitled: How to write vivid scenes. This is yet another reason to buy this book. Her 10-step method of writing a scene will guide you through the process, step-by-step, until you have mastered this important story device.

5. Buy this book. (FYI - I am not related in any way to the author)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why only now?, December 7, 2011

By 

M.E.T - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Plotting (Kindle Edition)

I downloaded Advanced Plotting last week and dived into the reading. Why did I not find this book earlier? I have just finished my WIP and I wished I had read Chris EBoch's book 9 months ago before starting the whole mss. The bright side is that I can use all the good advice for the sequel I am about to kick off. Advanced Plotting is for writers who have already a grasp of the basic elements of the craft of writing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Hiring an Editor, October 6, 2011

By 

Christine Kohler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Plotting (Kindle Edition)

Advanced Plotting is a master-level course in plotting stories, written by experienced novelist and writing teacher Chris Eboch. Plot Outline Exercises are equivalent to having an editor analyze your manuscript and show you the weak spots. In addition to Eboch's expert advice, this book contains essays on plotting by 15 other published writers. Excellent to use either before writing your first word or in the revision stage.

-- Christine Kohler, Words Alive! Christian Writers' Prompts & Skills