Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish 5th Edition

by James Scott Bell (Author)

364 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1582972947

ISBN-10: 158297294X

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Craft an Engaging Plot

How does plot influence story structure? What's the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that's gone off course?

With Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure, you'll discover the answers to these questions and more. Award-winning author James Scott Bell offers clear, concise information that will help you create a believable and memorable plot, including:

Techniques for crafting strong beginnings, middles, and ends
Easy-to-understand plotting diagrams and charts
Brainstorming techniques for original plot ideas
Thought-provoking exercises at the end of each chapter
Story structure models and methods for all genres
Tips and tools for correcting common plot problems

Filled with plot examples from popular novels, comprehensive checklists, and practical hands-on guidance, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure gives you the skills you need to approach plot and structure like an experienced pro.

Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish

$11.94
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A former trial lawyer, James Scott Bell is the award-winning author of numerous thrillers, including the Ty Buchanan series (Try Dying, Try Darkness, Try Fear). He is also the author of two other popular writing books: Revision & Self-Editing, and The Art of War for Writers. A frequent teacher and keynoter at writing conferences, he resides in Los Angeles.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 5 edition (October 6, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158297294X
ISBN-13: 978-1582972947
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 364 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Literature > Creative Writing & Composition
- #173 in Books > Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Writing > Fiction
- #18159 in Books > Literature & Fiction

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Top customer reviews

I love this book

ByGina BurgessVINE VOICEon July 5, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I love this book. I warn you that if you start reading this book before you go to bed, you won't be able to sleep. Bell sparks your imagination so well that you'll be rewriting in your head all night. I not only rewrote the first book in my trilogy, but I plotted out the second, and got the plan for the third. This is a wonderful book if you've got a bit of writer's block, or are stuck in a plot that is not twisty enough or flowing well. I highly recommend this book!

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Have no fear!, or The writer's Victorinox.

Byfernando pederneraon August 18, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

You can't praise this book enough. There are a ton of how-to books out there, but this one really made a difference for me.
Think of writing as a journey through the woods: You set up, you get in the muddle, and you come out (hopefully) on the other side. When doing this, we try to use as many tools and resources as we can to make it to the other side, but most of the time you fail (or tools fail on you) and you end up starving or being eaten by some wild animal in the muddle of the story. What James Scott Bell wants you to have in clear is that the most useful tool you can have out there is YOU. And all of his tips, advice and excercises are aimed to one thing and one thing only: how to unleash and harness the power of your story (and survive).
It provides clear, straight-forward tools and tips, adressing many aspects of the writing process you won't find in many of them. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of plots and storytelling. Relevant examples that take in consideration a wide array of writer profiles, and Bell does not abuse with film examples (and most of the movies it references are also books i.e.: the maltesse falcon, the godfather, etc.). It contains useful excercises at the end of each chapter to help you put the tehcniques in practice and bring the best out of your learning experience. It really helped me overcome several issues I had with my novel-writing and opened my mind to a new scope on plot and str.. This is a wonderful book, written in the same gripping style that the author suggests to use, and with great success.

I think this is a wonderful book because it does not give infalible advice. To me that is very important. Let me ilustrate how I felt by giving you the following example:

(after developing content)
-Regular book: so just do This (and fail, miserably).
-Bell's book: Many writers had this problem before and by doing This you might also find a solution for it. In case That doesn't work, you could maybe try This, or come back at it again later on with a fresh view and give it another try.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Really Informative Book

ByBob Blickon December 18, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Someone said these books are all saying the same thing. Maybe that's true but they say them in different ways and some resonate more than others. The author knows how to write so it's informative and entertaining.

This book is interesting to read and offers solid examples. I didn't even get halfway through before I bought another of his books. I would highly recommend it to authors.

Some of the things I've read before started to make more sense. I'm going through a couple of the books I have in the editing stage and taking a hard look at them. Do they meet the requirements this book says they must have?

I highly recommend this book. Why 4 stars instead of 5? Well I prefer giving 3 or 4 stars to books because sometimes I think 5 star reviews are not taken as seriously, although they probably carry more weight than a 1 star review.

Really I'd like to give this 4 1/2 stars. If you read this far consider that done. :-)

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Contains a few excellent chapters

ByPaikleongon January 13, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Whether the reader finds this books useful or not depends on his/her ability level. Overall, it contains a few chapters packed with practical bolts and nuts. But this book contains duplicate material from his other work titled "Conflict and Suspense".

The author loves acronyms. In Chapter 1, he introduces the LOCK system. L for Lead, O for Objective, C for Conflict and K for Knockout Ending. On page 51, he introduces his own creation: the 3P's of Bell's Pyramid. They are Precision, Potential and Passion. In Chapter 5, he uses ARM (Action, Reaction and More Action) to inject vitality into a scene.

I find "Chapter 10: Plotting Systems" to be the most useful. This chapter alone is better than the entire "Outlining Your Novel" by K.M. Weiland. Under "Systems for OPS", James Scott Bell gives an overview of (1)Index Card System, (2) The Headlights System, (3) The Narrative Outline, (4) The David Morrell Method, and (5) The Borg Outline. (1) and (5) contain sufficient details to translate theory into practice. "Chapter 13: Common Plot Problems and Cures" is also jammed with many razor-sharp tips. "How to Improve Your Plotting Exponentially" on pages 214 and 215 is a real nugget. Scott lists ten steps to -- let me borrow a phrase from Mao Tze Tung -- "make a great leap forward" in your plotting skills. Great advice is contained within these two pages.

Appendix A is a checklist of critical points in plot, structure, beginnings, middles, endings, scenes, etc.

22 comments 13 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

None of them were as useful as this one

ByIngrid Van Waeson February 18, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Plot is not one of my strongest points as a writer, so I have read many, many books on the subject to give my structuring skills a head start. None of them were as useful as this one. Filled with examples, practical exercises and tips to get you started, this book is well structured (as a book on plot and structure should be) and easy to read. Must-have for any self-proclaimed writers.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Most recent customer reviews

Five Stars

I love this author's writing books

Published 9 days ago by Lia

Good investment

This is a super book that came in great condition. It is very helpful. A good addition to my library.

Published 19 days ago by S M Robinson

Writer Friendly

Love the exercises and easy to understand language.

Published 1 month ago by Joy K Massenburge

An excellent resource for my bookshelf on writing craft

An excellent resource for my bookshelf on writing craft. Also saw the author speak at a workshop at Surrey International Writer's Conference. He was great! Really knows his stuff.

Published 1 month ago by Leanne Tremblay

This is the one to buy!

Great tips. I like how it is told in manageable chunks. Information is very user friendly. An excellent book.

Published 2 months ago by Maryanne

A Must Read for Any Fiction Writer

This is a must read for any fiction writer. I love the way this book is outlined. James Scott Bell makes his points clear and concise.Read more

Published 2 months ago by Shelby Reece

Most Helpful Book I've Read on Plot and Structure

This is a well-organized, easy-to-read guide to techniques used to develop plots and sound story structure. It includes 14 chapters and two appendices.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Corwin

Five Stars

Really good.

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer

Great Book for Writers

I'm not all the way through it yet, I'll admit that. I've read the first half though and it's given me so many ideas and exercises to improve my writing.Read more

Published 3 months ago by A Barrett

I will give it a better review.

reading this with others. if it helps me, I will give it a better review.

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer

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