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36th out of 319 books
—
506 voters
Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction)
by
James Scott Bell (Goodreads Author)
Craft an Engaging PlotHow 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 informat...more
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 informat...more
Paperback, First Edition, 234 pages
Published
October 6th 2004
by Writer's Digest Books
(first published January 1st 2004)
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Mar 08, 2009
Heather
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
wrtiers who struggle with plot like myself
Recommended to Heather by:
the library shelf
Shelves:
writing-guidance
This is a great book to explain what you probably already knew about plot but you just need someone to smack you over the head with it so you can get it right for once.
My biggest compliment to this book is explaining plot in simple terms. And he actually does a good job. After reading this book, I was Coraline in theatres and was able to trace just about every element of plot as I watched the movie. Which is weird for me because I've never been able to do that before.
And you know what? It didn't...more
My biggest compliment to this book is explaining plot in simple terms. And he actually does a good job. After reading this book, I was Coraline in theatres and was able to trace just about every element of plot as I watched the movie. Which is weird for me because I've never been able to do that before.
And you know what? It didn't...more
Parts of this book cover subjects covered better by Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles, and Ends. Also, this book gets somewhat repetitive around the middle.
However, the rest of it is great, and always inspiring. He never presents anything as a rule, and is always open to the possibility of ignoring his advice; he says even if you think purposeful plotting is stupid, it's good to at least know about it so you know why you're ignoring something. I like that attitude in people in general, and I agr...more
However, the rest of it is great, and always inspiring. He never presents anything as a rule, and is always open to the possibility of ignoring his advice; he says even if you think purposeful plotting is stupid, it's good to at least know about it so you know why you're ignoring something. I like that attitude in people in general, and I agr...more
Really liked this book a lot, it contained invaluable tips and suggestions.
That said, the guy seems biased in certain directions. He deprecates explicit sex in romance as "done" and going out of fashion (really? fastest growing genre) and has a big man-crush on Dean Koontz and other thriller/mystery writers. That's his genre, so of course, he would latch onto that.
So if you write romance, erotica, or other genres like sci-fi, he has much material that will be very, very helpful, but doesn't delv...more
That said, the guy seems biased in certain directions. He deprecates explicit sex in romance as "done" and going out of fashion (really? fastest growing genre) and has a big man-crush on Dean Koontz and other thriller/mystery writers. That's his genre, so of course, he would latch onto that.
So if you write romance, erotica, or other genres like sci-fi, he has much material that will be very, very helpful, but doesn't delv...more
Are fictional novels this contrived, he wondered? I hope not, he answered himself, the pain racking his body like a gopher chewing at the roots of a wispy, young, comely pine, whose needles waft to their untimely death on the rotting forest floor. This is the quality of writing one might hope to achieve after reading "Writing Crappy", oh sorry, I mean "Writing Great Fiction."
This book is depressing. I have always thought great stories are spun in the imagination, not contrived on graph paper wit...more
This book is depressing. I have always thought great stories are spun in the imagination, not contrived on graph paper wit...more
2 likes · like · see review
Lots of good, practical information. The approach is somewhat functional and formulaic, geared more towards commercial fiction: movie scripts or thrillers that employ the standard structure of taking an engaging lead character, giving him/her an objective, putting obstacles in her path, and ratcheting up the tension to an explosive finish. This is what the author characterizes as the LOCK approach: Lead, Objective, Confrontation (or conflict),and Knock-out. It is a tried and true storytelling ap...more
I can't say enough good things about this book! I have so many sections highlighted and notes in the margin. I'm sure I'll be returning again and again to it to refresh my memory on how to write an engaging story.
I didn't pay much attention to the exercises, although I'm sure there are writers who will find them beneficial. I was more interested in the suggestions and truly practical approaches to writing.
The chapter on brainstorming was excellent. How to plan a story when you're not a plotter...more
I didn't pay much attention to the exercises, although I'm sure there are writers who will find them beneficial. I was more interested in the suggestions and truly practical approaches to writing.
The chapter on brainstorming was excellent. How to plan a story when you're not a plotter...more
If you're looking for a book that will teach you how to write better stories with multidimensional, memorable characters and believable and exciting dialogue, this book is not for you. It's not about the writing or the characters' quirks or the dialogue. This book is about the fundamental building blocks of storytelling - plot and structure.
Bell provides techniques that will help you build a solid foundation to your story, even if you're a pantser. Even if you've already written a draft or two....more
Bell provides techniques that will help you build a solid foundation to your story, even if you're a pantser. Even if you've already written a draft or two....more
A great resource if you aspire to be a writer of formulaic bestsellers. Less useful if you're looking to write misunderstood, avant-garde literary masterpieces. If you fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, you will likely find the book useful in that it will teach you the formula so that you can use as much (or as little) of it as you would like.
It's also a very readable book, not as dry as some books on how to write.
Here are some of the highlights:
Successful books need four elements, a...more
It's also a very readable book, not as dry as some books on how to write.
Here are some of the highlights:
Successful books need four elements, a...more
A decent discussion of three act structure, but Bell peppers his prose with marketing/advertising cliches, such as various acronyms that promise the formula for a successful novel. One of them, ending with K, emphasizes the need for a "KNOCKOUT ending."
At various points in the book, he expresses contempt for the ambitions of any authors who would lean more to a poetic style, thus deviating from his formula. Good thing that neither Joyce nor Faulkner ran into him at an impressionable age.
Mr. Bel...more
At various points in the book, he expresses contempt for the ambitions of any authors who would lean more to a poetic style, thus deviating from his formula. Good thing that neither Joyce nor Faulkner ran into him at an impressionable age.
Mr. Bel...more
1 like · like · see review
Most craft books on writing read like rehashes of articles taken from a magazine. They promote the same old, "write what you know," and the same old, "write everyday" routine. James Scott Bell's book on plotting is a bit different. Bell takes the aspiring writer from idea conception all the way to the completion of a manuscript. Bell's primary focus is in exhibiting to the writer the importance of the 3 act structure--the structure that holds true not only for films, but for novels as well.
Bell...more
Bell...more
Okay, I have quite a few 'how to write' books.
Some are awesome to read just because they are inspiring. For instance, "On Becoming a Novelist" by John Gardner, made me feel like it was a holy journey to pick up pen (or place fingers on keyboard) and compose a story.
Some are absolute garbage that tell you nothing you don't know and without any kind of details, so you're left feeling like you just read a synopsis of a synopsis. Or like an Apple software user manual that is nothing but press for...more
Some are awesome to read just because they are inspiring. For instance, "On Becoming a Novelist" by John Gardner, made me feel like it was a holy journey to pick up pen (or place fingers on keyboard) and compose a story.
Some are absolute garbage that tell you nothing you don't know and without any kind of details, so you're left feeling like you just read a synopsis of a synopsis. Or like an Apple software user manual that is nothing but press for...more
Before taking a stab at my first real story I have decided to read two books on the art of writing fiction; "Techniques of the Selling Writer" by Dwight Swain, and the book I am reviewing now, "Plot and Structure" by James Bell. While Swain's book was more of an all inclusive manual on writing interesting fiction, Bell's book is focused strictly on, as the name suggests, plot and structure.
What this book is not... This is not a 'how to write a novel' book; if you are going to just read one book...more
What this book is not... This is not a 'how to write a novel' book; if you are going to just read one book...more
Hats off to Mr. Bell--
Of all the books on writing I've read, this is by far the most helpful in terms of crafting one's story, whether it be a short story or a novel.
The most helpful part of it comes from its simple model of story: Lead, Objective, Confrontation, Knock-Out. True, this model has been expounded on by other books, like Robert McKee's Story, James Frey's How to Write a Damn Good Novel, and Jerry Cleaver's Immediate Fiction, but none of them broke it down to the right level of detail...more
Of all the books on writing I've read, this is by far the most helpful in terms of crafting one's story, whether it be a short story or a novel.
The most helpful part of it comes from its simple model of story: Lead, Objective, Confrontation, Knock-Out. True, this model has been expounded on by other books, like Robert McKee's Story, James Frey's How to Write a Damn Good Novel, and Jerry Cleaver's Immediate Fiction, but none of them broke it down to the right level of detail...more
I've binged on writing books in recent weeks and this is by far my favorite. It's not the first one to cover plotting and structure, but something about this one resonated with me more than the others.
It's partly Bell's voice that was so effective for me -- he's delightfully unassuming. He offers plotting systems for both outliners and non-outliners and leaves the whole process feeling very modular. It's easy to pick and choose and experiment with the systems he suggests. That sort of experimen...more
It's partly Bell's voice that was so effective for me -- he's delightfully unassuming. He offers plotting systems for both outliners and non-outliners and leaves the whole process feeling very modular. It's easy to pick and choose and experiment with the systems he suggests. That sort of experimen...more
Bell's book Plot & Structure is based on the premise that good writing can be learned, and is not necessarily confined to those who are born blessed with the ability. Bell calls this nature-only perspective as the Big Lie and proceeds to explain some tenets of great writing. In particular, Bell addresses the concepts of plot and novel structure. His approach follows what he calls the LOCK system (Lead, Objective, Confrontation and Knockout finish). Following the LOCK system, a novel should h...more
The information in this book is assembled in an accessible, enjoyable format. Mr. Bell breaks up the chapters with suggested exercises for improving ones writing techniques, all of which are useful. The lessons themselves are conveyed in a friendly, conversational style, with anecdotes and personal examples. I chose this book as a supplementary guide in an Independent Study course, and recommend it as a useful, applicable work to any serious writer.
Plot & Structure was one of the most practical explanations of the steps you need to take as a fiction writer to organize your book. It is filled with multiple exercises that if completed will help anyone create a more compelling story. It is really a How To book with a minimum of theory and the maximum of what has worked for Bell and other authors. While he mostly draws on books in the thriller and mystery fields there are enough other examples from classics and literary novels that will ma...more
If you've ever seen a movie or read a book, then you are quite familiar with plot. I would agree with other reviews and reiterate that James Scott Bell tells you things that you already know but puts them in easy to comprehend sections that don't overwhelm someone looking to craft a better plot.
This will be an invaluable reference book for my library and the simple analogies he uses to explain plot concepts are easy to remember and thus (hopefully) won't fall out of my brain as I struggle to get...more
This will be an invaluable reference book for my library and the simple analogies he uses to explain plot concepts are easy to remember and thus (hopefully) won't fall out of my brain as I struggle to get...more
Ok, first things first, the author spoils the endings of several books/movies/stories in his quest to provide examples. So be warned!
The book itself conveys a very structured approach to writing a novel. Akin to "follow these steps, in this order, and voila! A novel!" The text is geared toward the "Thriller" genre and contains a metric ton of exercises to help illustrate his points and help you write a better novel.
He goes a bit heavy on the acronyms (LOCK system, OP, NOP, etc.)-- he's got an ac...more
The book itself conveys a very structured approach to writing a novel. Akin to "follow these steps, in this order, and voila! A novel!" The text is geared toward the "Thriller" genre and contains a metric ton of exercises to help illustrate his points and help you write a better novel.
He goes a bit heavy on the acronyms (LOCK system, OP, NOP, etc.)-- he's got an ac...more
Nov 21, 2011
Kathy Davie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in writing fiction
Shelves:
self-help,
non-fiction
Excellent how-to manual on writing fictional novels.
My Take
Wow! Bell has created an amazing work that gets right down to business in explaining plot and structure for your novel. Without going into a great deal of theory, he provides the framework to get you started, keep you writing, and polish it up from soup to nuts with plenty of suggestions for hooking the reader, the need for (and the basics on how to create) the hero/heroine of the story and the requirements for their Opposition charact...more
My Take
Wow! Bell has created an amazing work that gets right down to business in explaining plot and structure for your novel. Without going into a great deal of theory, he provides the framework to get you started, keep you writing, and polish it up from soup to nuts with plenty of suggestions for hooking the reader, the need for (and the basics on how to create) the hero/heroine of the story and the requirements for their Opposition charact...more
James Scott Bell does an amazing job of making a complex ideas easy to understand.
He goes into some detail on Beginning, Middles, and Ends of a good novel,( in a book of 245 pages approximate) He can not go into much more than general ideas. But those general ideas have carried me a lot futher than the tedious in depth books that have nothing to say.
He gives you ideas, techniques, and practice exercises on plotting, crafting the story, tightening up your editing and how to pull the suspense on...more
He goes into some detail on Beginning, Middles, and Ends of a good novel,( in a book of 245 pages approximate) He can not go into much more than general ideas. But those general ideas have carried me a lot futher than the tedious in depth books that have nothing to say.
He gives you ideas, techniques, and practice exercises on plotting, crafting the story, tightening up your editing and how to pull the suspense on...more
I cannot add much to the multitude of great reviews other than to put my hand up too and say "This book was is one of the best books on writing that I know".
While there are so many vital aspects to writing, I hold plot and structure to be the the most important. There is nothing more frustrating than a book that leaves you with unanswered questions or where the plots don't flow well. When I first started to write, I bought the whole Write Great Fiction series. This title was one of two that ende...more
While there are so many vital aspects to writing, I hold plot and structure to be the the most important. There is nothing more frustrating than a book that leaves you with unanswered questions or where the plots don't flow well. When I first started to write, I bought the whole Write Great Fiction series. This title was one of two that ende...more
I would've liked this book more if not for the fact that it turned out to be completely centered on commercial fiction (thrillers, mysteries, etc.). Not only is that not what I'm interested in--and it wasn't specified on the back cover or anything--but I feel like people need less help plotting novels like that than novels that are more literary and character-driven.
Bell does include a few token examples from literary fiction--namely, Gone With the Wind and The Catcher in the Rye (nothing more r...more
Bell does include a few token examples from literary fiction--namely, Gone With the Wind and The Catcher in the Rye (nothing more r...more
Jan 06, 2012
Lance Charnes
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
aspiring & struggling writers
Recommended to Lance by:
Jon Stephens
Shelves:
nonfiction-other
An excellent guide to fiction plot development and structure, written (for once) by a best-selling author rather than someone who just writes about writing. Bell stays away from theory as much as possible and shares a number of practical tips and tricks he uses to write his novels. Will all of them work for you? Of course not, but some will, and that may be all you need. Along the way, Bell's sprightly style and scads of examples drawn from popular fiction will make the going both easy and reaso...more
Wonderful book with great ideas. Easy to read and follow. Highly recommended!
Sep 24, 2012
Judy B. Burford
added it
Once you write a killer opening, you still have to build a plot with constant and ever increasing pitfalls for your antagonist. Readers like to be carried through a plot that twists and turns like a coiling road through mountains. At the end of every curve, they want to feel excited and satified with the outcome, only to be hit in the face with yet another curve. James Scott Bell provides you with techniques and exercises to accomplish this. If you care how your readers feel after reading your b...more
I've read more books on writing than I can remember. Normally, I know what to expect... a rehash of the last few books I read. I only read them to remind me of things that I might have forgotten, but this one was surprisingly fresh. I finally understood what it meant to have a fresh persepctive on topics that have been covered a thousand times. There were some great suggestions in this book to help improve writing and make things flow more effortlessly so that you can enjoy the process again wit...more
This book is an absolute "must-read" for those seeking practical guidance on crafting a plot without significant holes in it. I purchased and read it prior to completing my first NaNoWriMo contest and incidentally, my first novel. I refer to it often, depending on where I'm at in the process. My copy is highlighted and dog-eared. Again, a very practical and structured approach. In my opinion, James Bell isn't offering a novel-writing template, but a road map for a complete story if you're willin...more
This book was amazing for me because it helped me in creating dramatic plots that keep people entertained. I enjoy reading books about writing and this is no different. I will say that it gives you a broad range of topics from the beginners level to more advanced topics. All of them are explained well enough for me to want to read even the elementary stuff. So if you're an aspiring writer, pick this up ... or if you want to brush up on some skills, pick this up (there are exercises for each chap...more
A really good book. It's not something that contains a wonderful secret of writing, because there is no secret of writing but to just keep at it and find what works for you. That said, it gave me some good ideas about different things to try to get back into a few different manuscripts that I have had sitting around half written for a year now.
It was also refreshing and something nice to read about all of the various examples from Melville, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and about a dozen other writ...more
It was also refreshing and something nice to read about all of the various examples from Melville, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and about a dozen other writ...more
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Jim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest serie...more
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“In fact, one could argue that the skill of the fiction writer boils down to the ability to exploit intensity.”
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4 people liked it
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Beverly hit the nail on the head. The book was top heavy on the thriller/myster...more
Apr 28, 2013 11:24am