Plots and Plotting how to create stories that work

by Diana Kimpton

Do your stories fall flat? Do you get stuck in the mid-book blues? The solution is to improve your plots, and this book will show you how to do that without restricting your creativity. Jargon-free and packed with examples, it tackles the many issues that make up a good story including subplots, character development and conflict.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

Paperback

About the author

I'm the author of more than forty books, including my successful Pony-Mad Princess series. I write for adults as well as children. and many of my books have been translated into other languages. My Amy Wild - Animal Talker series is popular in Japan, and the Japanese editions look fantastic.

I've always been pony-mad so it's not surprising that my favourite animals feature in many of my books. I even used my research for "There Must Be Horses" as an excuse to buy the horse I had always dreamed of owning. He's a Haflinger so he's a palomino who gets fat really easily.

I've recently started writing books to help other writers. "Plots and Plotting: how to create stories that work" has just been published, and I'm currently working on a sequel called "Scenes and Sentences". I'm also in the process of writing two more Amy Wild books so I'm very busy at the moment.

Reviews

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The story itself is more important than the words we use to analyze it."

This book is the writer's equivalent to Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." As someone who can and has gotten way too easily distracted by the nitty gritty of working on their own plots, agonizing over pantsing vs plotting strategies, analyzing other writer's plotting methods and internalizing all of the associated lingo, this book's simple, straightforward method that resists using a lot of the terms writers have been primed to react to was extremely refreshing.

The author's process of developing a story for the sake of demonstrating the mechanics of how she makes a story and examining other works she has published was also very illuminating.

I always know when I've found a good writing craft book by how restless it makes me to go write, which I haven't done in a long time. And this book made me very restless to go try the techniques outlined.

[Zoe Sadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's clear, concise and easy to follow with helpful tips and advice throughout. It also uses great examples to really help you on your way.

This wonderfully helpful book covers plotting everything from short picture books, to novels and even how to plot out a series. Having only written short picture book stories up until now, this book has given me the confidence to start plotting my first chapter book. I am most definitely a planner and plotter and have found the author's method of using step outlines really suit how I work.

I do think this book is a great reference for all writers whether you are a novice or more seasoned writer, a jump straight in kind of writer or a planner and plotter like myself.

[Mrs Erica Morley Hillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great straightforward no nonsense guide

I you're looking for plainly told guidance without jargon then this is the book for you. Don't confuse simplicity of style with simple content. The advice here is thought-provoking enough to challenge more experienced writers to think again about their work as well as giving a clear pattern to beginners. I can't say I learnt a huge amount that was new from reading this book, but as a one-stop summary of principals in plotting it was a helpful and accessible reminder. A great starting place for those new to analysing structure and a useful reminder to those who are more familiar. The examples provide engaging clarification of the techniques under discussion.

[K. Counihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Good Clarifications Basics in Plain English

Same old writing stuff from a different perspective. A lot of new writers get confused when people who should know what they're talking about actually do not. I know one alleged writer who talks down to new writers, yet when pressed can not explain basic concepts.

[Aminata Coote · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. Kimpton walked through the process of plotting with real-life examples without all the jargon that is sometimes found in writing books.

A very useful resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how plots work or how to plot a piece of writing.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a Number One Read for Writers

This Author covered the essentials with illustrations that brought understanding and clarity, example "high stakes" by the use of a Fox story helped me more than any other book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful

I learned a lot from this book. I finished it, and I don't usually finish nonfiction books. I think novice writers would find it helpful

[Rosa Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Love it.