Status Updates From Plot & Structure: Technique...

Continuing down my rabbit hole of “reading books about writing to spur on my writing habits.”

either this book keeps repeating itself or I've already read it cuz I keep getting insane deja vu

yay finally a writing book that doesn't advise doing drugs and drinking alcohol to get ideas

fr. my earlier notes on this book, page 112 (need another cpy when library has it again)

List of loose ends in wip ending, he says: p. #, Date, Writing day #, chapter #,

But for me, p. #, date, Total scene number and subPlotScene num. work better, to match my draft with my scene note cards (until they become unreadable do to updates/changes)...

The exercises in this book gave me the impression that I am a plotter, but my writing is definitely better when I plan far less, it seems.

#Empathy building for the setting or situation, vs. building empathy for the protagonist, if I recall, is not mentioned in this book. Need to get it from the library for a new read.

Plot Complexity Exercises

“Any type of novel can hook a reader, set tone, give a sense of motion, connect us with a character, and set the wheels in motion.”

“By knowing yourself truly and honestly, by writing with passion and intensity, by caring about important issues, you’ll find that your writing is not only fresh, but a joy.”

“If a reader picks up a book and remains in his own world, there was no point in picking up the book in the first place.”

Great reference book on plot. It has its issues, mainly the examples it uses, but as a guide to developing plot I considere it very helpful, as long as you take it with a pinch of salt.

What lesson do you want the reader to learn? What is the insight, the new way of looking at things? This is your theme. Theme deepens the reader's experience. Character always carry theme. Always. Other-wise it will seem as if the theme is forced. The old 'show don't tell' definitely applies here. Theme can help make the story memorable.

Find symbols, use them to form a motif. Weave them into your story.

Scenes are like music :

Major chord = lots of: action, reaction ... Minor chord = a lesser amount of : setup, deepening
A beat is a smaller unit within a scene.
Give the reader a cookie = Hook them first => rising tension => Intensity, and => end the scene with a Prompt to keep the reader engaged.

Chapter 8 [complex plots]

Develop your Theme =>weave in a thematic subplot
Symbols and motifs can deepen theme

Endings: 3 types: Positive. Ambiguous. Negative.
But a loss can also be a gain, and a gain a loss.
Sacrifice Goal: Final choice
Sacrifice your safety: Final Battle
Last page Resonance: leave a lasting impression.
Avoid rushing the ending. Think BIG. Take time to make sure it's better than good. It MUST be Great!

Action Reaction More action. Of course you need an active lead.

Interweave action, thought, dialogue, description, to stretch the tension. Raising the stakes involves not only the Character stakes, but the Plot stakes and Societal stakes.

I suppose you can think of this particular nudge as weaving the World Building in with all the other threads.

The middle. Raise the stakes. Maintain the tension. Keep the reader worried/engaged...

Death comes in many forms. Hmnn. Just like the tarot card, Death is, above all, a symbol of drastic change.

80 The opposition: aka Villain Add adhesive to make it stick. A strong and logical reason for the conflict. (This rule must, in my opinion, also hold true for inner conflict as well.) All conflict must stand up to reason.

Hook readers on the 1st page. Avoid excessive description, looking backwards. Make sure your character has a viable threat looming.

71 Handle exposition craftily, sneakily, wryly, #1 act first explain later. #2 explain using iceberg analogy. #3 Reveal crucial information during conflict. Guard the flow of the story. Pacing should vary by intention.

Next few pages site examples and break them down thoroughly.

Present setting early. Place the reader in the setting.

Set the tone early. be consistent. The reader expects it. Besides it will help him or her get cozy, and that's what you want.

Action prologue. Establish bond between main character and the reader. Established through 4 dynamics, #1 identification/empathy (happening to me), #2 sympathy (jeopardy, hardship, underdog, or a vulnerability). #3 at least one likable characteristic, and #4 inner conflict (bring doubt forward) conflicting reason/passion or some variation thereof etc. etc.

I had listened to 4 different Joanna Pen podcast with James Scott Bell. I listened to each one many times. Drove my wife crazy. I was very fortunate recently to find not one, but 5 of Mr. Bell's books at a Library Book sale! Most auspicious.

Mr. Bell articulates the subject matter strikingly well. You get the how, the what, and the why. And he has done the bigger job of isolating the time proven techniques.

I promise I’m going to sit down next week and finish a plot outline for once in my damn life. Just in time for Nanowrimo, thank you Mr Bell and Steph for the rec xoxo

Moved in 2020 and lost my copy of this book. However I was enjoying reading it.

I'm definitely learning things from this book

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