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| Author: James Scott Bell
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $11.55
You Save: $5.44 (32%)
Rating:  78 reviews
Sales Rank: 2013
Media: Paperback
Edition: 5
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.7
ISBN: 158297294X
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.394
UPC: 035313109423
EAN: 9781582972947
Publication Date: October 6, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
One of the best writing guides I've found December 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book has helped transform the general story idea in my head into a well structured plot that does all the things I wanted it to accomplish. It explores great ways to: keep your reader's interest piqued through any stage of the book, construct strong scenes, and build a plot schematic for your story to follow. I've been impressed with every book in the Write Great Fiction series and would highly reccomend them to any writer.
very helpful book on plotting and structuring fiction January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is part of the Write Great Fiction series from Writer's Digest. Each book in the series covers one broad aspect of writing fiction, and of course there is some overlap as well.
I liked this book a lot, and learned a good deal from it. Bell recognizes that different stories and different writers need to approach plotting in different ways, so this is not a cookie-cutter approach to plot construction. Earlier on, we are introduced to the difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction, which Bell elucidates particularly well. The book includes a lot of diagrams to clarify things like rising intensity, crisis points, setbacks, and so on.
Bell's mnemonic for basic plotting is LOCK (lead, objective, confrontation, knockout). After introducing that framework, he goes on to talk about what makes a good beginning, middle, and end. Although most of the examples come from novels, the basic ideas apply to short fiction with little adaptation.
There is a good discussion of the three-act structure (and how it relates to other structures, such as the hero's journey). The chapter on scene writing is solid - he describes action and reaction as the major chords in fiction, and setup and deepening as minor chords. This is a good way to stay focused on what a scene needs to do, without getting pulled into excessive exposition.
There is a lot of good advice in dealing with complex plots and common plot problems, and a review of common plot patterns and what each entails. The interaction between plot and character development is approached from several different angles.
When it comes to outlining, Bell recognizes that some writers are drawn to outlining and others avoid it; he offers tips for people in both camps, without trying to impose his own method on his readers.
This book has exercises at the end of each chapter, which I did not do much with. Mostly, they are just questions to ask about books you have read or about your own work in progress.
While I don't necessarily think every writer needs to own each book in this series, getting one or two of them (on subjects that you find particularly interesting or challenging) is probably a worthwhile investment. I can recommend this book as a solid resource for dealing with plot and structure in fiction writing.
The Fiction Writer's Holy Grail November 18, 2004
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
After ten years of college, decades in the business, and workshops too numerous to mention, I have finally encountered what I was certain would never exist - an entertaining and eminently readable book that can actually teach the craft of writing a good commercial novel. James Scott Bell's Plot and Structure, from Writers Digest Books, does clearly and coherently what most fiction how-tos do not - moves beyond the bricks-and-mortar of language to the blueprint of compelling and saleable plot. And what makes this even better is the book's upbeat tone, its tugging and insistent you can-can-do-this style; I defy you to read the first twenty pages without feeling compelled to write a novel. This book has earned a permanent recommendation in my workshop reading lists; I have never read a better how-to.
Tom Morrisey
plot and structure September 8, 2008
clear, user friendly, a solid "how-to" and many ideas that can be used for a novice or professional writer....
Plot & Structure September 15, 2008
James Scott Bell continues to make learning the craft interesting and worthwhile. A must have for all writers, new and old!
Revisions & Self -Editing is of the same quality. I find that even though I have read it I go back to them.
I only wish he would come out with more writing books!
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