Plotting Category
Plot Patterns—Part IV Power & Allegory
Posted on August 26, 2015 3 Comments
The last few weeks we’ve been looking at plot patterns as outlined in James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. This week, we’ll wrap up plot systems with Power and Allegory. #plotting #plotpatterns Click to Tweet To access previous posts, click here.
Plot Patterns—Part III The Chase & One Against/One Apart
Posted on August 19, 2015 1 Comment
The last couple weeks we’ve been looking at plot patterns as outlined in James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. This week, we look at plot patterns of The Chase, and One Against/One Apart. Next week, we’ll wrap it up with Power and Allegory. #plotting #plotpatterns Click to Tweet
Plot Patterns—Part II Love and Adventure
Posted on August 12, 2015 1 Comment
Last week we began looking at plot patterns from James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. We’ll continue this week. #plotpatterns #plottingpatterns #plottinglove #plottingadventure
Plot Patterns—Part I
Posted on August 5, 2015 1 Comment
Today I’ll be using two resources to talk about plot patterns. One is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. The other is DiAnn Mills’ Dance of Character & Plot. I’m using both, because even though what they say is similar, the way they say is different. Both perspectives can broaden your understanding of plotting. Click […]
Plotting Systems—Part II
Posted on July 29, 2015 1 Comment
Last time, I surveyed what plotting systems could work for a “pantser” or a “No Outline Person.” (NOP). I’m using James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. #amwriting #plotting systems #plotsystems. What are you—an OP or an NOP? Click to Tweet Let’s take a look at the various plotting systems outliners or Outline Persons use, from […]
Plotting Systems—Part I
Posted on July 22, 2015 3 Comments
In his book, Plot & Structure, James Scott Bell talks about two kinds of fiction writers: OPs and NOPs. To outline or not to outline, that is the question. #amwriting #tooutlineornot Bell encourages new fiction writers to try a little of both.
Putting Fire in Your Fiction–Part IV
Posted on June 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
Last time, we talked about tension. Tension is the most necessary ingredient in any fiction you write. Click to tweet. Using Donald Maass’ The Fire in Fiction as a resource, we covered Tension in Dialogue, Tension in Action, and Tension in Exposition. Today, we’ll look at sprucing up low-tension scenes and avoiding the traps.
Writing Resource–Plot & Structure Part III Character Arc
Posted on June 3, 2015 Leave a Comment
“Great plots have great characters. While this is not a book on character creation and implementation, we can’t let the subject of plot go without touching on at least one aspect of character work that is all important: character change.
Writing Resource–Plot & Structure–Part II
Posted on May 20, 2015 2 Comments
Chapter 5–Middles We’ve all heard about “the middle” of a story and usually what we hear is that it sags, stalls, and slumps. It doesn’t seem to move the story along or go anywhere. James Scott Bell addresses this in chapter five of Plot & Structure. The middle is typically known as Act II. In […]
Writing to Breakout II – Plot
Posted on January 15, 2015 Leave a Comment
This week, we’re looking at Donald Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. My goal is to inspire and educate you to the basics of writing, and hopefully help you find resources to enhance your writing. Yesterday, we looked at Lessons 1-12, Part I, Character Development from Donald Maas. The lessons covered everything from adding heroic […]
Donna L.H. Smith 