I recently picked up two amazing books and wanted to share them with you because you might find them extremely helpful in your writing.
The first is a book called "Plot and Structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish" by James Scott Bell. This book, alone, was gripping, a quick, easy read, and always had me thinking about my novel. I went through it with a highlighter.
The companion book is called "Characters, Emotion, and Viewpoint: Techniques and exercises for crafting dynamic characters and effective viewpoints" by Nancy Kress. So far it's really good, though I've only just started that one.
They're both in the "Write Great Fiction" series, and I highly recommend them for anyone struggling with creating good original characters to wondering if they're plot is working. Trust me, the plot book will surprise you. I thought I knew enough about plot and I've been writing for years, but this book taught me new things that just make so much perfect sense. And, I think it will help boost my word count too!
*ok, getting off my soap box now...* I hope you find this useful!
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Queen Anna
Queen of EdMo
www.nanoedmo.net
Boston co-ML with Travis
114,200 / 50,000
oct. 7, 2008 - 22 01
I've got both of those and I agree they are excellent. Especially the Nancy Kress one, she's great! Her Dynamic Characters and Begininnings, Middles and Ends are both well worth checking out too. Dynamic Characters has one of the best Character Questionnaire things ever. I typed up a version of it in One Note, which I'll fill in some of for my main characters for this NaNo.
0 / 50,000
oct. 8, 2008 - 15 29
Thanks, those books sound great!
52,946 / 50,000
oct. 8, 2008 - 17 55
I have the plot book, but haven't explored it too much. It was a Christmas present last year, and I think I read one chapter back then.
That said, it really stuck in my head, and when I was evaluating my current plot, his terms (the idea of doorways, in particular) came to mind.
So, it's already been useful, even despite my limited use.
The character one is on my wish list :).
----------Banner by August. Thank you!
Don't write badly, write madly
50,476 / 50,000
oct. 11, 2008 - 18 46
I see many people here are asking about POV, and having multiple POVs and these books deal with all of that. I think every time I plan a new novel, I'll reread the things I've highlighted just to remind me of things I may have forgotten and to get me thinking about different aspects of my novel.
I mean, the Plot book explains how to stretch scenes to make readers go crazy (in a good way, of course), and, I figure that adds to your word count, so how can you go wrong with that? lol.
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Queen Anna
Queen of EdMo
www.nanoedmo.net
Boston co-ML with Travis