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20 Master Plots and How to Build Them [Kindle Edition]

Ronald Tobias (Author)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews) |

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Print List Price:	�9.99
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Length: 289 pages
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Product Description

This book shows the reader how to take timeless storytelling structures and make them immediate, now, for fiction that's universal in how it speaks to the reader's heart and contemporary in detail and impact. Each chapter includes brief excerpts and descriptions of fiction from many times, many genres - myth and fairy tale, genre and mainstream fiction, film plots of all types, short story and novel. Find 20 fundamental plots that recur through all fiction - with analysis and examples - that outline benefits and warnings, for writers to adapt and elaborate in their own fiction.

Synopsis

Identifies and analyzes twenty common plots, including revenge, rivalry, adventure, maturation, and love, discusses physical and character plots, and offers advice for developing a story.

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Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 466 KB
Print Length: 289 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1599635372
Publisher: Writers Digest Books (1 Jan 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.� r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B005LIYZJ8
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #52,974 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #15 in Books > Reference > Writing > Fiction
- #44 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > Reference > Publishing & Books

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11 reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

Very useful 19 May 2006

By xenofan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This is one of the better "how to write" books that I've brought over the past few months or so, and i found myself rather pleasantly surprised by it. The tone was light, comfortable to read and each chapter is very in-depth. Rather surpring to me was the initial starting chapters-which I expected to be boring page filler/introductory text. But, they actually turned out to be some of the most helpful and informative tips on the subject of plots that I've read.

What I particularly found good about this book was that it raises points that made me think about my own story and its plot, and I found myself mentally applying the principles discussed in this book's pages to my own work.

The author uses clear and friendly writing to get accross a point, drawing from examples in both fiction and film. The author does not assume that you've seen most of what they discuss, so whenever a title is discussed, the author gives enough information to those that might not be familiar to the work being discussed. I didn't feel like I had to go and do several hours of reading homework before I could access this book and know what the hell the author was talking about.

I'll be referring to this book again as I write my own story. There are no winning solutions, but lots of sensible advice, much of which is pretty logical---but to a beginner like myself, it was invaluable and highly useful.

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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

Good overview with useful info 9 Dec 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

A cut above the usual stuff that fills most of the "how to write" genre over and over again. A useful look at the major categories of plot and what readers expect from each. This is NOT a write-by-numbers book. It could be especially useful for anyone who wants to experiment with writing different, and perhaps unfamiliar, types of stories.

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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

Fantastic LEGO brick builder for a first time writer. 11 Jan 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I have read this book a couple of times. It is easy to follow and logically laid out. The author brings a wealth of practical experience to this work. This is a great book for a starter, it helps build a proper foundation for formula story writing. Thank - you Ronald.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Solid resource to make you think

This book is a decent read and will certaintly make you think. You may conclude that few decent films sit comfortably in any single plot type and using this as a blue print may... Read more

Published 13 months ago by M

Three 5-star books

This is great, but you should also get the wonderfully practical 'Plot and Structure' by James Scott Bell and completely brilliant 'The Seven Basic Plots' by Christopher... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Fergus O'Connell

20 Master plots

I bought this as I was preparing to start work on my latest writing project and it yielded some useful information, although some of the information in there can be arrived at once... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Mr. M. Sanders

Finally some one who talks sense.

I've just finished reading it and I really like his writing style; clear, to the point, and humourous. Read more

Published on 5 April 2005 by Caroline

Great Basic Info

This is a wonderful book. Not too complex, and handy as all get-out. Readers have certain expectations, and this helps you make sure you've covered all your bases. Read more

Published on 6 Sep 1999

Look elsewhere for help with plotting

This author's style is arrogant and condescending toward certain genres. Overall, I found the book to be a rather boring read, and it hasn't helped me much in my efforts to create... Read more

Published on 26 July 1999

A great help for a beginner writer

As a begginer writer, I love this book. Very easy to read and urderstand. Besides the explanation of the 20 plots, the first chapters about plot and structure in general are... Read more

Published on 28 April 1998

Great handbook for Plot making/revising

Tobias includes Aristotles three parts of the play, then expands this into a list of "the lowest common plot denominators. Read more

Published on 7 Jun 1996

Popular Highlights

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A reversal is an event, but recognition is the irreversible emotional change within the characters brought about by that event. &quote;

Highlighted by 24 Kindle users

But the protagonist runs into problems that keep her from successfully completing intention. Aristotle called these barriers reversals. Reversals cause tension and conflict because they alter the path the protagonist must take to get to her intended goal. &quote;

Highlighted by 19 Kindle users

After the reversal, Aristotle suggested something he called recognition, which is the point in the story where the relationships between major characters change as a result of the reversal. &quote;

Highlighted by 19 Kindle users

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