or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
26 used & new from £5.76
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction)
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book

Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction) (Paperback)

by James Scott Bell (Author) "I wasted ten years of prime writing life because of the Big Lie ..." (more)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £8.05 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £4.94 (38%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Wednesday, November 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
20 new from £5.76 6 used from £7.12

Frequently Bought Together

Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction) + Description and Setting: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Believable World of People, Places and Events (Write Great Fiction) + Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue (Write Great Fiction)
Price For All Three: £24.11

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Description and Setting: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Believable World of People, Places and Events (Write Great Fiction)

Description and Setting: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Believable World of People, Places and Events (Write Great Fiction)

by Ron Rozelle
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £8.01
Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue (Write Great Fiction)

Dialogue: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Effective Dialogue (Write Great Fiction)

by Gloria Kempton
4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £8.05
Characters, Emotions and Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction)

Characters, Emotions and Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction)

by Nancy Kress
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £8.62
Characters and Viewpoint (The elements of fiction writing)

Characters and Viewpoint (The elements of fiction writing)

by Orson Scott Card
4.6 out of 5 stars (8)  £6.58
Revision and Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft into a Finished Novel (Write Great Fiction)

Revision and Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft into a Finished Novel (Write Great Fiction)

by James Scott Bell
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £8.54
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (28 Jan 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 158297294X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1582972947
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 6,903 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Reference > Writing > Fiction
    #3 in  Books > Reference > Writing > Editing

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description

The second book in the Write Great Fiction series, Plot and Structure offers clear and concise information on creating a believable and engaging plot that readers can't resist. Written by award-winning thriller and suspense author James Scott Bell, this handy instruction guide provides: Easy-to-understand techniques on every aspect of plotting and structure, from brainstorming story ideas to building scenes, and from using subplots to crafting knock-out endings; Engaging exercises, perfect for writers at any level and at any stage in their novel; Practical and encouraging guidance from one of the most respected writers publishing today; Full of diagrams, plot brainstormers, and examples from popular novels, mastering plot and structure has never been so simple.


About the Author

A former trial lawyer, James Scott Bell is an award-winning author and frequent speaker at writing conferences.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
I wasted ten years of prime writing life because of the Big Lie. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction)
78% buy the item featured on this page:
Plot and Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish (Write Great Fiction) 4.7 out of 5 stars (11)
£8.05
Your Writing Coach: From Concept to Character, from Pitch to Publication - Everything You Need to Know About Writing Novels, Non-fiction, New Media, Scripts and Short Stories
7% buy
Your Writing Coach: From Concept to Character, from Pitch to Publication - Everything You Need to Know About Writing Novels, Non-fiction, New Media, Scripts and Short Stories 4.8 out of 5 stars (13)
£5.99
Characters and Viewpoint (The elements of fiction writing)
5% buy
Characters and Viewpoint (The elements of fiction writing) 4.6 out of 5 stars (8)
£6.58
Beginnings, Middles and Ends (The elements of fiction writing)
5% buy
Beginnings, Middles and Ends (The elements of fiction writing) 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£6.88
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential plotting guide for all writers, 18 Nov 2007
By J Smith "jesmith91" (Cheshire, England) - See all my reviews
I've read many books on plotting and structure, but this is probably the best so far. It doesn't offer a miracle cure for ailing plots, or promote a magical formula for coming up with the perfect novel, or divulge any flashy techniques - instead, it provides a nuts-and-bolts, back-to-basics guide to developing a strong foundation for your novel.

It has to be said that a lot of books on writing can come across as quite patronising - not so here. The book has a very friendly tone and puts its points across in a simple, straightforward manner that's always easy to read and often quite entertaining. There are many tips and exercises, all of which are practical and useful.

I read this before embarking on my current project, but I imagine it would be useful whatever state your novel's in, as many of the hints and tips can (and should be) applied throughout the whole novel-writing process. My copy is already covered in highlighter pen and scribbled notes in the margins, and I have no doubt that I'll be returning to it again and again. I see this book as an essential reference guide to the craft of plotting, and would encourage anyone who's serious about novel writing to invest in this. If you only buy one book on plotting and structure, I'd make it this one.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fiction writer's roadmap, 5 Nov 2006
If your goal is to write and sell fiction, this book will guide you.

It gives a valuable overview of good structure, identifies all the key elements, then provides you with a 'toolkit' of methods for structuring your own work, and tackling problem areas. Some books just tell you what to do, this book also tells you how to go about it.

It's well laid out, well signposted, includes examples from popular novels, and provides exercises to help cement the learning points.

Reading it is like sitting with a friendly expert who is willing to pass on all his experience, and who encourages you to apply it to your own work. It's the best book on writing I've come across so far.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and practical, 25 Jun 2006
You will be taken by the hand on a step-by-step journey to write a good book.
Bell is a very sympathetic and empathic writer. He is thorough, and most of all an enabler.
He said that he had believed the Big Lie, i.e. writers are born; fortunately he passes on his skills extensively so you can allow yourself to learn the technique of efficient plotting to become a good writer and not believe the Big Lie that there are only privileged writers born with their skill.
Following this book, you too will penetrate the secrets of good writing and its creative pleasure. You will feel satisfied with a good structure for your novels. (He said that people who came to him for advice sold their own books!)
Have confidence in James Scott Bell, you will want to write following his pieces of advice.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking
Clarity in a book! I've only got as far as chapter 2 but I felt compelled to leave my review before I have come to the end of the book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Numpty

5.0 out of 5 stars Does what it says on the tin - wonderful!
This book is everything I hoped it would be. I've recommended it to fellow aspiring writers I know.

Some great practical tips on how to get your plot started and ways... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Seraph

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Plot
An easy-to-read book, and yet it contains countless ideas and suggestions for the writer - well worth buying!
Published 18 months ago by L. F. Lawlor

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good indeed
I teach novel writing. I found this to be a highly readable and exceedingly helpful book for those who want to take novel writing seriously. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Glenn Carmichael

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read: practical, insightful and entertaining at the same time
I really enjoyed reading this book. Whether you aim at writing commercial (plot driven) fiction, or literary (character driven) fiction, this book will be a useful read... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2007 by Scarso Slawka Giorgia

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read
Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles and Endings is more succint. Nonetheless an enjoyable read.
Published on 30 Aug 2006 by Lala B

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful book
This book provides plenty of encouragement for the writer as well as useful guidance on how to build plots and plenty of real examples from the world of fiction. Read more
Published on 4 Jul 2006 by L. White

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the subject I have ever read!
This book is simply wonderful! I read a lot of 'how-to' books and most of them are a waste of money. Worse, they are a waste of your time. Not so this one. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2005

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 

   

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject
















i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.