Okay, guys, I could use some help with plot for long works.
If you’re writing a short story, it’s pretty much beginning, middle, end, and then a lot of different ways to fancy it up depending upon what you want to show. Got it.
Characterization and sentence-to-sentence level writing, I feel like I can do, at least somewhat.
But writing a novel or novella-length story that carries the same plot all the way through rather than just focusing on characterization in individual incidents? How does one even DO that? (When anyone asks me what Close Only Counts is about–and clearly, they mean plot–I say, “Uhm, it’s kind of about… Well, it’s not really ABOUT anything. It’s kind of a character piece. No plot.”)
I mean STRUCTURE. What needs to happen in the first five chapters? What’s act two? What is the middle piece about? How do you wind it down? MUST an adventure novel follow the Joseph Campbell model? What are the conventions of the mystery genre?
So help me out. Can you recommend any books or articles that are good guides to plotting out long stories?
Story by Robert McKee
Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
Take off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker
I know I have others, but that’s off the top of my head. 🙂
Ooh also, this article first explained three-act structure to me using a story we’re all VERY FAMILIAR WITH: https://williampcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/3-act-structure-star-wars-original/
I’d second “Story”. We’re using it as the text in my Intermediate Screenwriting class.
I happen to know there’s a pdf online:
http://www.cienciasecognicao.org/rotas/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Robert-McKee-Story.pdf