Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure
Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish
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Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure
Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish
by James Scott Bell
Writer's Digest Books, 2004
ISBN 1-58297-294-X
$16.99 paperback, 240 pages
Read an Excerpt
In chapter 1, "What is Plot, Anyway?" find out what plot is,how it works, and learn the LOCK system: Lead, Objective, Confrontation, and Knockout.
About the Book
How does plot influence story structure? What's the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that's gone off course?
With Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure, you'll discover the answers to these questions and more. Award-winning author James Scott Bell offers clear, concise information that will help you create a believable and memorable plot, including:
- Techniques for crafting strong beginnings, middles, and ends
- Easy-to-understand plotting diagrams and charts
- Brainstorming techniques for original plot ideas
- Thought-provoking exercises at the end of each chapter
- Story structure models and methods for all genres
- Tips and tools for correcting common plot problems
Filled with plot examples from popular novels, comprehensive checklists, and practical hands-on guidance, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure gives you the skills you need to approach plot and structure like an experienced pro.

James Scott Bell is the #1 bestselling author of Plot & Structure, and award-winning thrillers like Final Witness. He served as fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine, to which he frequently contributes, and has written three additional craft books for Writer’s Digest Books including Revision & Self-Editing, The Art of War for Writers and Conflict & Suspense. Follow him on Twitter @jamesscottbell.