Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish
By James Scott Bell
Why this book?
Plot & Structure was one of the first books on the craft that I purchased. And it is still the one I most often find myself recommending to new writers. All writers need to understand the basics of character, setting, and dialogue and these are explained in a conversational way that doesn’t presume any previous writing knowledge. Plot & Structure provides a step-by-step approach to crafting a story using the 3-act structure, and then gives useful tips for troubleshooting common issues. My copy is highlighted and abused and while I’m usually generous with my personal library, this is one book I never loan out because all new writers need to own it for themselves.
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