As some of you might know, I’ve been blazing through some books on plot. I’m discovering that I know most of this stuff already, but that it’s entirely worth the effort for the sake of refreshing my knowledge and also providing simplified clarity.
“Simply put, structure is what assembles the parts of a story in a way that makes them accessible to readers. It is the orderly arrangement of story material for the benefit of the audience.
Plot is about elements, those things that go into the mix of making a good story even better.
Structure is about timing–where in the mix those elements go.
When you read a novel that isn’t quite grabbing you, the reason is probably structure. Even though it may have good characters, snappy dialogue, and intriguing settings, the story isn’t unfolding in the optimum fasion.
Of course, the author may protest that this is his way, and how dare anyone dictate what’s right and what isn’t about his novel!
That’s an author’s perogative. But if we are talking about connection with readers, we have to talk about structure.”
–Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
With that I present two new mini-reviews:
Next up is How To Write KILLER Fiction by Carolyn Wheat. Since her treatise deals more with mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, I expect it to offer something new.
More juicy content is yet to come. Stay tuned.
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