Tuesday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

A PERFECT PLOT IN 6 EASY STEPS

By: Karen Woodward

Of course, there's no such thing as the perfect plot, but there are certain things that every book with that I-couldn't-put-it-down-if-I-tried quality have in common. In his latest blog post, Dave Farland tells us about them: Dave Farland's Daily Kick in the Pants: Plots.

Plots that work

Here's what every book that is stuffed to the rafters with narrative drive (/dramatic tension) has:

1. Interesting characters

You've heard this before: All your main characters should want something and your protagonist should want something desperately.

For instance, in Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Story Goal was right in the title: Indie needed to find and return with the lost Ark.

2. Conflict

There must be something keeping the characters from achieving what they want. 

Dave Farland writes:

“For example, here’s a story: I just went out and got the mail and hour ago.

“Does that sound like a story to you? Not really. There was no challenge for me. Now, if I had to get the mail, but in order to do it, I had to dodge bullets, stick my hand in a mailbox full of rattlesnakes, and fight off an IRS agent in order to get back in my door, then perhaps I’d have a story.

“Or maybe not. Sometimes the try/fail cycles can be boring because they feel contrived. The author goes “over the top” as he or she struggles to entertain.”

These conflicts are going to both be internal (for example, battling one's own fears) and external (battling Nazis who want the ark for themselves).

3. Setting

Setting has to do with both characterization and conflict.

. . .

Read the full article HERE!

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. Anne R. Allen's Blog: BLOCK-BUSTING: 14 Never-Fail Tricks Every Writer Needs to Know http://ow.ly/C3HNe   
2. There And Back Again: A Story About Publishing By Kait Nolan | Molly Greene: Writer http://ow.ly/C3K5N  
3. 5 Strategies For A More Evocative Query Letter Blurb - Writer's Relief, Inc. http://ow.ly/C3JYv  
4. Pub Hub: Revision Tips: Revealing Key Information http://ow.ly/C3Jwo  
5. Want An Irresistable Character? Try An Antihero. http://ow.ly/C3KOi  
6. Taming the Social Media Marketing Beast - Jeffbullas's Blog http://ow.ly/C3KU5  
7. Social Media - Social Media Use by Small Businesses [Infographic]: MarketingProfs Article http://ow.ly/C3KXj  
8. 26 Creative Ways to Publish Social Media Updates | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/C3L8p  
9. Karen Woodward: A Perfect Plot In 6 Easy Steps c
10. Three simple ways to get your hero to make a stand - Writers Write http://ow.ly/C5sg8

Happy writing and running, Kathy