Mastering Suspense Structure And Plot

Author : Jane Cleland
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2018-07-02
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781440352355

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Mastering Plot Twists by Jane Cleland Pdf

"...A unique and absolutely invaluable toolbox for any author..." ~Kate White, New York Times best-selling author and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Unlock the secrets to superior plot twists! The key to keeping people on the edge of their seat--from memoirs to thrillers and stage plays to screenplays--is filling your stories with unexpected twists and turns. By integrating Plot Twists, Plot Reversals, and Moments of Heightened Danger (TRDs) at crucial points, you can captivate your readers with I-can't-wait-to-see-what-happens-next intrigue. The quicker pace and focused action that comes from strategically placed twists form the core of the nuanced, multifaceted books that sell--and that help you find a devoted readership. In Mastering Plot Twists, Agatha Award-winning author, Jane K. Cleland goes beyond telling writers what to do; she shows you how to do it. Within these pages, you'll find: • A proven, five-step process for using TRDs, with detailed examples from best-selling books • A deep dive into plotting, structure, pacing, subplots, and more to help you develop surprising yet inevitable twists. • "Jane's Plotting Roadmap" and worksheets--essential tools for planning your plot Building on the award-winning instruction provided in Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot, Cleland's newest guide will help you create effective and credible twists, creating the kind of stories that will keep your readers up long into the night. "...A master class in crafting plots that twist and turn..." ~Hallie Ephron, New York Times best-selling author of You'll Never Know, Dear

Author : James N. Frey
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 306 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2010-03-30
Category : Performing Arts
ISBN : 1429913630

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How to Write a Damn Good Thriller by James N. Frey Pdf

A quick look at any fiction bestseller list reveals that thrillers make up most of the titles at the top. HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER will help the aspiring novelist or screenwriter to design, draft, write, and polish a thriller that is sure to grab readers. Frey uses examples from both books and movies and addresses the following hot topics: *Germinal ideas *Breathing life into great thriller characters *Crafting a gripping opening *Maintaining tension *Creating obstacles and conflicts *Writing a mean, lean thriller scene *Adding surprise twists *Building a smashing climax and many more. In his trademark approachable and humorous style, Frey illuminates the building blocks of great thrillers and gives the reader the tools to write his or her own.

Author : Patricia Highsmith
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 2016-06-16
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0751565970

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Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith Pdf

Author : Martha Alderson
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2016-03-03
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781599639833

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Writing Blockbuster Plots by Martha Alderson Pdf

Plotting a story filled with memorable, engaging scenes from beginning to end can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Having the right plan - and the tools to execute it - can make all the difference. Writing Blockbuster Plots pulls back the curtain on story structure with step-by-step strategies and visuals that turn plotting and scene writing into a no-stress endeavor. In this completely revised and updated edition, celebrated writing instructor and plot consultant Martha Alderson helps you navigate the intricacies of story with the help of her exclusive Plot Planner and Scene Tracker tools. Using Alderson’s effective, accessible techniques, you'll be able to: • PLOT your story from beginning to end with a focus on dramatic action, the emotional development of your characters, and thematic significance. • ENSURE that each scene contributes meaningfully to the narrative by tracking the seven essential elements of scene. • LINK scenes by cause and effect to create a tight, seamless narrative. • INJECT tension and conflict to keep readers glued to the page. • TARGET weak areas in your story and learn how to fix them. Filled with examples from both classic and contemporary novels, as well as illustrations of the Plot Planner and Scene Tracker in action, Writing Blockbuster Plots strips the confusion out of the plotting process, enabling you to write a story that deserves a standing ovation.

Author : Jane Cleland
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2016-03-31
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781599639697

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Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot by Jane Cleland Pdf

Enthrall Your Readers! Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers--but it isn't just for thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is your hands-on guide to weaving suspense into your narrative. Award-winning author Jane K. Cleland teaches you how to navigate genre conventions, write for your audience, and build gripping tension to craft an irresistible page-turner. Inside, Cleland will show you how to: • Implement thirteen no-fail techniques to construct an effective plot and structure for your story • Use Cleland's Plotting Road Map to add elements of suspense like twists, reversals, and moments of danger • Write subplots with purpose • Improve your descriptions, character development, sentence structure, and more Packed with case studies, exercises, and dozens of examples from best-selling authors, Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is the key to writing suspenseful, engaging stories that leave your readers wanting more. ------ "Indispensable! For newbie authors and veterans alike, this terrific how-to is your new go-to. Don't write your book without it--it's a treasure." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author

Author : Richard Kearney
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2002-09-09
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781134537914

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On Stories by Richard Kearney Pdf

Stories offer us some of the richest and most enduring insights into the human condition and have preoccupied philosophy since Aristotle. On Stories presents in clear and compelling style just why narrative has this power over us and argues that the unnarrated life is not worth living. Drawing on the work of James Joyce, Sigmund Freud's patient 'Dora' and the case of Oscar Schindler, Richard Kearney skilfully illuminates how stories not only entertain us but can determine our lives and personal identities. He also considers nations as stories, including the story of Romulus and Remus in the founding of Rome. Throughout, On Stories stresses that, far from heralding the demise of narrative, the digital era merely opens up new stories.

Author : James N. Frey
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 286 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2007-04-01
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781429974134

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How to Write a Damn Good Mystery by James N. Frey Pdf

Edgar award nominee James N. Frey, author of the internationally best-selling books on the craft of writing, How to Write a Damn Good Novel, How to Write a Damn Good Novel II: Advanced Techniques, and The Key: How to Write Damn Good Fiction Using the Power of Myth, has now written what is certain to become the standard "how to" book for mystery writing, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery. Frey urges writers to aim high-not to try to write a good-enough-to-get-published mystery, but a damn good mystery. A damn good mystery is first a dramatic novel, Frey insists-a dramatic novel with living, breathing characters-and he shows his readers how to create a living, breathing, believable character who will be clever and resourceful, willful and resolute, and will be what Frey calls "the author of the plot behind the plot." Frey then shows, in his well-known, entertaining, and accessible (and often humorous) style , how the characters-the entire ensemble, including the murderer, the detective, the authorities, the victims, the suspects, the witnesses and the bystanders-create a complete and coherent world. Exploring both the on-stage action and the behind-the-scenes intrigue, Frey shows prospective writers how to build a fleshed-out, believable, and logical world. He shows them exactly which parts of that world show up in the pages of a damn good mystery-and which parts are held back just long enough to keep the reader guessing. This is an indispensable step-by-step guide for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing a damn good mystery.

Author : Larry Brooks
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 248 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2013-05-21
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781599636955

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Story Physics by Larry Brooks Pdf

Learn how to make your story soar! In the physical world, gravity, force, and other elements of physics govern your abilities and can be utilized to enhance your every movement. In the world of writing, story physics can be harnessed in much the same way to make your novel or screenplay the best it can be. In Story Physics, best-selling author Larry Brooks introduces you to six key literary forces that, when leveraged in just the right way, enable you to craft a story that's primed for success--and publication. Inside Story Physics, you'll learn how to: • Understand and harness the six storytelling forces that are constantly at work in your fiction. • Transform your story idea into a dramatically compelling concept. • Optimize the choices you make in terms of character, conflict, subplot, subtext, and more to render the best possible outcome. These literary forces will elevate your story above the competition and help you avoid the rejection pile. With Story Physics, you won't just give your story wings--you'll teach it how to fly. "Larry Brooks speaks my kind of language about story. Any writer, even those trucking in the world of nonfiction, will benefit from going deeper into the physics of storytelling as Brooks explains in these pages." - James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Plot & Structure "Larry Brooks has done it again! If you liked Story Engineering, I suspect you're going to love Story Physics, which dives even deeper into the essence of story. Story Physics is an essential addition to every novelist's bookshelf." - Randy Ingermanson, author of Writing Fiction for Dummies

Author : Mystery Writers of America
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 336 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2022-04-12
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9781982149444

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How to Write a Mystery by Mystery Writers of America Pdf

From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries—from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers—“this is a writing guide that readers and writers will turn to again and again” (Booklist, starred review). Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is known for providing unparalleled resources on the craft, art, and business of storytelling, helping writers of all levels improve their skills for nearly a century. Now, this handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape—from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more. Featuring essays by a new generation of bestselling experts on various elements of the craft and shorter pieces of crowd-sourced wisdom from the MWA membership as a whole, the topics covered can be categorized as follows: —Before Writing (rules; genres; setting; character; research; etc.) —While Writing (outlining; the plot; dialogue; mood; etc.) —After Writing (agents; editors; self-pub; etc.) —Other than Novels (short stories; true crime; etc.) —Other Considerations (diverse characters; legal questions; criticism) Also included is a collection of essays from MWA published authors—including Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, and Charlaine Harris—selected by bestselling authors Lee Child and Laurie King and arranged thematically answering, “What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d had at the beginning of your career?” “Everything you wanted to know about how to plan, draft, write, revise, publish, and market a mystery” (Kirkus Reviews), this inclusive manual provides practical, current, easily digestible advice for new and established authors alike.

Author : Jane K. Cleland
Publisher : Minotaur Books
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2007-04-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9781429902984

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Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland Pdf

Josie Prescott's friends thought she was nuts when she left her high-paying New York auction house job and her boyfriend to live on the rugged and beautiful New Hampshire coast. Truth is, Josie wondered a little herself—never mind that her peripheral involvement in a well-publicized price-fixing scandal made the possibility of a new start incredibly enticing. Things are looking better, though, now that she's got her own auction business up and running and has made something of a success of her new life. That is, until she gets mixed up in murder, and the supremely eligible but emotionally distant local police chief seems to think she's the prime suspect. Josie has suddenly got a lot to lose and no desire to leave her new life—or the possibility of a little romance—behind. So she sets her mind on identifying the killer and making the best out of her unfortunate circumstances. After all, Josie is grateful for her second chance in life and knows a third is just too much to ask...especially with a vicious killer on the loose. Consigned to Death is the first novel in Jake K. Cleland's delightful series of mystery and antiques on the New Hampshire coast.

Author : Ross Hartmann
Publisher : Kiingo
Page : 434 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2020-11-14
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1735603821

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The Structure of Story by Ross Hartmann Pdf

What do all great stories have in common? What techniques do great writers use? The Structure of Story details the specific writing tools that will help you recognize and apply the patterns of great stories.

Author : Martha Alderson
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2011-09-15
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781440528477

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The Plot Whisperer by Martha Alderson Pdf

Discover how to create stories that build suspense, reveal character, and engage your audience with this ultimate guide to writing. When it comes to writing bestsellers, it’s all about the plot. Trouble is, plot is where most writers fall down—but you don’t have to be one of them. With this book, you’ll learn how to create stories that build suspense, reveal character, and engage readers—one scene at a time. Celebrated writing teacher and author Martha Alderson has devised a plotting system that’s as innovative as it is easy to implement. With her foolproof blueprint, you’ll learn to devise a successful storyline for any genre. She shows how to: -Use the power of the Universal Story -Create plot lines and subplots that work together -Effectively use a scene tracker for maximum impact -Insert energetic markers at the right points in your story -Show character transformation at the book’s climax This is the ultimate guide for you to write page-turners that sell!

Author : William Bernhardt
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 132 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2020-04-02
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 0989378918

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Story Structure by William Bernhardt Pdf

"Writing is structure," William Goldman said, but too often aspiring writers plunge into their work without grasping this fundamental principle. Story structure is one of the most important concepts for a writer to understand--and ironically, one of the least frequently taught. In this book, New York Times-bestselling author William Bernhardt explains the elements that make stories work, using examples spanning from Gilgamesh to The Hunger Games. In each chapter, he introduces essential concepts in a direct and easily comprehended manner. Most importantly, Bernhardt demonstrates how you can apply these ideas to improve your own writing. William Bernhardt is the author of more than thirty novels, including the blockbuster Ben Kincaid series. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. His programs have educated many authors now published by major houses. He is the only person to have received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (U Penn) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (OSU), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." The Red Sneaker Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers achieve their literary goals. What is a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction and guidance rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done, and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting. Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you.

Author : Hallie Ephron
Publisher : National Geographic Books
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2017-01-13
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781440347160

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Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel Revised and Expanded Edition by Hallie Ephron Pdf

A Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award Finalist for Best Critical/Biographical Work Discover the secrets to crafting an unforgettable mystery! To piece together the puzzle of your mystery novel, you need patience, resilience, a solid understanding of the craft, and a clear blueprint for combining the plot, characters, setting, and more. And while patience and resilience must come from you, the essentials of craft and the plan to execute them are right at your fingertips with Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel. This completely revised and updated edition features solid strategies for drafting, revising, and selling an intriguing novel that grips your readers and refuses to let them go. New York Times best-selling author Hallie Ephron shows you how to: • Create a compelling sleuth and a worthy villain • Construct a plot rich in twists, red herrings, and misdirection • Bring the story to a satisfying conclusion • Sharpen characters and optimize pace during revision • Seek publication through both traditional and indie paths Filled with helpful worksheets and exercises for every step of the process, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel Revised and Expanded reveals the keys to writing a memorable story that will have fans of mystery, suspense, and crime clamoring for more.

Author : Cheryl Bradshaw
Publisher : Independently Published
Page : 302 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2021-04-02
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9798710359617

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Mastering Your Mystery by Cheryl Bradshaw Pdf

Do you write in the genres of mystery, thriller, or suspense? Are you interested in learning how to write better, more compelling books and becoming successful in your marketing endeavors? In Mastering Your Mystery, you'll learn: + How to write the perfect murder scene+ How to breathe life into your main character+ How to create the perfect villain+ How the right location adds to your story+ Strategies for eBook pricing+ Creating a street team/fan club+ Where to advertise + How to create a winning ad+ Connecting with your readers + Hitting a best-seller list+ And much, much more!! TABLE OF CONTENTS: Part I: WRITING 1. Genre Selection 2. Plotters/Pantsers 3. Plot and Structure 4. Subplots 5. Chapter Length 6. Cursing in Fiction 7. Cliffhangers 8. Location/Setting 9. Protagonists/Main Characters10. The Victim11. Villains12. Suspects/Red Herrings13. Pets/Children14. Sex in Suspense Fiction15. Writing a Murder Scene16. The Investigation17. The Murder Weapon18. Forensics19. Fact Checking20. Copyright LawPart II: SELLING21. To Agent or Not to Agent22. Series vs Stand Alone23. Wide vs Kindle Unlimited24. Book Covers25. Book Blurbs26. eBook Pricing27. Categories/Keywords28. Street Team/Fan Club29. Newsletters30. Publishing Checklist31. Facebook Ads32. Amazon Ads33. BookBub Ads34. Where to Advertise 35. Audiobooks36. Hitting a List37. Front/Back Matter38. Book Recommendations39. Bestselling Author Advice40. Publishing 2.0