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Structuring your novel : essential keys for writing an outstanding story Cover Image Book Book

Structuring your novel : essential keys for writing an outstanding story / K.M. Weiland.

Weiland, K. M., (author.).

Summary:

"Why do some stories work and others don’t? The answer is structure. In this award-winning guide from the author of the acclaimed Outlining Your Novel, you will learn the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will show you how to perfectly time your story’s major events and will provide you with an unerring standard against which to evaluate your novel’s pacing and progression."-- from publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780985780401
  • ISBN: 0985780401
  • Physical Description: 295 pages ; 22 cm.
  • Publisher: Scottsbluff, Nebraska : PenForASword Publishing, 2013.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (5 unnumbered pages).

Search for related items by subject

Subject: Fiction > Technique.
Fiction > Authorship.
Authorship > Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Creative writing > Technique.

Available copies

  • 2 of 3 copies available at BC Interlibrary Connect. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Prince Rupert Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 3 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Holdable? Status Due Date
Prince Rupert Library 808.3 Weil (Text) 33294002098259 Adult Non-Fiction Volume hold Available -
► Summaries & More
▼ Additional Content
Introduction: Why Should You Care About Story Structure? 1(8)
Part 1 Story Structure
Chapter 1 The Hook
9(12)
Five Elements of a Riveting First Line
12(3)
Examples From Film and Literature
15(6)
Chapter 2 Where Should You Begin?
21(14)
Character
23(2)
Action
25(2)
Setting
27(2)
In Medias Res
29(1)
The Dramatic Question
30(5)
Chapter 3 Opening Chapter Pitfalls
35(14)
Questions Your Readers Shouldn't Have to Ask
36(2)
Skip the Prologue?
38(4)
Dream Sequences
42(1)
Flashforwards: Use With Care
43(1)
How to Handle Backstory
44(5)
Chapter 4 The First Act, Pt. 1: Introducing Characters
49(14)
Discovering Your Characters
51(3)
Which Characters Should Be Introduced?
54(2)
How Big Should Your Cast Be?
56(1)
Helping Readers Keep Your Characters Straight
57(6)
Chapter 5 The First Act, Pt. 2: Introducing Stakes and Settings
63(14)
Introducing the Stakes
63(3)
Introducing the Settings
66(5)
Examples From Film and Literature
71(6)
Chapter 6 The First Plot Point
77(12)
Examples From Film and Literature
79(2)
The Inciting and Key Events
81(2)
Examples From Film and Literature
83(6)
Chapter 7 The First Half of the Second Act
89(14)
The First Half
89(5)
Examples From Film and Literature
92(2)
The Midpoint
94(9)
Examples From Film and Literature
96(7)
Chapter 8 The Second Half of the Second Act
103(12)
Subplots
106(3)
Examples From Film and Literature
109(6)
Chapter 9 The Third Act
115(10)
The Third Plot Point
116(1)
Fulfilling Your Character's Arc
117(2)
Examples From Film and Literature
119(6)
Chapter 10 The Climax
125(12)
What Is the Climax?
127(1)
Make It Fast, Make It Big!
128(2)
Examples From Film and Literature
130(7)
Chapter 11 The Resolution
137(14)
Tying Off Loose Ends---or Not
138(3)
Five Elements of a Resonant Closing Line
141(3)
Examples From Film and Literature
144(7)
Chapter 12 Further Considerations for Your Ending
151(16)
Happy Ending or Sad Ending?
153(4)
How Not to End Your Story
157(10)
Killing Your Climax With Deus Ex Machina
157(2)
Abandoning Your Character in the Climax
159(1)
Lying to Readers With Trick Endings
160(2)
Avoiding Resolution Through Cliffhangers
162(1)
Watering Down the Denouement With Epilogues
163(4)
Chapter 13 FAQs About Story Structure
167(12)
Part 2 Scene Structure
Chapter 14 The Scene
179(14)
The Two Types of Scene
180(2)
The Scene
181(1)
The Sequel
181(1)
The Three Building Blocks of the Scene
182(3)
Figuring Out the Purpose of Your Scene
185(2)
Keeping Slow Scenes Moving
187(2)
The Scene in Action
189(4)
Chapter 15 Options for Goals in a Scene
193(10)
Plot Goals vs. Scene Goals
194(1)
Shared Goals
195(2)
Options for Scene Goals
197(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Scene Goals
198(1)
Scene Goals in Action
199(4)
Chapter 16 Options for Conflict in a Scene
203(14)
Is Your Conflict Integral?
205(2)
Allowing Conflict to Arise From Character
207(1)
Framing Conflict in Dialogue
208(2)
Options for Scene Conflict
210(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Scene Conflict
211(1)
Scene Conflict in Action
212(5)
Chapter 17 Options for Disasters in a Scene
217(8)
Make Your Disaster Disastrous
218(1)
The "Yes, But!" Disaster
219(1)
Options for Scene Disasters
220(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Scene Disasters
220(1)
Scene Disasters in Action
221(4)
Chapter 18 The Sequel
225(8)
The Three Building Blocks of the Sequel
226(2)
Conflict or Tension?
228(1)
The Sequel in Action
229(4)
Chapter 19 Options for Reactions in a Sequel
233(8)
Don't Be Afraid of Boring Readers
234(1)
Options for Sequel Reactions
235(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Sequel Reactions
236(1)
Sequel Reactions in Action
237(4)
Chapter 20 Options for Dilemmas in a Sequel
241(8)
The Three Phases of the Dilemma
242(1)
Options for Sequel Dilemmas
243(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Sequel Dilemmas
244(1)
Sequel Dilemmas in Action
244(5)
Chapter 21 Options for Decisions in a Sequel
249(8)
Long-Term Goal, Short-Term Decision
250(1)
Obvious Decision or Long-Shot Decision?
250(1)
To State the Decision or Not?
251(1)
Options for Sequel Decisions
251(1)
Questions to Ask About Your Sequel Decisions
252(1)
Sequel Decisions in Action
253(4)
Chapter 22 Variations on Scene Structure
257(14)
Variations on the Scene
258(6)
Variations on the Sequel
264(7)
Chapter 23 FAQs About Scene Structure
271(12)
Part 3 Sentence Structure
Chapter 24 Sentence Structure
283
Motivation-Reaction Units
283(5)
The Motivation
284(1)
The Reaction
284(2)
Getting the Order Right
286(2)
Variations of the MRU
288(1)
Common Sentence Slip-Ups
288(5)
Eliminating Unnecessary Verbiage
293

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