Blockbuster Plots Pure and Simple presents step-by-step strategies that demystify the structure of story. Track the 7 most important elements of scene - pre-plot; cause and effect; conflict, tension, suspence; complex characters; compelling action; clarify theme; re-vision rewrites. You will be able to develop a multi-layered plotline for your story.
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!
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.
Albert Zuckerman, legendary literary agent, has worked with many bestselling authors, including Ken Follett, Olivia Goldsmith, Antoinette Van Heugten, Michael Lewis, and F. Paul Wilson. Zuckerman is a master at teaching writers the skills necessary to crack the bestseller list. For this revised edition of Writing the Blockbuster Novel, Zuckerman has added an analysis of Nora Roberts's The Witness, which he uses along with classic books like Gone With the Wind and The Godfather, to illustrate his points. Zuckerman's commentary on Ken Follett's working outlines for The Man From St. Petersburg provide a blueprint for building links between plot and character. A new introduction discusses social media and self-publishing. Writing the Blockbuster Novel is an essential tool for any aspiring author. As Dan Brown said in an interview: "Not long ago, I had an amusing experience meeting the author of a book I received as a gift nearly two decades ago a book that in many ways changed my life. I was halfway through writing my first novel when I was given a copy of Writing the Blockbuster Novel. [Zuckerman's] book helped me complete my manuscript and get it published. [When] I met Mr. Zuckerman for the first time. I gratefully told him that he had helped me. He jokingly replied that he planned to tell everyone that he had helped me write The Da Vinci Code." At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A guide to creating "ever-cool" entertainment. An asset to entertainment executives or anyone aiming to create the next big hit, this book offers guidelines for developing concepts and marketing blockbusters. Whether it is a best-selling novel, a video game, or a high-tech toy, blockbusters play a big part in American society. Despite the prominence of these breakthrough hits, most entertainment ventures do not survive in today's competitive market. This guide identifies the key principles that will ensure lasting success.
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.
The instant New York Times Bestseller (January 2018)! "A fiendishly smart cat-and-mouse thriller" —New York Times Book Review "Buckle up, because you won't be able to put this one down." —Glamour "Jaw dropping. Unforgettable. Shocking." —Publishers Weekly (starred review) "The best domestic suspense novel since Gone Girl." —In Touch Weekly When you read this book, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife. You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle. Assume nothing. Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love. Read between the lies. A 2018 Indie Next Pick | One of Glamour Magazine's Best Books of 2018 | One of Hello Giggles' 19 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2018 Praise for The Wife Between Us: "Fiendishly clever...in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. This one will keep you guessing." —Anita Shreve, New York Times bestselling author of The Stars are Fire “A clever thriller with masterful twists.” – Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of The Kept Woman "The Wife Between Us delivers a whip smart, twisty plot in a taut, pacy narrative. It's terrific and troubling. This is one scary love triangle where you won't know who to trust. I loved it." –Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew "A twisty, mind-bending novel about marriage and betrayal. A gripping plot and fascinating characters; this book will keep you turning the pages and guessing until the very end. A must-read!" –Lauren Weisberger, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada “This amazing story gallops along at breakneck speed, with an ending that smacks you between the eyes and takes your breath away. These authors are destined to become trail blazers in the field of psychological suspense books that explode in your hands!” —Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault “Like a house of mirrors, The Wife Between Us kept me guessing around every corner, delving into the complexities of marriage, friendship, and obsession.” —Javier Ramirez, The Book Table
Meet Rosie's Daughters in this collective memoir of American women born during World War II, precursors of the Baby Boom generation. Their stories will inform, entertain, and surprise you. In these in-depth interviews, they are declaring their place in history.
While grieving her husband's murder, a young Colorado veterinarian meets a troubled FBI agent and begins to uncover the world's most sinister secrets in this thriller from James Patterson. Frannie O'Neill is a young and talented veterinarian living in Colorado. Plagued by the mysterious murder of her husband, Frannie throws herself into her work, but it is not long before another bizarre murder occurs and Kit Harrison, a troubled and unconventional FBI agent, arrives on her doorstep. Late one night, near the woods of her animal hospital, Frannie stumbles upon a strange, astonishing phenomenon that will change the course of her life forever: an eleven-year-old girl named Max. With breathtaking energy, Max leads Frannie and Kit to uncover one of the most diabolical and inhuman plots of modern science. Bold and compelling, When the Wind Blows is a story of suspense and passion as only James Patterson could tell it.
'Engaging, funny and witty . . . the perfect read for a weekend in. With freshly baked cookies of course!' - Pooja Dhingra 'Witty, clever and ridiculously relatable.' - Janice Pariat This is that rarest of contemporary voices - witty, sharp, clever, and ridiculously relatable.- Janice Pariat, author of Boats on Land Engaging, funny and witty - the perfect read for a weekend in. With freshly baked cookies of course!- Pooja Dhingra, Founder of Le 15 Patisserie Romance, drama, suspense - What Kitty Did is the perfect holiday read.- Esha Mahajan, Harper's Bazaar Kitty Roy has more troubles than she can count on her fingers. Her love life is wonky, her paycheck is shit. She has badly behaved hair and struggles with a sugar addiction. To top it off, her pushy mother has set her up with a gorgeous but stuck-up guy who is sending her mixed signals.When a diplomat's celebrity wife, Roxy Merchant, falls dead during dinner at their posh central Delhi bungalow, Kitty's boss gives her a chance to write a profile piece and the hint of a promotion. As she works on her article, Kitty realizes there's more to Roxy Merchant's death. She's on to something big, and it can, perhaps, change her current life forever. But Kitty also has a knack for bungling things up majorly. Set in the winter of her discontent, What Kitty Did is an irresistible caper zipping through the streets of Delhi.
