tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post1948451468246607909..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Study the Pros: Map Your Favorite Novel Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74895825305057590552015-04-10T08:30:17.487-04:002015-04-10T08:30:17.487-04:00Basic structure in action. (This is why I'm SU...Basic structure in action. (This is why I'm SUCH a structure gal and why I talk about it so much) No matter what the story, storytelling has a rhythm readers are used to. It's used so much because it works so well :) First thing I do with any novel is map out those major turning points.<br /><br />That chapter two opportunity is the inciting event. You'll find it within the first 1-30 pages of a novel (or 1-50 in a longer novel--about the first 10%). Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84468676894712322402015-04-10T08:25:46.490-04:002015-04-10T08:25:46.490-04:00King would be a good author to study then. Is ther...King would be a good author to study then. Is there a method to when he uses those devices, or is it just a gut feeling? Would be fun!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-51044341240515547632015-04-10T08:24:21.780-04:002015-04-10T08:24:21.780-04:00It's awesome, isn't it? I've done it w...It's awesome, isn't it? I've done it with TV shows (for mini arcs) but never movies. I'll have to try that.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26124412768618698532015-04-10T08:23:23.407-04:002015-04-10T08:23:23.407-04:00Great book, I read that several years ago. Very ni...Great book, I read that several years ago. Very nicely plotted for the reveal as well, so it would be a perfect book to study to see how an author handled twists. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73999950678170795072015-04-10T08:21:35.773-04:002015-04-10T08:21:35.773-04:00Thanks!Thanks!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44474078180176560322015-04-10T08:21:26.695-04:002015-04-10T08:21:26.695-04:00Absolutely, thanks for pointing that out. This wou...Absolutely, thanks for pointing that out. This would indeed make a great template for a crit.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43332383838160538812015-04-09T22:30:39.733-04:002015-04-09T22:30:39.733-04:00Funnily I just did this with the last three novels...Funnily I just did this with the last three novels that I read! I only went so far as to map out the first five chapters and was amazed to see that they ALL followed a similar pattern... particularly that an opportunity to change the MC's normal behaviour presented itself in Chapter 2 in each story. I was also humbled to realise that my novel does NOT do this... and so will be revising exactly where my story should really start. It's well worth the effort!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18220002100234484355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55675683092700323872015-04-07T11:28:30.706-04:002015-04-07T11:28:30.706-04:00I would map out my favorite Stephen King novel, an...I would map out my favorite Stephen King novel, and those knitting mysteries I'm so fond of reading. Though I realized long ago that King has a unique way of bringing readers into the story by interrupting the narrative with the MC's thoughts in italics, and using parentheses to isolate additional material, thoughts, and events. It's a multilayered method of storytelling that I naturally find myself gravitating toward in my own writing.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02206342024283098691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46920152449692785632015-04-06T23:36:51.865-04:002015-04-06T23:36:51.865-04:00I do this ALL the time! With movies as well ,since...I do this ALL the time! With movies as well ,since storytelling isn't limited to books.Ericahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16291907653834413089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22392838202601457602015-04-06T21:35:14.332-04:002015-04-06T21:35:14.332-04:00Great post! I would totally map out The False Prin...Great post! I would totally map out The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen(if you haven't read it yet, I highly recomend it to anyone who likes fantasy and adventure). The plot and charecters prevented me from putting it down, especially the amazing twist at the end. Mapping it out sounds like a great idea. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62507671068979745112015-04-06T11:12:29.712-04:002015-04-06T11:12:29.712-04:00Janice, what a great post. Studying published book...Janice, what a great post. Studying published books can push a writer's understanding of structure far ahead. Sharing this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-10797274205753462802015-04-06T08:31:38.625-04:002015-04-06T08:31:38.625-04:00This is also useful when critiquing or editing som...This is also useful when critiquing or editing someone’s work… And they might actually be able to use it as much or more than you!<br />Thanks for sharing.tonylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15317371592063754371noreply@blogger.com