tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post6904038920492974300..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Back to basics: Plot for dummiesLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-9941025664007448672012-10-25T11:19:49.137-04:002012-10-25T11:19:49.137-04:00Even literary fiction can follow this plot arc. Th...Even literary fiction can follow this plot arc. The turning point might be a big argument and the quest to develop a more mature, harmonious relationship. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-83412434860883299952012-10-25T11:18:27.492-04:002012-10-25T11:18:27.492-04:00Absolutely, it is a great revision tool. Excellent...Absolutely, it is a great revision tool. Excellent point.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-63812711941542408522012-10-25T11:17:43.637-04:002012-10-25T11:17:43.637-04:00I thought with NaNo around the corner, it might be...I thought with NaNo around the corner, it might be as useful for my readers as it is for the kids.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-414430458804305872012-10-25T11:17:02.714-04:002012-10-25T11:17:02.714-04:00Thanks, Melanie. I do enjoy teaching a lot and hav...Thanks, Melanie. I do enjoy teaching a lot and have a nonfiction book in the works. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-36401464103212274992012-10-25T09:26:53.430-04:002012-10-25T09:26:53.430-04:00I like how you lay it out in a simple way for us. ...I like how you lay it out in a simple way for us. I love a good quest story with action and adventure and a turn of events or attitudes.Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-73628029398482504762012-10-24T17:24:55.736-04:002012-10-24T17:24:55.736-04:00This is a very good outline of plot - for third gr...This is a very good outline of plot - for third graders and adults alike. I think when I'm writing novels and something isn't working, I look at this kind of list of elements and discover I've missed one of them. Every writer should have a list like this on their desktop!Heidi Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420802651029097379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-64877855124203164012012-10-24T15:33:30.122-04:002012-10-24T15:33:30.122-04:00That's very cool and a great breakdown for &qu...That's very cool and a great breakdown for "kids" of all ages.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-31913028035849591262012-10-24T14:03:50.730-04:002012-10-24T14:03:50.730-04:00I love how you broke it downlike this, you really ...I love how you broke it downlike this, you really have a gift.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-20261742091159317642012-10-24T12:17:55.695-04:002012-10-24T12:17:55.695-04:00I think this fits within the classic (ancient Gree...I think this fits within the classic (ancient Greek) three-act structure. Parts 1-3 are act I. Parts 4-5 are act II. Parts 6-8 are act III. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-62106273918377657162012-10-24T12:16:01.743-04:002012-10-24T12:16:01.743-04:00Working from a known story helps more that seeing ...Working from a known story helps more that seeing just a skeleton. I think the middle section in particular is often described so sketchily and that's where many get stuck. Obstacles and surprises should be really dynamic, ups and downs, multiple plot lines intertwining and building to a crisis point.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-21374423796823963072012-10-24T12:13:48.630-04:002012-10-24T12:13:48.630-04:00Thanks, Angela. I usually hate public speaking, bu...Thanks, Angela. I usually hate public speaking, but they were a great audience. That helped! Enjoying the subject matter helped a lot too. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-33367970679222016882012-10-24T12:12:38.168-04:002012-10-24T12:12:38.168-04:00HtTYD was something the kids could immediately gra...HtTYD was something the kids could immediately grasp and was fresh in my mind. <br /><br />I adapted this from another writer's blog post based on a book by Nigel Watts. Most of all I simplified the terms as much as possible to be graspable by kids as young as 8.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-47128357576192184162012-10-24T12:02:34.626-04:002012-10-24T12:02:34.626-04:00I use the 3-act structure, which is common in scre...I use the 3-act structure, which is common in screenplays but works well for me. <br /><br />Glad your school visit went well!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-33331019747879440062012-10-24T11:26:26.696-04:002012-10-24T11:26:26.696-04:00This is a great breakdown. I will be taking notes ...This is a great breakdown. I will be taking notes from this. Thanks. It also helps that you used one of my favorite movies. Thanks again.Christine Danekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00979611961825725350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-75121888462233223332012-10-24T11:19:17.726-04:002012-10-24T11:19:17.726-04:00This is such a brilliant break down--great for kid...This is such a brilliant break down--great for kids to better understand story, and for us writers too! Nicely done, Laurel--so glad the school visit was a big hit!<br /><br />AngelaAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-73535832299492432742012-10-24T10:06:44.798-04:002012-10-24T10:06:44.798-04:00That's great way to teach writing, and I loved...That's great way to teach writing, and I loved your example of HtTYD.<br /><br />When I've taught fiction writing, I like to use Freytag's pyramid for a visual picture--though I draw it more elongated on rising action and shortened on the falling action.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.com