GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

by Debra Dixon
GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict
Author: Debra Dixon
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2013-07-15
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1611943183
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"This book belongs on every fiction writer's bookshelf. Anyone who has ever had a story to tell and is dying to get it down on paper will find guidance and inspiration in GMC. The presentation is clear, immediate, and relevant to all writers--from novices to seasoned professionals. Experienced author Debra Dixon has done a magnificent job of demystifying the toughest aspect of fiction writing: that of a giving a story shape, form and urgency." -- Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling and RITA® Award winning author of over 40 novels and novellas "One of the best in her craft." -- Toronto Star "Goal, Motivation & Conflict is one of my all time favorites." -- Jane Porter (Flirting With Forty), award winning and bestselling author with 10 million books in print, in twenty languages and 25 countries Goal, motivation, and conflict are the foundation of everything that happens in the story world. Using charts, examples, and movies, the author breaks these key elements down into understandable components and walks the reader through the process of laying this foundation in his or her own work. Learn what causes sagging middles and how to fix them, which goals are important, which aren't and why, how to get your characters to do what they need for your plot in a believable manner, and how to use conflict to create a good story. GMC can be used not only in plotting, but in character development, sharpening scenes, pitching ideas to an editor, and evaluating whether an idea will work. Be confident your ideas will work before you write 200 pages. Plan a road map to keep your story on track. Discover why your scenes aren't working and what to do about it. Create characters that editors and readers will care about.

The Anatomy of Story

by John Truby
The Anatomy of Story
Author: John Truby
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Total Pages: 405
Release: 2008-10-14
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1429923709
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John Truby is one of the most respected and sought-after story consultants in the film industry, and his students have gone on to pen some of Hollywood's most successful films, including Sleepless in Seattle, Scream, and Shrek. The Anatomy of Story is his long-awaited first book, and it shares all of his secrets for writing a compelling script. Based on the lessons in his award-winning class, Great Screenwriting, The Anatomy of Story draws on a broad range of philosophy and mythology, offering fresh techniques and insightful anecdotes alongside Truby's own unique approach for how to build an effective, multifaceted narrative. Truby's method for constructing a story is at once insightful and practical, focusing on the hero's moral and emotional growth. As a result, writers will dig deep within and explore their own values and worldviews in order to create an effective story. Writers will come away with an extremely precise set of tools to work with—specific, useful techniques to make the audience care about their characters, and that make their characters grow in meaningful ways. They will construct a surprising plot that is unique to their particular concept, and they will learn how to express a moral vision that can genuinely move an audience. The foundations of story that Truby lays out are so fundamental they are applicable—and essential—to all writers, from novelists and short-story writers to journalists, memoirists, and writers of narrative non-fiction.

Plot Versus Character

by Jeff Gerke
Plot Versus Character
Author: Jeff Gerke
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2010-11-16
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9781582979922
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What's more important to a story: a gripping plot or compelling characters? Literary-minded novelists argue in favor of character-based novels while commercial novelists argue in favor of plot-based stories, but the truth of the matter is this: The best fiction is rich in both. Enter Plot Versus Character. This hands-on guide to creating a well-rounded novel embraces both of these crucial story components. You'll learn to: Create layered characters by considering personality traits, natural attributes, and backgrounds Develop your character's emotional journey and tie it to your plot's inciting incident Construct a three-act story structure that can complement and sustain your character arc Expose character backstory in a manner that accentuates plot points Seamlessly intertwine plot and character to create a compelling page-turner filled with characters to whom readers can't help but relate And much more Filled with helpful examples and friendly instruction, Plot Versus Character takes the guesswork out of creating great fiction by giving you the tools you need to inject life into your characters and momentum into your plots.

Pariah's Lament

by Richie Billing
Pariah's Lament
Author: Richie Billing
Publisher:
Total Pages: 428
Release: 2021-03-17
Genre:
ISBN: 9781838400910
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"So often it's the forgotten who possess the power to change the world." When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it. With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighbouring kingdom Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara's brittle reign? The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned? An epic underdog's story, Pariah's Lament delivers action, adventure, romance and original fantasy. Fans of Joe Abercrombie and George RR Martin will appreciate the gritty realism and vivid battle scenes of Pariah's Lament, yet at times it possesses a humorous touch akin to the works of James Barclay and Nicholas Eames. And for those who adore the charismatic characters of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, you'll find a cast that will whisk you away on a journey of discovery, intrigue, friendship and love. Praise for Pariah's Lament "The story was perfectly paced and I was so wrapped up, wanting to know how it was going to end that I read the entire thing in one go." Worlds Unlike Our Own "There is a glorious balance of elements in Pariah's Lament. You have deep political intrigue, strong, engaging characters, humour in even the darkest moments, and dynamic pulse-quickening action." Bookends and Bagends "Masterful world-building, top-notch political manoeuvring, and all the classic elements that make epic fantasy so amazing." The Book Suite Book Blog "Other than Brandon Sanderson, Billing has written my favourite battle scenes where they're epic and grand." Sarah Lillian Book Blog "With themes of vengeance, betrayal, and unity, Pariah's Lament made for an exciting and adventurous read." Bookish Beyond Book Blog "Billing shrewdly delves into the very relatable, human need to actualize and belong." Mark Brooks, Author "Couldn't put this down... compelling characters and really vivid worldbuilding." C.T. O'Mahony, Author "Billing has a knack for writing descriptions that can make readers feel like they're walking in the character's shoes." Anna Civolani, Editor

Creating Characters

by Writer's Digest Books
Creating Characters
Author: Writer's Digest Books
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2014-11-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1599638762
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Create characters that leap off the page--and into readers' hearts! Populating your fiction with authentic, vivid characters is a surefire way to captivate your readers from the first sentence to the last. Whether you're writing a series, novel, short story, or flash fiction, Creating Characters is an invaluable guide to bringing your fictional cast to life. This book is a comprehensive reference to every stage of character development. You'll find timely advice and helpful instruction from best-selling authors like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Orson Scott Card, Chuck Wendig, Hallie Ephron, Donald Maass, and James Scott Bell. They'll show you how to: • Effectively introduce your characters • Build a believable protagonist • Develop strong anti-heroes and compelling villains • Juggle multiple points of view without missing a beat • Craft authentic dialogue that propels the story forward • Motivate your characters with powerful objectives and a believable conflict • Show dynamic character development over the course of a story No matter what your genre, Creating Characters gives you the tools necessary to create realistic, fascinating characters that your readers will root for and remember long after they've finished the story.

Story Genius

by Lisa Cron
Story Genius
Author: Lisa Cron
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2016-08-09
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1607748894
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Following on the heels of Lisa Cron's breakout first book, Wired for Story, this writing guide reveals how to use cognitive storytelling strategies to build a scene-by-scene blueprint for a riveting story. It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of urgency, no internal logic, and so is a page one rewrite. The prevailing wisdom in the writing community is that there are just two ways around this problem: pantsing (winging it) and plotting (focusing on the external plot). Story coach Lisa Cron has spent her career discovering why these methods don’t work and coming up with a powerful alternative, based on the science behind what our brains are wired to crave in every story we read (and it’s not what you think). In Story Genius Cron takes you, step-by-step, through the creation of a novel from the first glimmer of an idea, to a complete multilayered blueprint—including fully realized scenes—that evolves into a first draft with the authority, richness, and command of a riveting sixth or seventh draft.

The Writer's Portable Mentor

by Priscilla Long
The Writer's Portable Mentor
Author: Priscilla Long
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2018
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 082636005X
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Designed to mentor writers at all levels, from beginning to quite advanced, The Writer's Portable Mentor offers a wealth of insight and crafting models from the author's twenty-plus years of teaching and creative thought. The book provides tools for structuring a book, story, or essay. It trains writers in observation and in developing a poet's ear for sound in prose. It scrutinizes the sentence strategies of the masters and offers advice on how to publish. This second edition is updated to account for changes in the publishing industry and provides hundreds of new craft models to inspire, guide, and develop every writer's work.

Writing the Novella

by Sharon Oard Warner
Writing the Novella
Author: Sharon Oard Warner
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2021-03-01
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0826362567
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“A novella compresses the world with a short story’s focus, but it explores that smaller space with a novel’s generosity.”—Josh Weil, author of The New Valley: Novellas While the novella has existed as a distinct literary form for over four hundred years, Writing the Novella is the first craft book dedicated to creating this intermediate-length fiction. Innovative, integrated journal prompts inspire and sustain the creative process, and classic novellas serve as examples throughout. Part 1 defines the novella form and steers early decision-making on situation, character, plot, and point of view. Part 2 provides detailed directions for writing the scenic plot points that support a strong but flexible narrative arc. Appendix materials include a list of recommended novellas, publishing opportunities, and blank templates for the story map, graphs, and charts used throughout the book. By turns instructive and inspirational, Writing the Novella will be a welcome resource for new and experienced writers alike.

The Seven Basic Plots

by Christopher Booker
The Seven Basic Plots
Author: Christopher Booker
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 737
Release: 2005-11-11
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1441116516
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This remarkable and monumental book at last provides a comprehensive answer to the age-old riddle of whether there are only a small number of 'basic stories' in the world. Using a wealth of examples, from ancient myths and folk tales via the plays and novels of great literature to the popular movies and TV soap operas of today, it shows that there are seven archetypal themes which recur throughout every kind of storytelling. But this is only the prelude to an investigation into how and why we are 'programmed' to imagine stories in these ways, and how they relate to the inmost patterns of human psychology. Drawing on a vast array of examples, from Proust to detective stories, from the Marquis de Sade to E.T., Christopher Booker then leads us through the extraordinary changes in the nature of storytelling over the past 200 years, and why so many stories have 'lost the plot' by losing touch with their underlying archetypal purpose. Booker analyses why evolution has given us the need to tell stories and illustrates how storytelling has provided a uniquely revealing mirror to mankind's psychological development over the past 5000 years. This seminal book opens up in an entirely new way our understanding of the real purpose storytelling plays in our lives, and will be a talking point for years to come.