What are the best books on plotting fiction?

I would recommend 'Outlining Your Novel' by K.M. Weiland. It provides in - depth guidance on outlining, which is crucial for plotting. Additionally, 'Writing the Blockbuster Novel' by Albert Zuckerman gives you a peek into how to create plots that will keep readers hooked. Also, 'The Anatomy of Story' by John Truby is excellent as it analyzes different plot types and how to use them effectively.

Sure. 'Save the Cat!' by Blake Snyder is a great start. It's very accessible and has clear guidelines on plot structure. Another good beginner - friendly book is 'Plot & Structure' by James Scott Bell. It simplifies the concepts of plotting for those new to fiction writing.

In my opinion, 'Story Engineering' by Larry Brooks is a great choice. It focuses on the fundamental elements of story architecture. It talks about concepts like character arcs in relation to the plot, and how to create tension and conflict at the right moments. It gives a comprehensive view of how to construct a plot that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Scrivener is a great app. It allows you to organize your ideas, characters, and plotlines easily. You can create folders for different chapters, write detailed character sketches, and outline the plot in a flexible way. Another good one is Plottr. It offers visual plotting tools, like timelines and story maps, which can help you see the overall structure of your novel clearly. And yWriter is also popular. It focuses on helping you break down your novel into manageable parts and keep track of your progress as you plot and write.

Novelize. It is a great free option for plotting a novel. It offers templates to start with, which can be customized according to your needs. You can map out your plot, develop characters, and plan the overall arc of your story all in one place.

It helps in understanding the structure of different novels. By plotting the outlines, you can see how authors build up their stories, like how they introduce characters and conflicts. For example, in a mystery novel, you can see how the clues are planted throughout the plot.

A great beginner book is 'Bird by Bird'. It has a very approachable style when it comes to talking about the overall shape of a story, which is related to plotting. Also, 'Plot & Structure' can be helpful as it starts from the basics of what makes a good plot.

The key elements often include a mysterious crime, a detective figure. For example, in Sherlock Holmes stories, there's always a puzzling crime like a strange murder or a theft that seems impossible. The detective then uses his or her deductive reasoning skills to solve it.

Accurate time period representation is a key element. This means understanding the political climate, cultural values, and technological advancements of the time. For instance, in a historical fiction set during the Industrial Revolution, you'd need to show how the new machines changed society. Character relationships are also important. They can be influenced by historical class differences or family traditions. And don't forget a strong central conflict that can be related to the historical situation, like a struggle for power during a war - torn period.

One key element is conflict. It can be internal, like a character's struggle with self - doubt, or external, such as a battle against a villain. The theme also matters. It gives the story a deeper meaning. For example, a theme of friendship in a story about a group of adventurers. Additionally, the pacing is important. You don't want the story to drag or move too quickly. You need to build up tension gradually.