What are the best books on plotting a novel?

Well, 'Plot & Structure' by James Scott Bell is among the best. It gives insights into creating engaging plots and how to build tension. Then there's 'How to Write a Damn Good Novel' by James N. Frey. It touches on various aspects of fiction writing including plotting. Also, 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott has some valuable advice on getting your story's plot together, even though it's not solely focused on plotting.

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.

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.

One key element is the concept of story structure. Books often explain how to build a beginning, middle, and end that keeps the reader engaged. For example, the inciting incident at the start.

A great beginner - friendly book is 'Plot & Structure' by James Scott Bell. It simplifies the process of plotting. It has practical advice on how to create a strong plot, from coming up with initial ideas to fleshing out the details. It also includes examples from well - known novels to illustrate the concepts.

A third alternative is Plottr. It offers a visual way to plot your multi - pov novel. You can create different storylines for each POV and then see how they all interact and connect. This can be really helpful in making sure that the different POVs are well - integrated and the overall plot is coherent.

They often cover the structure of a plot, like the beginning, middle and end parts. For example, how to start a story in an interesting way to hook the readers.

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.