tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post6848564658596801506..comments2024-03-17T03:53:31.296-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: Creating a Great Plot that makes Readers GaspRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-31921384639985846432011-06-10T03:52:51.476-07:002011-06-10T03:52:51.476-07:00I love this book! The LOCK idea for plotting is gr...I love this book! The LOCK idea for plotting is great. I keep it in mind when I'm brainstorming new story ideas!<br /><br />I tagged you in my post today! You don't have to play; I just thought you'd like to see it. :) Have a wonderful weekend!Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-1252242365918530352011-06-09T14:04:40.944-07:002011-06-09T14:04:40.944-07:00Thanks for a fantastic review of this book. I'...Thanks for a fantastic review of this book. I've heard lots about it, but have yet to get my hands on it. I think now it's a must!Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-16319215453137662542011-06-09T10:50:50.824-07:002011-06-09T10:50:50.824-07:00Thank you for pointing out this reference book. W...Thank you for pointing out this reference book. When I outlined my trilogy, I went for what I wanted to see on the big screen. I don't recall ever sitting down and actively thinking about plot. I will have to sit down and read what it has to say.<br /><br />I went for elements that made for successful movies and tv shows. Something strange (magic, airships), a budding romance, sprinkle of comedy, lots of action and special effects opportunities, time travel, and a hero's journey.SBJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457239074744509487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-4888881830966160232011-06-09T08:17:56.711-07:002011-06-09T08:17:56.711-07:00OOH I love this! I just re-read this book the othe...OOH I love this! I just re-read this book the other day. I most certainly work from the LOCK system. I like me some trouble brewing.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-7129086985891720082011-06-09T07:14:48.332-07:002011-06-09T07:14:48.332-07:00I do use LOCK as an overriding structure for all m...I do use LOCK as an overriding structure for all my plot themes. James Scott Bell's was the first book I read on writing. I've read a few others since and I find each one brings something to the process - another aspect which helps round off the approach. Structure, though, is such an important aspect of story development.Tony Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798586432645889182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-42269187376542620652011-06-08T16:19:12.850-07:002011-06-08T16:19:12.850-07:00Great share, Rachna, I haven't come across th...Great share, Rachna, I haven't come across the LOCK system before, although I'm always hearing about Bell's book. It's a good approach to keep in mind. In the July/August 2011 issue of Writer's Digest, he has a wonderful article about revision excerped from his latest book that I find helpful, as I am in the middle of a major revision of one of my books.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46175058564223341302011-06-08T15:11:29.788-07:002011-06-08T15:11:29.788-07:00Haven't heard of LOCK before. I'm already...Haven't heard of LOCK before. I'm already starting to apply it to some story ideas as I type this :) I think plot sometimes is like Alfred Hitchcock's advice about themes in which he stated that you shouldn't try to create a theme, they instead emerge as you go along. In addition to this though, I think it's crucial to know where you're going in the end, but there's a lot of fun filling in the blanks in between.Aron Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14182721389040575368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-69004806206999613972011-06-08T05:46:59.621-07:002011-06-08T05:46:59.621-07:00I'm also a fan of this book. In my genre (Roma...I'm also a fan of this book. In my genre (Romance) I'm learning to exaggerate initial plot ideas, which felt daft to begin with. Now I hurl all kinds of conflict at my MCs and they come back for more!Margo Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06759845391358543223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-51982056362702890252011-06-08T02:50:45.104-07:002011-06-08T02:50:45.104-07:00I have this book and it answered many of my questi...I have this book and it answered many of my questions and worries, too. I would recommend any of his books to aspiring writers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.elliegarratt.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Ellie Garratt</a>Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-77913487940699402172011-06-07T19:29:34.044-07:002011-06-07T19:29:34.044-07:00Great post! I met James Scott Bell at a writing co...Great post! I met James Scott Bell at a writing conference and got to attend some of his workshops. He is really nice and has great advice!alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-33531386021303373662011-06-07T18:36:18.317-07:002011-06-07T18:36:18.317-07:00Rachna, as you know, I absolutely LOVE this book. ...Rachna, as you know, I absolutely LOVE this book. It helped me so much when I plotted my novels. I'm so grateful that Bell writes in such a regular guy way, making it easy to understand. And I love the LOCK system!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-38856874221656954822011-06-07T15:48:17.381-07:002011-06-07T15:48:17.381-07:00I've read this book too. It is a great one to ...I've read this book too. It is a great one to get a handle on structure. I like his Art of War for Writers too.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-61927446018069178492011-06-07T12:15:25.460-07:002011-06-07T12:15:25.460-07:00I basically started my rough draft knowing only th...I basically started my rough draft knowing only the end of my story. How the plot got me there wasn't such a big thing for me. <br /><br />So I wrote the first draft blind so that I could get to know the characters and get a feel for the story. When I rewrote, I paid more attention to the plot, making sure that every story had its events to keep it going. (I have at least five plots going at a given time. Only two are overtly dealt with in Doorways.)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-16796209041855414582011-06-07T11:37:53.014-07:002011-06-07T11:37:53.014-07:00My crit partner is huge fan of Bell's book. I ...My crit partner is huge fan of Bell's book. I should probably pick it up soon!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-30675939164414622742011-06-07T10:40:42.835-07:002011-06-07T10:40:42.835-07:00"As I wrote more and more, I realized that we..."As I wrote more and more, I realized that we have to work hard to create an engrossing plot that will keep readers sticking to the story, page after page."<br /><br />I so needed to read about LOCK today. It really brings my plot into perspective and shows where I need to put in that hard work. Thanks!Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-50893875919550237932011-06-07T10:09:03.986-07:002011-06-07T10:09:03.986-07:00Good notes of a good book, the LOCK theory is real...Good notes of a good book, the LOCK theory is really interesting, your points brought back the memories of my good old days journalism classes.<br />Thanks Rachana for the information about the book, i need to get one. Thanks again for dropping in and the follow.<br />Best regards,<br />Keep inform<br />PhilipPhilip Verghese 'Ariel'https://www.blogger.com/profile/16981252465465661710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-20078262414396340952011-06-07T08:03:47.066-07:002011-06-07T08:03:47.066-07:00Great analogy to write fiction....I am all for gre...Great analogy to write fiction....I am all for great endings.Alka Gurhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050387590729571321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-23022865333943338602011-06-07T07:15:11.962-07:002011-06-07T07:15:11.962-07:00@ Khushi...my take on a Knockout ending would be s...@ Khushi...my take on a Knockout ending would be something unexpected, but also something in keeping with the theme of the book (for a comedy one cannot have a tragic ending and for a serious book, a comic ending).Endings for me have to be satisfactory, they have to answer many questions and tie up several loose ends. Keeping the target readers in mind doesn't hurt either.<br /><br />@ Madeleine...I loved the LOCK analogy. I am going to keep it in mind while plotting my next book.<br /><br />@ Karen...I too picked up the book last year( actually I asked one of my close friends shifting back to India to get a copy.) I read it few days back. Do read it, its full of wonderful advice.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-79526383552513118282011-06-07T06:20:47.503-07:002011-06-07T06:20:47.503-07:00I love JSB - his books and advice. Picked up this ...I love JSB - his books and advice. Picked up this book but haven't read it yet. Thanks for the info; am heading to pull it off my shelf now! :)Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-27884614325601553532011-06-07T06:09:36.540-07:002011-06-07T06:09:36.540-07:00I like the LOCK analogy: Lead, Objective, Confront...I like the LOCK analogy: Lead, Objective, Confrontation and Knockout.<br />Some novels cleverly feed us this without it seeming to be happening, like Notes on a Scandal where there is a hidden story within the main story. Great post :O)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-57149959331243114782011-06-07T06:07:30.295-07:002011-06-07T06:07:30.295-07:00Nice points for starters. I do wonder about the &#...Nice points for starters. I do wonder about the 'knockout' ending. What will satisfy the reader? Sometimes I find the end of a story disappointing; a feeling not shared by everyone. Or then it might just be the other way round. How should one get one's finger on the pulse of the reader. Would it help to write a story with a target group in mind? Or does the genre lead you to a better decision?Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09341706502020011897noreply@blogger.com