tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post5454000361658270571..comments2024-02-27T07:05:52.851-05:00Comments on Beth Revis: Writing Wednesday: The Shape of the NovelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-14619794512841797722012-09-08T13:59:20.845-04:002012-09-08T13:59:20.845-04:00This is a very helpful post! Plot doesn't come...This is a very helpful post! Plot doesn't come naturally to me, so I have to think about my stories in this kind of clear and concrete way for the story to have any kind of a shape at all. <br /><br />Someone recently told me that the beginning and ending should be the same size, and the middle should be twice that size, which is another neat way to check that your story structure is balanced and working.Annalise Greenhttp://annalisegreen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-28507091132940478302012-09-06T19:39:18.282-04:002012-09-06T19:39:18.282-04:00Succinct and clear! Actually, I thought the sh^t h...Succinct and clear! Actually, I thought the sh^t hit the fan around page 3 of ATU. I don't have my copy in front of me, but that beginning hit me somewhere in the entrails. It felt like the rising conflict cohabited with the hook at the beginning. Love the part about the 50 pages. Makes great, practical sense. Steve Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112362104027669621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-4299558237432049682012-09-05T13:40:03.598-04:002012-09-05T13:40:03.598-04:00Those are some good thoughts! Thanks for sharing. ...Those are some good thoughts! Thanks for sharing. This might help me think about how I'm planning the layout of my novels. Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18372435203996720261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-39595410002322213312012-09-05T11:55:14.279-04:002012-09-05T11:55:14.279-04:00After reading your advice, I went back to my curre...After reading your advice, I went back to my current manuscript and looked at each of these points (first 50, halfway, 50 until end, and end) and made sure I had just the right "S!^&" in the right places. I also write commercial YA fiction so I believe the shape of my novel should follow your diagram. Very helpful. Thanks!!Natasha Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535719481335251794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-56829392186274673782012-09-05T11:17:09.115-04:002012-09-05T11:17:09.115-04:00This is great! My challenge in pulling these out f...This is great! My challenge in pulling these out for my current project deals with two parallel plot lines running with two worlds and two casts of characters.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-87970647973448509232012-09-05T09:49:37.958-04:002012-09-05T09:49:37.958-04:00I think my favorite part is the "S!^& jus...I think my favorite part is the "S!^& just got <i>seriously</i> effed up." <br /><br />Thanks for the giggle. This is definitely helpful in terms of thinking about story arc. Jay Bendthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00504468061894845370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164206822403278866.post-75498272853942573492012-09-05T06:13:14.846-04:002012-09-05T06:13:14.846-04:00Great tips on the ARC of a story. And I'll hav...Great tips on the ARC of a story. And I'll have to think about what's going on by the end of the first 50 pages to be sure it's great if I get a request from an agent. Thanks for the tip.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com