The Plot Thickens
by: Noah Lukeman
Review by: Tina Morgan
 

In my quest to better my writing and researching articles over the craft of writing fiction I've read many good books but The Plot Thickens is one of my favorites.

A plot is more than just a single exciting idea. Consider the latest novel you've read. Whether it's Grisham or Tolkien, King or Sanford, the plot is more than just one action. You can break the plot done into its simplest idea, ex: a murder, but without the supporting elements the novel falls flat.

Plots evolve from a combination of characterization, suspense, conflict, the characters' journey and the context of the plot in the setting and time. Noah Lukeman gives examples and exercises to illustrate how considering each of these elements can strengthen your plot and your writing.

The Plot Thickens also dispels an annoying bit of advice.

Quote:
I dislike the hackneyed phrase "Write what you know" since it implies you must "know" everything in order to write.

The book provides several thought provoking chapters over human nature and how your characters affect the plot. For the writer who knows they want to write but has problems creating strong plots I highly recommend this book.

The Plot Thickens earns a  * * * * *  rating and a special place on my bookshelf. You can find it at most book stores or on Amazon.

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Rating Scale:
* * * * * = Un-put-downable, excellent reading!
* * * * = Good value, interesting reading.
* * * = Had potential, but could have been better.
* * = Slow, difficult to read, could have been improved.
* = Imminently forgettable.