The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life

by Noah Lukeman

Book Overview

As a literary agent, Noah Lukeman hears thousands of book pitches a year. Often the stories sound great in concept, but never live up to their potential on the page. Lukeman shows beginning and advanced writers how to implement the fundamentals of successful plot development, such as character building and heightened suspense and conflict. Writers will find it impossible to walk away from this invaluable guide---a veritable fiction-writing workshop---without...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312309287
• ISBN13: 9780312309282
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Very Helpful!

This book is a great little resource for every writer, in any stage of the writing process. The 8 ways to bring fiction to life are, in order: 1. Characterization: The Outer Life 2. Characterization: The Inner Life 3. Applied Characterization 4. The Journey 5. Suspense 6. Conflict 7. Context 8. Transcendency. Lukeman is very thorough in each of these chapters, proving examples and going over the different ways one can breathe life into their work. There are also exercises that are helpful and thought provoking. I find Lukeman to be very easy to read, and the way he presents his information clicks in ways that have stuck with me through my own work. I'm very happy that I got this book, and it's definitely one I would recommend to the writer's in my life.

Like Dad's Help

Tackling a first novel is a big deal for someone always afraid to go for it. Lukeman's book is a lot like having Dad teach you to ride your first bike. The exercises help build balance and skill. As in learning to ride a bike a steadying guide takes out some of the wobbles. The beginning that points to arrival signals an enjoyable ride.

Fantastic guide to character and plot development

This should be on every writer's bookshelf. Noah Lukeman writes as though he's an ancient finger-wagging English teacher, so I was surprised to see the bookflap photo and find he's quite young.Overlook the slightly disapproving tone, because the book is a gem. Few books are able to distil so much knowledge into such a short space.Detailed character-building exercises take up a large chunk of the book, because Lukeman firmly believes that character is the plot. He doesn't just work through appearance and background, though he does this in detail. He also covers which characters to put together, major and minor characters, how often they should appear, who they should interact with and when, what they react to, etc.Next he explains the different types of journey your characters can be on and how that affects the story, how to build suspense and develop conflict.Each chapter has suggested exercises to practice what you've learned. This deserves to be a classic.

Character Development 101

"The Plot Thickens" is the best book I have read to date on the subject of creating living characters in fiction. Bravo, Noah.Without being overbearing, and without injecting his own personal "style" upon the reader, he outlines practical approaches in the form of questions designed to force you (as both reader and writer) to think about your characters in new and oftentimes inspiring ways.After reading only the first two chapters I found myself drawn to my lap-top to write another story with 3 new characters that I had envisioned while reading the questions he posed.If you--like me--have had trouble developing characters in your fiction, if you have found that breathing life into your protaganist anti-hero has left you frustrated and at your wits end, if you have felt as though you have failed as a writer because your round characters seem as flat as non-descript's, then you need to buy and read this book; it is a decision that you will never regret.6 out of 5 stars. Keep it coming, Noah. You have succeeded. You said, quote, "As a Literary Agent...I have had to read over fifty thousand manuscripts...now I will teach back what you taught me. Now I will return the favor."We apprecaiate it, well done.

Far more than a writer's tool...

How does a writer turn an idea into a plot? How many brilliant flashes of inspiration lead to books, movies, or plays? Not many because ideas wither away without great characters and events that drive the story forward. Although this book is plot development, Noah Lukeman addresses the threads that are woven throughout the story in order to create the fabric from which beautiful, lasting images are created. He uses many examples from film because this is the media where life is visualized for the audience, and his "chief concern is illustrating (sometimes abstract) points." (Lukeman) An example:* A young man is unhappy and feels trapped in his rural life.* He hungers for adventure.* He is inducted into thrilling adventures by chance.* He is part of a mystical adventure, for which he is unprepared.* Circumstances force him to face his inadequacies.* He gains friends and companions along the way.* Ultimately he finds the confidence he needs to succeed.* He saves the realm.The ideas belongs to many stories from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter to Star Wars, and more. The magic of each story is wrapped into the characters and the lives they live; they are real.Each chapter and the introduction are deeper than I can show in a review. The book should be on every writer's desk.Both chapters one (Characterization: The Outer Life) and two (Characterization: The Inner Life) are 90 percent questions. I decided that a great addition to the book would be a CD listing of all of the questions. However, as I read and contemplated the details a writer must know about the people who live in their stories, I realized that a CD would make it too easy. By taking time to write the questions and answer them, they become part of a writer's arsenal. Even more significant is the gathered information can generate ideas to carry the story forward and create new plots.Chapter Three -- Applied Characterization discusses whether the character is major or minor, the frequency s/he appears, entrances and exits, and more. "Plot does not magically appear with the creation of a character; Frankenstein's monster might open his eyes, but until he gets up from the table and does something, there is little basis for a plot." (NL) Think of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde -- if the elixir he drank had killed him there would be no story, yet if it was murder mystery a or ghost story the death is instrumental to the plot.Chapter Four -- The Journey takes us on an emotional or mental experience (not necessarily a trip) that brings about change. Simple and familiar examples are Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan, The Bourne Identity, Speed, Cujo, Carrie, etc. Chapter Five -- Suspense, "more than any other element, affects the immediate, short-term experience of the work." (NL) What is the destination, why is it significant, and what obstacles stand in the way? In The Lord of the Rings, if the dark riders killed the young hero Frodo, then there would be no story. The suspense is

A Good Addition to the Literature

New writers do need advice about writing, the market, and structure. This is a shortcut to years spent cruising the learning curve. Noah's book is a nice addition to the books that serve the novice writer. G. Miki Hayden, author of Writing the Mystery, an Agatha and Macavity nominee.