Fill-in-the-Blank Plotting:
A Guide to Outlining a Novel
Using the Hero’s Journey & Three-Act Structure
by Linda George
Crickhollow Books • October 2009
Trade Softcover • 76 pages • 5.5” x 8.5”
Writing / Reference / Instructional Guides
$14.00 • ISBN-13: 978-1-933987-03-3
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Some writers are lucky. Plots pop into their heads fully formed and ready for the page. This book is for the rest of us. Combines the two top proven plot structures: the Hero’s Journey and the Three-Act Structure. Addresses the needs of writers seeking a reliable method to create a powerful plot.
“Solid information for serious writers.”
– Lucille Davis, author of more than 20 books and writing instructor
“This visual approach appeals to my sense of order. George facilitates a way for writers to blast their way through ideas and create a successful plot for their novel or short story. We know how to cogitate; now George provides the organizational tools for us to find our way to the end of our own stories.”
– Karen Willkie Luz, writer & photo journalist
For fiction writers who want to turn their ideas into a workable plot, here is a helping hand. Linda George’s method for outlining allows flexibility and creative “eureka” moments, while providing a reliable way to develop scenes, characters, turning points, and dramatic curves to build a stronger novel.
After years of wrestling with plots for her own novels, and years of teaching workshops, she came up with this way to develop a story’s plot by filling in the blanks. The method combines two sure-fire plotting structures – the Hero’s Journey and the Three-Act Structure.
In this book, Linda shares her plotting boards. She presents the twelve steps of the Hero’s Journey, and shows how the Journey fits into the classic Three-Act Structure. The method includes a way to create scene cards, color-code sub-plots and character appearances, and easily create a synopsis.
A fill-in-the-blank method may sound formulaic, but proves to be a wonderful platform for creativity – a sturdy trellis for the climbing vines of your story.
Linda George is an experienced author, teacher, and workshop leader. She lives in West Texas.