Find the Magic - How to Plot a Story in 10 Easy Steps

by Alicia Dean

How to write a novel? That is the question. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it.
Wanting to write and actually doing it are two very different things. I am well acquainted with the sometimes grueling process of churning out a story. Over the years, I have tried many methods for creating and completing manuscripts, and have tweaked and honed it down to a workable (for me) process.

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

*** Warning – Please do not purchase without reading a sample. (This is solid advice for any book, fiction or non. If you are not intrigued in the sample, you will likely not enjoy the book)

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2014

About the author

At age ten, Alicia Dean wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma, and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she almost always works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite television shows like Dexter, Justified, Friends, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Breaking Bad. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Reviews

[M.J. Schiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Is A Little Bit of Magic! I think I wore out the highlighter option on my Kindle! I feel like I'm walking away from this book with so many new tools to use. Ms. Dean gives a lot of good suggestions and examples to make her points clear. I can't wait to use what I've learned!(I especially like that she used WITHOUT MERCY for many of her examples because I loved that book!)

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much respect for Alicia Dean's expertise in the area of writing since she was my editor on a recently published novel. She brings her years of experience to this writing craft book, which I highly recommend for writers at all stages of the process.

[Diane Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read how-to book. I'm not a plotter but I found this book very helpful.

[Linda Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise advice

Short and to the point, the book offers insights on how to finish a rough draft and edit it. A bargain for beginners and seasoned authors.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very helpful guide. It is simply presented and easy to refer back to.