Story Bones: How to X-Ray Any Novel for Plot, Conflict, and Character

By Mary L. Mercer

TRANSFORM YOUR FAVORITE NOVEL INTO YOUR PERSONAL WRITING COACH
Have you ever run up against a story problem that made you want to beat your head against a wall, wishing for a way to correctly diagnose and treat it? Is a manuscript lying paralyzed in a desk drawer somewhere, waiting for a broken conflict to be mended? Do you long to line your characters up in front of an X-ray machine so you can peer inside them? Maybe it's time to call in a consulting team of "specialists," experts in their field who've been there, done that, and have the published novels (and reader fan base) to prove it. Consider your favorite authors as doctors who, for the price of their novels, can be called at any time to provide insights into a difficult case. This book will empower you to-Analyze any novel, movie, or television episode for insights into plot, conflict, and character development.Track the four throughlines that make engaging stories multidimensional.Master the eight sequences and turning point events that infuse stories with meaningful change.Identify the eight archetypes that "show, don't tell" theme.Recognize the three different types of character arcs and nine unique personalities that define character growth.Understand the five empathy elements that win reader identification. Enjoy examples drawn from modern bestsellers and timeless classics.BONUS: in-depth analyses of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel, The Hobbit, and the blockbuster romantic comedy, While You Were Sleeping. Includes original, easy-to-understand diagrams and helpful charts available as handy printable versions online.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0615943675
• ISBN13: 9780615943671
• Release Date: March 2014
• Publisher: Mary L. Mercer
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"