No writer can hope to achieve real success in the writing field unless he is well-grounded in the fundamentals of plot construction, nor can he avoid an atmosphere of SAMENESS in his stories and give them the stamp of cleverness and originality unless he constantly adds to his store of plot material. Not until they have served a long apprenticeship do they learn that authorship is as much of a profession as surgery is and that, as in all other pursuits, it is simply a matter of the survival of the fittest. The words flow so smoothly, the characters stand out so clearly, the plot is so simple - how easy it must be! But these writers are soon disillusioned when the rejection slips begin to roll in on them with the regularity of well-oiled clockwork. When they read in their favorite magazine a cameo-like story by some master writer, they do not realize that the author may have labored for days over that story, rearranging words, eliminating paragraphs and even whole pages from the original draft, and reconstructing the plot after he has torn it to pieces half-a-dozen times. Some of them have a vague idea of what a plot is, but they know-nothing about BALANCE, INCITING MOTIVES, CRUCIAL SITUATIONS, CLIMAXES, etc., and care less. A few of them have acquired a fair education others, not so fortunate, are equipped with nothing but a gnawing desire to write, and on first appearances it seems to them that it should prove to be a very simple matter to weave their ideas into readable stories. Most beginners seem to have the idea that the writing game is a very easy game to play, as easy as ping-pong, for instance. Years of experience as a writer, literary critic and student of the short story have brought out these facts: The writer who is long on writing is generally short on ideas, and an inadequate knowledge of the plot and its development causes more aspiring authors to fail than any other one thing. Table of ContentsĬHAPTER I - GERM-PLOTS: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE TO FIND THEMĬHAPTER IV - RELATION OF THE PLOT TO THE STORYīONUS CHAPTER I - GERM-PLOTS: WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE TO FIND THEMĪ comprehensive system of plot development, and an adequate supply of material to draw from, are almost indispensable to the writer who turns out a large number of stories each year, and to the occasional scribbler who has little knowledge of plot form and structure it is of even greater value. Stone mason would employ in building the foundation and framework ofįirst published 1922. Imagination with tid-bits from real life, as it were, and builds theįoundations for his stories with the same care and exactitude that a The thing," and the writer who relies solely upon inspiration toįurnish him with suitable plots for his stories cannot begin toĬompete with his more practical brother craftsman who stimulates his He constantly adds to his store of plot material. Stories and give them the stamp of cleverness and originality unless Writing field unless he is well-grounded in the fundamentals of plotĬonstruction, nor can he avoid an atmosphere of SAMENESS in his No writer can hope to achieve real success in the Simply a matter of the survival of the fittest. Profession as surgery is and that, as in all other pursuits, it is Rejection slips begin to roll in on them with the regularity ofĪpprenticeship do they learn that authorship is as much of a It must be! But these writers are soon disillusioned when the The original draft, and reconstructing the plot after he has torn itĬharacters stand out so clearly, the plot is so simple - how easy Rearranging words, eliminating paragraphs and even whole pages from Realize that the author may have labored for days over that story, Magazine a cameo-like story by some master writer, they do not Know-nothing about BALANCE, INCITING MOTIVES, CRUCIAL SITUATIONS, Some of them have a vague idea of what a plot is, but they To be a very simple matter to weave their ideas into readable Write, and on first appearances it seems to them that it should prove So fortunate, are equipped with nothing but a gnawing desire to Writing game is a very easy game to play, as easy as ping-pong, forĪ few of them have acquired a fair education others, not Most beginners seem to have the idea that the How Successful Authors Write Short Stories: Learning the Plot
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