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Here’s a Good Plot from author Andy Zach–and You

Free Plotting Lessons Second

Here’s a Good Plot from author Andy Zach–and You

“Wait! What do you mean? I just clicked here.”

I mean I have a ‘Developing Your Plot’ class I’m giving this month and I’ll share it with you. Here’s slide 1, below.

Good Plot – The Cast of Characters

 

First, there’s me, the teacher character,  Andy Zach. If you’re not familiar with my biography on this site, you can go to Amazon or to Goodreads and find out about me and my books.

Good Plot slide 1

Then there’s you, one of many student characters. What have you written? Are you writing? What will you write? Please share you plot/novel/work ideas with me and the class by commenting below.

Comment here! I’ll send you my powerpoint class. Or email me at [email protected]

You MUST comment to participate in this class–or I’ll send the zombie turkeys after you!

A crowd of zombie turkeys, on Thanksgiving
A crowd of zombie turkeys, on Thanksgiving. Click to read more!

That’s my big turkey stick. The carrot is, I will give a free ebook of Zombie Turkeys to one of the commenters!

Start commenting – NOW!

Good Plot – Lessons – Where Will You go with Your Idea?

Plotting class slide 2 Good Plot

You’ve got your great idea for your novel. What’s next?

Authors fall into a spectrum of two approaches. First, there are plotters, who plan out the plot of their book and then write to that plan.

Then there are ‘pantsers’, those who sit on their pants and type away until a book emerges–or not.

Then there are endless variations between the two. I’m firmly in the first group. If you want to learn the pantser approach, find another author! I can’t even imagine how I’d write that way, and I’ve got a good imagination.

Let’s take my first novel, Zombie Turkeys. I created a chapter outline of the book on my first day of writing it during NaNoMo in November 2015.

Free Plotting Lessons Good Plot
Click on the Zombie Turkeys book cover to hear Andy read a free excerpt.

Read my Zombie Turkeys chapter outline:

  1.  Hook on the first page: Initial problem – zombie turkeys attack and kill turkey hunters
Free Plotting Lessons Good plot
A pirate hook for Writing Paranormal Privateers First Draft
  • Zombie Turkey problem grows despite best efforts.
  • Zombie Turkey apocalypse grows worse in size and scope
  • Military defeated by zombie turkeys
  • Lull while more military force is gathered.
  • Biggest battle yet, unresolved conflict.
  • Zombies hiding – where are they?
  • More threats emerge, Thanksgiving approaches, big football game in Chicago
  • Total military mobilization as zombies attack Chicago, including President Obama
  • Battle continues on Navy Pier
  • Battle continues in Shedd Aquarium
  • Defeated in Chicago, zombie turkeys emerge across the country.
  • Zombie Turkeys seem to be stomped out across the country. Cause and cure of zombiism revealed.
  • Celebrations across the country at final victory over zombie turkeys
  • Epilogue – Surprise twist in the end

    • Now work on your plot outline. Please put them in the comments on this blog post or send them to me by email. [email protected]

    That’s all I have for today! Come back for more! Subscribe to my newsletter and don’t miss a single post or book sale. Click here!