Endorsements
Blockbuster Plots Writing Tools
Plot Tools to Help Writers Create a Plot
Novel
Short story
Screenplay
Memoir
And, Have Fun Doing It
Book
DVDs
Scene Tracker Template CD
Scene Tracker Kit
Click for testimonials from writers about their
plot workshop and plot consultation experiences, and their reactions to the entire
Blockbuster Plots line of Plot services available to writers.
BLOCKBUSTER PLOTS Pure & Simple ~ the book
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"Hey, regarding your book - someone sent me a copy of Chris Baty's (the creator of NaNoWritMo) book NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM. It's merely musings compared to your Bible. It would be nice, though, since 90,000 people signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, if your book had a tie-in somehow, like maybe on Amazon's 'If you like this book, then you'll LOVE Blockbuster Plots'. Just a thought, Martha!"
Mary Eastham http://rp-author.com/MKE/
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This book will change the way you approach writing! Martha Alderson's Scene
Tracker and Plot Planner tools have helped hundreds of workshop and
conference attendees hone their skills, and now you can learn how to take
the fear out of plotting even if you can't attend one of her workshops. If
you only buy one writing book this year, buy Blockbuster Plots! Melanie
Rigney, former Writers Digest magazine editor
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Your book, Martha, on plotting has been and is so helpful. It taught and now reminds me that there are always two levels to a plot. The first level is that of action, basically what my protagonist does in the face of her or his dilemma and what her or his actions beget--i.e. causality. One thing happens, the character responds externally, another thing happens, and so forth.
Anjuelle Floyd www.anjuellefloyd.com
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Martha Alderson, the 'Plotting Queen' introduced me to the front
story/back story concept while I was weaving LOVE MADE OF HEART. This
extraordinary teacher came through again, with her book! Just in time for me
to finish weaving another novel!
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author and community member who encourages everyone to
step into their dreams. www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com
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Confused about the basics of building a plot in a story? Martha Alderson's focus on how to produce a superior one applies to novels, memoirs and nonfiction alike, using scenes by contemporary writers from Twain to London to show how to create logical and substantial plots. Visual representation of scenes is the focus of a step-by-step workbook packed with tips on everything from character development and depth of story line to action and theme clarification. Any writer seeking to produce not just acceptable but superior works must have this guide.
Midwest Book Review
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Thank you thank you thank you! I will have more to say once I truly commit to trying all the exercises, but Blockbuster Plots Pure & Simple is so perfectly suited to writing both novels and screenplays. Honestly, what a gift and what a tool you're offering us. We all get plagued by trying to make our prose pretty. My mentor used to tell me, "Not every
word is precious." But every scene? That's a whole different story, actually that MAKES the story.
Holly Payne, author of the critically acclaimed The Virgin's Knot and The Sound of Blue
www.holly-payne.com/
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An exciting new approach to understanding plot from a writing and educational expert, the unique Scene Tracker and Plot Planner system is guaranteed to help writers master this elusive craft. Blockbuster Plots is unique in the marketplace; no other fiction writing guide offers tools like the Scene Tracker and Plot Planner.
Adrinda Kelly, aquisition editor McGraw-Hill
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My computer crashed this weekend--which allowed me to stay away from
the screen and look at your book. I got out my pencil and marked stuff as I
read. I just finished this morning--it's a great book. And I think it
should be helpful to many people (including myself.)
Jana McBurney Lin, author of the award-winning novel: My Half of the Sky
www.komenarpublishing.com
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Even the seasoned and super-successful writer will find this chatty but superbly planned book refreshing, stimulating, and sometimes even positively corrective. The abundance of white space and the frequent reminders make for easy reading. The appendices are worth the price of the book!
Barbara Smith, author of SIX MILES OUT and THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF DEATH. WRITERS DIGEST Judge, self-published books, chairwoman emerita of Alderson-Broaddus College's Division of Humanities and a medical ethicist.
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You do a fine job of explaining the aspects of scene and plot, and the book is geared towards the anxious writer, which I feel makes it unique. The Scene Tracker and Plot Planner are effective, straightforward methods of making the elements of story that can seem amorphous, concrete. It's a good diagonostic tool. Congratulations on producing a good looking, important book for writers.
Kimberley Cameron, literary agent.
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Marvelous! Very helpful, practical, insightful, easy to use."
James Scott Bell, award winning writer and Writers Digest fiction columnist.
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Martha Alderson's Blockbuster Plots provided me with the structure and
confidence I needed to tackle my first novel, Sorrows Multiplied. Many times
while writing, I referenced Blockbuster Plots to keep me moving forward.
Plot Planner provided the framework for my novel, and Scene Tracker helped
me ensure that each component of the story was compelling enough to keep the
reader's attention. I'm not sure Sorrows Multiplied would have become a
reality were it not for Martha and Blockbuster Plots!
Staci Barfield, author of Sorrows Multiplied
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The Scene Tracker is a great tool for writers. It helps the writer
keep track of what belongs in a scene, and teaches her how to
build scenes that are multi-layered. I use Martha's model with my
students and to help my own writing.
LJ Myers, author of Becoming Whole:
Writing Your Healing Story, Don't Call Me Mother, The Music Man, Who Am I,
Anyway?
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Writing's not easy. One of the hardest things to do well is write great plots. And because reading superbly plotted books isn't always enough to boost one's skills, Los Gatos author Martha Alderson offers a slew of ways to get your plot-lines flowing again.
In addition to being the author of "Blockbuster Plots: Pure & Simple" Alderson also offers one-on-one plot consultations.
You can contact her -- and keep up on local literary events, meetings, conferences, contests and retreats -- at her Web site
Santa Cruz Sentinel
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Don't have problems plotting? Think a book on characterization, theme, editing or synopsis might help your writing more? Do yourself a favor and don't dismiss Blockbuster Plots: Pure & Simple on the merits of title alone.
True--the majority of the book focuses on plot, how to go about discovering the one hiding in your story and strengthening crucial details to help it become, well, the blockbuster plot you envision. But throughout the book, Alderson provides more than plotting activities--she also gives lots of insightful writing advice that help you think of ways to improve your story in different, dynamic ways.
If plots aren't your cup of tea, or maybe if they are but you're willing to look at another interpretation of how to get more mileage from them for your story, Blockbuster Plots is an excellent place to start.
BOOK REVIEW by Beth Morrow
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I LOVE your book and it is already of tremendous benefit to me. I am underlining bits all over the place. You authors are so generous in your help to aspiring writers. The book is WONDERFUL and so is your website which I have been haunting. Thank you so much. Juliet McKenzie, Australia
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I just wanted to thank you for insight into plots. I'm a screenwriter who before I ran across your material was pretty good with characters and dialogue but couldn't plot a story or do an outline to save my soul. I still need a lot of work with story and outlines but you made the terms "advancing the story forward" and "raising the stakes" a lot less ambiguous and easier to understand. R. Todd, screenwriter Los Angeles
I just wanted to thank you for your book, Blockbuster Plots. I bought the book and the DVD after hearing so many wonderful things about it. I read the book over the weekend and have started mapping out my scenes. It made a great deal of sense and I think it will help me to move forward in my novel. Thanks again for putting this book together. I am not surprised how many people it has helped. Annemarie Turner, young adult
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I just wanted to say thanks for writing your book. I'm one of those writers who is great with character development but weak on writing action. I found a lot of your specific ideas in the book helpful (Cause and effect. What a concept! Why hadn't I thought of that before?!) Plus, I thought your concise cheat-sheet on character motivation was a helpful exercise. I think you were smart in deciding which questions to include (I've seen similar cheat-sheets that ask you to list 10 million things about your character). Plus, I think you're spot-on with your suggestion to write to the end before editing. I hear and will obey! Your book was very helpful. I learned a lot about structuring a longer work, and (most importantly) it gave me a confidence boost to take on my next "real" project.
P. Jason, novelist
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I started using your Blockbuster Plots book this fall. I had been working on a novel following a spring semester creative writing course, but found my story bogged down. Someone in my writing group suggested your book. I spent several days going through the text, taking notes and then applying your guidelines for scenes in my book. My nascent novel has benefitted tremendously. The characters are more clearly drawn and the plot is moving along smoothly - in fact, when I've read scenes at the last few sessions of my writing group, they have said, "I can't wait to hear what comes next." | You have provided a clear, easy to follow roadmap. Thank you! My son is a professor of outdoor leadership in Oregon (he's hiked both the Appalachian and Pacific Coast Trails). He's been working on a novel for more than a year and I told him how helpful your workbook has been for me. He is very eager to use it as well, so I'd like to order another copy for him - I'm not giving mine up, even for my son! Thank you for helping me on my writing journey and happy New Year! L. Meehan
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Since we're in the midst of marching band season and I don't have any Saturdays free for a booster shot of Alderson workshop, I picked up your book. Blockbuster Plots is great, and your voice comes through loud and clear. I feel like I'm in your living room again! BRAVO! And I promise I'll show up for another workshop of magic soon. M. Feliz, historical novelist
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I'm enjoying getting to know the Scene Tracker. It certainly takes the overload out of writing. I am free to move around from scene to scene and not become confused. I feel like I am surfing the time-space continuum when using your method.P. Sorbel, novelist
Your book's effect on me? 1. Three days of vacation time used up mastering the basics of your book. 2. Nights of dreams working, weaving, plotting, integrating. 3) New post-it notes, colored pens, butcher paper. 4) A living room turned writing studio with two story boards made up and starting to be used. 5) My project is now being rewritten to add the dramatic interest of scene tracker and plot builder. It is giving me utter confidence. It is a rush. I told my slightly bemused, curious, already published husband, as I finished a chapter, that I kiss your shoes and the ground you walk on. He howled!
K. Kouzmanoff, non-fiction writer
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I sent for your book months ago and had no time to read it. A week ago, I read the first third, underlining passages, making a large board, and following your suggestions, making captions and ruled lines and went to work. Almost instantly I was plotting. I am amazed because I never thought it would work for me. I not only have a humdinger plot, but because of it, I have improved as a writer. I suddenly know not only what I want to do, but the way in which I should do it. In this current novel I feel like I've graduated from kindergaten to join the ranks of the big ones like Mary Higgens Clark and Jonathan Kellerman. Thank you with all my heart. Sending you gratitude and a big bear hug. E. Shevin, writer
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Sometimes we as writers hit a wall because the emotional cost is too much. Something within us must die for us to have our characters whom we love so much do what is needed to move the story forward and keep the reader's attention. Tolstoy said, People don't want to read about happy individuals.
But artists often want to do just that. The diagrams and exercises in this book engages the writer with the structural task at hand of plotting your story or novel while distracting us from the emotional piece raging in us, which we can and need to address later. For that I am thankful.
I will be reading and re-reading this material as I apply these techiques each time--with book in hand--to all my novels and short stories. A. Floyd, novelist
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Your book reads very easily and expressed in a straight-forward manner
with clear and consistent examples. A very, very worthwhile effort.
Congratulations. J. Torre, historical novelist
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We talk of weaving a tapestry with our writing. Scene Tracker makes
this a visual reality. The horizontal threads are my scenes and summaries
themselves. The vertical threads are their various functions. By plotting
these out on paper, we see the larger pattern of our work, as well as how
each scene or summary adds to or detracts from that pattern.
It's as easy to use Scene Tracker as it is to demonstrate the functions
of
my scenes and summaries. Using it pushed me to think about these functions
explicitly. What details do I use? What do they show? Do they strengthen
or weaken my theme? How can I get both action and character to contribute to
the suspense? Once I got the hang of answering these questions scene by
scene, the tapestry wove itself. When I had trouble answering them, I
understood why the tapestry seemed to have holes in it.
Alderson does not make light of the hard work or emotional demands she
asks of us as writers. Rather, she offers encouragement throughout that we are
on the right track. Bravo! Thanks, M. Holbrook
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1) The exercises in chapter three helped me to write a scene about a
traumatic event that happened in my childhood. I was previously not
able to write about the experience with this much depth and detail, but I
have to say that having the framework laid out before my eyes was
instrumental in my rewrite of this trauma. I felt empowered writing about situations with conflict after seeing
your heading "conflict."
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2) Regarding chapter three - It was going to take too much time for me
to go to the store and find butcher block paper and then a large
clipboard to put it on. Also my home is on the small size so the
butcher block paper would not work the way I currently have things
arranged. Instead, I used 8 1/2" by 11" sheets of paper. I was then
able to write the story but soon I was integrating the action, conflict,
character development and thematic details on each page.
3) What ended up happening was a rewrite of a scene I was not
previously able to do by "channeling," the writing through me without a
structure.
4) The next chapter helped me decide what to do with a scene where I
make use of flashback. I read a piece of my writing at a women's
bookstore Friday evening which was well received, but one woman said she
had trouble getting it when I went back into the past. I went back over
the piece and the third and last flashback I used I left in present
tense. Previously, I was confused as to what tense to use and how much
to say to introduce the use of flashback. This issue had previously
come up in a writing class, yet there was no resolution as to what to do.
Also, my headings introducing the flashbacks were vague and now I have
one or two sentences stating the date and setting of the flashback,
before I jump back into the past.
Thanks again for writing this book, as I am now relieved to have a
structure to use for my writing and when I tried it out on two scenes I had
previously written it was essential to helping me flush out he scenes more.
S. Weinberg, memoirist
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I have successfully plotted 3 scenes using your book! You have a
wonderful way of creating very USEFUL structures for a writer to use
and customize in a very effective way. Now I can see the important
parts of each scene side by side, step by step in key ways. You used
examples that I could follow. THANKS AGAIN for all your insight, discovery,
and help. S. Jacobs, memoirist
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Overall I think the book is very well organized and full of helpful
ideas for making the most of each scene in a book. I am sure that if I spent
several days tracking multiple scenes the process would gel more. Thanks for
the opportunity to obtain this workbook and learn some new techniques. Being
as I am just a beginner, any ideas that work interest me!! R. Malby, memoirist
I really like the book and think it makes a very real contribution to the
field - much better than most of the "help" books I've read that never give
you any concrete tips and leave you having to figure it all out yourself. K. Burdick, historical novelist
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Thank you so much for the opportunity to "test" this excellent tool.
Plotting has always been my weakest piece, and even though I still have a
long way to go to master it, I feel like there's hope that I'll get there. D. Roessle, historical novelist
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BLOCKBUSTER PLOTS ~ DVDs
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I can't begin to tell you how helpful your two DVD workshops and book have been to me! They are so clear and well-done that I do believe I've got it! (The Great Gatsby and Tom Sawyer). Thank you again. I really appreciate it. Writing in North Carolina, Nancy
I love your DVDs. They really inspire me. Your DVDs are like having a chum, a really good friend in the house, full of good sense and absolutely practical advice. Joy Manne, Switzerland
I decided to order your book and other DVD because I love your stuff. You make more sense than anyone yet. I may just write a book. I have some serious learning disabilities, which causes compensating, which helps creativity. After reading your bio, I think you know.
Marianne Huck (mainstream fiction)
I received the DVDs the other day and started watching them at about 4am this morning. You really are an inspiration. I'm very much enjoying your lessons. I'm glad you decided to put forth a video for your concept of order. I can see it's gonna work great. I went to the
butcher store today, but couldn't find butcher paper. So then I went to home depot and they sell large rolls of brownish masking paper that can be used similarly. I just wanted to say you're awesome. I am grateful for your help and I wanted to thank you. Thanks alot. And
good luck with all of your future projects. May your dreams come true.
Mike Salvia, Los Angeles (screenwriter)
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I wrote the scenes as they came. The Plot Planner really helped me know where they go.
Marta Luzim, Florida (women's fiction)
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SCENE TRACKER Template CD
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I'm a screenwriter who, before I ran across your material, was pretty good with character and dialouge but couldn't plot a story or do an outline to save my soul. I still need a lot of work with story and outlines but you made the terms "advancing the story forward" and "raising the stakes" a lot less ambigous and easier to understand. After I purchased your book and DVD and scene tracker cd over the summer, [a couple of screenwriters] happened to see me carrying around your book and asked if they could check it out and I let them look at your DVD. I told them that out of all the people writting books and giving seminars, you knew your "Shit." They returned the materials and the next thing I know, they scheduled a session with you and were knocked-out. All I could say was, "I told you she knew her shit." R. Todd (screenwriter)
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