Oh crap...that's in my book.

Inarticulate Babbler · Oct 13, 2008

I think it was Stephen King (in Danse Macabre) who said there are only a few basic plots (paraphrasing here):
1) Boy loses girl; boy gets girl back (or any variation)
2) Boy loses girl; boy finds new girl (or any variation)
3) Revenge
4) Quest for something
5) Solving a mystery

The originality is going to be in your voice, characters and plot-devices. It's like playing a guitar. There are no new notes. Everything that can be played anywhere along the neck can be played in the first five frets (it's the octaves that differ).

Liosse de Velishaf · Oct 13, 2008

Inarticulate Babbler said:
I think it was Stephen King (in Danse Macabre) who said there are only a few basic plots (paraphrasing here):
1) Boy loses girl; boy gets girl back (or any variation)
2) Boy loses girl; boy finds new girl (or any variation)
3) Revenge
4) Quest for something
5) Solving a mystery

The originality is going to be in your voice, characters and plot-devices. It's like playing a guitar. There are no new notes. Everything that can be played anywhere along the neck can be played in the first five frets (it's the octaves that differ).

They ought to shoot, draw and quarter him.

Inarticulate Babbler · Oct 13, 2008

Liosse de Velishaf said:
They ought to shoot, draw and quarter him.

Could you elaborate? Based on what?

Liosse de Velishaf · Oct 13, 2008

Inarticulate Babbler said:
Could you elaborate? Based on what?

Um... 'cause I don't like his simplification of the process/system. Loved your guitar metaphor, but every time SK gets quoted I end up bald. But just to be clear, this is only my personal opinion. Don't pay it too much mind.

As a note: normally, it's hanged drawn and quartered, but I don't think we need a half-hanged stephen.

DisenchantedDoc · Oct 13, 2008

There's actually a writing book about the 20 Master Plots out there, if case anyone's interested.

Fenika · Oct 13, 2008

Booker's seven were good enough for me

jessicaorr · Oct 16, 2008

HeronW said:
Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story--all starcrossed lovers, all good tales.

I thought West Side Story was intentionally based on Romeo and Juliet- like Bridget Jones' Diary is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice. Not positive though.

It has happened to me once before. The book was so similar to my WIP that I shelved it. I might go back and try to rework it someday, but as for now I've got no shortage of ideas.... it's the time to develop them that I lack.

Alphabeter · Oct 17, 2008

There are only 36 (or 37 depending) basic plots or themes.

Spoiler: ITS ALL BEEN DONE.

Now do it write!

Greg Wilson · Oct 17, 2008

Apparently great (fantasy) minds think alike, because I just blogged about this (and I swear I wasn't copying from this thread!)--and David Niall Wilson commented on my Red Room post, having just written something about the same subject as well. Apparently we're all in a massive feedback loop.

Greg

Nivarion · Oct 17, 2008

i have swords that will cut through anything.

sounds a lot like pulmer.

(by the way i don't recomned pulmer (golden compas and others) they are so angry, and well i got a shadow in my mind reading them, it took months to get rid of. he was angry when he wrote i can tell)

Oh crap...that's in my book.

Inarticulate Babbler

Pissin' Everyone off, 1 at a time

Liosse de Velishaf

Inarticulate Babbler

Pissin' Everyone off, 1 at a time

Liosse de Velishaf

DisenchantedDoc

Give me believable dialogue

Fenika

jessicaorr

Book fanatic

Alphabeter

Player of the Letters

Greg Wilson

Nivarion

Brony level >9000