20 Master Plots and how to build them is a wonderful resource, especially for NaNoWriMo entrants. Ronald B. Tobias goes to great lengths to detail the 20 different “Master Plots”, or the 20 plots from which all stories are derived. Armed with this kowledge you’ll be able to outline with greater ease, especially since you have the arc of your chosen genre at your fingertips.

Mr. tobias covers the following topics and more:

  • Invisible fiction
  • The lowest common plot den ominators
  • The strong force
  • Deep structure
  • Triangles

I found the book insightful, interesting and thought provoking. For instance, i didn’t know that the original “riddle” plot line was “The lady and the Tiger”, though I remember the story well and remember that it hung with me for weeks after reading it originally. (I think the poor fool died at the end, but I’ve been jilted a few times.)

Take chance on 20 Master Plots and how to build them. If nothing else it will give you a better understanding of how some of your favorite works are put together. For me it helps greatly to fit my latest idea into a category, if not necessarily a mold. Is the tale a Quest or is it an Adventure? What defines the two and why are they different? This book will tell you

I own it, I use it regularly and I recommend it.