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Doug Johnson said:Dave Barry: "What I've learned about plot is that you need one."
ions said:Well how important is it to you? Do you need a specific setting to enjoy a book? Must there be dragons and elves? Gore? Or do you just let a great writer take you where their story goes and enjoy the beauty of that not relying on gimmicks or standards of a genre?
novella said:I'll see your Dave Barry and raise you Stephen King:
What I've learned about plots is that you don't need one.
Doug Johnson said:Has Stephen King ever written a book that had no plot?
Doug Johnson said:Has Stephen King ever written a book that had no plot?
Doug Johnson said:Has Stephen King ever written a book that had no plot?
novella said:What he says about plot is that writers are better off not writing books according to a predetermined plotline, and that plot naturally arises from a good story.
What he says--and I thoroughly agree with him--is that if a writer puts the characters in an interesting enough opening situation from which they have to extricate themselves, the story unfolds naturally from that. I think that's wonderful advice.
Doug Johnson said:I think what Dave Barry found out, is that you eventually need to answer the question, "What does this character do next?" and that's your plot. Plot and character are as closely related as time and space. You can't change one with affecting the other. And when the character does something unexpected, it can really mess up your theme too.
novella said:Did you know King and Barry play in a band together sometimes?
Doug Johnson said:I heard it's a pretty crappy band.
Doug Johnson said:I heard it's a pretty crappy band.
novella said:Rather than call that plot, I would call it story