Monday, February 14, 2011

I'm back: Awards, Plot & More

I'm Back
Now that title is scary! You are either hearing someone speak who has an Austrian accent or the twilight zone music is playing in the back ground. I'm not from Austria so it must be the later.

I intended to only do a post on Plot. But while I've been gone, so many nice bloggers have done so many nice things that I will take you through all of that and then a very short, and hopefully thought provoking thing about plot. (Please note, all you aspiring authors, don't use the word thing in your manuscript or it will be a thing of the past. Oh, and don't use cliches either).

Terry Wright, a super nice guy, fellow member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and a self published author who just started an e-pub business, highlighted little me on his web page. Click here to view and while you're there, click home and take a look at all he's doing.

Jules, at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow created the heart below titled, Blogger = love. It's free to all who would like it in the hope that everyone who clicks on your follow button will grab the heart as well. Great idea, Jules.

ncywilliams.html

The Words Crafter at Rainy Day Wanderer gave me these two awards.

The Stylish Blogger Award and the Write Hard Award.
To accept the Stylish Blogger Award you should.
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.
2. List seven things about yourself.
3. Pass it on to 15 new blogger friends.

I recently posted the Stylish Blogger award and gave it to 42 new followers. Since then, I have a few more new followers but I won't make the required number of people. I also did a character study about the seven things about me and if you missed it you can read it here. So I won't re-post that. Yes, I'm being lazy.

The Write Hard Award is for bloggers who inspire me. Let's see...that would be all of you. Just like The Word Crafter said. So all you wonderfully inspiring folks, please grab the Write Hard Award...and do write hard.

Thank you Terry, Jules and Word Crafter for all the wonderful things you do. I appreciate everyone one of you.

Here are my new blog followers:

Susan at Cheekyness

Michelle at The Innocent Flower

Sandra at Absolutely Narcissism

ggtwppjnl who doesn’t have a blog or web site that I could find, but I appreciate you any way ggt.

Jen at Widdershins and Skeleton Keys

Kristin at The Poe Family Blog

Check them out everyone.

Now for a little bit about Plot.

I bought a new book. The book's copyright page says 2003, so it is only new to me and maybe to you too.

Title: 20 Master Plots and how to build them by Ronald B. Tobias

Here is a teaser:
Story VS. Plot
Novelist E. M. Forster spent a lot of time thinking about writing. He tried to explain the difference between story and plot in his book Aspects of the Novel. "The king died and the queen died." Two events. A simple narration. This is story.

But if you connect the first movement (the death of the king) with the second movement (the death of the queen) and make one action the result of the other, we would have a plot. "The king died and then the gueen died of grief."

Add a touch of suspense: "The queen died and no one knew why until it was discovered that it was through grief at the death of the king."

Story, then, is a chronicle of events. The listener wants to know what comes next.

Plot is more than just a chronicle of events. The listener asks a different question: "Why does this happen?"

Story is a series of events strung like beads on a string. (This happened and then this happened and the...).

Plot is a chain of cause-and-effect relationships that constantly create a pattern of unified action and behavior. Plot involves the reader in the game of "Why?"

Quote from page 12 of; 20 Master Plots and how to build them.
Amazon link.

Next week: Master Plot 1; Quest.
By then I will have time to read the book and only quote a little.

Enjoy your day!
Nancy

26 comments:

Tony Benson said...

Welcome back to blogland, Nancy.

Joanne said...

A Whole Latte Awards going on over here ... Congrats! And Happy Valentine's Day too :)

Jules said...

Thanks for spreading the love Nancy! You are special to me as well. :)

Interesting, story versus plot. Now you having me wondering, how can I combine the two? :D

Happy Valentine's Day! My heart to yours.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Tony and Joanne.

I think the idea Jules is to distinguish between the two, plot vs story. We start with a story and turn it into a plot.

Thanks for the comments everyone.
NR

Carol Kilgore said...

Welcome back and Happy Valentine's Day.
I think I have that book on plot. Or have read bits and pieces of it. Sounds familiar.

Colene Murphy said...

Welcome back!! Congrats on your award! And that does sound like a helpful book!

Jen said...

Congrats on the awards and thanks so much for spreading them around :D I appreciate the mention as well. That's very kind of you!

Great advice on plots! I look forward to learning more.

Have a great week,
Jen

Unknown said...

First of all, congrats on the awards. Second, I love the thoughts on plot and story. Forster explains it so well.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Carol and Colene.

You're welcome Jen. It's always good to take a refresher course on plot and for those who don't know much, it's great to learn.

Absolutely Clarissa.

Cheers y'all, thanks for dropping by.

Donna K. Weaver said...

Found you through Colene's blog. Great post!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations on the awards and welcome back, Nancy!

N. R. Williams said...

Welcome Donna, nice to meet you.

Hi Alex.

Thank you both.
NR

Hart Johnson said...

Welcome back! Congrats on the awards. I like that way of distinguishing story from plot. That actually is useful for writing a synopsis, too--I've tried to conquer them chronologically and always failed, but thinking about them in terms of cause and effect, I can see it might flow better.

Summer Ross said...

Nancy- So glad you are back- I hope your time away was beneficial!

The difference between story and plot- huh never thought of it quite like that- this book might be needed. :)

Golden Eagle said...

Welcome back, Nancy! :)

Congratulations on the awards!

I never really thought about the difference between story and plot--interesting!

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Hart, Summer and Golden. I hadn't thought about the difference in plot and story either. I guess that's why it stuck out when I read it.
NR

Denise Covey said...

Hey Nancy. I missed you. Glad to see you back! I hope all's well.

Congrats on the awards and it's lovely of you to award your new followers. Sweet.

I like your bit about the plot and the story.Especially - story is a series of events strung like beads on a string.

Looking forward to your talk at the Pub Party tomorrow!

Denise:)

Publication Party with author N. R. Williams begins on Wednesday!

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Denise. I missed you too but boy did I need the break. I look forward to the pub party too.
NR

Pat Tillett said...

Very interesting!
Congrats on the award.
Happy Valentine's day!

The Words Crafter said...

You know how you forget something and you don't realize it until you're reminded of it? Well, that happened when I read your plot breakdown. I caught myself thinking, "Oh, yeah!" Duh :P Thanks for the refresher!

And Happy Valentine's Day :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Congrats on your awards and Happy V day to you. Lots of good advice on plot.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Pat and Susan.

Yes, I do know how that feels Words. Glad you enjoyed the reminder.

NR

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Holly.
NR

Anonymous said...

I don't think I recognize any of these blog sites. I'll have to get out there and meet some new people. Thanks for the links!

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Thank you for the blog awards!!!

Su said...

Thanks for the awards and the shout out! I'm late to the party because I'm so far behind on my blogging, but I do appreciate it!