Comments on: The Skeleton of Your Story

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:18:57 +0000

In reply to Raymond Walker. Absolutely agree, Raymond. Think of Milestones as the tent poles of your story, then play at will in between. There's plenty of room for self-expression and creativity.

By: Raymond Walker

Raymond Walker — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 18:40:04 +0000

This is all good sensible stuff with which I agree. However, some parameters for artistic expression should have been included otherwise many of the great writers of both today and yesteryear would look to be fools.
I do think that you are right, just that a little playfulness with writing should be allowed otherwise we look at stagnation.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:21:38 +0000

In reply to Kay DiBianca. Fabulous, Kay. Happy writing!

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:21:00 +0000

In reply to MINDY ALYSE WEISS. I hope so, Mindy!

By: Kay DiBianca

Kay DiBianca — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 01:22:50 +0000

I love this breakdown, Sue. So easy to follow and stay on track. Bookmarking.

By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS

MINDY ALYSE WEISS — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:36:03 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing each part of the skeleton of the story in such detail, Sue! This is going to help so many writers. 🙂

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:59:17 +0000

In reply to Patricia Bradley. My pleasure, Patricia! Yes, they were a game-changer for me, as well.

By: Patricia Bradley

Patricia Bradley — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:29:54 +0000

The percentages in Plot Points and Pinch Points changed my way of thinking about my story and made it much easier to write the stories. I’m a panster so I don’t always know what’s going to happen in those points, but the girls in the attic are working on it and when the time comes, the information is there at just the right time.

Thanks for an easy-to-understand view of Plot Points and Pinch Points!

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 13:34:13 +0000

In reply to BECCA PUGLISI. Thanks, Becca! Not sure what you mean. With the optional inciting incident that I've included here, the remaining structure wouldn't change. It'd just be more of a slow burn opener. Others call the Inciting Incident the First Plot Point, in which case, there would be no quest, or it'd arrive too late into the story. That's usually a sign of info. dumping. If the term has a third meaning, I'm not aware of it. We writers have a gazillion names for the same milestones. LOL Nonetheless, we must kick off the main quest by the 25% mark, or we risk boring the reader.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 13:16:37 +0000

In reply to Neil Larkins. Sounds like an excellent storyline, Neil. Keep up the great work!

By: Neil Larkins

Neil Larkins — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:54:25 +0000

Thanks for this. In my memoir, The Last Time You Fall: A Dual Narrative Memoir, I followed this outline without even knowing it. I just wrote what happened in novel form. There is a difference: In the memoir there are two protagonists, two plot tracks, two challenges and two antagonists. It all unfolds in parallel and merges at the end with one resolution solving both protagonists problems at the same time.
Keep up the great advice.

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:35:05 +0000

Such a great breakdown of structure, Sue. You've made it look so easy, I added this link to our Plot and Structure page. :) Also, I'd love to see a post at some point on writing a story with no inciting incident—what that looks like and how it's different from story structures that include it. I think that would be really helpful for writers. Thank you!