First Chapter Review: The Foundation of Plot by Elena Hartwell

 

I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in anticipation of her August virtual book tour.  

BLURB:  Structure underlies every story, but without a strong foundation, even well-written sentences can fail to result in a marketable manuscript. The Foundation of Plot defines the components of a story arc, details the differences between plot and story, and covers common errors writers make. It also includes exercises which apply concepts to works in progress or new projects.

Drawing on the author’s decades of storytelling and teaching experience, this short guide provides the framework for fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, walking writers through a first draft, the repair of a failed manuscript, or any draft in between. For experienced authors and first-time writers alike, applying the concepts outlined in this manual can help launch a submission from the slush pile to the bookstore shelf.

COVER: This is the first in a planned series, so I would guess this type of cover will be used on other books in the series for branding purposes. If you look at it lying down on a flat surface, the design looks differently than seeing it straight up on the computer screen. The word "foundation" makes me think of dirt (I am a real estate professional, after all) so the color works for me. I think a dark blue and a light blue combination for future books would also look nice.

FIRST CHAPTER: The first chapter begins with some basics: the difference between story and plot, the impact of multiple points of view, and the three parts of a plot. It ends with a helpful writing exercise.

KEEP READING: Sure will! Hartwell provides a fascinating introduction to the reader prior to the first chapter. In that introduction, she talks about the creative child of a writer versus the critical eye of a writer and how they complement each other. The introduction concludes with a five-minute exercise that gets you thinking about your current work in progress. Then she moves the reader into the first chapter of basics you need to know about plot, followed by another exercise. 

I like the format of how this book is set up. In addition, since it is concisely written, I know I have a chance to finish the book and its exercises, so that I can put it to use right away. 

Look for my full review on August 25!

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B2TY6JY2
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elena Hartwell (June 6, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 93 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986020600

The paperback version of this book is available here.

You can pre-order the Kindle version here.

I received a paperback copy of this book from the author. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.