Comments on: Structure Part 6–Getting Primal & Staying Simple

By: Mariah Healey

Mariah Healey — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:31:53 +0000

Whew. There I was, thinking my novel’s similarity to the plot of Mulan was going to get me gutted. Thanks for the validation, Kristen!

By: Structurally Unsound Stories | Miriam Joy Writes

Structurally Unsound Stories | Miriam Joy Writes — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 14:17:03 +0000

[…] Wendig, so it’s full of profanity and is likely NSFW, just to warn you. Kristen Lamb also has a useful post about goals and motivations with relation to structure. Hopefully they’ll help you (and me) not to run into structural trouble in the […]

By: R. A. Meenan

R. A. Meenan — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 04:20:56 +0000

I’ll be honest, Kristen, I’m surprised you didn’t mention Dracula when you talked about the journal/secrets thing. The whole novel is a serious of journals. But, like you were saying, the whole thing is in real time, so the tension is still there. It’s a good example of a journal novel done right.

I liked this idea of finding the primal core to your story. It’s amazing how many boil down to “Protect Loved Ones.” Mine has the same primal core. It’s nice to know that I’m hopefully on the right track!

By: Hoarding Plot Ideas Burying My Theme? | Author Amy RomineAuthor Amy Romine

Hoarding Plot Ideas Burying My Theme? | Author Amy RomineAuthor Amy Romine — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:56:10 +0000

[…] more or less rejected. It wasn’t until recently, via a Kristen Lamb blog, specifically about ‘getting primal with your plot’, that I smoothed my ruffled feathers about what it means to have a theme. Kristen made me […]

By: Andi-Roo (@theworld4realz)

Andi-Roo (@theworld4realz) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:20:32 +0000

This series has been indispensable for my novel-writing endeavor this month. yeah, I’m reading this in November, at the same time I’m participating in NaNoWriMo, so I’m not necessarily able to apply all the lessons immediately. But I’m taking notes for my re-write sessions in January. (I’m assuming I won’t finish my novel this month, & will indeed take most of December to do so.) At any rate, thank you for compiling such helpful tips. I can’t wait till I am able to take your classes. The quality of your free material knocks my socks off! 🙂

By: kshante

kshante — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:14:39 +0000

Thank you so much for this Kristen! I must admit that i have had this problem and only recently have i realized that i’ve been trying to make everything way too complicated. I was also a fan of M. Night, and enjoyed the twist, but i don’t think that is what was hampering me. I was as you say trying to reinvent the wheel, thinking that in doing so it would be revolutionary when all it really ended up being was a mess. Simplicity is key when it comes to plots.

By: Thirsty Thursday Blog Roundup | Writing, Reading, and Life

Thirsty Thursday Blog Roundup | Writing, Reading, and Life — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:00:51 +0000

[…] Structure Part 6–Getting Primal & Staying Simple […]

By: Taylor Stonely

Taylor Stonely — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:18:41 +0000

Thank you for posting this series about structure, especially the link to the finite plots. I am excited to use what I have learned here for NaNoWriMo in 9 days!

By: mandyevebarnett

mandyevebarnett — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:08:04 +0000

As usual you have given me lots to consider and digest. Thank you.

By: CTW

CTW — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 01:16:21 +0000

Kristen — I really appreciated your insistence that all the plots have been used and that it’s pointless to try to be amazingly original with plot. I’m not blessed with a visionary imagination, so I always worry that my plots are derivative. Reassuring to know that, yes, they ARE derivative. And now I’m okay with that. 🙂