Story Structure to Die For by PJ Reece
Story Structure to Die For
~ A Key to Writing Focused Fiction
“Profound in [its] insights into the nature not merely of screenwriting
but narrative expression in any and all forms, formats, and media.”
~ Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairman
Click here to buy at Amazon.com ~ only $2.99
About The Book
STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR
provides a key to writing focused fiction.
What are a story’s most basic building blocks? (Not what you’ve been taught.)
What and where is the heart of your story? (Writing manuals don’t mention such a thing.)
What makes a hero truly heroic? (You’d be surprised.)
STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR recounts one writer’s near-miss in Hollywood
and his twenty-year search for “how fiction REALLY works”.
What he discovered will surprise you.
PJ Reece has been a full-time writer for 25 years.
His paradigm for how to structure a story
has developed through his work in television, journalism,
filmmaking, screenwriting, and published fiction.
STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR is essential reading
for anyone who has ever wondered why readers read and why writers write.
The secret lies behind a literary blind spot.
You won’t find analysis like this anywhere else.
Click to buy now at Amazon.com ~ only $2.99
What folks are saying about STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR
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Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairman “Great! Breezy and engaging but at the same time profound in [its] insights.” www.richardwalter.com/ |
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Donaleen Saul, writing coach, “If you want to remain comfortably enveloped in your ideas about writing and life, don’t read this book.” www.donaleensaul.com |
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C. Michaels, author “Yesterday was a turning point for my writing. I know exactly what to do now to make my story better. My clouds cleared and the sun is shining in my head.” www.cmichaelsbooks.com http://www.amazon.com/NO-FEAR-ebook/dp/B0067WQ0AE |
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Ramon Kubicek, writer and educator “[Reece] has managed to find a way of showing us what really counts in a work of fiction. My advice: just read his book.” www.ramonkubicek.com |
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the opportunity to read your book at such a good price! And thanks for the wisdom and advice that seems to pervade your site, your essays and articles, and your blog.
Very glad to have you here browsing around my domain, Sherrey. We’ll e-meet again, I have a feeling. Cheers.
AMEN to C. Michaels: “Yesterday was a turning point for my writing. I know exactly what to do now to make my story better. My clouds cleared and the sun is shining in my head.”
I had been thinking I was nearly ready to submit my mystery novel. Now I know what needs to be done. And it won’t happen overnight!
THANKS, PJ!
John… thanks for letting me know how my ideas are coming across. Because, as i may have said, ‘A writer never knows for sure if he’s making sense.’ Onward!
Thanks so much.
Following PJ’s approach thrust my first novel’s third draft into a central Slough of Despond, where the walls of my protagonist’s “little mental assumptions” fizzled and brought her to red blooded life. Only then could I appreciate how insipid she had been before. Share PJ’s tough love towards your fictional heroines and heroes, and as we Mazatlan Writers have discovered, fire will crackle under your keyboard. Story Structure to Die For ignites passionate fiction. It’s a souffle of a book that packs a Rocky Balboa punch
Sarah… a “souffle”!! That’s great. There’s no one that can’t stomach a souffle. Melts in the mouth, slides down the throat, easy to digest. Thanks, Sarah.
Thank you, I am looking forward to reading this!
Thank you very much. I look forward to reading and learning from this.
Thanks for the book. It feeds my addiction. My contribution is a quote from Joseph L. Mankiewicz. “The difference between art and life is – art must make sense.”
Author – Do The Write Thing: Making The Transition to Professional and Reel Romance: Writing Sex, Love and Romance for the Movies
Thanks for sharing your many years of experience with others. I am delighted to have this opportunity to learn from your years in the business. I will certainly give you my comments and my “Eureka” moments!
Fiona…thanks for your thoughts…all the way from South Africa? I spent two years in Zambia as a hydrologist many years ago. Please share the download link with your writer friends in S.A. if you feel my little book has something to offer. Cheers. PJ
Thank you for offering this book. Awesome! It is just what I have been looking for.
I am working (read: struggling) on my second novel.
Thank you so much for all the words of wisdom (read: clarity).
It makes perfect sense!
I know where to go now!
Thank you so much for “passing it on”. I have downloaded your book and look forward to reading it with great interest and appreciation. Regards, Lyn.
This is a fantastic book. Clear, concise, and filled with ‘ah hah’ moments (and wonderful humor and perspective). I’m inspired to go back to my stories and see what changes I can make. Thank you. Ellen
Hi P.J
Thanks so much for your insights and your beautifully presented ebook…. congrats to all involved! The layout was both artistic and easy to read. It’s rare for me to read an e-book straight through at first sitting, but yours just seemed to flow on naturally and seamlessly. I’d love to know more.
I’ve never liked following rules very much when it comes to creative work, so I was intrigued by your less conventional views on how to write a winning story ( stories), and I have a question or two. Is there only one dark heart in a book or can there be degrees of “dark hearts” ? Is it melodramatic, or overdone to have all your main characters go through a change of mind and heart? One of the things I have often noticed in books is how little the characters change. Maybe this is ‘normal’ given people’s natural resistance to change, or to thinking in new ways.
I am writing a fantasy trilogy, so where would the heart of the story occur in this situation? Book 1, book 2, book 3, or in each of them? I would love to know what you think. I know that fantasy novels are usually regarded as lesser beings in the book world, but I’m not letting that stop me writing the highest quality story that I can.
Cheers
Thanks again. Keep on seeing/hearing yourself giving that award winning speech; clutching your gold statue in one sweaty palm, and beaming fit to bust!
Jenny… thanks for you kind comments. You speak of “degrees of dark hearts”. Many of the best stories take the protagonist through a series of let-downs, each one a nail in his coffin, so to speak. I’m thinking now of George Clooney in “Up in the Air”. His “awakening” comes through a marvelous series of scenes that hammer home the truth of his empty existence. Check it out. Regarding all your characters “growing” relentlessly through a story… I’d think that the main thrust of the story would be diluted by such “success”. UNLESS all those other awakenings served to help the protagonist realize his own delusional existence. Yes, most stories maintain characters in their status quo… and some of the best stories only show the protagonist barely gaining a new insight. But if they’ve been a tough nut to crack, then even this tiny sliver of light making its way to their interior can be much to celebrate. You’re right in saying that we have a “natural resistance to change”, and that should play a part in the awakening process. A character has an insight and REJECTS it! Yes. Again and again until…
I’ll come back to your question about where to place the story heart in a trilogy. I’ve never had to deal with that. Cheers.
Great stuff and thank you for the knowledge.
Hi P.J
Thanks for your detailed answer. It gives me some things to ponder. I’ve not seen the George Clooney film you mentioned. I’m not a G.C fan but may take a look at the film to see what you are referring to.
You said…. “Regarding all your characters “growing” relentlessly through a story… I’d think that the main thrust of the story would be diluted by such “success”. ”
I agree with your statement but I only mentioned “a change of mind and heart”. This could be a small change or insight. We all have ah-hah moments, if we are open to them. Relentless change sounds horrible, mate. I wasn’t really talking about that intensity of personal growth.
Possibly, your two-stories-with-a-shared-heart theory relates more to ‘literary’ novels, than to fantasy stories. Mind you, when I think of Tolkien’s, “Lord of The Rings”, quite a few of his characters had what I would call great shifts in thinking, not just the main protagonist. Although, only Frodo’s “death” was written about in great detail.
I’ll have to think about this a bit more. Thank you so much for inspiring new thought and awareness regarding my writing. I’m sure that my story will be better for it.
I look forward to your answer regarding the placement of the ‘heart’ in a trilogy.
Cheers
Jenny… finally getting back to you re the heart of a trilogy. I’m not well versed in trilogies, I’m afraid. I wish I could remember more of my years-ago reading of Tolkein. Or my even-longer-ago reading of Lawrence Durrell’s “Alexandria Quartet”. Of course there’s the original Star Wars trilogy. In any event, the answer is that each book is built around what’s generally known as the “Act II crisis”. That’s my “heart of the story”. On-going sagas obviously need to keep the hero struggling, so all those “awakenings” along the way will be answered by an even greater threat to their liberation/ultimate victory. Where the human organism is concerned, there is always going to be another mountain to climb. Characters, after all, are “human”. We don’t want to hear about the exploits of a perfect being. Boring! And unrealistic. And doesn’t teach us anything. Even though we all aspire to perfection, and each small awakening may inch us ever closer. It will be helpful to remember as you write that readers are reading because they’re being nourished by the vicarious experience of suffering through the dark heart of the story. Just keep rendering those dark hearts darker… and your readers will never get enough. Keep in touch, Jenny. And let me know what other insights you discover about writing out there. We never stop learning.
P.J
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comments. I have found writing one book hard enough, so writing a trilogy may be too ambitious. I’ve been editing my first novel on and off for a while now – it’s a bit of a mess! I really value your insights and will take a fresh look at my characters, and my story. I know that a good story needs contrast. The greater the contrast between parts of the story and between characters, the better, I suspect. It’s kind of you to suggest that I might have anything to teach you, but it would be a miracle if I came up with anything useful, since I’m just bumbling around in the dark here. (ha ha)
Happy writing and thanks again.
… Your advice is golden.
Thank you for this. Looking forward to reading it.
PJ, thanks for being so generous with your knowledge. I am working
on my first novel and want to absorb as much info as I can.
Many thanks,
Janet
Hi PJ,
Read your Editor kicked your A## blog on WriteToDone and loved it. Not enough editors like that around, and it makes us better writers, not that I am in your league yet, but wait, give me time.
Am going to read your book now, thank you and hope to learn lots from it. Ubuntu: the meaning of this: We are who we are because of others. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the “ubuntu” word and concept. Haven’t heard of such, but I’m an Afri-Can at heart. I worked in Zambia for two years in my 20s. My next eBook may well have an African theme. With such in mind, Tess, tell me: what is your favourite African fictional protagonist? By “African”, I mean “story set in Africa”.
Hi PJ,
I read your comment on: http://writetodone.com/2012/06/13/has-a-customer-ever-seen-you-naked/ and I visited your blog. That’s how I found out that your an author. I downloaded your book: Story Structure to Die For just now and will read it later. I’m writing. Okay, I’m on the brainstorming part. I’m hoping to get it done this year; my first book. I hope this would help me with working out ideas, better storytelling…
Geraldine… thanks for dropping by my website. My little story theory can’t but help you out… as most writing texts do. But each “how to” book should come with a warning, none better expressed than James W. Hall in his “Hit Lit”. He cautions writers not to forget their “honest passion”. I write about that in a recent blog post: http://www.pjreece.ca/blog/wordpress/hit-lit-unofficial-users-guide/
You sound like you’re serious about getting something written… and that’s about all that counts. Onward!
When it comes to reading (whether for academic or for pleasure), my fave quote would that be of Francis Bacon: “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. ”
And trust your heart; or instinct if you want it that way. The person who can relate to the content of the book or find significance about the book, other than the author, is you – the reader. Of course, there are reviewers. But it would be foolish completely rely on reviewers to judge the value of the book. You, as a reader, have to read at least few pages before saying ‘it’s not worth it’. When I bought the book: The Mercury Visions of Louis Daquerre by Dominic Smith, I fell in love (not the kind of love I feel for my boyfriend. But a sudden feeling, an admiration for a thing fancied) with the first page; specifically the first paragraph: “When the vision came, he was in the bathtub.” It was intriguing. I thought that sentence means a lot. BTW, that book I would gave a 5 star; a rating I reserve for books of Umberto Eco.
I just finished reading Structure to Die For, and you’ve *opened my eyes* to the problem I’ve been having with my protagonist! What a terrific help! I knew my ending was predictable, and I needed to ramp up the tension and conflict, but while reading on Story Hearts and how the protagonist must die to her old ways — brainstorming has begun, and I think I know what needs to happen. She’s not going to like it (my MC), and frankly I’m not going to be all too happy writing it — I’ve found I’m much more reluctant to be evil to my characters than I thought I was. But now I know that I have to bite the bullet and push my MC to the edge — and then then over it. Thanks so much!
Just discovered you on Write To Done. Just wanted you to know you Guest Post is working. New subscriber here
Welcome, CC. We’ll talk more later. It’s a busy day today fielding comments over on Write to Done. Cheers!
found you via your guest article on write to done, downloaded your book on the heart of a story, read it in two days (a record for me
) and signed up for your blog’s newsletter
your book is an eye opener of a clarifier
where i thought i was probably dragging the reader down, being literary, and just darn outright ornery in my preferences, i find i was on the right path, or right hole
in my stories
i am very much appreciative, thank you
best wishes!
Adan… thanks for your note. For the last three years my blog has been about shining a light into the Story Heart. If I’m persistant, it’s because no one else it talking about it. Welcome to the discussion. Btw… I checked out your blog…you’ve got an original web presence…comprised of photos and poetry. Congrats!
thanks pj
photos and poems, images and words, have been a part of me for a very long time, though, fiction is something i’ve only recently come back to, after many many decades – it’s been a fun round trip so far
looking fwd to exploring more of your articles, have three tabs up for later reading
I love what I read so far. I could not download the ebook, but the title is fascinating. I look forward to trying again, because it’s probably the fault of my browser.
Valrie… “Story Structure to Die for” is only available right now on Amazon.com as a Kindle eBook for $2.99. Do you have a Kindle? If not, you can download a free app: Kindle for PC. Good Luck.